Guest post by Rachel Meeker, a full-time volunteer on West Coast organic farms. Tucked into the golden hills of the Santa Ynez Valley of Central California, the words “Shadow Creek” arch above a wrought iron gate. The gate features a giant iron oak inspired from the surrounding landscape, though it is easy to miss amidst… Read more »

Guest post by Carrie Newhouse. Texas is already scorching hot by the Fourth of July. Luckily, Texans have plenty of spring fed rivers to help them cool off, chill out and laze away. This spring has provided more than enough rain to keep the rivers flowing, so let’s explore some of the best spots and… Read more »

Guest post by Sarah Grant, who currently resides in – and loves – Arkansas. This post features some of Sarah’s photographs from playing tourist in Arkansas. Playing tourist at home is something I always look forward to. Despite growing up in Los Angeles and living in the greater L.A. area for years as an adult,… Read more »

Guest post by Rachel Meeker. Every morning I wake up to the sound of a rooster crowing just a short stroll from my backyard bed in a vintage trailer. I am almost 3 weeks into my year-long journey volunteering on west coast WWOOFs (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms / Willing Workers on Organic Farms)… Read more »

Guest post by Shady Grove Oliver, a journalist in Homer, Alaska. 10. Bring your passport, pet info, and leave some guns behind if you plan on crossing the border Despite having a good working relationship, Alaska and Canada are two different places. There are border crossings on the Alaska Highway and you’ll be expected to… Read more »

Guest post by Nicole Qualtieri. David Attenborough calls it The American Serengeti. In February of 2014, it was recognized as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of North America. In 1872, it became the United States’ first recognized National Park, one of many protected areas to come. If it’s not on your list of places… Read more »

Last week we started our 50 states of rock tour, featuring some of the coolest rock formations from Alabama to Georgia. Now we continue on to the next ten, as we journey from Hawaii to Maryland. Hawaii: Lanai Lookout Idaho: City of Rocks National Reserve Illinois: Starved Rock State Park Indiana: Honeycomb Rock in Pine… Read more »

Guest post by Carrie Newhouse. Paris is one of the most visited cities in the world, but there are a few things you need to know before making your first trek to the City of Lights. These are all things I’d wish I’d known before my maiden voyage to France. 1. Amp up your cardio…. Read more »

This week we asked guest writer Sarah Grant to give her opinion on whether planes or trains are better for long distance travel. This is a tough one. One of my most memorable travel experiences took place on a train. It was Idul Adha (Eid al-Adha) and I was in Indonesia, January 2005. I had… Read more »

If you’re even remotely an outdoors enthusiast–and I mean remotely, maybe you just like to look at pretty scenery from the inside of an air-conditioned chauffeured car while you sip a very cold glass of champagne–then you’ll appreciate strange and incredible rock formations that look like they were created by a) a very twisted race… Read more »