Let's talk about the food situation on my Greece trips for a second. Because holy shit, this year our sailing crew doubled as chefs and spoiled us with some Greek staples. On my May Greece trip, Happy made us fresh tzatziki that was so good I considered licking the bowl (I didn't, but it was a close call). On our September trip, Philip decided to bless us with homemade ceviche—which he prepared shirtless, by the way, because apparently that's just how things go when you're sailing the Greek islands with a crew of absolute characters.

At 62, newly divorced Kerry Breckle had a choice: stay bitter or get better. She chose better—and ended up in a hot air balloon over Mexican pyramids, getting her first tattoo in Cuba, and discovering that age is just a number. Her message? 'No one is going to knock on your door with a new life plan. So do it.' Read how Kerry went from afraid to fly to living her best adventure.

When Carrie booked her first international trip to Cuba, she was terrified. She'd never considered leaving the country and worried it wouldn't be safe. Now, after journeys to Cuba and Morocco—with Kenya on the horizon—she's discovered a passion for travel she never knew existed. Read how group travel with Laura Ericson transformed not just her itinerary, but her entire worldview.

Last year on a scouting trip to Kenya, a teacher asked me for one thing: pads. Girls at her school were missing 3-7 days every month because they didn't have period products. Some were dropping out entirely. Their futures were shrinking because of something as basic as a period.

That conversation changed everything. In March 2026, both of my Kenya groups will distribute period care kits to 260 girls at a local school. Each $10 kit includes four reusable pads that last up to 10 years, underwear, soap, and a carrying pouch.

This isn't about showing up with disposable pads and leaving. It's about providing a decade of reliable period care, keeping girls in school, and investing in their futures. Here's how we're doing it—and how you can help.

If someone who literally gets set on fire for a living can book a trip to Morocco right after a divorce, what's actually stopping you? I sat down with two Hollywood stunt doubles to talk about fear, risk, and why the people who do the most "dangerous" things are often the calmest travelers. Here's what they taught me about overcoming travel fear.

If you've ever eaten ramen for the third night in a row while scrolling travel Instagram because you're "saving for a trip," this one's for you. Money coach Rachel Covert (who retired at 36 with $500k saved) just dropped a truth bomb: saving for travel doesn't have to suck. The problem? You've been conditioned to believe saving means extreme deprivation. No restaurants. No fun. No life. And then you crack and book a trip on a credit card. Here's what actually works: automation, clear priorities, and zero lentils required.

I'll never forget the moment I decided to quit my job and start my travel business. I was floating in a hot air balloon over Cappadocia, Turkey, when my entire body just... knew. Within a week, I'd submitted my resignation from a 14-year career. My brain was screaming at me the entire time. But my body? My body was calm. Quiet. Certain. That's the thing about intuition that nobody tells you: it doesn't scream. It whispers. And it lives in your gut, not your head.

Join Darcy Luoma on her humanitarian journey through Cuba with Laura Ericson Group Trips. Traveling under a special visa, Darcy's group brought essential donations for communities affected by the US embargo while experiencing authentic Cuban culture. From classic cars in Havana to horseback riding in Viñales, this travel diary showcases how meaningful travel can create positive impact while fostering genuine cultural connections.

"I didn't have to be brave. Everything just feels so safe and taken care of." That's how Danielle describes her 10-day Morocco adventure—and she's not alone. Three women who traveled Morocco as complete strangers share what it's really like to ride camels through the Sahara, survive 108-degree heat, bond in traditional hammams, and make lifelong friends along the way. Turns out, you don't need to be adventurous by nature to have the trip of a lifetime. You just need someone who's already done the hard work for you.

Let me set the scene: I'm coming home from Greece, jet-lagged, with an eight-hour layover at O'Hare. I set an alarm, put my head down at my gate, and pass out.

I wake up in a fog. Everyone around me is gone. Never a good sign.

My gate has changed to an entirely different concourse. So there I am, sprinting through O'Hare with a backpack full of Greek pottery weighing 40 pounds, literally dying, having a full-on asthma attack.

That was the hardest run I've done in a very long time.

Which is why when I sat down to talk with Joe Baur - a travel writer who runs ultra marathons through countries for a living - I had to laugh. Because while I'm over here proud of my 10-minute pottery sprint, this guy is out here running 60+ miles a day through Nepal, getting pneumonia on day two of an eight-day stage race, and still finishing.

I will never be a runner. But here's the thing: After talking with Joe, I realized his approach to travel resonates with me on a level that has nothing to do with running...

Remember when summer camp was the highlight of your year? When you'd count down the days until you could escape your regular life, make questionable friendship bracects, and stay up way too late eating contraband snacks?

Here's the thing: who decided that magic had to end just because we got jobs and mortgages?

Adult summer camp is everything you loved about being a kid, minus the homesickness and bad cafeteria food. We're talking outdoor adventures, creative activities, new friends, and the kind of unstructured fun that makes you remember why life is actually pretty great.

