Out of the 31 countries I have visited thus far in my travels, Iceland is by far the most magical. From its incredible out-of-this-world natural landscape to the quirky art scene of Reykjavik, Iceland is a country you have to visit at least once in your life. Or twice. I’m already planning my return visit. Iceland offers a variety of …
My Top 5 Favorite Travel Moments of 2016
Everyone always says to follow your dreams, but most of us don’t. We make too many excuses. I don’t have time. I don’t have enough money. I’m too afraid to risk it all. Well, 2016 was the year I finally followed my dreams. I left my boring 9-5 job back home to travel the world on my “Great Escape.” My …
My Best Travel Photos From 2016
I began my Great Escape on January 20, 2016. Over the course of the past 12 months, I traveled to 16 countries, two new states, and managed to take at least 32 GB memory cards of travel photos. One of which I still need to edit. I should probably get on that since most of my Europe photos are on …
Great Escape Monthly Review: November 2016
After several months of being “homeless,” I finally settled down for a while to work. And, it feels good. Much of October was in flux for me as I wasn’t sure if I would be returning home to Maine for my dream job or if I would continue to stay in Australia until my visa runs out in April. …
The Bangkok Bucket List
One region of the world I have yet to explore is Southeast Asia. During my recent holiday in Fiji, I met two English couples who shared heaps of stories about their travels in Asia. Since I’m already nearby, I plan to spend two months traveling through the region after my visa expires in Australia. One city I’m excited to visit …
That One Time I Became a Model in Australia…
I will admit, one of my guilty pleasures is America’s Next Top Model. But, I’ve never thought I would be the one to become a model in Australia. During my short stay in Alice Springs, I noticed a sign in the Alice Springs YHA hostel looking for models for an upcoming photo shoot for the hostel website. In exchange for …
Hostel Review: Alice Springs YHA – Alice Springs, Australia
Alice Springs, Australia is the launchpad to Uluru and Kings Canyon. While most people tend to leave Alice Springs just as quickly as they came, Alice Springs is a “bonanza of a town” (Side note: If you’re heading to Alice, I highly recommend reading Nevil Shute’s A Town Like Alice). Alice Springs, often just shorten to Alice, offers a variety …
Great Escape Monthly Review: October 2016
October was a rather laidback month physically, but emotionally I was on a rollercoaster ride. Ever since I returned to Australia in August, I’ve been fighting homesickness that waxes and wanes. Just when I accepted that I would stay in Australia until my visa runs out in March 2017, I got an email from a dream publication about a possible …
Christmas Markets in the Capital Cities of the UK
Christmas is almost upon us once again and for towns and cities across the globe that means the beginning of the Christmas market season. For travelers planning to visit the United Kingdom in the upcoming months the country’s four capital cities Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh and London each have great Christmas markets to visit. Belfast Running from November 19 to December …
The Paperwork and Steps to Moving Abroad
Moving abroad for an extended period of time has many bureaucratic steps that need to be observed. This is particularly true when the expatriate has to overstay their tourist visa, which is typically around ninety days on average. Where this process gets complicated is that expats then have to explore their prospective options of being able to stay legally in …
Great Escape Monthly Review: September 2016
September was another whirlwind month of travel. I started the month in the Northern Territory and finished the month in Melbourne after traveling to two states and two territories. I saw heaps of amazing wildlife from wild horses to kangaroos to wild koala bears on the Great Ocean Road. Australia’s natural biodiversity never stops surprising me. As much as I …
Discover San Francisco’s Unique Architecture
San Francisco is a popular travel destination for many reasons. From the iconic Golden Gate Bridge and old cable cars to the delicious restaurants and cafes, there’s a reason more than 18 million people visit “The City by the Bay.” I’ve traveled to enough places to know what I like and don’t like about cities. One part that will either …