Travel Spotlight: Mexico City’s Colorful Trajineras

In the heart of Mexico’s capital city sits Xochimilco, a borough celebrated for two things: chinampas, floating man-made gardens full of vegetables, fruits, and flowers; and trajineras, multi-hued flat-bottomed water crafts, which resemble a Venetian rowing boat. International travel will, one day soon, resume and likely you’ll want to visit a destination full of culture, delicious food, and a festive atmosphere. Enter: Mexico City. (Published in Forbes.)

Ben Gurion Airport: The Complete Guide

You can learn a lot about a country by its airport. In Sri Lanka, for example, you can buy Duty-free washing machines and microwaves; in San Francisco, you can practice yoga; in Denver, you can go ice skating or run on a treadmill in a gym; in Japan, you can learn woodblock printing, calligraphy, Japanese paper doll making, kite making, and origami. And, so, writing this just-published story for TripSavvy about Israel's airport, where I landed exactly one year ago, was a joy.

Weather in Israel: Climate, Seasons and Average Monthly Temperature

For such a small country, Israel is very diverse in terms of geography. In the north, you’ll see mountains, some of which are snow-capped, and in the south, you'll find desert landscapes (the Negev and Judean deserts make up more than half of Israel’s total landmass). Add in three seas, central Israel’s Judean Hills, and coastal plains, and you’ll begin to understand how this little country can be incredibly varied in terms of weather. Here's my latest for TripSavvy.

Top 15 Destinations in Israel

Located on the Mediterranean Sea and bordered by Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Egypt, this Middle Eastern country is known as the biblical Holy Land by Jews, Muslims, and Christians. For such a small country, there is much to see and do here, even if you’re more of a history buff than a religious devotee. This is a country I'd like to visit again in the future. Here's my latest travel story for TripSavvy.

This Mountain Town Should Be On Your Travel Wish List

Bozeman, Montana is the kind of town where craft brewing thrives, where you’ll see cowboys, college students, farmers, hippies, and hunters all bellying up to the same bar. Read my just-published travel story in Forbes to learn about why this town—my hometown—is so indelible, and why you should visit when you feel safe to do so.

Complete Guide to Visiting the Dead Sea

My travel guide on Israel's Dead Sea has been published in TripSavvy. This was such an incredible experience, one that I highly recommend when it's safe to move about the cabin again. But for now, learn, study and plan for your next romp across international borders.

Travel Industry Aces Talk About Bucket List Destinations

I rounded up the best travel writers, editors, and industry pros for my latest story in Forbes on bucket list adventures. You're going to want to read this one, published in Forbes.

Adventuring In Red Rock Country: Moab, Arches And Canyonlands National Parks

I see three skydivers float down to the drop zone as we exit the Canyonlands airport and begin the drive 14 miles south to Arches National Park. I’m here to explore the Moab area, which also includes Canyonlands National Park, for one weekend with my oldest son. (Published in Forbes.)

2020 Editors’ Choice Awards: TripSavvy

I'm super proud to have worked on TripSavvy's 2020 Editors' Choice Awards, which are more important this year than ever. We've highlighted businesses and organizations that have made big moves to support first responders, fight racial inequality, and aid in efforts to get out the vote. For the Innovators category, I wrote about leaders that have creatively pivoted to thrive during the pandemic: The Art Institute of Chicago, Badlands National Park, Lookingglass Theatre Company, and Music Box Theatre. For the Community Leaders section, I wrote about Oriole and The Ranch at Rock Creek.

Experience Midwestern Luxury: Glamping On A Blueberry Farm

There’s no Wi-Fi at newly opened The Fields of Michigan, a stylish 30-acre glamping (glamorous camping) destination located on a blueberry farm in South Haven. It’s deliberate. Guests here are meant to unwind, get back to nature, and dive deep into that novel they’ve been meaning to read. (Published in Forbes.)

