The sun shines and the stars, and new beauty meets us at every step in all our wanderings.
When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe.
Continue reading “12 John Muir Quotes That Will Inspire Your Love for Nature”
Doe-eyed, like the animals we were hoping to see, we ogled at the park ranger in front of us. “There’s only one campsite available tonight,” she said to a line of four cars.
It was 7:30 in the morning and most of us had dragged ourselves from the warmth of our sleeping bags 3 hours prior just to secure a spot of dirt for sleeping – AKA camping – at one of the best national parks in the country.
Continue reading “Camping Glacier National Park: One Site, Nine People, and Huckleberry Jam”
We rounded the bend at the Grand Tetons, our loss for words quickly replaced by squeals and shouts of joy. It was early. We had the roads and mountains to ourselves and it felt like we had traversed hundreds of years back in time.
From the east coast we had pushed beyond the bustling big cities and high rise buildings to find ourselves immersed in another world. It was pure magic.
To be honest, I had never really heard of the Grand Tetons before our visit. On a map, they are located just below the wildly famous Yellowstone National Park. How different could the two be? Well, what are day and night like?
There is just no way you should ever pass up an opportunity to see the Grand Tetons. Here’s why:
The Tetons will absolutely take your breath away. Just driving into the park was our first staggering experience: we thought we must be close, but as we kept going and going, they weren’t getting any closer. That’s when we realized how truly massive they were.
Having visited a total of 7 National Parks on our trip, I feel very strongly in saying not only was this one of the most beautiful, but also the least populated for its grandeur. That’s not to say that there weren’t crowds at all, but it generally felt much more peaceful than other parks we had been to.
Going off of the previous point, this is a trail one of our friends recommended to us to avoid some of the crowds and it absolutely did not disappoint. The Emma Matilda Trail was interspersed with fields of wildflowers, rolling hills, and uninterrupted views of the Tetons. We got up early, and had the place entirely to ourselves, even stumbling across a deer (we think?) hidden in the fauna. Can you spot him in the picture below?
Crowded? Yes. Worth the visit? Absolutely! The magnificent peaks of the Tetons are reflected in Jenny Lake below, crystal clear water looking like it belongs in the Bahamas rather than out in Wyoming. The chilly water is refreshing and revitalizing. Definitely don’t miss the chance to dip in and feel like you’re floating in a postcard!
One of the places nearly impossible to describe with black and white words alone, the Badlands most closely resemble a desert scene out of Star Wars: starkly shaped rock formations raggedly pointed from the wind and crevices carved from running water.
With only two nights in this space-like stratosphere during our cross country road trip, we wanted to make the most of our time, exploring every secret twist and turn.
After thousands of photos were snapped and many trails taken, thanks to the handy AllTrails app, the Badlands has definitely finessed its way to a high-ranking spot on my favorite national park list.
Continue reading “Best of Badlands National Park”
To say we started off the road trip with a bang would be an understatement: 27 hours of driving in two days. There were only two ways this could have possibly ended. The first in the strangling of one another after what seemed like endless hours in a confined area, or a strengthened bond after long chats of life contemplation and many off-tune sing-alongs. Luckily we pursued the latter.
Continue reading “Road Trip Tips: How To Survive 30 Hours in the Car”
After my two weeks of Chloe Ting’s shred, I was feeling strong and invincible… that is, until I went home. It seems that old habits die hard. And those habits include over-sized bowls of ice cream, late night nibbles, and the all-too-often breakfast from my favorite local restaurant.
My family was never properly educated about food. In fact, I don’t think most of us are. Do you know how to read the food labels on the back of our packaged edibles? I certainly don’t. I just use my taste buds to tell me what’s good and what isn’t. Not exactly nutritious accuracy at its finest.
These habits, which dictated the first 18 years of my life, were easier to forget when living in my never-never land of Koh Tao, but being back in my childhood home seems to have instantly reverted me to tried and true habits.
Continue reading “Eating Healthy While Living At Home: The Struggle You Know All Too Well”
Do you want to get paid just for having a conversation with someone in your native language? Do you enjoy learning about different cultures from around the world? Are you interested in meeting new people? With iTalki, all of this is possible! It’s perfect to earn some extra cash, or to sustain your lifestyle while living abroad.
Continue reading “Why iTalki is the Best Way to Earn Money From Home”
The ocean has always called to me. From the time I could stand up in diapers, you could always find me chasing the waves of the shore. Jumping in and out, over and under. Swimming until my fingers pruned and the sun kissed my hair white.
Continue reading “Why I Love Freediving”