At Camp Lola Whiskey in northern Wisconsin, you'll kayak, hike, make s'mores around bonfires, try ridiculous arts and crafts, and laugh more than you have in months. It's for people who are exhausted from adulting and ready to remember what fun actually feels like.

Your to-do list will still be there when you get back. But you'll also have this weird little pocket of joy to carry with you. And honestly? That's worth way more than another "productive" weekend.

You have three tabs open comparing flights. You've read 47 blog posts about what to pack. You've calculated the budget six different ways. But you still haven't clicked "Book Now."

It's probably not about the money. And it's definitely not about finding the "perfect time."

I sat down with life coach Bonnie Surie to talk about why smart, capable people create elaborate barriers between themselves and the things they actually want. What we discovered: the limiting beliefs that stop you from booking a trip are the same ones keeping you stuck everywhere else in life.

Let's dig into what's really stopping you—and how to finally take action.

Let's talk about the stuff nobody posts on Instagram. Like the moment you're desperately tapping your tour guide's shoulder on a Moroccan highway: "I really need to go. Like, now."

This is Mel Ripp's story—from Door County encyclopedia reader to someone who handles roadside emergencies with remarkable grace. If you've ever worried that travel isn't for you because you have food sensitivities, get lost in airports, or aren't "adventurous enough"—this one's for you.

The unglamorous moments? They're the ones that transform you.

Remember COVID lockdowns? That feeling when going to the grocery store suddenly felt terrifying? That's what can happen to your comfort zone after divorce - except nobody's mandating it. You're doing it to yourself. Divorce coach Julie Danielson sees this pattern constantly: women who gradually stop going places, decline invitations, and watch their worlds get smaller and smaller. "If you do not continually work on stretching your comfort zone, it will shrink," she warns. "And you will isolate. And that is when women get depressed." Here's why it happens - and the surprisingly simple steps you can take to reverse it, starting today.

While Cuba is famous for classic cars, cigars, and free healthcare, the reality of daily life tells a very different story. Based on my conversation with Andres, a Cuban tour guide who has spent his entire 38 years on the island, here are the eye-opening truths about Cuban life that most tourists never see - from highly educated doctors who earn less than waiters to locals who've never tasted the "Cuban" cocktails served to visitors.

After stumbling off a 4am flight from Morocco (fueled by exactly zero sleep and one too many espresso martinis), I found myself on a bus to Donegal for TBEX—one of my favorite travel creator conferences. What followed was a perfect mix of Irish hospitality, questionable life choices involving 72-kilometer bike rides after carb-heavy lunches, and meeting Buttons, my new alpaca best friend who had some serious bathroom priorities. Between traditional music sessions, the best clam chowder of my life, and a car breakdown that somehow turned into Irish Tetris with our luggage, Ireland reminded me why sometimes the most magical travel moments happen when absolutely nothing goes according to plan.

Just got back from Morocco with my latest group, and honestly, I'm still processing everything that went down. Here's the real, unfiltered story of nine days that reminded me why I love this crazy job—even when it nearly kills me. From Operation Wine Stockpile in Casablanca to monkey attacks in the cedar forest, heat exhaustion in the Sahara, and way too many leather bags in Fes, this trip had it all. Follow along for the authentic behind-the-scenes of what boutique group travel really looks like—complete with 80 billion cats, drum circles under the stars, and the kind of transformational moments that change you forever.

Patagonia isn't a country—it's a region spanning both Chile and Argentina. And choosing which side to visit sparks heated debates among travelers. Travel writer Steph Dyson, who lived in Chile for three years, breaks down the real differences: "The Argentines are so good at tooting their own horns... but the Chileans frustrate me because they just need to promote themselves a little bit better."

While most people think "Argentina" when they hear Patagonia, that's largely due to superior marketing rather than superior experiences. Chilean Patagonia offers more diverse landscapes, better value, and authentic experiences without the crowds—but requires more planning to discover its hidden gems.

There's literally a handbook for military wives—and it's time to throw it out the window. As a travel professional, I meet military spouses constantly who feel trapped by expectations. My recent conversation with travel writer Kim Kephart, who's lived across Europe and Asia as a military spouse, opened my eyes to just how restrictive military wife culture can be—and how some women are breaking free through solo travel and independent living.

What happens when you take 30 adults, put them in the Wisconsin Dells with craft cocktails and summer camp activities, then throw in epic storms, a pickle fountain, and spontaneous tattoo decisions? You get Camp Lola Whiskey - the inaugural summer camp for grownups that turned into an unforgettable weekend of chaos, connection, and pure Wisconsin magic. From Rachel's two-day commitment to adventure to Megan's impromptu old fashioned tattoo before catching her flight home, this weekend proved that sometimes the best adventures come from embracing chaos with good people.