This National Park Should Be On Your Wander List Right Now

Out of the 62 national parks, I've visited 24 of them, including ones in Alaska and Hawaii. I've hiked in Zion National Park twice now—once at 19 years-old and once at 42 years-old—and I believe it to be one of the best no matter what age you are. Our national parks are truly America's best idea! Here's my latest published travel story, where I delve into the park and the surrounding Greater Zion Utah area. (Published in Forbes. )

10 Tips to Go Road Tripping With Your Dog

Getting behind the wheel and setting out for a road trip is a classic American experience, made even better with your hound by your side. Keep reading my latest story for TripSavvy to learn tips and tricks for road-tripping with your dog.

The Best Small Town in Every State

Often the doorway to nature and outdoor adventures, these villages are ideal for the great American road trip or for delving deeper into a weekend getaway with friends or family. Even the most scholarly wordsmiths will find it difficult not to rhapsodize any of the following small towns—one in every state—as "quaint or “charming.” Here’s my latest travel story for TripSavvy.

Top 10 Things To Do In Williamsburg, Virginia

Colonial Williamsburg, Yorktown, and Jamestown make up Virginia's Historic Triangle, a lovely weekend destination full of history, nature, culture, and charm, published in Forbes.

11 Foods to Try in Alaska

Did you know that you can eat five different types of salmon in Alaska, wild berries with names like cloudberries and crowberries, moose burgers, raw whale blubber and skin (Muktuk), and spruce tip-infused soups, stews, ice cream, and beer? Here's my latest travel story, published in TripSavvy, on 11 foods to try in The Last Frontier.

Your Trip to Alaska: The Complete Guide

Getting to write evergreen travel guides on wild and rugged places brings me so much joy! I've visited Alaska twice, once in the interior and once along the coast, exploring Denali National Park and Preserve and Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, and I can tell you from first-hand experience that this state is truly "The Last Frontier". I loved working on this big ole guide on Alaska, published in TripSavvy, and I hope it's helpful for anyone interested in visiting in the future.

Savor The Final Flashes Of Summer Out West

As summer winds to a close and fall begins, you might be wondering how best to relish the warmer weather and enjoy the informal final weekend of the season. For many, this might be the last hurrah before buckling down for school or work obligations. Or, you might be lucky, with more freedom and time on your hands, which will often afford you better travel deals as well as fewer tourists to contend with during the shoulder season, published in Forbes.

The Top 15 Destinations in Alaska

Alaska is rugged, vast, and remote—planning ahead is essential for hard-to-reach areas of the state. Allow me to help? Here's my latest travel story, in a series of guides published in TripSavvy, on the top 15 destinations in The Last Frontier.

The Complete Guide to Alaska’s National Parks

Visit the Land of the Midnight Sun and you’ll be rewarded with some of the most stunning landscapes the U.S. has to offer. Alaska has pristine wilderness throughout its eight national parks, unmarked by throngs of tourists, where wide open spaces are plentiful. Keep reading to learn about the differences between the parks, how to get to each one, and what you can do once you’ve arrived, published in TripSavvy.

Should You Visit Alaska by Land or on a Cruise?

I've traveled to Alaska twice. Once on a Holland America Line cruise through The Last Frontier's Inside Passage, visiting Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka, and Skagway. We hiked on glaciers, kayaked near a pod of orca whales, and took a helicopter ride. (We also gained about 10 pounds due to 'round the clock eating, even though we eschewed the elevator and took the stairs.)

The second time was through the interior of Alaska to Denali National Park and Preserve, where I rode on the Alaska Railroad, saw the tallest mountain in North America, visited a husky homestead where pups are trained for the Iditarod, hiked, went flight-seeing over glaciers, and met a vibrant woman who makes fireweed ice cream in a town where a cat served as mayor for 18 years. Here's my latest story for TripSavvy on exploring this land of magic.

