Travel
I write articles on travel culture and lifestyle, as well as travel advice and how-to pieces, destination guides, round-ups, and branded content campaigns.
12 Ways Travel Helps Us Live Our Fullest Lives
Travel catapults you from your cushy net of familiarity into a vast planet of possibility. Observing how people live in Norway vs. Kenya vs. New Zealand shows you, above all, that there’s no one “right” way to do anything. When you travel, you gradually learn that every lifestyle has its own merits and challenges.
17 Expressions You Need to Learn Before Coming to California
The awesome thing about “stoked” is that you can use it to describe exciting events or occasions both big and small. “I’m super stoked about this new breakfast burrito place.” Or, “My sister just got engaged — I’m so stoked!”
10 Differences Between LA and Orange County
Small talk in Orange County revolves mostly around the weather, the most recent swell, and if a new restaurant opened up. In LA, you’re swapping commute stories, talking about your favorite vegan food truck, and dishing on which B-list celebrity’s party you got invited to last weekend.
10 Signs You Grew Up Spending the Holidays in California
Unless you’re one of the lucky Californians to grow up near our state’s gorgeous mountains, chances are good you weren’t frolicking in a winter wonderland around the holidays. If you lived close to the beach, you probably spent chilly December days digging your toes in the dark sand and trying (in vain) to get a mild tan by stripping bare in the weak winter sun.
13 Signs You Went to College in San Luis Obispo
You went to the football stadium for one reason only: to watch the Cal Poly soccer team dominate. And when the school’s equivalent of the Super Bowl — a match between the Cal Poly mustangs and the UCSB Gauchos — came around each year, you stormed the field after the game (win or lose) wearing your yellow and green face paint and yelling like a maniac.
7 Incredible US Beach Towns You've Never Heard Of
This country is blessed with some incredible coast and shoreline, and lots of it — over 100,000 miles, by some counts. Within that context, the idea of the “hot spot” beach town, where you have to fight for a plot of sand barely big enough for your towel, or contend with crowds of spring breakers, seems a bit ridiculous. Leave the hordes behind and check out one of these alternative spots — similar beauty and amenities, but a lot less hassle.
6 Historical Hotels in Norway That Will Blow Your Mind
When you think of Norway, several things might come to mind: glistening blue fjords, fresh salmon served over a bed of wild asparagus, friendly blonde people with perfect English, or rugged hiking excursions. But what probably doesn’t make the immediate list — and it should — is Norway’s wide selection of renowned historical hotels. Each one is set in a unique location, provides an unforgettable culinary experience, and is staffed with helpful, lovely people.
Global Terrorism is Terrifying. Here's Why it Makes it More Important Than Ever to Travel.
As a citizen of the world it is my duty to meet the people who will teach me more about their culture and lifestyle, and who will act as ambassadors for their countries. I consider it a responsibility now more than ever to know the world intimately and to break down the racial, cultural, and stereotype-based obstacles that stand to divide us.
7 Reasons Your Next Trip Needs to be Norway
In every direction you look in Norway, there is a view worth photographing. The country’s geographical diversity means that in one 3-hour road trip, you can ride a ferry across a fjord, drive through mountains and past gigantic banks of snow, cross over a fertile valley, and finish in a city along the sea.
7 Ways to Quickly Recover From a Travel Misadventure
Learn to recognize the potential for growth and discovery in all your experiences, complicated and full of ‘missteps’ though they are. Trust that the detours you take during your travel journeys are always the best way to get exactly where you need to be.
8 Things Americans Can Learn From the French
Whether you’re sipping coffee, searching for the right word to use in a sentence, drinking wine, dining out, or strolling through city streets, do so at a leisurely pace. Don’t be afraid to enjoy three hours of sidewalk people-watching with your café au lait.
9 Ways to Temporarily Satisfy Your Wanderlust
Finances, job circumstances or family crises can all hold you back from travel. When your current life situation prevents you from planning a new international adventure, follow these guidelines to temporarily satisfy your wanderlust until you’re able to book the next plane ticket.
How to Decide Which Activities to Hit or Skip When Traveling
The task of deciding how to spend your days in a new city or country is a daunting one. Reading guidebooks, scanning Internet reviews, and chatting with friends and family can make the process even more overwhelming. Here are a few guidelines for how to decide which activities to hit or skip.
