298 articles tagged with adventure travel
At 64, I've discovered that some of life's most rewarding journeys begin when we venture beyond our comfort zones. After decades of directing travelers at Hawaiian Airlines and settling into my Scottish retirement, Madagascar called to me with its unique...
When I first visited Cape Town three years ago, I was expecting beautiful scenery and maybe a few decent hikes. What I *wasn't* prepared for was how this South African city would completely redefine my understanding of adventure travel. Between...
As a research scientist accustomed to methodical observation, I've found few environments that reward careful attention quite like Brazil's Pantanal. This vast wetland ecosystem—the world's largest tropical wetland area—presents a fascinating laboratory for solo travelers seeking authentic wildlife encounters without...
When I first stepped foot on São Miguel four years ago, I was immediately struck by how this Azorean island seemed to exist in a category all its own—neither fully European nor entirely Atlantic, but rather a magnificent hybrid of...
When most travelers think Nevada, their minds immediately flash to the neon wonderland of Las Vegas. But 30 miles east of Reno lies Fernley – a desert gem that's captured my heart during three separate expeditions. This unassuming town serves...
The first time I glimpsed the Nazca Lines from above, my astrophysicist brain nearly short-circuited. These ancient geoglyphs etched into Peru's arid plateau represent one of humanity's most compelling astronomical calendars and artistic achievements—yet experiencing them typically comes with a...
The rhythmic pulse of waves crashing against Recife's shores fades into the distance as you ascend into its overlooked hills. Half a world away, the spice-scented breezes of Zanzibar whisper through highland forests that most beach-seekers never discover. As someone...
While most visitors flock to Santorini for those postcard-perfect shots of white-washed buildings and azure domes (guilty as charged on my first visit in '98), there's a wilder side to this volcanic jewel that few tourists ever experience. After two...
As someone who typically plans educational family adventures, I recently found myself with a rare opportunity: a solo trip to Mendoza, Argentina's famed wine region. The prospect both thrilled and intimidated me. Would wine country be awkward to navigate alone?...
The rhythmic pulsing of a heartbeat under stress—something I monitored countless times in operating theaters—bears remarkable similarity to what I felt standing at the edge of Trinidad's Avocat Waterfall. At 64, with my surgical career largely behind me, I've discovered...
There are moments when the earth reveals itself to you in ways that transcend the ordinary—when landscapes become portals to something deeper within yourself. Namibia's Sossusvlei is precisely such a place. As I stood barefoot on the spine of the...
When most travelers think of Mediterranean islands, images of leisurely beach days and historic ruins typically come to mind. But Tunisia's Djerba Island—a sun-drenched jewel in the Mediterranean—offers an unexpected playground for adventure seekers. As someone who's explored cave systems...
Standing at the precipice of Colca Canyon, twice as deep as the Grand Canyon yet somehow less frequented by international travelers, I felt that familiar tingle of discovery that first drew me to anthropology. The vertiginous drop before me wasn't...
When I tell folks I'm heading to East Africa for a beach holiday, they typically assume Kenya or Tanzania. But mention Djibouti, and I'm met with that familiar head-tilt of confusion—like when I try explaining the infield fly rule to...
The limestone shelf of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula is a remarkable geological formation—essentially a massive fossilized coral reef that emerged from the sea millions of years ago. This unique topography has created one of Earth's most fascinating hydrological systems: an extensive...
