Backpacking
Top 5 Day Trips From Barcelona
Spending time in Barcelona is an exhilarating experience. The city is a culture lover’s dream, offering countless unique experiences under the Mediterranean sun. However, spending your time solely in Barcelona can leave you yearning to explore the other possibilities in the region. In fact, Catalonia has a wealth of places to visit just a few […]
Navigating The Med On A Shoestring And A Smile: Part Two (The Subtle Charm Of Malta’s Seductive Smaller Sister)
During this past summer Contributing Editor Hannah Bowman found herself on an island in the Mediterranean Sea. She liked it there, but didn’t want to stay forever. So, with a tent on her back, one month to play with and a handsome Flem by the name of P.J. in tow, she headed north. “Navigating the […]
Lima: It’s Not As Gray As They Say
Pan-American Transmissions: Part 9 “Pan-American Transmissions” is a travel series from Special Contributor Diego Cupolo as he travels south from Nicaragua to Argentina. He has few plans, a $10-a-day budget and one flute-playing gypsy companion. Check back as new dispatches are posted from the road. “Don’t go, it’s ugly. Nothing but gray buildings. One big […]
Uluru In The Rain: How The Worst Weather Can Make For The Best Vacation
As the plane shook and bounced its way through the remnants of Cyclone Yasi, the strongest storm ever to hit Australia, I began to wonder if I was on the right flight. Inside my head were postcard-inspired visions of the Outback: the looming red rock, the dry red desert, the baking sun. Outside my window […]
Navigating The Med On A Smile And A Shoestring: Part One (The Mission)
During this past summer Contributing Editor Hannah Bowman found herself on an island in the Mediterranean Sea. She liked it there, but didn’t want to stay forever. So, with a tent on her back, one month to play with and a handsome Flem by the name of P.J. in tow, she headed north. “Navigating the […]
How To Cross The Street In Vietnam
It sounds like the beginning of a joke: How do you cross the street in Vietnam? (Possible punchlines: “You don’t,” “You start by taking out a life insurance policy,” or “You buy a motorbike.”) As any visitor who has been to Vietnam knows, the quickest way to spot the newbie traveler in town is to […]
The Easiest Way To Get A Myanmar Visa
With considerable political reforms occurring over the last year, Myanmar (Burma), once a pariah state in the world of travel, has become this year’s hottest backpacker destination. Although some significant human rights issues remain, travelers are keen to experience the legendary, relatively “untouched” culture of this unique Southeast Asian country, hot on the heels of several Western […]
How I Found Colorado Atop Crestone Needle
It was Thursday morning and my cell phone lit up. I had a text. “Look up Crestone Needle and let me know if you have the balls for that one.” It was from my climbing friend Nick. I typed “14ers.com” into my browser — the go-to website for all things pertaining to Colorado’s storied fourteeners […]
Into The Andes: The High Road Through Ecuador
Pan-American Transmissions: Part 8 “Pan-American Transmissions” is a travel series from Special Contributor Diego Cupolo as he travels south from Nicaragua to Argentina. He has few plans, a $10-a-day budget and one flute-playing gypsy companion. Check back as new dispatches are posted from the road. When Ania was a little girl in the Quebec countryside, […]
Bad News Sweden: Phuket Is Full
Bad news Sweden: Phuket is full. Well, not full exactly, but the Thai island (and its smaller nearby cousins, known for their white sand beaches and DEET-laced alcoholic cocktails) is on path for another record-setting year, with an estimated 4.7 million visitors expected to visit the island in 2012, up from 4.2 million in 2011. Quite […]