Reefs & Rainforest: 10 Fun Things To Do Near Cairns, Australia

Originally when we were thinking about traveling to Australia, we were going to focus our time around the Sydney area. We knew we only had about a week to give, so we couldn’t do a full road trip around the continent (as I’d love to do someday!) so we figured we could spend our time in Sydney and its surrounds. But then we made some … Continue reading Reefs & Rainforest: 10 Fun Things To Do Near Cairns, Australia

Glowworms & More: 5 Things to Do in Waitomo, New Zealand

After checking out the sights around Rotorua and Tongariro National Park, our next stop on New Zealand’s North Island was Waitomo, where you can see the famous glowworm caves! Those are a fantastic experience, but we found plenty of other things to do in the beautiful Waitomo area as well. (1) Glowworm Tour Options There are many options to see glowworms around Rotorua, including the … Continue reading Glowworms & More: 5 Things to Do in Waitomo, New Zealand

8 Must-Do Activities in Rotorua and Taupo, New Zealand

8 Rotorua, New Zealand Must-Dos

The city of Rotorua and its surrounding area (which I’ll say includes Taupo for the sake of this post) is a small town along the lake of the same name on New Zealand’s North Island. It really is a must-visit if you’re touring NZ, and you’ll find a wide variety of things to do there. Read on for a few must-dos, as well as suggestions … Continue reading 8 Rotorua, New Zealand Must-Dos

How to Plan a Cheap Long Weekend to Any US City

This year I was lucky enough to visit three different US cities – Washington, D.C. over Easter weekend, Boston over the Fourth of July, and Seattle over a different weekend in July. Two of these trips (Washington, DC and Seattle) were done very cheaply and the other (Boston) was a bit more of a “treat yo self”, so I can definitely share some ways that … Continue reading How to Plan a Cheap Long Weekend to Any US City

10 Ways to Get Off the Beaten Path in Seattle

There are many reasons you may want to get off the beaten path in Seattle. Maybe you’re on a tight budget and some of the more iconic Seattle spots (ahem, Space Needle) are too pricey. Maybe, like me, you get anxiety from crowds and would like to avoid the crush of people at well-known spots like Pike Place Market. Or maybe this isn’t your first … Continue reading 10 Ways to Get Off the Beaten Path in Seattle

15 Ways to Cope with the Dreaded Paris Syndrome

How to Avoid Disappointment on Your First Trip to Paris

If you’ve been following this blog for a while, it’s no secret that my first trip to Paris was less than stellar. On a two week trip where we visited London, Edinburgh, and Paris, that city was by far the worst of the three. When I returned I found out that I was not alone in my experience – many people have the idea of … Continue reading How to Avoid Disappointment on Your First Trip to Paris

Beyond Machu Picchu: 12 Other Archaeological Sites to Visit in the Sacred Valley

Machu Picchu is on just about everyone’s bucket list, but if you visit Peru don’t overlook some of the other incredible Inca archaeological sites you can visit! To be clear, this is a list of other accessible Inca sites you can visit in the Sacred Valley. There are lots of treks to Inca ruins too, whether you want an alternate trek to the Inca Trail, or … Continue reading Beyond Machu Picchu: 12 Other Archaeological Sites to Visit in the Sacred Valley

Tips for Attending Bonneville Speed Week

Last year was my second year attending Bonneville Speed Week as a spectator, and I wanted to write up this quick post on my top tips for those who are attending this year. I think you’ll find it especially helpful if you haven’t been before! 1. Get some info when you get your button or pass Everything that goes on at Speed Week can make … Continue reading Tips for Attending Bonneville Speed Week