Trip Accomplice

Introduction to the Explanation After two decades as a travel writer and three as a travel addict, I came to a realization: The real value of travel isn’t found in what you see, taste, or photograph. It’s found in what you learn. That’s the underlying inspiration behind my latest book Wisdom in Your Carry-On. In sharing the lessons learned from my own travels across all seven continents, I…

I am so excited to release the final cover artwork and release date of my upcoming book Wisdom in Your Carry-On The front cover of Wisdom in Your Carry-On Coming May 19th, 2026 In May 2026 my reflective travel essays will become available to the public through all major online retailers. Whether you prefer a digital ebook or a traditional paperback in your hands, I warmly invite you to enjoy…

Introducing Wisdom in Your Carry-On The leading candidates for cover of my upcoming book: Wisdom In Your Carry-On Hello loyal readers! It’s been awhile, I know. I’m happy to share that I’ve been working on an exciting project and would love your input. I’m currently putting the finishing touches on my latest book Wisdom In Your Carry-On: Lessons Learned from Showing Up. Unlike my previous…

Father & Son heading back from the Great Barrier Reef, Australia In each life there are those seismic moments in which you will never forget where you were and what you were doing. Those of a certain age can easily recall where they were on 9/11; and if of a certain greater age, the moon landing. Inevitably, the same goes for milestone events in one’s personal life – especially when they are…

Learn why everyone can hike Iceland's stunning Múlagljúfur Canyon

Drone’s eye view of Múlagljúfur Canyon, Iceland Introduction to Múlagljúfur Canyon, Iceland At the end of an unmarked and very unassuming gravel road in southeastern Iceland, is the trailhead for Múlagljúfur Canyon. A cluster of cars at the base of a ravine is the only indication there’s anything special worth seeing. From that limited vantage point there doesn’t seem to be any reason for…

As an unabashed travel addict, I know full well the temptation to be so concentrated on the ‘where’ that at times you might neglect the ‘what’. Sure, ticking off countries like it’s a checklist does bring with it a measure of satisfaction. But when you give due attention to what you’re doing, and not just where you’re doing it, this will level-up your life experience points and enrich your memory…

Souvenirs for sale, Kaymakli, Turkey From a Persian term meaning “Land of Beautiful Horses”, Cappadocia is not one town but rather a region etched into an otherwise unremarkable plateau in central Turkey. It was in this general neighborhood that the ancient Hittites thrived, paving the way for a unique collaboration between man and nature that is still in effect today. Having always wanted to…

Timbavati Reserve, South Africa An African safari is common entry on a lot of people’s bucket lists. It was certainly on mine until March of 2009 when I visited the Timbavati & Klaserie Reserves in the Northeastern corner of South Africa, which is just to the west of Kruger National Park. Now that I’ve gotten through all the points on the compass with that last sentence, allow me to share my…

Ah, the joys of summer. Never ending sunshine. Balmy temperatures in the twenties & thirties. The refreshing feel of gale-force winds upon your skin. Such are the perks of spending a summer (i.e. winter for the northern hemisphere) visiting the White Continent. Antarctica, duly nicknamed not so much for its demographics as for the fact that everything is covered in snow and ice, is seeing more…

The Blue City, Jodhpur, India It’s not often that travel and sci-fi are mentioned in the same sentence. But if you bear with me, I have an unusual mash-up of one of my favorite sci-fi excerpts and my favorite city in India. It’s weird. I know. Just bear with me. In Douglas Adams’ classic novel The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, I’ve always felt that Adams’ comic genius was best encapsulated…

Colorful Costa Rica If nature opened an amusement park I know exactly where it would be. Just before the North American continent tapers down to the narrow isthmus that is Panama, lies the jewel of Central America: Costa Rica. Translated, pura vida means: Pure life, which aside from being the national motto, aptly describes the philosophy of this tropical country that is nearly the size of the…

Learn about the best attraction on New Zealand's North Island: the glowworm caves

Early Morning in the Waikato Region, North Island, New Zealand It’s been long established that New Zealand has an embarrassing wealth of natural wonders and attractions, so for me to wax poetic about how beautiful the landscape is; how mind-bogglingly stunning the scenery can be; and the plethora of adrenaline-inducing activities on offer, it would probably come across as redundant. But even in…

Rarotonga & Aitutaki – An Overview of the Best of the Cook Islands

Snorkeling in the incredible Aitutaki Lagoon After a 21 year hiatus, I finally got back around to visiting the islands of the South Pacific. And while theoretically I could have raised a child to adulthood in the intervening years, the only legacy I brought with me on my return to Oceania was the experience acquired from visiting another 54 countries across all 7 continents, as well as a…

Samana’ – The Best of the Dominican Republic is Outside the Package

In tourism circles, the Dominican Republic is known for its sprawling, all-inclusive resorts, with expansive pools, a wealth of bars and restaurants, and of course, a slice of palm-fringed oceanfront real estate. In most cases, tourists are cautioned to stay in their resort, venture out only to well-established tourist attractions, and use guided tours as much as possible. I’m here to tell you…

Travel Goals Master Checklist: Part VI Australia and Oceania

In this final installment of the Travel Goals Master Checklist series, I’ll briefly recap the remaining destinations chosen for the aforementioned checklist, and why they were included. For the sake of the geographically challenged who may be reading this, Australia & Oceania covers the continent of Australia (shocker!) as well as the islands of New Zealand and the myriad island groups of the…

Travel Goals Master Checklist: Part V – Asia

This portion of the Travel Goals Master Checklist series of blog posts focuses on Asia. Not surprisingly, much like its counterpart in the real world, it is the biggest in both size and number. Spanning a land area far beyond that of any other continent, Asia is a medley of cultures, technology and history that cannot be matched. From the ancient desert bastions of the Middle East, to the…