Your Trip to Montana: The Complete Guide

Montana's diverse terrain ranging from the rugged Rocky Mountains to the vast Great Plains, makes it the ideal place to go for outdoor adventures. Here's my latest story for TripSavvy, a travel guide on Montana.

One Writer's Four-Day Trek Through the Grand Canyon

My outdoorsy backbone was formed in Montana when I was a child, camping within conifer forests full of evergreen firs and spruces, and I’m no stranger to hiking, but backpacking over multiple days in the hot desert—including a descent of 5,760 feet and a later ascent of 4,500 feet—was a new fish to fry for me. Here’s my story on hiking in the Grand Canyon, rim to rim, on a four-day adventure, published in TripSavvy.

Learning to Surf Also Taught Me a Lot About Myself

Four years ago, I got it in my head that I should learn how to surf, so I traveled solo to El Salvador and Indonesia and made it happen. Life is short and my bucket list is long, so I felt it important to make moves to experience some big adventures—even though adulting is hectic, even though I'm a mother of three, even though I was scared. It's the frightening bits, the uncharted territory, that create growth, right? Life doesn't have to be all mapped out, full of domestic and social expectations and career advancement—there's room for more, for something unexpected. Want to read my story? Here it is, published in TripSavvy.

Weather in Montana: Climate, Seasons, and Average Monthly Temperature

Montanans love to play outside, no matter the weather, and even though the winters and shoulder seasons can be quite cold and long, if you’re dressed appropriately, you’ll find that the big blue skies and wide-open spaces are worth venturing out for. Here’s my story, published in TripSavvy.

The Best Time to Visit Montana

As Montana is a destination that is all about outdoor fun, these are the times where you can play in nature with an optimal climate, published in TripSavvy.

Top 10 Destinations in Montana

Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks are well-visited and if you love spending time in the outdoors, you’ll find a plethora of activities to do here, including soaking in natural hot springs fed from geothermal sources. Read on for the top 10 destinations in Montana, published in TripSavvy.

The 12 Best Virtual Vacations You Can Take Without Traveling

Not only am I thinking about Covid-19 on a regular basis but also, I'm writing about it. Here are 12 places around the globe where you can explore virtually as an armchair traveler, published in TripSavvy.

The Best Time to Visit Glacier National Park

Check out my recently published travel article—and original photography—on the best time to visit Glacier National Park, considering weather, seasons, events, and things to do, published in TripSavvy.

Montana's 8 Coolest National Parks

I feel so fortunate to have grown up near Yellowstone National Park, which inspired a life-long passion for our National Park System. If you haven't been to my home state of Montana, you should go and see some amazing eye candy while experiencing incredible adventures! I loved writing this story for TripSavvy, where I also included a few of my original photographs.

The 10 Best Hikes in Bali

While Bali, Indonesia rewards visitors with a rich history and culture represented in the many temples and religious sites, the island also features stunning natural landscapes: terraced rice fields, towering volcanoes, and beaches perfect for exploring. And thanks to Bali's tropical climate, nature is easily accessible no matter what time of year you visit. For intrepid travelers, discover the best of the Land of the Gods with your own two feet on one of the islands best hikes.

Here's my just-published story in TripSavvy.

The bottom of the Grand Canyon is a verdant oasis, full of waterfalls and squishy moss—who knew?!

Surfing Sisters: El Salvador

I quickly learned to scream with my mouth shut so that I wouldn’t catch little silvery fish in my teeth. I could see them, hundreds of them, flipping wildly over my surfboard before being sucked up into a wide barrel as the wave swelled and then crashed over my head, ripping my surfboard—and my tethered ankle—back toward the beach.

This was the dance: paddle forward, muster up my courage, get socked backward, repeat. I finally made it over the breaks, farther out in the Pacific Ocean than I’d ever been, away from the safety and serenity of the charcoal sands of Playa Las Flores cove in El Salvador. This was the day my fear morphed into empowerment, the day I would learn to surf. Here’s my story, published in Delta Sky magazine.

