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Whether you are a super fan of art and history, or just want to say you've seen the Mona Lisa, a visit to the Louvre is a must-do if you are in Paris. This fortress turned palace turned gallery is now a massive, sprawling, and overwhelming collection of some of the most important pieces of human history.
There are a lot of posts out there about how to survive a long flight and things that you should do, but these are the most important things NOT TO DO in order to enjoy (and not annoy fellow passengers) on your next plane trip.
I'll be the first to admit that traveling alone for the first time can be scary (in fact, I wrote a blog about it). What happens if you get lost? What if you look like a fool? What if you can't communicate with anyone? Will people think you're a loser if you eat alone? And what do you do if you get lonely?
I often get asked if solo hiking is safe or if I am ever scared while I am hiking alone. My response is usually the same as when people ask me that question related to solo travel — I have never felt unsafe, but I have felt uncomfortable, and that is not a bad thing.
I usually follow this up by reminding them that I also never approach a solo hike unprepared. I know exactly what I need to do to keep myself safe and comfortable, so I can focus on the sound of the wind in the trees and not on an imaginary threat.
Being an English Teacher in South Korea was one of the most challenging, educational, and incredible experiences that I have ever had.
I lived and worked in the country as an English teacher for just over a year, and since I've come home, I have gotten countless questions from family, friends, and friends of friends about the experience and how they can do it too.
Still looking for that ideal pow that will make this alpine season one to remember?
These spectacular ski and snowboard destinations offer a combination of stunning landscapes, diverse terrain, and exceptional snow conditions!
They say opposites attract, and there is nothing more exciting than making a connection with someone who has lived a completely different life in a totally different country or culture than your own. Everything is new and intriguing, but this type of relationship also comes with its own unique set of challenges.
Here are some things to keep in mind when shifting from your meet-cute to a relationship.
The West Coast Trail will forever hold a special place in my heart.
I embarked on this epic 75 km trek with a group of fellow trekkers that included my dad, my best friend and her dad, and three of our dads' friends. We had no idea, standing at the trail head in Port Renfrew on our first day, the adventures that would befall us, the amount of mud that would be caked on our clothing, how much our hip bones would hurt every morning, and how absolutely unforgettable every moment would be.
Are you itching for a change of scenery? Have some vacation time to use? Ready to head somewhere warm?
Here are the BEST places to visit in February, and a few things to do in each location (including some FREE options!).
There's nothing better than a new adventure, but staying healthy and not gaining weight while you travel can be a challenge. Trust, me — I, and a huge pasta belly that I brought back from Italy (and thankfully lost), know.
You're thrown out of your comfort zone, knocked out of your regular routine, and are no longer surrounded by familiar food, and your favorite workout spots.
Visitors travel from all over the world to experience the magic of the European Christmas markets and join locals sipping mulled wine and purchasing local treasures to gift to family and friends.
Even if you are a seasoned traveler or used to traveling with other people, taking a trip with a significant other is an entirely different scenario. Both you, and your person, are sure to have expectations on each other, and on the experiences that you are hoping to have, and that can create a lot of pressure.
Here’s what you need to know to make sure your trip together is memorable for the right reasons (and not because you had a huge fight in the middle of the Roman Forum).
I am a sucker for a good notebook, and because I love to handwrite when I travel, I always keep a few blank journals on hand so that I can grab one to throw in my bag.
The key to a good travel journal is to have a paperback notebook (so it is not too heavy), with enough pages to capture all of your experiences, and have room to glue or tape in ticket stubs, postcards, or any other tidbit that reminds you of your trip.
Stretching 150 km along the southern coast of Portugal, the Algarve is arguably one of the most beautiful and varied coastlines in the world.
You can find solitude on sandy islands, action-packed golden beaches with amazing nightlife, and the famous breathtaking cliff-backed shorelines that have taken over Instagram. There are also charming towns packed with cafes, restaurants, bars, shops, and lots of cobblestone streets to wander through when the sun goes down.
While there are multiple hikes throughout the park, the three that I have selected to feature in this article are open year-round (though in the winter, it is recommended that you use snowshoes or cross-country skis rather than hiking boots!), and I have personally hiked them all at different times of the year.
The Anthrotorian has officially been around for more than a decade — since 2012, I have been writing about travel, culture, art, and history on this website. To celebrate this landmark birthday, I published a book, It’s Rude to Keep an Adventure Waiting: Travel Advice, Tips, and Tricks.
