I always like reading books about places where I’ve been and places that I’d like to visit, even if they’re not technically “travel books.” When I reviewed books for a small local magazine, I had the opportunity to read quite a few books that I might not have found otherwise. Some of them were pretty…
Blogging/Writing
How to blog better, thoughts on writing/creativity and more.
I’ve Had Way Too Many Hobbies Over the Years
I love hobbies. After all, traveling and mountain biking are the reason I created this blog. Sure, I sometimes write about other things (especially electric cars with an increased regulatory in recent years). I’ve largely stuck to my main topics. Now, I’d like to drop something in here to frame who’s writing all this stuff….
Literature Review: The Cruelest Journey by Kira Salak
Today’s post is travel writer Nichole L. Reber’s review of the Kira Salak memoir, The Cruelest Journey. Nichole is full-on obsessed with the fraternal twin crafts of writing and reading, so I’m sure you’ll enjoy her insights. Get to know Nichole and her work by visiting her website or her Facebook page. “No place is…
Don’t Make This Mistake if You Visit the Desert
After reading stories about a French family’s disastrous experience with the a desert hike in the American Southwest, I felt awful. If you haven’t heard, here’s the quick version: A vacationing French family went for a hike near White Sands National Monument in Mexico. In August. With barely any water. The parents died; their 9-year-old…
Thoughts On Sith, Jedi and Redemption
CAUTION: What follows is a major digression from this website’s usual travel/adventure topics. But if you like Star Wars, this post will be a thought-provoking ride. Some of these thoughts contradict each other – but this is all just reflects my stream of consciousness and gives us a chance to talk about something fun. Enjoy!…
Cool Stuff Roundup – Summer Edition
I just realized that’s in been months since I’ve done a Cool Stuff Roundup. I aim to correct that today with a few very interesting tidbits I’ve culled from various locations online. Let’s start with some air travel. You know it’s a favorite of mine – and that I don’t love to hate airlines nearly…
Book Review: attractive unattractive americans
American travelers trying to pass themselves off as Canadians is an old story. I’ve seen them with Canadian flags sewn onto their backpacks – but I haven’t heard them going so far as to claim to be from Moose Jaw or pepper their speech with an “eh” every few sentences. That’s because there’s still a…
Do You “Explore”? Not Likely.
I have this little eccentricity about travel writing: I gag whenever someone casually uses “explore” in any form. For example, “I explored Sweden this summer.” Or Twitter bios that say stuff like “I’m an explorer who is determined to visit every country in the world.” OK, I’ll admit that these are legitimate uses of the…
So You’re Traveling to Vietnam? Some Straight Truth
So you’re traveling to Vietnam. You have your guidebooks. You’ve read the posts on the big travel blogs. Let me give you a reality check about Vietnam before you drown in travel brochure superlatives. Here are a few things you really need to know about traveling to Vietnam. I’m basing this on my own experience –…
Thoughts on the North-South Divide in Vietnam
Ask people in Ho Chi Minh City, and they’ll sing you the same song about Hanoi in a multitude of keys and time signatures. “Hanoi is 15 years behind.” “You’ll feel like someone is watching you all the time.” “Watch out for the people. They cheat you.” “They’ll steal from you.” “They’re mean.” We even…
Travel in Vietnam – A Few Quick Thoughts
It’s been one week since I’ve returned from a two-week trip to Vietnam. Over the next few months, I’ll have a lot to share with you about what it’s like to travel in Vietnam. Obviously, a lot of people have asked “how was your trip?” It’s impossible to wrap this trip up with a sentence…
Slow Travel Movement – The Truth Path or BS?
I have a message for the Slow Travel Movement and the douchier-than-thou characters who comprise its most-extreme adherents: Worry about how you travel and bring your egos back down from Mt. Olympus. Some of us can’t travel slow (By “some of us”, I nostly mean Americans. Yes, those of us from the alleged capital of…
Why I Turn Down Guest Blogging Offers
Every week, I get several requests for people who want to do guest blogging for my site. I turn down nearly every single one of them. It’s been close to a year since I let someone guest blog here, aside from someone I sought out for a cool Halloween-related post. Let me tell you why….
Blogging Thoughts – Some Re-evaluation
If you’ve been blogging for awhile, you’ll see shifts in your style. I’ve fallen into a few bad habits, and it’s time to make some changes.
Tourism Versus Travel – And My Struggle to Not be a Jerk
One of my ongoing travel problems is getting off my high horse – especially about types of travel. Another blogger’s words resonate with me by reminding me that I’m not alone.
4 Dirty Lies Mountain Bikers Tell Bike Mechanics
Bike mechanics know when you’ve been abusing or neglecting your bike – just like the dentist can tell that your choppers haven’t seen floss for the last four years. Here are some of the least-believable lines you can spring on your local mechanic.
Travel Blogs or Guidebooks: Who Do You Trust?
A guidebook leaves me unprepared for a hike near Busan, South Korea – and makes me reflect why I think good travel bloggers are now more credible than guide books.
Cool Content – Top Finds from Other Blogs
Should you drink your own pee? That’s the question asked in the lead story of my Cool Content roundup. Plus, kooks, underground wars, bad writing and more!
Cool Content – Great Finds from Other Blogs
Here’s my first-ever roundup of cool content I’ve unearthed from other bloggers.
Bucket List & Beyond: 6 Gag-Worthy Travel Writing Clichés
Travel is awesome. But travel writing? Not so much. Check out these 6 cliches that make travel writing completely lame.