The Best 15 Beaches in Bali

Nature-obsessed travelers have much to explore in Bali, situated within the Indonesian archipelago of more than 17,000 islands. From verdant volcanoes to terraced rice paddies in tiny inland villages to misty waterfalls, the Island of the Gods is postcard-perfect. The beaches and coral reefs, however, are the main draw, luring surfers, swimmers, and sun-seekers from not only neighboring Australia but from all over the globe. Read on to discover the best beaches in Bali, published in TripSavvy.

The 10 Best Ski Resorts in Montana

This published article, on ski resorts in my home state of Montana, is close to my country-girl heart. My words, photographs, and even my babies are represented in this story, published in TripSavvy.

7 Adventurous Things to Do in Denali

Alaska has a whopping eight national parks, and Denali National Park and Preserve, with its six million acres of pure wilderness, is one of the most stunning in all of America. The Alaska Range, created by tectonic forces, form the jagged spine of the park and in the center sits Denali peak, once called Mount McKinley, which rises to 20,310-feet above sea level. Travelers can explore diverse terrain comprised of vast tundra, flat and frozen, as well as spruce forests, low-elevation swampy taiga woods, and glaciers. The big five—grizzly bears, moose, caribou, wolves, and mountain sheep—make their home here and only one snaking road, with one single entrance, cuts through the park. Adventures abound in Denali—read my story, published in Tripsavvy, for several things to do while in Alaska's bush country and beyond.

The Top 10 Day Trips from Chicago

From brewery tours in Milwaukee to Dutch heritage in Holland, Michigan, to hiking in state parks or along rivers and lakes, you’ll find that the surrounding areas of the Windy City offer a plethora of experiences. Pick and choose from these nearby adventures and plan your great escape.

Go Here, Not There: 7 Unique Ideas for Your Next Vacation

I really love this travel alternatives story I wrote for Better Magazine where I included some of the most amazing adventures across the globe: in state and national parks, around Tuscany, on board a train, in the Dutch Caribbean, along the Panama Canal, from the seat of a kayak and tucked inside a Nebraskan Sandhill Crane viewing blind. It's a good time to be alive!

Amazing Resorts & Hotels That Welcome Pets

From the Emerald City to the Sunshine State, I’ve rounded up the best family-friendly resorts in the US that welcome pets with open arms. Check out my story, published in Red Tricycle, on the best destinations across the US for pups.

How Travel Can Impact Women’s Careers

When I was in college, I studied abroad short-term in India. I worked at an NGO in New Delhi called Karm Marg, a home for vulnerable children. The kids here learn how to support themselves by acquiring skills to generate income, which will then help them obtain careers, contribute to their communities, and stay off the streets. Karm Marg also works toward empowering the women and mothers who live in nearby villages. Spending time with these at-risk, yet hopeful, children, and the kindhearted stewards who run Karm Marg, was impactful for the career path I ultimately took in my own life as a travel writer.

I knew I wanted a life of creativity, where I could manage my own time, have a family, and still travel and learn from other societies. Travel—domestic and international—is the best way to practice gratitude, autonomy, and empathy for others. Plus, in an increasingly globalized society, it can only help your career to learn how to accept and appreciate different ways of being. Immersing yourself in other civilizations, increasing your cultural competency, where you get to interact with different races and folks from various economic backgrounds and faiths, begets understanding and awareness. Visiting a new country is an insightful opportunity to not only learn about how the locals survive, love and live, but also, it’s a chance to have an exchange—what can you give or teach others, what are you bringing to the table?

For this story, published in Outdoorsy, I reached out to some of the most successful and smart women in my circle to learn about how travel has influenced their careers and creativity. These women have all found efficacious careers in the travel space as writers, editors, photographers, and authors.

