9/20/2025
9/04/2025
Why the Magdalen Islands Should Be Your Next Summer Escape
9/04/2025The Magdalen Islands (Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine) in Québec are a lively yet laid-back destination where life slows down and your senses becom...
The Magdalen Islands (Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine) in Québec are a lively yet laid-back destination where life slows down and your senses become more real. Time here follows the rhythm of the nature rather than fixed schedules and each day brings its own palette of colours and moods. The peaceful atmosphere of the islands not only draws in creative minds seeking inspiration, but also regular people wanting to leave the hustle and bustle of the mainland behind and feel a "joie de vivre" or "joy of life", an unofficial motto of the province of Québec.
8/10/2025
Diablos Rojos, Canal, Jungle Trails, and Seven Other Things I Liked About Panama
8/10/2025During my recent trip to Panama, I discovered a country full of contrasts, where an old Spanish charm meets urbanism, jungle trails lead to ...
During my recent trip to Panama, I discovered a country full of contrasts, where an old Spanish charm meets urbanism, jungle trails lead to hidden waterfalls, and the most delicious meal is less than $5. From observing huge ships maneuvering through the historical canal to navigating island life by water taxi, each experience revealed something unexpected. In this post, I’m sharing 10 personal moments that shaped my journey: from cultural encounters and engineering marvels to rainforest hikes and riding loud and proud buses. Panama surprised me, challenged me, and left me hungry for more - literally and figuratively.
7/27/2025
A Scenic Ride on the Cascades Train from Seattle to Vancouver
7/27/2025The Amtrak Cascades train from Seattle to Vancouver is among the most scenic train rides I have ever taken. The route hugs the coastline for...
The Amtrak Cascades train from Seattle to Vancouver is among the most scenic train rides I have ever taken. The route hugs the coastline for most of its 5-hour journey and, if you’re lucky, you can even get a glimpse of both the Olympic and Cascades Mountains rising in the distance. With its stunning views of the Pacific Northwest and slow pace, this journey is for those who loves trains, nature, or just wants to unwind instead of sitting in traffic on the Interstate 5.
5/23/2025
Bom Dia Aruba: A Caribbean Island That’s Not What You Expect
5/23/2025They call it One Happy Island, and to be fair, Aruba lives up to its nickname. Beneath the polished glamour of upscale resorts and year-arou...
They call it One Happy Island, and to be fair, Aruba lives up to its nickname. Beneath the polished glamour of upscale resorts and year-around sunshine, Aruba is actually full of surprises. For starters, I had no idea what language to greet people in. “Hola” felt natural to me - this is the Caribbean, right? But that wasn't how locals greeted each other. After some eavesdropping, I cracked the code: “Bom Dia.” Not Dutch, not Spanish, but Papiamento - a mix of Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, and African languages. This basically sums it up: Aruba isn’t what you expect, and that’s exactly why it’s worth exploring.
1/23/2025
Behind the Shiny Facades of The Venice of America
1/23/2025Fort Lauderdale, often dismissed as yet another suburb of Miami, unexpectedly revealed its character that exceeded all my expectations. Havi...
Fort Lauderdale, often dismissed as yet another suburb of Miami, unexpectedly revealed its character that exceeded all my expectations. Having driven through the city countless times, I was pleasantly surprised to finally discover its unique identity, particularly along the scenic Riverwalk. What would have been a few hours killed in Starbucks before taking my train, turned out to be a nice stroll along the water's edge overlooking luxurious yachts, high-end condos, posh crowds, and nature which is never too far in Southern Florida.
1/04/2025
Wilderness Therapy on the Juan de Fuca Trail in British Columbia
1/04/2025The Juan de Fuca Trail in British Columbia, my first solo backpacking, had truly a therapeutic effect on me. The connection with nature, cam...
The Juan de Fuca Trail in British Columbia, my first solo backpacking, had truly a therapeutic effect on me. The connection with nature, campfire conversations with fellow hikers, and enduring physical challenges were exactly what I needed as I was going through many changes in my personal life. The numbers for this trail can't do them justice, but I’ll try anyway: 47 km over 4 days and 3 nights, a total elevation gain and loss of 1,800 m, 441 floors climbed, and 3,700 calories burned on average per day. The level of happiness: insane.
