RACHEL RUDWALL

Think the Blue Lagoon is all about perfectly posed influencer shots? Think again. 🇮🇸💧 Most people are repping this icon all wrong. If you want the actual magic, here’s the how-to.

✨ Embrace the "Swamp Creature" Look: Everyone thinks they’ll look like a model in the white robe and otherworldly landscape, but they actually end up slathered in awkward silica mud masks. Accept the look and have fun with it! 📸 Ditch the Phone: Don't spend your whole visit behind a screen. Leave the camera in your locker to actually soak in the landscape. (I just took my phone out for 5 mins at the end!) ❄️ Winter > Summer: Visit during seasons that are less crowded. In the winter, the contrast between chilly Arctic air and 100°F water is delicious. ⏰ Beat the Rush: Avoid 10 AM – 3 PM. Go at opening (7 AM) or late evening (after 8 PM) to feel like you have the place to yourself. 🥤 Skip the Booze: Heat + saunas + alcohol = OUCH. Opt for a juice or smoothie at the swim-up bar instead, and hit the water stations to stay hydrated. 🧖‍♀️ Go "Premium": IMO, the Premium package is the sweet spot between the 3 ticket options. You get the essential robe and extra face masks without blowing your entire budget on the highest-tier pricing. 💸 Save Your Receipts: If you buy skincare or souvenirs, file for a VAT tax refund at the airport before you fly. You’ll get an almost immediate refund!
 Are you a "first thing in the morning" or "late night experience” kind of traveler? LMK! 👇

What a joy it was talking Effective Communication during The Explorers Club ACCESS Webinar series. The goal of my talk was to invite listeners into their very own superpowers as everyday storytellers. I hope you’ll give a listen and step into your superpowers, too. 

Think you know Greenland? Think again. 🇬🇱❄️ Most people only see the headlines, but the reality is way more wild (and more spectacular) than you’d imagine.

Here’s what no one is telling you:

🚁 The Commute: In Greenland, helicopters aren't just for tours—they’re a fundamental part of the public transit system. Because there are no roads between smaller towns (and the rugged terrain makes building runways difficult), choppers are one of the primary ways people move between remote locations. 🌌 The Lights: We saw the Northern Lights 6 NIGHTS IN A ROW. It blew our minds. For locals? It’s just "Tuesday." Greenlanders are so used to the sight, they don’t always look up. (Meanwhile, we newbies marveled for hours on end!) 🤝 The Crew: Don't be surprised if new friends swap small talk over serious adventure (think: cave hikes and boat rides). The hospitality here is as wide open as the terrain. 🛻 The Ride: Forget sedans. Plenty of folks get around by UTV (Utility Terrain Vehicle)—basically a beefed-up ATV built for the tundra. 🧊 The Drinks: Why bother with an ice cube tray? We hung out with locals who source their ice fresh from actual ICEBERGS. That’s an in-tune-with-nature flex. 🌅 The Vista: In the winter, sunrises and sunsets don't just happen—they linger for hours. The sky stays pink and gold until your face is numb from smiling.

I’m calling it: you will never see a place more beautiful than Greenland. 🌏✨

Would you swap an Uber for a heli ride? LMK in the comments! 👇

Greenland is UNREAL 😭

📩 Send to someone you want to share this view with! 💚

Whatever you do, DON’T go to Greenland. 🇬🇱🚫

You’re gonna hate it if:

✨ Sunsets bore you. (Who wants to see fire-orange skies over massive icebergs for hours on end?) 🛁 Self-care isn't your thing. (Jacuzzis and saunas with a view of the snow-covered mountains? PASS.) 🐕 You’re not a dog person. (Way too many fluffy sled dogs. Way too friendly.) 🌈 You like life monotone. (The rainbow buildings are just too cheerful.) 🚁 You’d rather do the "same ol' same ol'." (Heli-flights with breaching whales, and UTV rides to ancient settlements? Snore.) 🥱 You’re fine being bored. (Unless you count hiking, boating, and Northern-Lights hunting as "fun.")

So… you might as well stay home (and leave the fun to me)! 😉

👇 Tag a friend you’d “hate” to experience Greenland with!

MASSIVE qujanaq (thank you!) to the legends who showed me the real Greenlandic magic in Qasigianguit, Disko Bay, and Nuuk. These are the real MVPs:

Last week, I had the privilege of giving a virtual lecture for The Explorers Club, an organization in which I’m proud to be a Fellow. 

