Where will you go next?
From mountains peaks to bustling cities, these stories span continents and travel styles. Whether you’re dreaming up your next hike, road trip, or city escape, find inspiration here—drawn from real adventures, both near and far.
Asia
Bhutan: Land of Dragons and Buddhas
Already in Nepal, skipping Bhutan was never an option — a week in the Land of the Thunder Dragon and Tiger’s Nest Monastery did not disappoint. Read more →
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Tiger’s Nest Monastery Hike
The hike to Tiger’s Nest Monastery was always going to be the capstone of our Bhutan trip — and it delivered everything we hoped for and more. Read more →
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Experience of a Lifetime: The Everest Base Camp Trek
A lifelong goal, a 50th birthday, and a surprising discovery — Everest Base Camp that trekkers reach is not quite what most people imagine. Read more →
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Kathmandu Sightseeing – UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Bookending the Everest Base Camp trek with two stays in Kathmandu, I explored six of the seven UNESCO World Heritage sites in the Kathmandu Valley. Read more →
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The Himalayan Kingdoms of Nepal and Bhutan
A month in Nepal and Bhutan, a lifelong goal accomplished — Everest Base Camp at 50, followed by one of the world’s most exclusive destinations. Read more →
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Europe
The Tour du Mont Blanc: How We Planned, Trekked, and Loved Every Mile
Two friends, fourteen days, three countries — hiking the iconic Tour du Mont Blanc through the stunning landscapes of France, Italy and Switzerland. Read more →
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Latin America
The Inca Trail and Beyond: A Pandemic-Era Journey in Peru
I was taking a writing class this past semester and decided to reach into the past to resurrect our trip to Peru and render it on the page as practice. The trip was just under three weeks long, but we managed to go from the Andes to the Pacific, seeing major highlights of the country.… Read more →
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A Taste of Lima: Peru’s Culinary Capital
If the week leading up to our arrival in Lima had been focused on history, archaeology, and hiking, with a sprinkling of food thrown, the next several days in Peru’s capital would be about nothing but the food. In San Francisco, my introduction to Peruvian food had been through La Mar, the first U.S.outpost of… Read more →
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Between Past and Present: A Stroll Through Cusco
After completing our Inca Trail hike to Machu Picchu and returning to Ollantaytambo by train, we hopped into a van arranged by Amazonas Explorer for the 50-mile drive to Cusco, where we would be spending the next two nights. Designated a World Heritage Site in 1983, Cusco was the capital of the Incan Empire until… Read more →
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Machu Picchu, Minus the Crowds: Hiking the Inca Trail During the Pandemic
INCA TRAIL HIKE Only a few hundred meters to go and we’d reach Warmiwañusqa, or Dead Woman’s Pass. At 13,828 feet above sea level, it would be the highest point of our hike. My breathing was labored, but steady, as my lungs sucked in as much oxygen as possible with each inhalation. I could feel… Read more →
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Urubamba: The Heart of Peru’s Sacred Valley
Before the Inca Trail, we spent days exploring Urubamba and the Sacred Valley — from the ruins of Pisac and Ollantaytambo to the salt flats of Maras, Moray and the colorful village of Punamarca. Read more →
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United States
Frog Lake Huts: A Unique Overnight Escape in the Tahoe Backcountry
Castle Peak Trailhead > Donner Lake Rim Trail > Warren Lake > Red Dot Trail | 6.5 miles one-way | Elevation gain: 1,556 feet I’ve been lucky enough to do a bit of hiking in Europe, and one of the things I’ve enjoyed most is the hut-to-hut experience. Being able to travel longer distances through… Read more →
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A Nevada Roadtrip That’s Out of This World
Our Nevada roadtrip to Alamo took us along the Extraterrestrial Highway (SR 375). Read more →
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Camping and Off-Roading Adventures on the Oregon Coast
Trading Bay Area heat waves for the cool Oregon coast — a few laid-back camping days with friends at Eel Creek Campground on the edge of the stunning Oregon Dunes. Read more →
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A San Francisco Adventure: Exploring the City by GoCar
We rented a yellow GoCar and had an amazing three hours zipping around San Francisco. Read more →
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Nighttime Magic: The Aurora Borealis at Coyote Lake
We headed out for a simple overnight camping trip near Henry Coe — and ended up witnessing the aurora borealis right here in the Bay Area during a rare solar storm. Read more →
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