Visiting Chartres Cathedral was a priority en route to Normandy from Paris. My first glimpse of it, also known as Cathedral of Our Lady of Chartres, as I hiked up the steep spine of tiny Chartres, was thrilling. When it comes to medieval cathedrals, visiting this one “lit up”—en lumière—is an epic experience. And that […]
Destinations
19 Free or Cheap Things to Do in Portland (2024): An Insider’s Guide
There are so many cheap things to do in Portland. In fact, many of them are free! And that’s just one thing that makes Portland one of the top points of interest in the USA. Portland, Oregon is a jewel of the Pacific Northwest. Wrap a thriving local foodie scene in misty, mossy woods with […]
Fox Glacier Heli Hike: A Bucket List Experience
“About once every year or two, we have a group that ends up overnighting up here,” our glacier guide confessed as six of us huddled together under ragged wind and slushy rain high up on Fox Glacier. “A storm just blows in too fast to get everyone out in safe conditions.” That was our introduction […]
Island Vibes: 17 EPIC Things to Do in Moorea
The island of Moorea is a tropical paradise. (Even more so than Maui, which is one of my favorite islands.) And it looks just as amazing in real life as it does in those famous photos you’ve seen. So if your next destination is French Polynesia, here are my top 15 things to do in […]
New Zealand North Island Itinerary: 7 Magical Days
New Zealand’s South Island gets all the glory. And its reputation is well-deserved. From heli-hiking a glacier to an overnight wilderness cruise, our South Island adventures were memorable. But I’m so glad we also included a New Zealand North Island itinerary in our trip. This is a stunning part of the country and deserves your […]