It filled my cup to present my talk, “Live to Tell the Tale: Storytelling for Explorers”, a reflection on how storytelling acts as the essential final leg of any expedition, turning individual discoveries into shared wisdom, and thereby expanding humanity’s knowledge, encouraging empathy, inspiring wonder, and creating a shared commitment to the planet we call home.

No matter who you are or what passions fuel you, this talk is *also* for you. Tune in to learn my favorite tools and tricks for impactful storytelling, gleaned from nearly 20 years in the field.

What’s an activity you dream of trying? 😍

Because now is the PERFECT time to explore something that excites you.

We love the world's most iconic spots, but let’s be honest: it’s hard to find "paradise" when you’re elbow-to-elbow with a thousand people trying to snap the same pic. 📸🚫

Over-tourism is real. While I’ll always love the classics like Hawaii, the strain on infrastructure means it’s time to look for destinations that want more visitors vs. fewer.

Ready for a well-kept secret? Meet the Cook Islands. 🇨🇰✨

Tucked in the South Pacific between Hawaii and NZ, this archipelago of 15 islands feels like a revelation. It's spread across an area of ocean the size of Western Europe, yet has a population under 15,000. It’s the definition of "getting away from it all." 🌊🙌

A few reasons I love it:

🏝️ Adventure Abounds: From snorkeling and diving to hiking or just reading on the beach, these islands have every tropical activity on lock.

💎 Sacred Waters: The nation is part of Marae Moana, one of Earth’s largest marine parks. Lagoons are protected by "Ra’ui" (traditional conservation bans), keeping coral vibrant and fish thriving. 🐠

🌴 No High-Rises: There’s a local law that says no building can be taller than a coconut tree. This keeps the skyline pristine and the vibes low-key.

🥥 The "Old School" Feel: It’s raw, authentic, and free of major chains, which means you’ll be supporting local guesthouses and eating at roadside stands. 🌮 A Hawaiian visitor told me it feels like Oahu did 70 years ago!

🤝 Intentional Stewardship: You aren’t just a tourist here; you’re a guest in a community that values its roots over mass-development.

The world is huge—let’s give the overcrowded spots a break, and go somewhere that still feels like an adventure! 🌏✈️

Are you a "classic bucket list" traveler or do you prefer lesser-traveled destinations? Chime in below! 👇

Our planet really is this beautiful 🥹

Where’s the most beautiful place you’ve ever been?

As the year winds down, I’ve been reflecting on the miles covered and the lessons learned. It’s been a wild mix of high-octane projects and quiet moments in the wild. This year wasn't so much about checking boxes; it was about showing up fully to everything that was worth my “yes”—whether on a muddy trail or a red carpet.

Below are some highlights for which I’m thankful:

🌎 Working and exploring across 4 continents + 8 U.S. States 🚀 Covering launch preparations for NASA at Kennedy Space Center 🎵 Directing on new video content for Lady Gaga x YouTube 📹 Producing industry-changing events for clients like Anthropic, General Motors, Cognition, Intel, and HubSpot 📣 Delivering the opening keynote at Miami University’s Leadership Symposium on Why Women Deserve to Explore 🇧🇷 Working across three languages (English, Portuguese, and Spanish) in Brazil ⛑️ Earning my Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certification 🎥 Hosting the red carpet coverage for The Explorers Club Annual Dinner 📺 Producing 90+ new videos for my @rachelroams channels, spanning Europe, South America, the South Pacific, Central America, and the U.S. 🎤 Emceeing, moderating, and speaking at events like TGA Show and She Leads 🏆 Receiving the Distinguished Alumni Award from Oakwood High School ❤️ Volunteering as a Refugee Champion for USA for UNHCR, a mentor through both The Explorers Club and Miami University, a and a trail maintenance crew member for Trailkeepers of Oregon 🎙️ Joining 10+ new podcasts and publications to talk storytelling and adventure 🌴 Kite boarding, kayaking, and swimming with sea turtles in the South Pacific 🐴 Exploring by whitewater raft and horseback in Montana 🚤 Searching for gators by jet boat in Florida 🦋 Marveling as my four year-old embraces curiosity, adventure, and an appreciation for nature (*and* racks up more extensive travels than I’d experienced by the time I started college)

To everyone who has supported this journey — colleagues, clients, and community — I can’t thank you enough for the trust and continued inspiration.

I’m headed into the new year with a full heart and a committed compass, and I can’t wait to see where 2026 takes us.

See you out there.

It was a pleasure joining the Winging It Podcast to talk collaboration, adventure, and storytelling last month. Links to the full conversation are below!

SPOTIFY

Anyone wanna join me?

I don’t know if you know this, but…

🤩 Here’s what happens if you wake up just 60 minutes earlier.