On my last day in Colombia (and South America), I ventured on a tour of the Mercado de Bazurto. This turned out to be one of my favorite things in Cartagena, and well-off the beaten tourist path. The Bazurto Market is Cartagena’s main market where foods are shipped from all over the country. It’s the definition of sensory overload. I’ve been to India and many parts of Asia, and Bazurto Market was a particular kind of chaotic, but I LOVED it. There are stalls, stands, and shops selling everything you could imagine - from old cassette tapes, to fruits and vegetables, to meats and fish, to cheap Chinese imports, to paintings, and pre-made food just to name a few. It’s arguably the most authentic place to get food in Cartagena, a belief popularized by Anthony Bourdain in an episode of No Reservations. The market is massive. It starts in the streets and it works its way into a covered maze of stalls, eventually opening into a sweltering permanent structure before winding back out through the maze-like covered stalls and into the streets. We learned about the prevalence of corner shops to launder money during Escobar’s reign, sampled local fruit at one of the many stands, danced to Colombian reggae, got posters painted by a famous Cartagena street artist, learned about local herbs and remedies, and had a delicious lunch at Restaurante Cecelia la Unica. I would put Mercado de Bazurto at the top of your list on a Cartagena visit! But do yourself a favor and take a tour, especially if you aren’t fluent in Spanish. I did a tour through @cartagenainsider, which I HIGHLY recommend. My guides Kate and Iveth were awesome, and the company focuses on ethical and sustainable tourism that works to keep Colombians safe. . . . . . . . . . . #colombia #cartagena #mercadodebazurto #mercadobazurto #bazurtomarket #cartagenainsider #travelcolombia #travelcartagena #southamerica #travelsouthamerica #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo #shotoniphonexr #iphonexr
The Rosario Islands are a group of islands in the Caribbean about a 1.5-2 hour boat ride from Cartagena. I decided to take a day trip to a little island eco-resort called Isla Bella. It was a picturesque little island once we got there... but the getting there (and back) was no small feat. As I’ve learned on my travels, there are often “different” safety standards and regulations (read: very few-to-none) in developing countries. In the case of Colombia, I learned my lesson on the Caribbean Sea. It turns out, these little island resorts contract out boat rides to whoever has a boat with a semi functioning engine - boats that look fit for a leisurely Disneyland cruise. And then they pack the boats with as many people and luggage as possible and take them out on the Caribbean. For my boat, this looked like nearly capsizing three times in 10+ ft open sea swells (no exaggeration), while our engine broke down twice in the midst of the swells. When I was forced to take the same boat back later that afternoon, we broke down four times and a 1.5 hour trip turned into an almost 4 hour trip (last photo: a man helping navigate the boat through 3.5 ft water). But I Isla Bella was beautiful! I made some friends from San Francisco (shoutout to @jenn_vaughan, @emmybois) who had rented a little casita which they invited me to, and it felt like we had our own private island. Would I venture to the Rosario Islands again? I’d say debatable, but knowing me... probably 😉 . . . . . . . . . . . . #colombia #cartagena #rosarioislands #islabella #rosarioislandscolombia #travelcolombia #travelcartagena #southamerica #travelsouthamerica #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo #shotoniphonexr #iphonexr
Getsemani is street art heaven! So much of the art conveys cultural, societal, and political issues of Cartagena’s past and present. It’s really incredible to see these interpretations and expressions painted across almost every surface of the Getsemani neighborhood. One of my favorite things to do in Cartagena was stroll the Getsemani streets and alleyways taking in all the art with fresh cut mango in hand. . . . . . . . . . . . #colombia #cartagena #cartagenacolombia #getsemani #getsemanicartagena #getsemaniart #getsemanistreetart #travelcolombia #travelcartagena #southamerica #travelsouthamerica #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo #shotoniphonexr #iphonexr
A short walk from the walled city is an area of Cartagena called Gatsemani. I stayed in this neighborhood most of my stay, and unsurprisingly fell in love with it. It’s a gentrifying area and a little rougher around the edges, but currently trendy because of that. It’s an area that more authentically captures everyday life in Cartagena, and where locals gather around the central Holy Trinity Square at night to drink and dance. Getsemani is an incredibly creative enclave, where it feels like almost everyone is some kind of artist. Banners and umbrellas cover many streets, while street art covers almost every street-side wall and building. If you’ve followed along here, you know I have a thing for street art, so that deserves its own post. Getsemani is one of those places travel dreams are made of: colorful and vibrant, fruit stands and mojitos, local culture, and artistry everywhere you turn. . . . . . . . . . . . #colombia #cartagena #cartagenacolombia #getsemani #travelcolombia #travelcartagena #southamerica #travelsouthamerica #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo #shotoniphonexr #iphonexr
One of my favorite things about Cartagena was the doors... oh my, the DOORS. It was like a colonial Caribbean version of Dublin. Every door was a different pastel or earthen color with vines or wisteria hanging down and a big door knocker. In the walled city during the Spanish reign, different door knockers signified the class or profession of the person who lived there. Lizards marked homes of the social elite, fish or sea creatures indicated the home of a seamen or trader, lions represented homes of those in the military or other protectors, and the list goes on. They still make door knockers to this day, but modern knockers aren’t necessarily indicative of profession or social status. Thinking I need to make a coffee table book of doors around the world 🤔 . . . . . . . . . . . . #colombia #cartagena #cartagenacolombia #cartagenadoors #doorsofcartagena #travelcolombia #travelcartagena #southamerica #travelsouthamerica #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo #shotoniphonexr #iphonexr
I decided at the last minute of trip planning to tack on a stop in Cartagena, Colombia to round out my South American adventure. And man, what a GREAT idea that was. Cartagena was the perfect ending to an active month in South America. It was an easy flight from Lima (also an easy flight from most places in the States). It took a grand total of 45 minutes from landing to get through customs and to my hotel. I was immediately obsessed with Cartagena - with its colorful colonial buildings and vibrant street art, to the pervasive fruit stands and beautiful waters, to it’s bustling and off-the-beaten path markets. The walled city, as it’s called, is arguably the star attraction of Cartagena. Centuries ago, a huge wall was constructed around what was, at that time, the center of the city to protect against pirate attacks. The wall still stands, with much of Cartagena’s tourist attractions sitting within the walls. Brightly colored and balconied colonial buildings line the streets, broken up by an occasional beautiful church or park square. And the DOORS in Cartagena! But that deserves its own forthcoming post. The beauty of the walled city unsurprisingly attracts lots of tourists... an annoyance that’s even worse on days when cruise ships are in port (remember when that was a thing?). Colombia can get a bad wrap for its history, but it should be on your post-COVID-adventure short list! It has SO much to offer as a country, and I felt totally safe in Cartagena as a [smart] solo female traveler. . . . . . . . . . . . . #colombia #cartagena #cartagenacolombia #travelcolombia #travelcartagena #southamerica #travelsouthamerica #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo #shotoniphonexr #iphonexr
