24 Hours in New Orleans
I first went to New Orleans when I was 18 years old. It was a marching band trip, and it was jam packed with wonderful activities: hanging out in Jackson square, wandering the waterfront, a boat cruise, a night in Mardi Gras world, strolling the French Quarter, and making it to band practices and performing […]
Tips for Nervous Flyer
I hate flying. It may come as a surprise to some of you, but I do. The whole process of going through security, waiting for the flight, loading the plane, being squashed in a small seat, the flight itself, and waiting to get off the plane, causes me anxiety. But even worse, about four years […]
Fall in D.C.: Photos
There is something about the fall that always feels like coming home. After spending the past six years and three years in Florida, respectively, Meghan and I relish our time in the district during autumn. Fall in D.C. is something entrancing. Having spent the majority of our lives in a D.C. suburb, we’re no strangers […]
How to Plan a Trip
I’ve taken some amazing trips. And, each trip was unique. But, I plan all of my trips in very similar ways, even though the final product can look drastically different. Of the 18 days that I was in New Zealand, 16 of them were on a small group tour. But, when I backpacked Europe for […]
Why Traveling Sucks-And Why it’s so Worth It
It will happen, when you’re traveling, something bad, or annoying, or horrifying will happen. Travel is a beautiful thing that will transform you into a wonderful, adaptable, loving, and interesting person with awesome stories. But, there are a few negatives that come with the territory. You need to learn to be adaptable, and prepare yourself […]
How do I Save Money to Travel?
In 2014, I wrote a post about how I Saved $5,000 to backpack Europe. The $5,000 actually lasted about six weeks, and also covered about a thousand dollars worth of first-time traveler supplies. It’s been about two and a half years since that trip, and I’ve still managed to take several amazing trips during my […]
New Zealand Packing List
My New Zealand packing list had a little bit of everything on it. I would be in New Zealand for about 19 days, and I would spend around 3 full days traveling to get there and get back home. So this packing list is for a three-week trip to New Zealand during the month of July […]
New Zealand’s South Island with Haka Tours
It was the half-way point during my 16 day Amplified tour of New Zealand with Haka Tours. We had spent a little over a week exploring New Zealand’s North Island, and now it was time to move onto New Zealand’s South Island. The air got a little colder, the sites got more beautiful, and all […]
New Zealand with Haka Tours
I wanted to go to New Zealand. I grew up in a place with four seasons, surrounded by mountains and crisp air. In college I watched snow fall, and even though the cold chilled me, it also was kind of beautiful. But now, I live in Florida. And the summers are unbearably hot. So, I […]
Boca de Yuma: The Non-Resort side of the DR
“My dad has a house in Boca de Yuma in the Dominican Republic. You guys are welcome anytime that you want.” My ears immediately perked up. I was sitting at happy hour, when one of my co-workers began talking about his summer spent at his father’s house in the Dominican. He captivated us with tales of […]
Serendipitous Switzerland
Is it wrong to say that I do not have a burning desire to see the entire world? That there are some experiences and places I am not anxious not add to my list of exploits, or travels. There are some countries that I think, “Yes, that would be cool to see, but I don’t […]
Three Days in Iceland
Iceland: the land of fire and ice. Just the nickname of the country is enough to inspire ideas of adventure and daring, and bring to mind gorgeous, endless landscapes. And Iceland more than lived up to the connotations of its name. I visited Iceland on the tail end of a one month solo European journey. […]
Windswept Scotland with Haggis Tours
Thinking back on Scotland, the thing I remember most is the rugged, untamed terrain, endless mountains, and climbing in worn-out sneakers up those mountains, attempting not to slip and fall off a cliff and kill myself. It was cold in Scotland, there was an endless breeze that had to be battled anytime I stepped outside. […]