Editor's Note: Inspired by Follow Friday on Twitter, I am profiling (in far more than 140 characters) extraordinary travelers who you, too, should follow! Through these profiles, I want to introduce you to globetrotting souls that follow their hearts to places near and far, so join me each Friday in my quest to be inspired by some of the most intriguing adventure seekers on our planet!
Be inspired by: Michael Theys
Follow him at: @Africafreak
Are you sitting down? Because I have some sad news to tell you. Lonely Planet and I broke up. Now, now. Don't worry. I'm going to be fine...in time. It was for the best, really. We'll be happier now. I'm ready to play the field again, see what's out there.
What happened? Well, we got in a bit of a row while I was in Thailand. You see, LP mentioned in passing that we might experience "high winds" in Koh Samui in November. I live in San Francisco! High winds are nothing! I laugh in the face of high winds.
Read MoreEditor's Note: Inspired by Follow Friday on Twitter, I am profiling (in far more than 140 characters) extraordinary travelers who you, too, should follow! Through these profiles, I want to introduce you to globetrotting souls that follow their hearts to places near and far, so join me each Friday in my quest to be inspired by some of the most intriguing adventure seekers on our planet!
Be inspired by: Paul Sanchez
Follow him at: @wheresPAUL
One guidebook said it was an exercise in self-torture, but my friends and I were not dissuaded. We had eight days to circumnavigate a country, and we were going to take advantage of long hours of daylight to suck the marrow out of every minute. Starting in Reykjavik, we were going to circle the country of Iceland, from west to south to east to north, along the fabled Ring Road, and during a tumultuous time in the country’s history.
Once among the richest countries in the world, Iceland’s economy has completely collapsed in recent years. While it has wreaked havoc on the populace, for us it meant a favorable exchange rate and a chance to see a country that was formerly cost prohibitive.
Read MoreEditor's Note: Inspired by Follow Friday on Twitter, I am profiling (in far more than 140 characters) extraordinary travelers who you, too, should follow! Through these profiles, I want to introduce you to globetrotting souls that follow their hearts to places near and far, so join me each Friday in my quest to be inspired by some of the most intriguing adventure seekers on our planet!
Be inspired by: Steven Shoppman & Stephen Bouey (Denver)
Follow them at: @theworldbyroad
Every time I whipped out my iPhone in Thailand the locals said the same exact thing: Want to sell? I quickly realized my precious gadget was an easy target for pickpocketing and I needed to make sure I knew where it was at all times. Look, I loved Thailand, but scams and theft are a reality there.
The kicker was, I hadn’t brought my iPhone to Thailand so I could use it as an emergency phone. If that had been the case, I could have left it locked up in the safe in my hotel room and never worried about it again. No, I brought it with me because it’s my music player. And I think you’ll agree with me that I’d rather tour the world with Rachel Ray and listen to her say, “Yummo!” on repeat than travel without music.
Problem: I need a cheaper, lighter music player for my rugged adventures.
Solution: slotRadio
Baseball fever is in the air and in just a few days Major League Baseball will be kicking off opening day in the City of Brotherly Love, where the World Champion Philadelphia Phillies will play against the Atlanta Braves.
And if there's one thing is for sure, die-hard baseball fans will be traveling miles away, braving the rainstorms, humidity, cold, or the extra long ball games (you know, the ones that goes into extra innings and neither team scores a run until the 12th inning) to cheer on their teams.
Last season, as a compromise with my significant other over baseball and shoe shopping, I accompanied him to three baseball games across the East Coast from Boston to Philadelphia to follow his New York Mets team and suprisingly, I had a wonderful time!
Read MoreI get absolutely giddy with joy around spring time. As an avid whale watcher, the spring season means that humpback and gray whales make their annual 12,000-mile journey from cold Alaska waters to breed in the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean further south.
Starting now through early April, state parks, recreation departments, and beaches throughout the West Coast have set up a string of whale-watching sites for visitors hoping to catch a glimpse of a humpback or gray whale diving, jumping, or gliding over the top of the water. Volunteers are usually on hand to guide visitors, too. In Oregon, the parks and recreation department has volunteers stationed at 28 different locations to help curious seekers find good whale-watching spots.
Read MoreThis week's question comes from Tamyra in Baton Rouge, La., home of the giant Frostop roadside root-beer mug:
First of all, congratulations on wanting to travel solo. I think that once you try it, you’ll find it to be a rewarding experience.
If you haven’t traveled solo before, I recommend easing into it, though. How? Plan a vacation where you know you’ll be interacting with others so that you don’t feel totally alone. For my first solo trip, I went on a yoga retreat where I stayed in a dormitory with other female travelers. Although I was on the trip by myself, I had ready-made roommates, and everyone shared meals together so there was always someone to talk to. If you don’t do yoga, there are plenty of spa getaways where you are placed in a situation where you eat and take classes with others. It’s a great way to travel and meet new people.
If you’re looking for something a little less structured, then I would recommend staying in small bed and breakfasts. Correspond with the owners before you go to get a feel for the place and its level of friendliness, and let them know you are a woman traveling on your own. When I did this in Alaska, the hostess of the B&B that I stayed in kindly introduced me to the other travelers who were staying there during breakfast. During the day, I went out and did my own thing, but when I came back at night, I was treated as part of the B&B family, and spent several hours in the common room talking with other travelers.
Whatever you choose to do, bring a journal. It will always keep you company during your down time, and will provide you with a nice reminder of your trip for years to come.
For seven more tips on traveling solo, check out my recent blog entry.
Ah, Colombia: perfectly preserved colonial cities, a salsa beat for every street, a vibrant mountain capital, vine-covered jungles, and pounds and pounds of that white...sand.
I just got back from the South American country, and any remnant worries of a drug-laden danger zone were shattered the moment I landed in Cartagena’s balmy Caribbean embrace. As I traveled around for 11 days, reminders of the troubles that make American news reports were few and far between, and proof that Colombia deserves its nascent reputation as a traveler’s paradise was everywhere. And I felt safe 100% of the time.
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This week's question from Katherine in Fort Resolution, Canada, the oldest documented community in the Northwest Territories:
My husband and I are teachers in an isolated community. We need a relaxing vacation before school starts again. Can you help?
Which celebrity couple would you want to tag along with on vacation?
