Here’s our Intentional Travelers collection of blog posts on transformational travel experiences, travel tips and guides for trips in the United States of America.
If you are planning to visit Oahu, where you stay can make a big difference. We want to share some local knowledge to help you get a better value for your travel dollar and craft a more personalized travel experience. Since Jedd was born and raised in Honolulu, we usually find ourselves visiting Oahu several…
The Lanikai Pillbox hike (a.k.a. Kaiwa Ridge) is a favorite on Oahu for visitors and locals alike. It’s a quick climb for scenic views of beautiful Lanikai beach, the Ko’olau mountains, and Kailua town. Last updated: January 2026. Originally published: May 2017. Quick Summary: Lanikai Pillbox Hike Distance: ~0.8 miles round trip to the second…
If you’re traveling to Hawaii, it’s very useful to familiarize yourself with the pronunciation of the Hawaiian language and learn some Hawaiian phrases. It’s also fun! We don’t claim to be experts in Hawaiian, however, Jedd grew up on Oahu, Michelle is a language geek, and we still spend a lot of time with family in Hawaii. With…
We’ve always called this the Wilhelmina Rise hike, although the trail name is Mau’umae Trail (known also as Lanipo). This is one of several ridge hikes between the valleys east of Honolulu city center, off Highway 1. In our opinion, the first section of the trail is the perfect first Oahu hike for visitors. You…
Our digital nomad life usually leads Jedd and I abroad, but there are plenty of people who are traveling long-term or living nomadically in the US, too. Some folks, like our friends Heath and Alyssa (who helped us write this post), live and work from an RV full-time. Others combine camping, couchsurfing, and work exchanges to…
We had the opportunity to explore Santa Cruz for the first time last year, and it quickly became one of our favorite spots in California. So when Jenna reached out to us to share a guest post about this ocean-side city, we were happy to oblige. Santa Cruz, California is famous for its temperate climate,…
This is a guest post by fellow Intentional Travelers, Alyssa and Heath Padgett. This young couple embarked on an epic U.S. road trip in 2014 to film their documentary, Hourly America. If you’re curious about how to visit all 50 states in America, this post will start you out with a 48 state road trip…
This is a guest post by one of our featured intentional travelers, Alyssa Padgett. I think my husband and I are the youngest couple living in an RV on the road. Inspired by our grandparents who shared amazing stories of life on the road, Heath and I decided to forego a “typical” honeymoon and spend seven…
This is a guest post by fellow Intentional Traveler, Alyssa Padgett. Shortly after their wedding, she and her husband, Heath, bought an RV and filmed a documentary across the country called Hourly America. The best and worst of the USA In 2014, I drove – well, that’s not true – my husband drove across the…
Today I am really excited to introduce you to the Boyink family, formerly of DitchingSuburbia. I can’t tell you how many times Jedd and I have heard some variation of: “Now is a good time to travel, before you have kids.” Yes, bringing kids into your life adds a whole new dimension, but it doesn’t…