5 Habits to Keep You Healthy While Traveling
Take advantage of the different exercise opportunities available wherever you are: hike a mountain, take a long walk around the lake, go surfing, sign up for a bike tour, swim in the ocean, learn salsa dancing, visit a fitness center or practice yoga.
The 7 Best Vacations For Your Body
If your idea of a vacation is getting sloshed at noon, eating your weight in chips and salsa, and then falling asleep in the sun, it’s time to start thinking outside the box. Yes, vacations are the perfect time to unwind and relax, but they’re also ideal opportunities to prioritize your mental and physical well-being.
10 Things People in California Are Weirdly Passionate About
Mexican food is California’s claim to fame and one of the top five reasons most of us locals could never live abroad permanently. We’ve got the best chilaquiles, fish tacos, and carne asada anywhere outside of Mexico, and we love to announce it to out-of-towners in the most hyperbolic way possible.
12 Things Best Friends Did Together Growing Up in California
Every time it was gray or even slightly cloudy outside, you and your friends did your best to summon the rain gods and ask for a bit of wet weather. Then whenever it did rain, you were so excited that you ran out into the street to jump in puddles and walk through gutters, germs and potential colds be damned.
16 Unforgettable Moments You'll Experience in Santa Barbara, CA
Rolling up to the Boathouse on a Saturday morning (or afternoon) is the best way to kick off your weekend. Chilaquiles on your plate, a blood orange margarita in your hand, and an ocean view — it’s hard to top.
10 Superpowers You Gain Living in Paris
At your local marché, you could be three aisles and two stands away from the cheese stall and still be able to tell the difference between the crottin de chavignol and the chèvre bucheron.
12 Things You Didn't Know About Santa Barbara, CA
Unlike most of the world’s mountain ranges, the Santa Ynez Mountains run from east to west, starting at the ocean and cutting inward along the Gaviota Coast. The ocean-to-mountain hiking and exploration possibilities are everywhere — think rock climbing, scenic beach paths, winding dirt trails, boulders, hot springs, and waterfalls.
Why Montréal Might Just be Canada's Most Underrated City
The city caters to every possible type of person — whether you like to spend the night dancing or chatting with your friends in a dim corner booth with a gin fizz in hand — offering everything from craft breweries and trendy cocktail bars to jam-packed dance clubs, jazz lounges, and cool concert venues.
20 Signs You Grew Up in Orange County
You still use typical Orange County surf vernacular, even if you never paddled out at San-O a day in your life. Words like “dank,” “sick,” “gnarly,” “rad,” and “chill” slip out of your mouth on a regular basis. Little kid beach-goers are called “groms,” Taco Tuesday gets you “super stoked,” and anyone who wears jeans to the beach is a total “kook.” And you’d rather be caught dead than use the word “hella” in normal conversation.
Why Americans Need to Slow Down and Make Travel a Priority
We don’t take time off because we feel too busy to leave our lives and because we fear falling behind with our workload. We are a culture that measures success based on productivity, output, and hustle.
10 California Stories That Will Make You Smile for the Holidays
An elderly man in Fremont, California never leaves the house without a photo of his late wife, who passed away after 55 years of marriage. In-N-Out customers have regularly seen the man dining alone while staring at an older photo of him and his wife together. The man’s quiet display of devotion and love went viral and touched millions of people when an In-N-Out patron shared a photo of him on social media.
8 Simple Ways to be More in the Moment When You Travel
Peel your gaze away from whatever device(s) you’re connected to and look around. Take note of what you see: the subtle flecks of yellow in the floral tablecloth your mug of cider rests on, a teenage couple locked in a long, slow kiss against the bus stop, the nearby birds pecking at crumbs of bread in the cracks of pavement. It’s impossible to absorb the details around you if you’re engrossed in the content on a screen.
8 Things to Consider When Choosing Accommodations for Your Next Trip
Take some time to map out your vacation activities. Do you plan on sightseeing all day, exploring the outdoors, or taking a day trip? Maybe you enjoy relaxing with a book or sipping your morning cup of coffee with a view. How often you plan to actually be where you’re staying is a large factor in choosing accommodations that will give you the most for your money.
5 Easy Tips for Meeting Locals When Traveling
Meeting locals when you travel is one of the easiest ways to have a more meaningful, authentic, and immersive experience. Here are a few tips for forming genuine connections on the road.