Cusco. The big little city nestled in the Peruvian Andes. Reminiscing on the simplicity of narrow, cobble stoned streets and hilly alleyways. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #peru #cusco #cuscoperu #southamerica #travelsouthamerica #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo #shotoniphonexr #iphonexr
And just like that, it’s been 2 months since South America. Now we find ourselves sheltering in place to help battle the spread of COVID-19. It truly feels like a different world than the one we were living in just 2 months ago. What better way to get through this together than remember the amazing places we’ve been, and dream about where went want to go next when this is all over? In that spirit, I’m picking back up on South America. One of my favorite (and hardest) trips from Cusco was to Rainbow Mountain. The incredible colors and textures on and surrounding Rainbow Mountain are from the mineralogical composition of the rocks and clay. It’s truly unlike anything I’ve ever seen, and the colors are even more vibrant in real life. I hiked to the top of Montaña Winikunka at 16,522 ft (😰) which gives an amazing view of Rainbow Mountain. From there, I hiked a trail along a nearby mountainside to a lookout of the Red Valley (aptly named). It was the highest altitude I’ve ever hiked in, and it was no joke but completely worth it. The Andes are home to some of the most diverse, astounding sceneries I’ve ever seen. Rainbow Mountain was indescribable and a highlight of South America. . . . . . . . . . . . . . #peru #cusco #cuscoperu #rainbowmountain #redvalley #southamerica #travelsouthamerica #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo #shotoniphonexr #iphonexr
My second day adventure from Cusco was to the Maras Salt Mines and Moray Incan ruins. The Maras Salt Mines are an amazing network of salt evaporation pools constructed along the mountainsides. They’ve been in use since Incan times, and are still mined every year between March-August. From the salt mines, I took a very muddy ATV tour to Moray, an Incan archeological site. The ATV ride was a really cool, unique way to see the Peruvian countryside and ruins. The technology of Moray is pretty mind-blowing, per usual with the Incas. The site served as a research facility for the Incas to experiment with different crop variations in varying “climates.” The orientation of the circular formations to the sun and wind and terraced depressions actually created different growing conditions at each level, with temperatures varying up to 27 degrees between the top and the bottom terraces 🤯 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #peru #cusco #cuscoperu #maras #marassaltmines #moray #morayperu #atvcuscoadventuresonwheels #southamerica #travelsouthamerica #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo #shotoniphonexr #iphonexr
Cusco: the former capital of the Incan empire and beautiful city sitting at a staggering 11,152 feet of elevation. It’s the primary city and jumping off point for any sightseeing and activities in the Peruvian Andes. Luckily I think I paid my dues with enough altitude sickness as a kid that it doesn’t really bother me anymore (at least that’s what I tell myself). But while Cusco is a great hub for surrounding activities like Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley, Rainbow Mountain, etc it’s an amazing place in its own right. It was probably my overall favorite place in Peru. I spent a total of 6 days there and felt like I really got to explore and know the old parts of the city, especially the quaint San Blas neighborhood. There are lots of hills and stairs, which meant a lot of huffing and puffing. But the narrow, cobblestone streets and old Spanish architecture nestled in the mountains was just stunning. In classic colonialist fashion (ugh), the Spanish made a specific point to destroy all Incan sacred sites and build their newer structures directly on top of them, so there are almost no remaining Incan or pre-Incan structures in the city aside from those accidentally unearthed by an earthquake. But I must admit the old Spanish architecture is beautiful. For anyone going to Peru, my advice is to spend the most time in Cusco, hands down. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #peru #cusco #cuscoperu #southamerica #travelsouthamerica #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo #shotoniphonexr #iphonexr
Machu Picchu... I guess the place doesn’t really need explanation. Fun fact: the proper pronunciation in its original Quechua is “mah-choo peek-choo.” But how and why the Incas settled in this place is truly mind blowing. It is so high, so remote, and so unreachable even by modern day reasonable means. It’s either a multi-day trek, or a bus to Ollantaytambo + a train to Aguas Calientes + another bus up mountain switchbacks. But yet they somehow dragged enough massive stones up here to build an entire civilization. Even though it was rainy season and it was shrouded in clouds and fog, the clouds move amazingly fast and it will clear one second, and the next second be covered. It really was an amazing site and place to experience. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #peru #machupicchu #machupicchuperu #southamerica #travelsouthamerica #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo #shotoniphonexr #iphonexr
We arrived in Cusco late and left early the next morning for a 2 day tour of the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. If I had one piece of advice for anyone heading to Peru to see Machu Picchu, it would be to make sure you also see at least parts of the Sacred Valley. I think I liked it just as much as Machu Picchu. We visited the town of Pisac, where we got to see a silver workshop (silver mining is now a primary industry in the Sacred Valley) and the incredible Pisac ruins that have both pre-Incan and Incan structures. We then visited the town of Ollantaytambo and it’s famous Incan ruins (photos 1-4). Ollantaytambo is also the jumping off point for reaching Machu Picchu. Unless you trek the Inca trail (typically 4 days), you have to take a train from Ollantaytambo to the town of Aguas Calientes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #peru #sacredvalley #sacredvalleyperu #pisac #pisaq #pisacruins #ollantaytambo #ollantaytamboruins #southamerica #travelsouthamerica #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo #shotoniphonexr #iphonexr
