198 articles tagged with sustainable tourism
The first time I glimpsed Lake Atitlan's shimmering blue waters framed by three majestic volcanoes, I understood why this Guatemalan gem is often called 'the most beautiful lake in the world.' During my recent week-long escape with a friend, we...
When I first landed in Conakry with my sister's family last winter, the humid air carried both the salt of the Atlantic and the distinctive energy of West Africa—a palpable vibration that resonated with me immediately. As someone who typically...
Standing at the intersection of Center Street and Weber Avenue, I feel the convergence of past and present that defines Stockton—a city often overlooked in California's historical narrative. As someone who's traversed coastal metropolises and remote dark sky reserves across...
Standing alone beneath the dancing emerald lights of the aurora borealis, surrounded by nothing but pristine snow and the whispered secrets of ancient Arctic forests, I experienced a profound educational moment no classroom could replicate. Finnish Lapland, with its otherworldly...
When most travelers think of Uganda, images of mountain gorillas and safari adventures immediately come to mind. But after spending a week in Entebbe on what my university colleagues mockingly called my 'budget luxury adventure,' I discovered a cultural tapestry...
I've circled the globe more times than I care to count, but nothing quite prepared me for Palau. This tiny archipelago in the western Pacific—a place that barely registers on most travelers' radars—delivered one of the most profound solo adventures...
When most travelers think of Goa, their minds immediately conjure images of palm-fringed beaches and sunset parties. But as an urban planner with an insatiable appetite for adventure, I've discovered that Goa's true magic lies in its lesser-explored wilderness. During...
The Kalahari Desert at dusk is a masterpiece of contradictions. As our open-air Land Cruiser crests another ochre-colored dune, the vastness spreads before me—not the barren wasteland many imagine, but a thriving ecosystem pulsing with life. After six years of...
Standing on the wooden jetty at Lamu's harbor, the afternoon sun warming my face as dhows glided across the azure waters, I felt that familiar thrill of stepping into a place where time moves differently. After years in diplomatic service...
When I first arrived in Iquitos—the largest city in the world unreachable by road—I knew I was in for something special. After spending years fixing pipes on cruise ships and later establishing my eco-plumbing business in Sydney, I've developed a...
The first time I visited Tulum as a 12-year-old with my parents, I stood awestruck before the clifftop ruins, watching waves crash against limestone as a guide wove tales of Maya astronomers tracking celestial bodies. Two decades and a PhD...
When I traded the Rio Grande for the Wicomico River last summer, I wasn't expecting to find such a fascinating microcosm of Eastern Shore ecology and culture in Salisbury, Maryland. Even more surprising? I navigated this entire adventure without once...
Trinidad, Bolivia exists at a fascinating intersection of colonial history and Amazonian biodiversity, creating a uniquely immersive destination for couples seeking both cultural richness and natural wonder. As a research scientist who's analyzed accommodation patterns across four continents, I've discovered...
Standing on South Tarawa's narrow coral atoll—barely 500 meters wide at points—I found myself at the intersection of climate vulnerability and cultural resilience unlike anywhere I've experienced in my urban planning career. This remote Pacific microstate offers none of the...
The radio in my patrol car back in Calgary used to crackle with calls throughout the night, but nothing compares to the symphony of sounds that awakens you in a traditional Zambian village—roosters announcing dawn, women singing as they pound...