10 Ways to a Smoother Road Trip Experience
Bring an actual map with you for situations when you find yourself lost on back roads with no cell service and zero road signs. For a fun visual representation of your exact route, keep a highlighter or marker handy to chart your progress across the map as you drive.
15 Pro Travel Tips No One Ever Tells You
The real world of travel isn’t always glamorous. And while knowing how to take a stunning Insta photo is a skill, it won’t help you when you’ve lost your passport or wasted hours trying to find a meal and both your feet and your travel partners are revolting. No one talks about this side of travel — certainly no one brags about it on Facebook — so how do you prepare?
10 Stereotypes Us Californians Always Have to Deal With
We Californians take casual wear to a whole new level. We run errands in workout clothes, go to the office in jeans, and consider any closed-toed shoes that aren’t sneakers to be “dressy.”
10 Things People in California Love to Whine About
There’s one thing us Californians can all agree on: we hate when people refer to our state as “Cali.” We know everyone intends it to be a cute, endearing nickname, but to us it just sounds like nails on a chalkboard.
10 Superpowers You Have Growing Up in Southern California
Reversing into a tight parking space in one swift turn, gracefully slowing your eighty miles an hour down to a cool seventy when you see a cop in the distance, swerving into the carpool lane to pass someone going sixty-five on the 405 — these are crucial skills here.
The 6 Best Places to See Along California's Central Coast
With mountains and hiking trails, farmers markets, wine tasting, incredible surfing, camping, miles of unspoiled coastline and charming downtown areas, the central coast is California’s sweet spot. Here are the towns worth going for a day trip, weekend getaway, vacation or permanent move.
13 Things Everyone From SoCal Takes for Granted
There’s zero pressure in SoCal — especially if you live near the beach — to dress up, let alone change out of your sweaty yoga tank to go to lunch. Plus, the closer you live to the ocean, the more it becomes appropriate to wear your bikini inside a sandwich shop or walk barefoot (trailing sand behind you) inside a convenience store to buy ice cream.
How to Piss Off Someone From San Luis Obispo
Try not to diss the wine. California’s central coast is a burgeoning hot spot for wine harvesting and tasting. Wine merchants and connoisseurs have even started to call Paso Robles a “Little Napa.” And although SLO is lesser-known than its sister to the north, it’s got plenty of incredible wineries, vineyards, and tasting rooms offering some of the best Chardonnay you’ll ever sip.
10 Reasons You Need to Head to Montreal in the Wintertime
Every year for a few weeks in February, the city comes alive for Montréal en Lumière, a festival designed to bring Montrealers together to celebrate the beauty and joy of Montréal in winter. The city really covers all its bases: a grilled cheese bar, an erotic art exhibition, an “around the world” tea tasting, a live ice carving, an interpretive dance show, a performance by local electro-pop sensation FOXTROTT — you name it, it’s there.
7 Underground Heroes Creating Positive Change in California
Aaron and Evan Steed, owners and CEOs of the moving company Meathead Movers, offer a helping hand for women and men eager to move out of abusive homes.
7 Ways Travel Improves How We Connect With People
Since connections on the road are so fleeting, travel forces you to savor each moment. When you only have one evening to spend with the cute Portuguese guy who wants to take you on a tour of Lisbon’s fado music scene, you’re not going to waste it by checking your phone nonstop.
5 Challenges of Teaching English in South Africa (And 3 Things That Make It All Worth It)
In the summer of 2012, I volunteered with the nonprofit group One Heart Source. We taught English to students at a public primary school outside of Cape Town, South Africa, for four weeks. English is only one of South Africa’s official languages, and it’s spoken by only about 20% of the Western Cape population.
24 Hours in Laguna Beach
Drive North to Banzai Bowls, a little cafe that specializes in blended açai concoctions topped with fresh fruit and granola. Don’t worry about changing out of your workout clothes. Yoga pants, bikinis, and swim trunks are part of the city’s unwritten uniform policy. Go for the most popular order — a Maui Sunrise — or try the fuchsia-colored Pupukea. Order your bowl to go.
7 Helpful Things to Know Before Moving Abroad
You might think you have plenty of cash saved up, but once you start paying for doctor’s visits, bus rides, late-night taxis, bank fees, and other money-sucking necessities you didn’t consider, your savings account will dwindle. Set aside money for the unprecedented stuff and go easy on the overpriced cocktails.