Sadly my South America adventure came to an end and I’m back on home soil in the states. But life throws you curveballs sometimes, so I got super behind on documenting the remainder of my trip. Silver lining: I get to relive a little bit of it by catching up! From the amazing desert oasis of Huacachina, we got on our Peru Hop bus again and hunkered down for an overnight ride... a ride we didn’t realize would end up being 37 hours 😳 It was all part of the experience, but I don’t think I’d do it again. I digress... an upside was we got to make a couple stops along the way. First, we toured a Pisco vineyard where they make Pisco (the national drink of Peru, a liquor made from grapes) and Pisco wine. A few hours further south, we made an eery stop at the UNESCO World Heritage Site Nazca Lines. The Nazca Lines are a group of geoglyphs created by pre-Incan Nazca and Paracas cultures, dating back to potentially 100 B.C. There are over 300 figures amongst the lines, spanning over 620 square miles. We’re talking like crazy “Signs” type stuff of massive animal signs and symbols etched into the earth that haven’t washed away or disappeared in thousands of years. We only saw them from a lookout tower, but if I did it again I would pay the $70 to take a flight to get a better view. We also got to see a lot of the Peruvian lifestyle along the road, stopping in Arequipa and in some small towns as we climbed into the Andes en route to Cusco. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #peru #pisco #piscosour #nazca #nazcalines #peruhop #southamerica #travelsouthamerica #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo #shotoniphonexr #iphonexr
After 24 hours in Paracas, we hopped back on the bus and headed a couple hours south to Huacachina. This is one of the craziest places I’ve ever been. It’s a literal desert oasis town tucked in between giant sand dunes (truly worth a google). We paid $15 to go on an insane dune buggy and sand boarding tour. They told us the dune buggies would be like a roller coaster, and they weren’t kidding. Then they let us loose with waxed snowboards (sans bindings) with almost zero instruction, that we rode head first on our stomachs down giant sand dunes (and I mean you couldn’t see the bottom of the last dune). It was one of the craziest, most fun things I’ve ever done and something you could only get away with in a developing country like Peru. We joked that it would never fly in America, and if it did, it would cost you $500 and they’d outfit you with helmets and gear and let you down dunes half the size of what we road #wheninperu. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #peru #huacachina #sanddunes #sandboarding #oasis #peruhop #southamerica #travelsouthamerica #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo #shotoniphonexr
From Lima we took @peruhop down the cost to Paracas. Peru Hop is a longer haul hop-on-hop-off tour company that enables you to see more of Peru en route to Cusco. We spent one night in Paracas, a little beach town a few hours south of Lima. We toured the Ballestas Islands (aka “the poor man’s Galapagos”) and the Paracas National Reserve, an expansive desert reserve 15 minutes outside the town. It was a cool look into Peruvian coastal life. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #peru #paracas #ballestasislands #paracasnationalreserve #peruhop #southamerica #travelsouthamerica #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo
Barranco is an area of Lima slightly rougher around the edges than its Miraflores neighbor. It’s a gentrifying, exciting area of town where trendy restaurants are popping up and famous and unknown street artists are constantly making their mark. Having visions of making a coffee table book of street art around the world (as if that doesn’t already exist I’m sure). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #peru #lima #barranco #barrancostreetart #streetart #southamerica #travelsouthamerica #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo
From Santiago, I hopped on a flight to Lima and spent 3 nights / 2 full days there, where a friend (@sarahlawton.hawkins) came and met me for a Peruvian adventure. I hadn’t heard great things about Lima... a lot of, “we didn’t really like it”, “there’s not much to do there”, or “the architecture is pretty, but it’s really dirty.” But we really enjoyed it and think 2 full days there was perfect. We loved exploring the Miraflores, Barranco, historical city center neighborhoods, and all the amazing food. And the street art... oh the street art! I have a real thing for street art, so that’ll probably get its own post. Highlights from Lima: 1) @limagourmet food tour - if you are going anytime soon, I highly recommend this! 2) our cute, trendy hotel in Miraflores, @calimaboutique 3) wandering around Miraflores and Barranco 4) @lamarcebicherialima - also absolutely recommend 5) Pan Sal Aire for lunch. Lima was the perfect way to kick off a 2 week Peruvian adventure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #peru #lima #miraflores #barranco #limagourmet #southamerica #travelsouthamerica #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo
From Puerto Natales, I flew to Santiago and spent one night there. It was mostly a regroup night, so unfortunately I didn’t see much of the city outside of driving through it and walking around my hotel. But I had one of the best meals of my life at a great placed called Baco - Chilean sea bass with quinoa and a butter lettuce salad. So so good. On another note, if you’ve been watching the news you’ve probably heard how Santiago has been paralyzed by protests at various times over the last few months. But the thing that struck me was how relatively normal everything seemed, and how everyone was just going about their lives. It’s experiences like this that I appreciate about travel and are always my greatest teacher. No matter the culture, the circumstance, the socioeconomic status... people just want what’s best for themselves, their families, and their communities. I truly believe there’s so much more that unites us, than divides us. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #chile #santiago #baco #southamerica #travelsouthamerica #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo
We ended our Chilean adventure with a 2 day / 1 night visit to an authentic estancia called Estancia Mercedes (@agroturismoestanciamercedes). It’s located west of Puerto Natales on the coast near Chilean fjord-land, and has been run by the García family for three generations. It was featured in @natgeo a few years ago for their efforts to keep the tradition of “bagualear” (rounding up feral cattle - yes, a thing in Chile) alive. We were the only people at the Estancia besides the García family, and it was amazing getting to know them and learn about the estancia way of life. Everyone spoke only Spanish mostly, which made me very thankful for @camillemou’s spanish skills. We road horses to a waterfall, galloped along the beach, fished, went looking for the sheep herds, ate delicious food (all sourced from the estancia), saw an incredible sunset, and truly experienced the Chilean estancia way of life. If you’re planning a trip to Chilean Patagonia anytime in the near future I would highly recommend throwing in an Estancia experience, and I can’t imagine a more authentic experience than Estancia Mercedes. . . . . . . . . . . . #patagonia #chile #puertonatales #torresdelpaine #estancia #estanciamercedes #natgeo #nationalgeographic #southamerica #travelsouthamerica #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo
