I love watching the sunrise (when I can wake up for it) because you can literally see the start of a new day. This sunrise is from Silverthorne, Colorado, a beautiful mountain town in the Rockies. You want to know more about Silverthorne? No worries I looked it up so you don’t have to. It…
You might be wondering, why is Newport called Newport? Is there an old port? What’s the oldest Newport in the US out of the 40+ Newports that exist? All really solid questions, good job guys. Newport, Rhode Island, settled in 1639, is the oldest Newport in the US. It was named after Newport, Wales. The…
I think I found the best reflective lake in New Zealand, Lake Matheson. At Lake Matheson, you can see perfect reflections of the 2 highest peaks in the country, Aoraki/Mt. Cook and Horokoau/Mt. Tasman. Aoraki, which means “cloud piercer” is the highest. It’s spiritually significant for local Māori, who consider it an ancestor. Europeans named…
Yes, you’re seeing it right, that’s a tree growing in a lake. They say this is the most famous tree in New Zealand, I believe it because there were so many tourists taking pictures of it and with it. That Wānaka Tree was originally planted over 80 years ago, completely by accident. Someone built a…
Want to see Franz Josef and Fox Glacier without paying for a helicopter tour? Here are three scenic stops you can do by car and on foot (or just on foot if you want a lot of steps): 1. Franz Josef Glacier Car Park (car park = parking lot in New Zealand) Start here for…
Milford Sound is the most iconic place in New Zealand and it’s not even a sound. According to our boat captain, it’s technically a fjord, formed by ancient glaciers carving through the rock. Its Māori name is Piopiotahi, which refers to the piopio, an extinct NZ native bird. In Māori legend, the demigod Māui died…
Rotorua Roto = lake Rua = two or second So, Rotorua roughly means “Second Lake”. The original Mãori name is “Te Rotorua-nui-a-Kahumatamomoe”, which means “The second great lake of Kahumatamomoe.” The Government Gardens were beautiful to walk through, the hot springs were steaming and the view from the hotel over the lake made it all…
New Zealand is incredible. From Hobbiton to the Southern Alps, here’s everywhere I stopped, what I loved and a few tips if you’re planning your own trip. 📍North Island highlights: • Auckland (food, museums) • Hobbiton (very touristy, very worth it) • Rotorua (mud pools, Maori culture, hot springs) • Huka Falls + Lake Taupō…
When I have a flight, I always opt for a window seat because I love taking pictures during the trip (I have a plethora of cloud photos). On one of my recent flights I had an epiphany. I was looking out the window during landing and it suddenly hit me how small everything and everyone…
“Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.” I get the question “how do you travel so much?” so often that I decided to share my secrets with the world. You’re welcome fellow humans. If you’re rolling your eyes, you should know that I’m a Leo so I…