Posts

I Went on a Girls Trip to This Luxury, Adults-only Resort in Jamaica — Here's Why It Made Me Love All-inclusives

A few days catching up with my best friend over frothy drinks completely changed my mind about all-inclusive resorts. For that reason, Id always avoided them, until now. But the friendly staff and ocean view from our room kicked relaxation mode in high gear. Credit:Courtesy of Lauren Breedlove (The welcome glass of prosecco didnt hurt, either.) We caught up over sunset; cotton-candy clouds mirrored in the calm Caribbean. With a smorgasbord of restaurants to choose from, dinnertime was our oyster....

I Went On a Road Trip From Chile’s Atacama Desert to Bolivia’s Salt Flats — Here’s How You Can, Too

The high-altitude route is one of the most spectacular and inhospitable on the planet. Other than my guide, David Torres, I was the only human around to witness this extraordinary spectacle. Nevertheless, I knew that the journey could be physically grueling. A flamboyance of James’s flamingos on Bolivia’s Laguna Colorada.Credit:Nick Ballón A faint smell of sulfur filled the air. In some parts, the river had veins of brick-red bacteria snaking along its surface like licks of fire....

I Went on a Road Trip Through Southern Ireland to Discover My Heritage — Here’s What It Was Like

There were no stories or photographs. I spent hours combing through Ancestry.com and scouring Irelands many public online databases for any information. It only made sense to visit them. Asia walking along Dunmore Head in Dingle, Ireland.Credit:Asia Palomba/Travel + Leisure Shortly after, my boyfriend and I booked a week-longtrip to Irelandfrom our home in Boston. Our home for the night was the historicThe Address Cork, a refurbished mid-19th-century hospital. Although the house was decrepit, it was stillthere....

I Went on a Safari in Botswana With a Female Guide — Here’s Why It Made All the Difference

This African company is breaking down barriers for women in the safari industry here’s how. Whats the biggest obstacle for women who want to become safari guides in Africa? Launched in 2021, the programs key objective is to graduate 25 female guides by 2025. Credit:Sandra MacGregor/Travel + Leisure Each year, five applicants are chosen to participate in a two-year training and internship program. Participants undergo practical and theoretical in-class training at theAfrican Guide Academy....

I Went on a Self-guided Tour of Corsica — and It Was an Adventure Lover's Dream

Known for its glittering coastline, the French island of Corsica has a rugged side, too. Just keep walking, my brother, Jared, yelled from farther up, where the track widened. Its easier if you go fast. Cycling toward Oletta, in northern Corsica.Credit:Paul Hahn/laif/Redux From left: Celine Clanet; Ian Abela/Courtesy of U Capu Biancu But not us. There we met our first guide, Anthony Laplagne, who leads cycling tours. So, he put everything together and dropped them in the water, and that became Corsica....

I Went on a Women’s Running Retreat Across Ireland — Here’s Why It Was the Perfect Way to See the Country

Is it this hard for everyone? Instead, I was looking around me at the other members of my group. But then it was back to work: we had four or so miles left to run. The author, second from right, in Ireland’s Wicklow Mountains with her group from Run Wild Retreats.Credit:Molly Keane I remembered what Jen had said about letting gravity guide you and then I tried it myself. The cool wind on my face was exhilarating....

I Went on an Adventurous Trip to Sydney, and These Hokas Are the Only Pair of Comfortable Shoes I Packed

If you press links we provide, we may receive compensation. I wore these shoes constantly and they never rubbed or gave me blisters. The mixed terrains around Bondi Beach put my Kawanas to the first test. Credit:Travel + Leisure / Francesca Fasciglione My Hoka Kawanas proved to be just as good in nature as they were in the city. The lightweight and responsive nature of the shoe was important for me too....

I Went on an Arctic Circle Expedition, and These 5 Items Helped Me Brave the Cold — From $8

If you hit links we provide, we may receive compensation. I stayed warm while doing everything from seeing the Northern Lights to reindeer sledding. I traveled to Troms, Norway, roughly 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle. Credit:Travel + Leisure Here, Ive rounded up the five winter essentials I would pack again. In this exceptionally bitter cold weather, a scarf casually draped across my face would not be enough. I liked that they were a more sustainable option and that they last longer since theyre battery-powered....

I Went on My First Gay Cruise — Here's What It Was Like

Here’s why I chose vacation company Vacaya to book my first gay cruise. Even before setting sail, some of my preconceived notions about gay cruises seemed to fade. Actress Susie Mosher added comedic levity as the host of a show where fearless passengers sang their favorite tunes. Credit: Courtesy of Gabriel Goldberg (GabrielGoldberg.com) “There were different ethnicities on board: Black, white, Spanish, and Asian. Meeting people like Alston was easy....

I Went on My First Solo Hiking Trip in Peru — Here's How You Can, Too

It was going quite well we were really seeing eye to eye. In front of me: Andes peaks jutting into a blue sky with clouds that couldve been painted on. Below me: vibrant green terraces punctuating the hillside. Credit:Maya Kachroo-Levine/Travel + Leisue But really, I only had eyes from my pseudoruminant friend. I came to Peru to see the new eco-resortLas Qolqasin Ollantaytambo. It poured as we walked through the town, a series of low buildings with Incan-built stone foundations....

I Went on the Iconic 'Polar Express' Train Through the Mountains With My Toddler — and Now I Want to Do It Every Year

She seemed to be as surprised and overwhelmed as I was. It was a feeling that dissipated as the vintage steam train rounded the bend. A shroud of steam shot into the dark night sky and we both gasped. Exterior of the PEX Durango Train’s Polar Express as it travels through snowy Colorado.Credit:Courtesy of Anthony D’Amato She screamed Santa!, waving her arms wildly, and I feltthe prickle of goosebumps. The first of many I would feel that night....

I Went Skiing in Antarctica — and How You Can, Too

A skiers journey to the end of the world for one of lifes best adventures. Even among seasoned skiers, few realize you’re able to do it in Antarctica. Its the coldest, windiest, and driest place on Earth. Credit:Nicola McPherson Skiing in Antarctica can be difficult and expensive, but with the right preparation, you might do it. There are no ski resorts, chairlifts, or even primitive potties. Its fraught with danger, including avalanches, crevasses, and unpredictable extreme weather....

I Went to a 7-day Silent Meditation Retreat — Here's What I Learned

Grieving a dissolved marriage, a writer seeks peace and compassion at a meditation retreat in California. Illustration by Owen Gent As I sat cross-legged on a red cushion, tears ran down my cheeks. The afternoon sun poured through large picture windows, warming the right side of my body. Credit:Illustration by Owen Gent The rise and fall of my chest was heavy with the dull ache of a broken heart. This is what grief feels like, I thought....