Our last Torres del Paine activity was a short 1 hour hike to the Cuernos Lookout. The trailhead starts just above Salto Grande, and a friend had told me this was one of the best views in the park... and he wasn’t wrong. The hike itself is easy, more of a “stroll” as he put it, and takes you to a stunning lookout of the Cuernos (aka “horns” en inglés). It was the perfect end to our time in Torres del Paine, and we celebrated with a couple Austral “summit” beers. From there we made the drive back to Puerto Natales (with just enough gas) and spent one last night at “the lost boys hostel.” . . . . . . . . . . . #patagonia #chile #puertonatales #torresdelpaine #cuernos #cuernoslookout #wtrek #southamerica #travelsouthamerica #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo
Our original plan was to hike the Glacier Grey trail on our third day - the hike that typically rounds out the W Trek (along with Tres Torres and the French Valley). However considering the logistical complications and cost of the Lago Pehoe catamaran and general tiredness, we opted for a more chill day of visiting the glacier by way of @hotel.lago.grey and hiking around the peninsula there. It actually offered some modern-art-looking iceberg views the trail probably wouldn’t have, and gave us additional time for lunch at Hosteria Pehoe and another shorter hike to see the Cuernos (pics forthcoming). . . . . . . . . . . . #patagonia #chile #puertonatales #torresdelpaine #hotellagogrey #glaciergrey #hosteriapehoe #wtrek #southamerica #travelsouthamerica #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo
When we were trekking in Torres del Paine, we stayed right outside the south side of the park in a little community called Rio Serrano. My awesome travel partner at the time found some little no frills cabins called Cabañas Lago Tyndall. Rio Serrano was like a magical wonderland that overlooked Torres del Paine, where herds of horses roamed freely around the cabins, and the local dogs became your best friend for your stay. . . . . . . . . . . . #patagonia #chile #puertonatales #torresdelpaine #rioserrano #wtrek #southamerica #travelsouthamerica #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo
The French Valley ended up being our last bigger hike in Torres del Paine. After taking the catamaran across Lago Pehoe, the trail headed east towards the Cuernos and up into the French Valley. It was a beautiful hike, but probably at the bottom of my list of the 4 big hikes we did across the Patagonia. Cloudy skies and foot fatigue from the previous day might be to blame. But unlike Tres Torres, it was an uncrowded, peaceful hike which came at the perfect time. . . . . . . . . . . . #patagonia #chile #puertonatales #torresdelpaine #lakepehoe #frenchvalley #frenchvalleyhike #wtrek #cuernos #southamerica #travelsouthamerica #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo
On day two in Torres del Paine we set out to hike the French Valley. You have to take a catamaran across Lago Pehoe to reach the trailheads for the French Valley and Glacier Grey (2/3 hikes that make up the W Trek). We somewhat underestimated the logistical challenges of said single, small, catamaran that has to shuttle all hikers. We missed the first boat, which gave us the opportunity to see the Salto Grande waterfall in morning light 🌈 When we finally made the 2nd boat, the views of the Cuernos across the unbelievably turquoise lake were indescribable. . . . . . . . . . . . #patagonia #chile #puertonatales #torresdelpaine #lakepehoe #saltogrande #cuernos #southamerica #travelsouthamerica #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo
Our first hike in Torres del Paine was to the base of the namesake Tres Torres (or Mirador Las Torres). It’s a decently challenging 18km hike, with a grueling last 1km that everyone warned us about. Thankfully I think Fitz Roy had prepared us, because we came away thinking it was an easier hike #expectationmanagement. Only downsides were the trail being PACKED, and hiking through rain the first couple hours. But the rain cleared and the clouds started to move out right as we reached the base of the towers 🙌 giving us an incredible view. Like Fitz Roy, seeing the towers in real life felt surreal - definitely a top 2 hike along with Fitz Roy. We also had a fun après hike experience at Refugio Chileno on the way down. Hiking in Torres del Paine definitely feels like a communal experience. We saw the same people almost every day along various trails and points in the park. . . . . . . . . . . . . #patagonia #chile #puertonatales #torresdelpaine #trestorres #miradorlastorres #thetowers #southamerica #travelsouthamerica #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo
From El Chaltén, we hopped on a long bus ride that took us across the Chile border into Puerto Natales. The border crossing was intense, remote, and pretty hilarious, especially when a basic American girl got caught for accidentally bringing in avocados. We spent a night in Puerto Natales at Erratic Rock Hostel, which we came to affectionately call the “lost boys hostel,” cause I think as many vagabond boys lived there as guests stayed. Early the next morning, we headed into Torres del Paine National Park, arguably the most recognizable and popular park in all of the Patagonia. It was stunning, pictures don’t begin to do it justice. Some of my favorite views were from our drive through the deserted, rugged roads from the northeast corner to the south end after we hiked Tres Torres. Many of these photos are from that drive, as the sun was setting. . . . . . . . . . . . #patagonia #chile #puertonatales #torresdelpaine #trestorres #southamerica #travelsouthamerica #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo
We spent a couple of nights in El Calafate for the sole purpose of going to see the Perito Moreno Glacier in Los Glaciares National Park. And oh my, it did not disappoint! It’s the only advancing (aka not shrinking) glacier in the Southern Patagonia Ice Field, which is the world’s 3rd largest ice field behind Antartica and Greenland. We lucked out with blue skies and few tourists by doing an afternoon tour. Perito Moreno was definitely one of the most stunning things I’ve seen, and so cool to experience it up close. . . . . . . . . . . . #patagonia #argentina #elcalafate #peritomorenoglacier #peritomoreno #southamerica #travelsouthamerica #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo
From El Chaltén we headed back to El Calafate, which is a bigger, more touristy town that people use as a jumping off point for activities around Argentinian Patagonia. Despite not being as quaint as El Chaltén we still found some highlights, including the La Zorra Taproom, the Reserva Laguna Nimez (flamingos!), La Zaina Restaurant (amazing roast lamb), and Patagonia Brewing Company. **Pro tip: if you’re planning a Patagonia trip anytime soon, book Perito Moreno Glacier tours through Hielos Y Adventura. They’re the only company contracted to work in the Los Glaciares National Park, so every other tour company contracts through them, so you’ll pay more going 3rd party. . . . . . . . . . . . #patagonia #argentina #elcalafate #lagunanimez #patagoniabrewingco #peritomorenoglacier #southamerica #travelsouthamerica #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo
Our other big hike from El Chaltén was to Cerro Torre, probably the second most recognizable peak on the Argentina side. It’s a 24km medium difficulty hike, but being fresh off Fitz Roy made it feel longer. We lucked out again with clear weather (literally I think the only 2 consecutively clear days in weeks in El Chaltén. The hike was beautiful, with amazing views of all the glaciers carving down the mountain range. . . . . . . . . . #patagonia #argentina #cerrotorre #lagunacerrotorre #elchalten #southamerica #travelsouthamerica #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo
Monte Fitz Roy is probably the most recognizable peak in Argentinian Patagonia (maybe all of Patagonia), thanks in large part to being the inspiration for Patagonia’s logo. The trailhead is right on the outskirts of El Chaltén and it’s a beautiful but difficult 26km hike, with a killer last km. We got amazing weather the day we made the ascent, which also meant unforgiving Southern Hemisphere sun for 11 hours. Hiking Fitz Roy was definitely a highlight, from my time in Patagonia... maybe THE highlight. We also happened to hike on New Year’s Eve, which made for a pretty epic close to the decade. . . . . . . . . . . . #patagonia #argentina #montefitzroy #fitzroy #elchalten #southamerica #travelsouthamerica #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo
From Buenos Aires we headed south to the Argentinian Patagonia. We flew to El Calafate, and took a bus to to the little mountain town of El Chalten. To say I was obsessed might be a slight understatement. It’s the cutest little town nestled in the valley underneath some of Patagonia’s most recognizable peaks. It feels like a little ski town, but for hikers. Everything is walkable, it has a great little restaurant scene, the main trailheads are right on the edge of town, and every afternoon feels like après hike. We stayed in the coolest little Hosteria called El Puma that felt like a mountain oasis. Secrets getting out though, @cntraveler just named El Chalten one of the 20 places to visit in 2020. . . . . . . . . . . #patagonia #argentina #elchalten #fitzroy #southamerica #travelsouthamerica #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo
My first stop in South America was Buenos Aires. It’s a big, beautiful city with lots of European influence and South American flare. Some highlights were Recoleta Cemetery, Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, San Telmo Market, cute sidewalk cafes in the Palermo neighborhood, and the La Catedral Club. . . . . . . . . . . #buenosaires #argentina #palermo #santelmomarket #lacatedralclub #southamerica #travelsouthamerica #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo
And for the last of New Zealand... Auckland! Everyone told me Auckland was overrated and to move on quickly, but I loved it. A couple days there was the perfect way to end a road trip across the country. Highlights were a self-guided downtown walking tour, a drive to Devonport across the bay, seafood in Wynyard Quarter, and walking around the neighborhood of Ponsonby where I lucked into staying. An after the fact goodbye to New Zealand (for now), cause I’m about to be wheels up to South America! I’ll try to be a little more timely with posting about this next journey. On deck: Argentina, Chile, Peru, and Colombia! . . . . . . . . . . #auckland #aucklandnz #ponsonby #aucklandwalkingtour #travelnewzealand #travelnz #drivenewzealand #drivenz #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo
On my way to Auckland, I stopped at the Waitomo glow worm caves. The caves themselves were super cool, but the the glow worms were amazing! Sadly not pictured cause photography wasn’t allowed and it was too dark anyway. Tiny bioluminescent worms hang from the interior of the cave, creating cave walls that look like constellations of thousands of stars. New Zealand is the only place in the world with glow worms. . . . . . . . . . . #waitomocaves #waitomoglowwormcaves #waitomo #travelnewzealand #travelnz #drivenewzealand #drivenz #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo
Full disclosure, this was was one of my favorite (though most challenging) experiences in New Zealand. The Tongoriro Alpine Crossing is a thru trek in the Tongoriro National Park that passes by Mount Ngauruhoe (of Lord of the Rings “Mount Doom” Mordor fame) and over the multi-cratered Mount Tongariro. It’s a 19.4km (12mi) tramp with switchbacks, snow fields, scree descents, and high alpine ridges with high winds. I wasn’t prepared for the snow fields, so had to tramp the remaining 9 miles with completely wet shoes/socks after the first snow field 🤦♀️ but all in all, SO worth it and one of the coolest, most unique hiking experiences I’ve had. . . . . . . . . . . #tongariroalpinecrossing #tongarironationalpark #turangi #taupo #mordor #mountdoom #lotr #travelnewzealand #travelnz #drivenewzealand #drivenz #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo
From Wellington, I drove up the north island to the geothermal mountain district around Tongoriro National Park. The road from the small town of Turangi to the vacation town of Taupo winds along Lake Taupo, the largest lake by surface area in New Zealand, which sits in the caldera of the massive Taupo Volcano. The little town of Turangi was my jumping off point for the Tongoriro Crossing trek (pictures forthcoming). . . . . . . . . . #turangi #taupo #laketaupo #taupovolcano #travelnewzealand #travelnz #drivenewzealand #drivenz #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo
Wellington... my favorite NZ city. Quite possibly one of my favorite cities anywhere. Wellington is the capital of New Zealand and sits on the south coast of the north island. It’s beautiful, sophisticated, innovative, and creative. Bonus, Wellington’s craft beer scene is on POINT. I wandered through the incredible (and free) Te Papa Museum, took myself on a self-guided brewery tour, and happened upon a dias de Los Muertos party. Wellington is the trendy, urban answer to a country known for its rugged beauty. . . . . . . . . . #wellington #wellingtonnz #tepapa #newzealand #travelnewzealand #travelnz #drivenewzealand #drivenz #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo
After my self-guided NZ wine tour I spent the night in Picton, a little coastal town where you catch the Interislnder ferry to Wellington (connecting the south and north islands). I woke up bright and early and had my first experience driving a car onto a ferry, and this was not like the ferries I’m “used to” (the <10x I’ve been on a ferry)... the thing was huge! It’s a 4 hour ride that sails through the stunning Marlborough Sound, into the Cook Strait through open ocean. . . . . . . . . . #marlboroughsound #interislander #picton #wellington #newzealand #travelnewzealand #travelnz #drivenewzealand #drivenz #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo
From Abel Tasman, I spent a night in Nelson, a cute town between Motueka and Blenheim, known for its sunshine and proximity to outdoor activities. Nelson was my jumping off point to Marlborough, New Zealand’s most famous wine making region. The region produces lots of varietals and blends, but is known the world over for its sauv blancs and pinot noirs. My favorite winery was the beautiful @cloudybay estate, but I also enjoyed the sprawling and very sustainable @yealands winery, and boutique Swiss-owned @frommwinery. Turns out NZ is pretty much my wine spirit animal - all the rugged beautiful views, pinots, and sauv blancs 🍷 *Pro-tip*: Costco sells Cloudy Bay sauv blanc 🙌 . . . . . . . . . . #marlborough #marlboroughnz #blenheim #nelson #nzwine #nzwinery #cloudybay #peteryealands #frommwines #nzwinetrail #newzealand #travelnewzealand #travelnz #drivenewzealand #drivenz #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo
From Christchurch, I drove north up the South Island towards Motueka, a small coastal town on the north part of the island off Tasman Bay. Motueka is the closest town to Abel Tasman National Park, a park known for “tramping” (aka hiking/trekking - one of my favorite Kiwi terms) and the famous Abel Tasman Walking Track. I shuttled from Motueka to Kaiteriteri where you can take a ferry into the park. Unless you hike the entire Abel Tasman Walking Track (a 3-4 day tramp), you have to take a boat to pick up portions of the trail along the way. I did a 8 mile tramp on the south part of the trail. The hike and views in the park were stunning. I actually missed my boat out, as I literally watched it board in front of me 🤦♀️ (classic American move wanting a million reminders), but got some extra time on the beach and was able to catch a boat an hour later while still making my post-tramp return boat. If you make it to New Zealand’s South Island, I would absolutely recommend at least a day in Abel Tasman. . . . . . . . #abeltasman #abeltasmannationalpark #abeltasmanwalkingtrack #motueka #kaiteriteri #newzealand #travelnewzealand #travelnz #drivenewzealand #drivenz #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo
Wow, sorry for the radio silence folks! I’ll be playing some serious catch up with remaining New Zealand pics over the next few days. After visiting glacier territory in the Southern Alps, I drove across the South Island to Christchurch. As New Zealand’s second largest city, Christchurch struck me as a little rough around the edges at first. But given what the city has been through and overcome, I realized it’s exactly that fighting spirit that makes them so resilient. An earthquake in 2011 nearly leveled the city, and the coordinated mosque shootings last March showed hate and evil exist even in the most beautiful and peaceful of places. The city has so much character, and that resilient spirit is obvious everywhere you go in the city, even as they continue to rebuild 9 years later. . . . . . . . #christchurch #christchurchnz #christchurchearthquake #travelchristchurch #newzealand #travelnewzealand #travelnz #drivenewzealand #drivenz #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo
If I had one recommendation for anyone coming to New Zealand, it’s: ROADTRIP IT! Rent a car or camper van and see as much of the islands as you can. There is literally no better way to see this amazing country. Some of the most incredible things I’ve seen have been from the car. They have about a million different camper van companies here, so I think the secrets out. . . . . . #newzealand #travelnewzealand #travelnz #drivenewzealand #drivenz #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo
From Queenstown, I drove 5 hours up the west coast towards the southern alps and Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park. I went to see Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers, but ended up only getting to see Franz Josef due to bad weather. The rain and clouds cleared long enough on the 2nd day for me to hike as close as you can get (on foot) to the terminal face, and it didn’t disappoint! It was the clearest picture I’ve seen of how glaciers carve mountains and valleys. Just 100 years ago, Franz Josef covered the entire valley in the first and last pictures 😦. . . . . . . . #newzealand #travelnewzealand #travelnz #franzjosefglacier #foxglacier #mountcooknationalpark #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo
I spent 3 days in Queenstown, aka “The Adventure Capital of the World”, and LOVED it. It’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen, if not the most beautiful. I bungeed, hiked, went to some wineries, and took a day trip to Milford Sound. I still have a lot of New Zealand to see, but Queenstown is holding the top spot right now. . . . . . . . #newzealand #travelnewzealand #travelnz #queenstown #queenstownnz #ajhackettbungy #queenstownhill #milfordsound #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo
Bondi... oh Bondi, how I love thee. Spent my last weekend in Sydney at Bondi Beach and fell in love. It’s such a beautiful place and cool representation of unique Aussie culture. The Icebergs Club, Bondi to Bronte (or Coogee) coastal walk, and seeing all the little life saving “nippers” out on Sunday were all highlights. . . . . . . . #australia #bondi #bondibeach #icebergsbondi #bondiicebergsclub #bonditobronte #bonditocoogee #travelaustralia #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo
I headed to the Blue Mountains last weekend, which is a short 1.5 hour drive west of Sydney. I survived driving on the other side of the car and road for the first time 😰 and once the rain cleared, the Blue Mountains were beautiful. There are a bunch of little mountain towns that take you further north into the mountains. Katoomba is the largest, but I enjoyed the smaller, more authentic feel of Leura and Blackheath. I hiked the Grand Canyon Track that took me down into the canyon where the rainforest climate was a stark contrast to the canyon. It was a nice, quick weekend break from big city Sydney life. . . . . . . . #australia #bluemountains #travelaustralia #threesisters #katoomba #leura #blackheath #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo
Why can’t America jump on the free museum bandwagon? Sydney has some incredible museums, all free for the most part, similar to Europe. The Museum of Contemporary Art Sydney has been my favorite, followed by the Art Gallery of New South Wales as a a close second. Both museums have “museum at night” once a week where it’s open late and they do special programming, super cool. . . . . . . . #australia #sydney #travelsydney #museumofcontemporaryartsydney #artgalleryofnsw #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo
The Sydney Opera House has always been one of those iconic places to me that I would love to see, but felt worlds away. It was a cool experience seeing it for the first time, and it now it feels accessible and part of my [current] everyday life. Travel is neat like that. . . . . . . . #australia #sydney #travelsydney #sydneyoperahouse #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo
Finally getting back to real-time. This is home for the next few weeks! I’m living in Sydney for 3 weeks au pairing for a family part time, and exploring the city and surrounding areas the rest of the time. Rozelle Bay is literally in my backyard 🙌 loving the Aussie lifestyle and weather so far (shocker, I know). . . . . . . . . #australia #sydney #travelsydney #aupairsydney #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo
