A few weeks ago I was approached by the fine folks at the Helsinki Freedom campaign to work with them on a project to promote Helsinki and to focus specifically on freedom as a topic. I jumped at the opportunity mostly because my one and only visit to Finland a few years ago was so much fun and so impactful that  I was excited to once again write about one of the happiest spots on the planet. More than just write about things to see and do, I love the freedom topic because it’s at the heart of life in Finland and especially Helsinki. It’s a very egalitarian society with…

2019 is now officially over, thank goodness, and since this is the start of the New Year I thought I would share some of my top travel picks for 2020. Some are obvious choices, others a little more unexpected but all are amazing places to discover for one reason or another. Also, these are in NO PARTICULAR ORDER. I don’t want to see anyone complaining that one destination is ranked higher or lower than another one; they all have my love and admiration. South Africa It’s been a few years since South Africa has been the star of travel media coverage, which is unfortunate. After making some incredible headway in…

The other day I saw an article declaring how strange it was for a certain destination I love to actually have incredible food. I’d visited there several times and already knew how amazing the food scene is, but I was surprised that they were surprised. The fact is, that some cities, regions and even entire countries have terrible reputations when it comes to the culinary scene. Usually, although I admit not always, these reputations aren’t fair, especially in 2019. In the last 15 years or so, nearly every spot on the planet has realized that creating incredible food experiences isn’t just nice, but it’s healthier and better than what it…

As a frequent traveler, one of the biggest issues I deal with is what I eat. I am a very picky eater; a confirmed carnivore, my love of vegetables is weak at best and most notably, I don’t eat any fish or seafood. My fellow Americans may wonder why I phrase it that way and the reason is simple. I was on a trip once and I had sent along my dietary requirement of No Seafood. Now, to an American that usually includes anything that was ever in the water, ever. Possible exceptions would include ducks or if a cow fell into a lake or something. But when translated, seafood…

Let me preface this monster of a post by saying that no, this is not an exhaustive list. Yes, there are cooler things to do around the world, I just haven’t done them. As an independent blogger and not someone writing listicles for a magazine, I can only go from my personal experiences. Perhaps I should have titled this post “18 Experiences I’ve Done That I Think You Should Do Too,” but I didn’t, hence the preface. Now that we have that out of the way, I was editing some photos from past trips recently and it dawned on me (not for the first time) just how enormous the world is…

Looking at the single digits on my thermometer here at home, I couldn’t help but reflect on the many cold weather trips I have enjoyed over the years. There’s something special about visiting frozen destinations during their coldest months; I think it’s how they’re best enjoyed. While multiple layers and hot cocoa are both requirements, the rewards for visiting these chilly spots around the world far outweigh any annoyances in preparing for the adventure. There are many more cold destinations I would love to see in person, but of the ones I have visited these special spots are definitely worth the wintertime trip. Alta, Norway I love visiting northern parts…

It’s hard to believe, but 2018 is almost here and in keeping with my year-end post traditions, I thought I’d share a few places I think everyone should visit in 2018. Some are obvious choices, others a little more unexpected but all are amazing places to discover for one reason or another. Also, these are in NO PARTICULAR ORDER. I don’t want to see anyone complaining that one destination is ranked higher or lower than another one; they all have my love and admiration. The Caribbean People don’t normally need to be convinced to visit the Caribbean, but we don’t live in normal times. No doubt you’re aware of the…

I’m a travel geek and at the heart of that geekery is transportation. There’s nothing better than a great flight, train ride or other fun way to see the world. But amongst the many transportation options we have to experience the world, there are a few that rise above the rest. They are special, they are exceptional and they are truly bucket list transportation experiences everyone should try at least once in their lives. I’ve been privileged enough to enjoy quite a few of these adventures around the world, but these are my own personal favorites and as a group I think are among the most extraordinary transportation experiences in…

One aspect of the travel experience that continuously amazes me is how much of an education it really is. I learn so much both about the destinations, and of course myself, whenever I leave home and am thankful for the continuing lessons through a global lens. But I’m also surprised by how little I ultimately know and there are always places, people, and experiences that I enjoy when visiting a new destination that were completely unexpected, experiences I didn’t even know about until I visited. The same is probably true for many other people so today I thought I’d help provide a leg up and share some of those amazing…

I don’t normally write holiday themed posts, but I felt particularly inspired this year so I thought I’d share some of my favorite romantic spots around the world that I almost guarantee aren’t on any top ten list. They may be a little unusual, but hopefully it proves that romance and romantic travel is more about the person you’re with than it is a few palm trees and a beach. Dome of the Reichstag in Berlin I have found few urban settings as beautiful as the dome of the Reichstag in Berlin at sunset. The massive glass dome offers a 360-degree view of the city and if you are there…