Hawaii is one of those places where visitors have one of two experiences: an authentic experience of Hawaii’s beauty, local culture, and society or the canned, touristy version. If you’re looking for a less flashy, off-the-beaten-path hike on Oahu, Aina Haina is one we have enjoyed for its diverse flora and fauna, away from the…
While the Galapagos and the Amazon might have the best name recognition in Ecuador, the most visited area of the country is actually the Andes Mountain region – and we’ve seen why! The mountains, volcanoes, and valleys are stunning. We found travel through the Andes to be relatively easy and affordable, and after 5+ months…
Cinque Terre is a magical destination with great opportunities for scenic hiking on the coast of Italy. Although several of the main trails have been closed, you can still fulfill the dream of hiking Cinque Terre. This post covers everything you need to know about visiting Cinque Terre to hike in 2026. Updated: December 2025….
In this post, we share our week exploring Nendaz, Switzerland including hikes, day trips, and real tips from our stay in this quiet corner of the Swiss Alps. Why Nendaz? Nendaz, Switzerland. Most people have never heard of it. So why did we go there? Well, for this leg of our Europe trip, we wanted to…
I get the impression that many Americans don’t know very much about Banff. But it is not just one of Canada’s prized National Parks, it is actually a world class destination and definitely worth the trip! If you’re on a budget, there are plenty of free things to do in Banff, thanks to its natural…
If you’re planning a visit to Rocky Mountain National Park, this guide highlights our favorite easy and moderate hikes, scenic stops, and helpful tips for where to stay in or near Estes Park, Colorado. We spent a full week here with my parents as part of our Rockies road trip. To help you plan a…
We love British Columbia, Canada but Kelowna wasn’t even on our radar until we had the opportunity to pass through on our scenic drive to Banff– and we’re really glad we made the stop! The main summer attractions in Kelowna are outdoor activities and wineries. Since it’s just a one-hour flight from Seattle on Alaska Air,…
Sintra is a beautiful place to hike, but we initially found that Sintra hiking trail information was hard to find for independent travelers. Tour websites were steering people to the tour bus circuit and we had to do a lot of online research to find any sort of trail maps or clear hiking directions. After…
Wa’ahila Ridge Trail is one of a series of hiking trails in the ridges and valleys on the outskirts of Honolulu. Located at the top of St. Louis heights, this moderately challenging hike offers nice views and varied terrain. Compared to the Wilhelmina Rise hike on the next ridge over, this hike has a little bit less of…
We’ve been hiking in Honolulu for decades but only recently learned about the Hanauma Bay Ridge trail from a cousin. This is an unofficial hike that follows the ridge line above the famous Hana’uma Bay with several scenic views to enjoy. Distance: ~2.5 miles out and back Time: 1 hour Difficulty: Easy Elevation change: ~400ft…