A highlight of Hawaii was hiking Haleakalā Crater. A woman I met at an art gallery in Paia recommended the route. It was a haul, and hard on the feet, but by far a highlight of my two weeks in Maui. I 1) parked my car at the Halemau'u Trailhead (which is before you reach the Haleakalā summit) 2) hitchhiked to the summit where Sliding Sands trailhead starts (this is very normal, there’s even a specific pullout for hitchhikers doing this) 3) hiked down Sliding Sands and then took up Halemau'u Trail where they intersect and 4) hiked back up to my car. All in all 11.5ish miles. It was one of the least traveled national park trails I’ve ever been on (didn’t see people for hours), which blows my mind cause it’s such a beautiful, unique hike. Totally recommend if you like hiking and are going to Maui anytime soon! . . . . . . . #hawaii #travelhawaii #maui #travelmaui #heleakala #hikehaleakala #haleakalacrater #haleakalaslidingsands #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo
One of the things I loved most, and miss most, about Hawaii was how sunsets were a nightly ritual, for locals and tourists alike (for obvious reasons). . . . . . . #hawaii #travelhawaii #maui #travelmaui #hawaiisunsets #adventure #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo
Wow, it’s been a while y’all! I totally fell off the map there for a little while in documenting travels. Something I actually consider a good thing, but also want to have something to look back at. I’m getting back at it! After the US/Canada road trip, I headed to Maui for 2 amazing weeks. I had a lot of favorites about the island, but one of my main ones was the Haleakalā volcano. It’s famous for watching sunrises over the massive crater, but I opted for the sunset option, which I would wholeheartedly recommend. I also ended up doing an amazing 11.5 mile hike through the crater recommended by a local. More Hawaii pics and favorites to come! . . . . . . . #hawaii #travelhawaii #maui #travelmaui #haleakala #haleakalasunset #adventure #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo
Next up I got to spend a few days in one of my favorite places on the planet: North County San Diego. Encinitas is probably my overall favorite town, but there are so many adorable beach towns in the North County area. These photos are at 1) Moonlight Beach in Encinitas and 2) the far end of Carlsbad State Beach just south of Carlsbad downtown. This would be the longest post ever if I jotted down all my favorite things to do and places to eat and shop in North County, so below is my super short list: • Coffee @betterbuzz in Encinitas • Breakfast at Swami’s (Encinitas or Carlsbad) • Lunch (or dinner) @letstaco_ (Encinitas or La Jolla) • Shopping the @cedrosavenue Design District in Solana Beach - most notably the store Solo • Drinks at @culturebrewingco (Solana Beach or Encinitas) • Dinner at @lepapagayoleucadia • . . . . . . #sandiego #northcounty #california #carlsbad #encinitas #solanabeach #roadtrip #adventure #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo
Wow y’all, it’s been a while! I’ve been on the move the last few weeks and Instagram hasn’t been a huge priority, so now I need to play catch up. Right after Yosemite, I high tailed it to Carmel for one night, and got to take a quick evening drive down the PCH through Big Sur. Sadly for much of my coastal drive up to that point, the sea fog had been pretty dense so it wasn’t exactly as scenic as I had hoped. But the sea fog cleared just in time for an evening drive through Big Sur as I got there (major God thing in my book, cause I needed that drive at the time). I truly think this is one of the most beautiful parts of the country. I’ve made a small part of this drive during sunrise before, but it was next level at sunset 🌅 . . . . . . #bigsur #california #pch #hwy1 #carmel #carmelbythesea #roadtrip #adventure #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo
Yosemite is one of those places I’ve always wanted to go - the place I’ve seen so often in pictures or movies. Seeing it in person truly sparked wonder. It’s unique from most of the other places I’ve been, in that you can almost feel the mythical history that has drawn adventure seekers and tourists for decades. It was chronicled by two American greats: John Muir put it to words and Ansel Adams captured it in black and white. I spent 2 days in the park, and barely made it out of the valley. I’m already scheming my trip back... Half Dome I’m comin’ for ya. Some highlights: • Glacier Point • Sentinel Dome Trail • Vernal and Nevada Falls via John Muir Trail • standing at the base of El Cap • Curry Village camping • . . . . . . #yosemite #yosemitenationalpark #ynp #yosemitevalley #glacierpoint #california #roadtrip #adventure #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo
A restful, fun few days in San Francisco with good friends. Things good for the soul about this: 1) time with great friends and their amazing hospitality 2) being in one place for more than 1-2 days. A few highlights: • biking the Golden Gate Bridge to Tiburon and taking the ferry back • hiking Twin Peaks (view pictured) • eating the best breakfast sandwich, probably of my life, at @devilsteeth . . . . . . . #sanfrancisco #sf #twinpeaks #goldengatebridge #pacificcoasthighway #pch #hwy1 #drivingthepch #california #roadtrip #adventure #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo
Driving into the clouds on the PCH. . . . . . . #pacificcoasthighway #pch #hwy1 #drivingthepch #california #roadtrip #adventure #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo
So it’s apparently impossible to capture the glory and grandeur of the redwoods in a picture. But alas, I tried. Coming down from Crater Lake, I took the scenic route through Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park in Northern California, camped one night under the redwoods near Crescent City, CA, and then worked my way down Hwy 101 through Redwood National and State Parks and Avenue of the Giants. I’m embarrassed to admit I even paid $10 to drive through one 🙄 . . . . . . #redwoods #redwoodnationalpark #redwoodstatepark #jedediahsmithredwoodstatepark #avenueofthegiants #california #roadtrip #adventure #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo
Wow y’all, this BLUE! When I walked up to the edge of Crater Lake it almost took my breath away. I’m all about the turquoise water you find in Mexico and the Caribbean and even the lakes in Montana and Canada, but this is something else. So glad I made this stop 1.5 hours outside Bend, OR. The lake is in the crater of a volcano and is the deepest lake in the US, clocking in at almost 2,000 ft deep 😳. It’s apparently so blue because the water is so clear, but also so deep. I’ve seen a lot of cool things on this trip so far, but Crater Lake was a unique and unexpected highlight. . . . . . . #craterlake #craterlakenationalpark #oregon #bend #bendoregon #pacificnorthwest #roadtrip #adventure #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo
I thought Yellowstone was pretty wild, but Olympic National Park legit feels like it’s at least 3 totally different places. From beautiful mountains, to pristine lakes, to stunning beaches, and all the way to certified rainforests - it covers about every major ecosystem (we’ll give it a pass on the desert). Highlights (in order of photos): • Hurricane Ridge • Lake Crescent • Rialto Beach • Hoh Rainforest • Ruby Beach • . . . . . . #olympicnationalpark #olympicpeninsula #seattle #washington #pnw #pacificnorthwest #hurricaneridge #lakecrescent #rialtobeach #hohrainforest #rubybeach #roadtrip #adventure #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo
Oh. My. Gosh. Y’all the trees in Olympic National Park were a-mazing... and I'm not even to redwood territory hey! The trees were one of the most stunning things about Olympic to me... that and the fact that I went to the mountains, the beach, and a rainforest in the same day, in the same national park 🤯 (post on that forthcoming). . . . . . . #olympicnationalpark #olympicpeninsula #seattle #washington #pnw #pacificnorthwest #roadtrip #adventure #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo
So I’m a little behind on posts! They say one shouldn’t gram-n-drive... more of an excuse, but I’m rolling with it. Mt Rainer was incredible and only about a 2.5 hour drive from Seattle. What keeps blowing my mind about pretty much everywhere outside of Colorado is how low the elevation is for how massive the mountains look! When the elevation starts lower, I guess it makes everything look that much higher/grander. Rainier clocks in at 14,400ish, which is high for sure, but it just looks huge. For perspective, Colorado has 56 mountains over 14k feet. Even though the clouds shrouded it part of the time, seeing it emerge occasionally and watching the clouds move past was pretty cool. . . . . . . . #mtrainier #mountrainier #mtrainiernationalpark #seattle #washington #pnw #pacificnorthwest #roadtrip #adventure #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo
All paths lead to wildflowers and Whistler... and record setting gondola rides and après hike drinks. Loved my day trip to Whistler Blackcomb. It’s only a 1.5 hour drive from Vancouver and the drive on the aptly named Sea to Sky Highway is stunning. The hiking was incredible, and some of the most extensive, well planned trails I’ve seen at a ski resort. Major ski goals this winter 🤞⛷ Some recommendations: • Go up the Blackcomb Gondola and hike Blackcomb Peak to skip the Whistler crowds • Whistler Village is the place to be for eating, drinking, and shopping. I loved Beacon Pub and Eatery as an après spot for drinks, food, and good atmosphere. . . . . . . . #whistler #blackcomb #whistlerblackcomb #whistlersummer #hikingwhistler #canada #roadtrip #adventure #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo
Had a great few days exploring Vancouver. I’ve always loved big cities, but Vancouver has a special mix of city, outdoor space, culture, and that Pacific Northwest beauty. I ended up staying in West Vancouver, which I would highly recommend. It’s a quieter waterfront community and only a 12-15 minute drive to downtown. Vancouver highlights: • Stanley Park (specifically biking) • Granville Island Public Market • Grouse Mountain (specifically the Grind) I think I found my top contender if I ever moved out of the US 😏 . . . . . . . #vancouver #westvancouver #stanleypark #grousemountain #pacificnorthwest #pnw #canada #roadtrip #adventure #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo
Kelowna in British Columbia is about halfway between Banff and Vancouver. Having read about it being the “Napa Valley of Canada”, I decided to stop here for a night to break up the drive. And it didn’t disappoint! The Okanagan valley is where some/most of Canada’s best crops are grown, including grapes. It’s a beautiful city and surrounds both sides of Okanagan Lake, with wineries lining both sides of the huge lake. I visited @hatchwines, @quailsgate, @missionhillwinery, and @summerhillwinery, and they were all so different and awesome in their own ways. . . . . . . #kelowna #kelownawine #okanaganvalley #canadawine #canadawinecountry #canada #wine #roadtrip #adventure #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo
Early morning (and uncharacteristic) calm at Lake Louise this morning. This area turns into a mountain Disneyland on weekend afternoons, so it was cool to catch it in the morning light with some lifting fog before the crowds set in. . . . . . . #banff #banffnationalpark #canada #lakelouise #lakelouisebanff #parkscanada #roadtrip #adventure #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo
I woke up at 4:30am this morning to watch the sun rise over Moraine Lake (swipe for the progression). It got crowded quickly, but totally worth it, especially given that today is apparently the clearest day Banff has had all summer season. It’s been cloudy and rainy most of the summer, which is hopefully great for keeping wildfires at bay, but not so great for hiking and views. Getting clear skies on my last full day has been a treat, to say the least. . . . . . . #banff #banffnationalpark #canada #morainelake #morainesunrise #morainelakebanff #nationalparks #roadtrip #adventure #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo
Ok, my mind was officially blown today. Like, truly. I thought Glacier National Park was incredible, but BANFF. Holy moly, I can’t even describe this place. Every turn on the Icefields Parkway looked like this. It sounds simplistic, but it just feels so BIG. I truly just felt dwarfed in the grandeur and power of God’s creation. I hate to say it America, but Canada is next level. . . . . . . #banff #banffnationalpark #canada #icefieldsparkway #banfficefields #nationalparks #roadtrip #adventure #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo
Our reward at the top... plus a few hail storms. Swipe for the pano view of Grinnell Glacier. . . . . . . #montana #glaciernationalpark #grinnellglacier #gnp #hiking #whitefish #nationalparks #roadtrip #adventure #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo
I always thought I’d like Glacier National Park, but Y’ALL. Despite lots of clouds and rain, this place is spectacular. I took this photo on the Grinnell Glacier Trail, and the views looked like this the whole way up. If anyone is going to GNP anytime soon, I would highly recommend this hike. It’s on the east side of the park, and about 11 miles round trip. It’s mind blowing. Glacier pics to follow shortly. . . . . . . #montana #glaciernationalpark #grinnellglacier #gnp #hiking #whitefish #nationalparks #roadtrip #adventure #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo
I kicked off my Whitefish, MT experience at the @outriderspresent Under the Big Sky music festival. It was my first “out of state” music fest, and Under the Big Sky’s first year. Great music, great vibes, and all seemed to go off without a hitch (which as someone who’s worked in concert production, I can tell you is no small feat for a first year festival). Some favorites were @bandofhorses, @ryanbingham_official, @nathanielrateliff, @ilovelucius, @jamestownrevival, and the oh-so-entertaining @hogslopstringband. . . . . . . #montana #whitefish #underthebigsky #underthebigskyfestival #bandofhorses #ryanbingham #nathanielrateliff #roadtrip #adventure #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo
I had the treat of staying with some sweet friends for a couple of days at the Rock Creek Cattle Co (@rcccmt) outside Deer Lodge, Montana. It was my introduction to Montana and it didn’t disappoint. On Friday, we got to experience “Bullarama” at the local rodeo. It felt like Montana’s version of Friday night football. As my gracious host @malcolmholland so aptly put it, “this is America.” . . . . . . #montana #rockcreekcattleco #rodeo #bullarama #roadtrip #adventure #explore #travel #sabbatical #quittotravel #thirtytwotravels #roadthirtytwo