9/03/2024
Exploring Uncharted Beauty of Alaska's Inside Passage
9/03/2024Alaska, meaning "great country" in one of the native languages, lives up to its name in the breathtaking Inside Passage. For many ...
Alaska, meaning "great country" in one of the native languages, lives up to its name in the breathtaking Inside Passage. For many travellers, their Alaskan adventure begins here, cruising or ferrying through a majestic landscape of over a thousand islands, lush green forests, giant tongues of bright blue glaciers, and snow-capped mountains, frequently covered in white ribbons of fog. To fully appreciate Southeast Alaska’s beautiful waterway, often called a "liquid main street", you should take it slow and allow yourself to be immersed in its striking, untamed nature, abundant wildlife, and liveable coastal communities.
8/26/2024
Venice Beach: Where the Weird and Wonderful Come to Play
8/26/2024Welcome to Venice Beach, one of the most iconic and vibrant neighbourhoods in Los Angeles! It’s also a capital of counterculture and activis...
Welcome to Venice Beach, one of the most iconic and vibrant neighbourhoods in Los Angeles! It’s also a capital of counterculture and activism, from the Beats to the hippies and punks. You can still feel the laid-back, bohemian vibe that has defined the neighbourhood for decades. Now, add drugs, alcohol and other substances, and you can truly appreciate how special this place and its people are!
2/14/2022
Discover the 12 Most Unforgettable Experiences on Hawai'i Big Island
2/14/2022Hawai’i Big Island is one of the most captivating and unique destinations in the world, drawing people from all over the globe to experience...
Hawai’i Big Island is one of the most captivating and unique destinations in the world, drawing people from all over the globe to experience its unparalleled beauty. As the largest of the Hawaiian Islands, it is also home to 8 out of 13 world's climate zones, making it a microcosm of the planet itself. From tropical rainforests to arid deserts and snow-capped peaks, the island offers an astonishing variety of natural landscapes that are sure to enchant any visitor. With its warm, welcoming culture, delicious cuisine, and endless opportunities for adventure, Hawai'i Big Island is the ultimate vacation destination for anyone seeking indelible memories that will last a lifetime. In this article, I will share my 12 most memorable experiences on Hawai'i Big Island that I visited in 2020.
1/03/2021
Visiting St. Augustine - The Oldest Town in America
1/03/2021Thrill-seekers swarming the world-famous theme parks in Orlando and beachcombers chilling out at Daytona Beach often miss St. Augustine, a c...
Thrill-seekers swarming the world-famous theme parks in Orlando and beachcombers chilling out at Daytona Beach often miss St. Augustine, a centuries-old little gem located on Florida's Atlantic Coast. While the Sunshine State offers tons of activities to keep you entertained for weeks, if not months, trust me - St. Augustine definitely deserves a day trip. After all, it's the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in North America. How cool is that?
11/01/2019
9 Survival Tips for Visiting Walt Disney World in Florida
11/01/2019Congratulations! The moment you decide to visit the Walt Disney World in Florida, you have committed to one of the most terrific and memora...
Congratulations! The moment you decide to visit the Walt Disney World in Florida, you have committed to one of the most terrific and memorable experiences in your life. But how do you get the most out of it without sacrificing your sleep and well-being, tormenting your kids or emptying your bank account? This article is the result of my consuming the two books and testing out all those 9 tips recently with my family. Take it with a grain of salt, of course, because everyone's situation and priorities are different, and invest some more time in prepping yourself either through reading the guidebooks or surfing the Internet.
6/02/2018
6 Best Things To Do At Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
6/02/2018Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore stretched along the south shore of mighty Lake Superior in Michigan may not be your first choice to spend...
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore stretched along the south shore of mighty Lake Superior in Michigan may not be your first choice to spend a chilly weekend in May, but trust me - you can't go wrong with this place even if the weather is a bit cranky. Some people even come in the winter despite the bitter cold to see the park's famous ice caves and climb frozen waterfalls, but that's a separate story. Put it this way: early spring is a perfect time to visit this park, because not only will you beat the crowds, but you'll also avoid nasty mosquitos and, most importantly, black flies. I hope that my article will inspire you to visit Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, but remember - leave no trace and take only pictures!
5/28/2018
The Main Reason to Visit Belém in Portugal
5/28/2018Among the very many things to experience in Belém, Portugal, there is one that clearly stands out and you absolutely don't want to miss...