Are you in the mood for a spring or autumn polar dip? Looking for a nice cold swim after a long summer hike? Or were you just hoping to dip your feet into crisp glacier water?
Despite being fed by glaciers and icy cold, these crystal clear lakes are the perfect places to cool off on a hot summer day in the mountains. In Jasper — a mountain town in the Rocky Mountains in Canada — temperatures can head well above 30°C (86°F) in the summer.
You know how much I love traveling solo, or with only one or two travel buddies, but I also love to travel with a group of friends — though it makes for a very different kind of trip.
And one that it is important to prepare for.
Here are a few things to work out before you leave, and some things to be mindful of as you are traveling.
Short answer.
Yes.
Long answer.
Yes — especially if you are an adult from the Sunday night Walt Disney/animated Disney movie VHS era, and a lover of all things nostalgia.
I have a couple of friends who met while they lived in different parts of the world; they fell in love, and spent years traveling to each other’s homes, and to new places to make new, shared memories.
These adventures became a part of who they are, and now that they have children, they are continuing the adventures.
If you are an avid reader of this blog, then you will know that an all-inclusive vacation is the last type of trip that I would normally advocate for.
I prefer a play-it-by-ear, chose-your-own-adventure, off-the-beaten-path type of vacation — but during the depths of COVID lockdowns, when I was going completely stir-crazy, I started looking for all-inclusive vacations, as they seemed like the easiest (and safest) way to travel with all the new restrictions that had been put into place.
If the last year of travel has taught us anything, it is that airports are busier than ever post-COVID, and both they, and the airlines, are struggling to keep up with the demand.
Throughout the summer and holiday season of 2022, we were bombarded with images and videos of stacks of lost luggage left in airports all over the world. If you are anything like me, it has made checking a bag seem like a risk that I am not willing to take — especially if I am going for a short trip and don’t want to be without my clothing, etc. for even a day.
While there are tourist sites, museums, art galleries, and more to see on Oahu, my favorite things to do on the island involve slowing down, taking advantage of the weather, and generally chilling out.
The Royal Mile (you guessed it, it is literally a mile long) in Edinburgh, Scotland earned its regal nickname in the 16th century when the King and his procession used it to travel between the castle on one end, and the Palace of Holyroodhouse on the other.
Bears do not go out of their way to attack, track or hunt humans. That is not a thing. What they are attracted to is food, or something that might be scented like food.
Unless you are doing things that will attract bears, you are unlikely to ever encounter one. You may see bears on the side of the highway, but rarely will you see them near your tent or on a hiking trail.
I don’t know about you, but I am itching to be able to travel again, and with the end of COVID in sight, I am filling my coffee table with travel magazines and my bookshelves with travel guides — it’s time to start planning!
Whether you are dreaming of a one-week escape or a month-long adventure, planning a trip requires more than just buying plane tickets — especially if you want to make the most of your time.
Vacations are looking a little different in 2020, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic grounding flights, closing borders, and shutting down festivals, shops, and tourist sites around the world.
But, that doesn’t mean that you can’t still have an amazing staycation right where you live! The key is to think about your staycation like you would your vacation — an escape from the everyday where you are going to explore, have adventures, and experience something new.
Tourism produces a stagging amount of environmental waste and carbon emissions, in fact, according to the United Nations Environment Program, “tourism produces 5 percent of the world's carbon emissions… and contributes to the depletion of natural resources, the degradation of ecosystems, and the proliferation of the waste found from shorelines to trekking trails.” (source)
When faced with these facts, it is easy to feel traveler’s guilt, and even find yourself questioning if you should travel at all.
Which is a good thing.
The only way to make travel sustainable is to make sure that those of us that are doing it are aware of the impact that we are having, and do our best to counter, offset, and reduce our footprint as much as we can.
Did you know that one return flight from New York to Paris produces 1.9 tons of carbon emissions?! According to David Suzuki, a well-known environmentalist, “The total carbon impact of a single flight is so high that avoiding just one trip can be equivalent to going (gasoline) car-free for a year.” (source)
For many of us, it’s been over a year since we got on a plane to embark on an adventure, explore a new city, or wander down mountain trails in a faraway land. COVID literally grounded us, and airlines, all over the world.
Tourists make the perfect mark for a scam artist. We are disoriented, don't know the language, are wide eyed, and are distracted by the new world that we have found ourselves in.
I have been approached by people all over the world who, while they seem kind, are actually out to relieve me of my wallet or other valuables.