The 15 Best Things to Do in Madrid with Kids

Madrid, the capital of Spain, is a bustling metropolis with well over three million residents. Visitors who travel here enjoy manicured boulevards, world-famous European art museums, sporting events and a warm Mediterranean climate. And, of course, there is plenty to do — and eat — here for families. In fact, you'll likely see children running around all over the city, at all hours, especially in the summer months. Read my list below, published in TripSavvy, for the best things to do with kids in this beautiful city.

Drool-Worthy Gear To Add To Your Wish List

When adventuring outdoors, you’ll need some gear and creature comforts to enhance the experience. Whether you’re camping, traversing the country in an RV, traveling with kids in tow, backpacking or tailgating at a sporting event, here are well-designed items made-to-measure for the get-out-and-explore type of folks. Read my story, published in Outdoorsy.

Labor Day Weekend Getaways for Families

There are 21 travel deals for Labor Day weekend in this story I worked on for TripSavvy—from California to Florida and everywhere in between.

18 Trips to Take Before Your Kids Turn 18

When you reminisce about your happiest childhood memories, you probably recall the time you spent with your family — the camping trips, the new cities or countries you explored, the animal encounters, the beaches and lakes you swam in, and the people you met along the way.

Traveling together gives us wonderful opportunities to engage with each other and bond over new experiences. Plus, you’ll have plenty of great photographs to spark storytelling, even after your children leave the nest.

For inspiration, here are 18 places to visit — near and far — before your child turns 18, published in Make it Better magazine. This travel story, which includes my photographs, was super fun to write!

5 Life-Changing Family Vacations to Take With Your Kids Now

Life, as all parents know and feel, moves fast. Too fast. How many mothers and fathers have exclaimed, “They grow up so quickly!”? Yes, it’s cliché but true: The days are long but the years are short. One way to really make the most of the free time we have with our family is to unplug from the digital universe, leave the hustle and hubbub in our dust, and go on an intrepid adventure. Travel helps us bond with our family in a way that proves difficult when bogged down by day-to-day life, full of to-do lists, careers, school, and activities. When out exploring, away from our normal lives, we create memories, we learn about other cultures and ways of life, and we enjoy simply being together. For some travel inspiration, check out these global destinations, chosen by families who decided it was high time for their next great adventure. Here’s my published story in Make it Better magazine.

Best Shorts to Wear for Spring Hiking

Warmer weather is nearly here and it’s time to plot out your fresh-air adventures. Whether you plan on hiking in the mountains, along a beach, through the desert, or across the prairies, bogs, and marshes, you’ll need a pair of shorts that can stand up to the task. I’ve compiled the best styles for active trekkers, ones that are hard-wearing and well-made, as well as a couple of designs that are good for chilling out around a campfire or while venturing off to your next awesome hike in the ol’ RV, published in Outdoorsy.

The Hottest Summer Travel Deals to Book Now

Wanderlust usually strikes when the sun comes out, and if you haven’t planned a summer vacation yet, don’t worry, you still have time. I've rounded up the best travel deals, at the hottest locations, to ensure that you’ll save a penny or two while romping around with your family in tow. Shave off some of the costly expenses, as well as find useful travel tricks and tips so you can enjoy quality time with your brood—all without the usual planning stress. Read my story, published in Red Tricycle for more intel.

20 Relaxing Family Beach Vacations (We Swear!)

Why wait in line at a busy theme park when a family beach vacation serves up heaping helpings of fresh air, relaxation and plenty to explore? We’ve rounded up our favorite beaches for low-key summer fun. From building a sand castle to family surfing lessons, these spots are sure to please. Read on to check out all the beaches that should be on your (sand) bucket list this summer. (Story in Red Tricycle.)

