2018's Top Inspiring Travel Stories: Real Adventures and Serendipitous Journeys

Mother-daughter road trips. Adventures with toddlers. Couples on the run. It's not necessarily about money or time or access or even the destination — good travelers go out on a limb, take risks, and reap the rewards of serendipity and circumstance. We're taking cues from travelers we admire in these feel-good Fathom stories.

Three Kids, Two Parents, and One Tuk-Tuk Have a Grand Old Time in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka
When you run a luggage company, you do a lot of traveling. Sara Banks, founder of Steamline Luggage, spent a month in Sri Lanka with her fancy suitcase, her husband, and ... wait for it ... three boys under the age of four.

A Mother-Daughter Road Trip Through the American Heartland

The West, USA
Driving from Los Angeles to New York City can be daunting, but West Coast-based jewelry designer Kathleen Whitaker pulled it off in style with a little help from her mom. 

In Love? Then It's Time for Road Trip in the Roman Countryside

Italy
When you are hungry and in love, there’s no better place to explore together than the hills beyond Rome.

Meet Cynthia Dunbar, the Globetrotting GM Leading Ladies into the Great Outdoors

As part of our Great Women in Travel series, we talked with Cynthia Dunbar of REI Adventures about her career managing the most successful division of socially conscious company REI.

From Shanghai or Beijing, Go Take a Hike in the Chinese Countryside

China
After one too many Xiao Long Bao and enough city smog to last a lifetime, a long hike in the great outdoors is a fantastic way to see China. Kyle Long, co-founder of UnTour Food Tour in Beijing and Shanghai, leads the way.

When You Meet a Gorilla in the Mountains, Here's How to Take the Best Photo

Uganda
Universally recognized as one of the world’s finest image-makers, photographer Steve McCurry has a talent for capturing raw emotion in a single picture. We caught up with him after a trip to East Africa with Silversea Cruises, where he photographed one of the region’s last remaining mountain gorillas.

Discover More of 2018's Best

Destinations That Surprised Us
Hotels That Charmed Us
The Best Food Stories
The Hidden Gems
How to Be a Better Traveler in 2019