Among the very many things to experience in Belém, Portugal, there is one that clearly stands out and you absolutely don't want to miss it. It's called "pastel de nata", a pastry made from egg yolks using the original 200-year-old recipe from the nearby Jerónimos Monastery. And while egg tarts can be found in other parts of the world, a flaky pastel de Belém is so tender and delicious, especially with a cinnamon powder on top, you'll love it.
5/06/2018
Lovable Cascais - The Best Day Trip from Lisbon
5/06/2018Cascais has it all - golden beaches, palm trees, big blue sky, rolling waves of the Atlantic Ocean, charming architecture and the best Port...
Cascais has it all - golden beaches, palm trees, big blue sky, rolling waves of the Atlantic Ocean, charming architecture and the best Portuguese food. And, this was my favourite, very few people compared to Lisbon and Sintra (I haven't visited the latter, but heard of its epic crowds). And you can easily reach it by train from downtown Lisbon in less than 50 minutes. Sounds attractive? Let's take a look.
3/06/2018
Chalk Cliffs and Arches of Etretat - Normandy's Best Kept Secret
3/06/2018Normandy is not only for history buffs and art junkies. Those who admire nature will find some of the most beautiful places in the whole of...
Normandy is not only for history buffs and art junkies. Those who admire nature will find some of the most beautiful places in the whole of France located on the coast of Normandy. Yes, I'm talking about those stunning white chalk cliffs and natural arches of Etretat and the endless waters of the English Channel.
3/26/2017
Bruce Peninsula - The Best Day-Tripper from Toronto After Niagara Falls
3/26/2017When people ask me to recommend places to visit around Toronto in the summertime, my obvious number one choice is Niagara Falls . And then ...
When people ask me to recommend places to visit around Toronto in the summertime, my obvious number one choice is Niagara Falls. And then depending on how much time they have and how far they are willing to drive, I usually recommend three additional day-trippers: Muskoka, Algonquin Park, and Bruce Peninsula National Park. The last one is my long-time favourite as it offers some of the most stunning views of Georgian Bay. The trip to the Bruce Peninsula can easily be combined with visiting Fathom Five National Marine Park and its Flowerpot Island's miraculous rock formations.
2/24/2017
Grand Bahama - Island of Wild Beaches and Hurricanes
2/24/2017Hurricanes love Grand Bahama Island and visit it more often than any other island in the Bahamas. But people living on Grand Bahama Island ...
Hurricanes love Grand Bahama Island and visit it more often than any other island in the Bahamas. But people living on Grand Bahama Island hate hurricanes as not only do they damage their property and threaten their lives, but also they negatively impact the local economy, and it takes years if not decades for it to recover. And, let's face it: you can't really leave the island even though you know that the hurricane is coming unless you are a reach person, and most locals aren't. And that's a huge disadvantage over the United States that are also hit hard by hurricanes, but people often have a choice to leave. But on a positive note, hurricanes are one of the reasons why Grand Bahama Island with its beautiful beaches is so wild and virgin.
2/02/2017
Ever wanted to buy a private island in the Bahamas?
2/02/2017Ever wanted to buy a private island in the Bahamas and live on the piece of paradise for the rest of your life? Apparently, it's possib...
Ever wanted to buy a private island in the Bahamas and live on the piece of paradise for the rest of your life? Apparently, it's possible: a quick Google search returned a bunch of websites where everyone can buy a private island out of 700 islands that make up the archipelago of the Bahamas for as little as $275,000. This is exactly what Holland America Line owned by Carnival, a major cruise line company, did in 1996. They purchased Little San Salvador Island for a modest $6,000,000 which probably paid off within the first year or so as they have been bringing thousands of cruise passengers each day ever since.
1/23/2017
Where is the Best Place to Collect Sea Shells?
1/23/2017Very few people would argue that the best place to collect sea shells is Florida's Sanibel Island. At least in North America. Thanks to...
Very few people would argue that the best place to collect sea shells is Florida's Sanibel Island. At least in North America. Thanks to its rather unusual barrier islands' east-to-west orientation, thousands of shells wash up on the island's beaches each day. While shells come mostly from the warm tropical waters of the Caribbean Sea, people come from all over the world. Among different types of shells, the most desirable ones are the sand dollar and the Junonia shell.