7 Unique Vacation Spots for Every Type of Traveler

Ready to plan your next vacation but feeling uninspired when it comes to choosing the destination? If you’re tired of the same old annual beach escape or tourist-trap sightseeing trip, now’s the time to try something new. Whether you want to head somewhere sort of familiar but with a newfangled approach, or you want to go rogue and enjoy a completely new and unexpected destination, these out-of-the-box vacation spots will definitely breathe some new life into your travel experience. Here’s my story, published in Make it Better magazine.

Suburbs to Sea: Evanston Family’s 19-Month Sailing Adventure Across the Atlantic

When Karla Koziura’s husband, Sebastian, brought up the idea of spending a year and a half at sea and crossing the Atlantic with their family, she had to think long and hard about how that would work. The Evanston family would be leaving behind their life, their jobs and their friends. Their kids, Benjie, age 4, and Sofia, age 7, would be pulled out of school and put in a new, completely foreign environment. The Koziura family harnessed their grit and gumption to make this decision: Fear of the unknown is not a good enough reason to say no to a dream. Read more in my story for Make it Better magazine.

Splurge Vacations Worth Every Penny

Exploring the streets of Florence, Italy

If you find yourself counting how many summers you have left with your kids before they leave the nest, perhaps it’s time to think big and plan a trip that usurps all other vacations. The time you’ll spend together exploring the planet will create memories sure to be the subject of conversation around the dinner table well into the future. I've rounded up some of the most amazing experiences, published in Red Tricycle, that are worth every penny—splurge vacations that will give you a return on investment in spades. Go big or go home, right?

Southern Living and The Mercury News

Southern Living shared a travel story I worked on, with other TripSavvy editors, on where to go in 2019—Tennessee, South Dakota, Texas, Japan, Oregon, California, Canada, England, Colorado, Florida, Mexico, New York, Hawaii, Germany, Illinois, Finland, India, Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Thank you Bay Area News Group and The Mercury News for sharing my travel story on the top family-friendly destinations for 2019.

Great Travel Destinations for Kids…But, Mostly Aimed at Parents

In this travel piece for TripSavvy, I included some of my favorite destinations that I've visited—all of which would be fun family locales (but, like, fun for adults too): London; Indiana Dunes National Park (the newest in the NPS); Nashville; Sonoma; Whitefish, Montana; Tuscany; Disney World and more.

Seeking Green Spaces

I'm really proud of this story, on forest bathing and where to practice the art, published in Outdoorsy’s Never Idle Journal.

When I was in Japan I learned a lot about how important it is to spend time in nature, not just for fun but also for health. Science backs this idea— read Dr. Quing Li's book on forest bathing: Shinrin-Yoku. Walking under a tree canopy, hearing dirt crunch under your boots, smelling fresh plants and flowers—using all of your senses to feel happy and at peace—is, in my mind, the best sort of religion to practice. (REI Adventures, Rocky Mountaineer, The Resort at Paws Up, Mission Point, Canada)

Budget-Friendly Vacations Everyone Will Love

Living on the edge at CN Tower in Toronto, Canada

Travel isn't always super accessible for families, it certainly wasn't for mine growing up, and sometimes it takes a little ingenuity and chutzpah to have the experiences we want. I've rounded up some budget-friendly destinations, spread out all across the nation, that offer big-time adventures, published in Red Tricycle.

An Overnight at a Pineapple House?

Check out these unique rooms—caves, robot-themed, tree houses, space designs, igloos, Lego buildings—in a story published in Red Tricycle (plus my photograph of my sweet middle boy).

Where to Go in 2019

Swinging on a rope tied to a palm tree in Sri Lanka

What are your trip plans for 2019? If you need some well-vetted ideas, based on 60,000 hotels, restaurants and attractions that made TripSavvy's Editor's Choice Awards, look no further than this story.

The Best Destinations in 2019 for Group Travel

I love contributing to TripSavvy as a travel expert not only because it's one of the top-10 travel information sites in the world (as measured by comScore), but also because the site's content is useful, engaging and inspiring. TripSavvy has received multiple awards in the last year, including the Eppy Awards, the W3 Awards, and the Communicator Awards.

