A Tribute to Walden Pond
I crunch through leaves and smell wet bark at Walden Pond in Concord, Massachusetts. Yellow and crimson leaves line the path and cluster at the edges of the dark water. I drop pebbles into...
Deliberate Wanderer Blog
The New Global Student: Book Review
The New Global Student: Skip the SAT, Save Thousands on Tuition, and Get a Truly International Education by Maya Frost My rating: 3 of 5 stars As an avid and frequent traveler, and one...
First Anniversary Reflection and a Tribute to Marriage
ON THIS DAY one year ago I knelt at an altar, gripping the hand of my best friend who smiled across from me as I took the greatest leap of faith I have ever taken in...
14 Ways Traveling the World Ruined My Life
1. I now hate donuts. When I got home and bit into a gooey cream-filled donut my taste buds inexplicably revolted. Three years ago in Turkey I shocked my friend by confessing I didn’t...
27 Things to Do Before I’m 27
IT’S GOING TO BE hard to top last year’s birthday goals. I’ve planned on traveling the world for some time, and I got to live that dream for most of my 26th year. But now...
Summary of My ’26 Before 26′ Birthday Goals Around the World
THIS HAS BEEN, without a doubt, the best year of my life. Before leaving on our trip around the world I made a list of goals (as I do each year) of 26 things...
Contents of the Single Backpack I Returned Home with After a Year of Travel
1 llama sweater from Peru 2 travel journals (completely filled) 1 XL sleeping sheet with new stains from the floor of the LaGuardia Airport 1 ribbed tank top from my wedding sporting Amazon River...
The Camino de Santiago: Day 10
We are 312,576 steps, 239 kilometers, and 148 miles into the Camino de Santiago. I have only walked for ten days (three more weeks to go) but have shared miles and meals with new...
The Camino de Santiago: Here we go!
Starting tomorrow I’m going to be walking for a month with nothing but this small bag, this not-so-small hat, a husband in tow, and the road. Why? Because tomorrow I will be a pilgrim...
What to Pack for a Trip Around the World: Thoughts from an Experienced Backpacker
A COMMON QUESTION people ask me as an experienced traveler is what they should pack for their trip around the world or what to pack for a backpacking trip. What you should bring will...