Opt Outside…Like, Right Now

Sunrise at Many Glacier, Glacier National Park

I'm really happy with this story. Mostly because I love writing about nature and the importance of spending time with trees, but also because the words came effortlessly—breakneck, chop chop—as if my brain had cracked open and all of my passion and love just oozed onto the page.

I'm thankful to be a part of the award-winning SheKnows SHE Media family, because women's stories are being told in such dynamic and accessible ways.

So, here it is, my story for SheKnows on dropping the Fortnite controller, unplugging from the Matrix, and getting outside IRL.

Family-Friendly Getaways, Across the U.S.

Here are some ideas (plus a couple of my photographs) for family-friendly travel over Memorial Day weekend, across America: Vermont, California, Florida, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Virginia, Mississippi, and Georgia, published in TripSavvy.

Romantic Travel in 2019: Go Here, Not There

This travel article, on romantic getaways to plan this year, was super fun to write, alongside the TripSavvy editorial team.

Awesome Global Travel to Plan Now

D'ya need some wanderlust inspo? Check out my story on international destinations that are great getaways for families, published in Red Tricycle. (Florida, Turks & Caicos, Captiva, Grand Canyon National Park, Denver, Panama, Dominican Republic, Italy, St. Louis, Hawaii, Tennessee, California, Wisconsin, Arizona, Colorado, Great Exuma)

Visit These Beach Towns in the Off-Season

Summers at the beach are, of course, loads of fun for families, but spring offers a whole different experience. Many beach towns have local festivals, more affordable accommodations, and that same gorgeous view without all of the fair-weather beachgoer fans. Check out my list of beach vacations you’ll want to take before the crowds show up, published in Red Tricycle. (SLO CAL, Door County, St. Pete Beach, Massachusetts, Oregon, Maine, South Carolina, Mexico, Virginia)

Warmer-Weather Travel for Families

I've been flying through the work week at such a clip that I completely forgot to share this travel story I wrote for Red Tricycle, published just after the holidays. D'ya need some spring break travel ideas? What about: Turks & Caicos, Captiva and Sanibel Islands, Arizona, Denver, Panama City, Dominican Republic, Tuscany, St. Louis, Hawaii, Tennessee, California, Wisconsin Dells or Florida?

One Perfect Day in Hong Kong

It’s true: Hong Kong, or “Fragrant Harbor,” provides travelers nonstop intensity full of fitful sights, smells, and sounds in an autonomous territory that never slumbers. It’s a brilliant amalgamation of East-meets-West, urban-meets-nature, and modern-meets-ancient, which will make you fall in love as you are hit in the face with these contrasting experiences. If you have the chance — and I highly recommend that you make one happen, even if it’s only for a short layover or for one perfect day — touch down on the Pearl River Delta in East Asia and see for yourself why Hong Kong is renowned for its stunning, dense skyline; bustling waterfront; efficient, clean, and fast public transportation; green spaces; and cosmopolitan metropolis. Hong Kong is justly the Pearl of the Orient when one considers its traditions, people, art, culture, and insanely delectable food. Read more in my published story for The Daily Meal.

The Most Affordable Places to Travel Right Now

Seen while hiking the Rim to Rim trail in Grand Canyon National Park

Should You Consider a Private Jet Over a Commercial Airliner?

Not just for movie stars and dignitaries, it turns out private jet travel can sometimes make the most sense for business travelers, families, couples, and people with pets. Just think how luxurious it would be to avoid standing in long check-in and security lines at the airport, waiting for luggage or scrambling to make a connection. Imagine not having to sit on a plane full of strangers that are coughing, shushing crying babies or poking limbs into your middle seat. Whether you’re traveling for a special occasion, in a large group, or just want the added convenience, privacy, luxury and time benefits, it may be worth it to consider private jet travel. Here’s my story, published in Make it Better magazine.