A New Orleans swamp with lots of trees and green vegetation in the water.

New Orleans Swamp Kayak Tour Review – Everything You Need to Know Before You Book a Swamp Tour!

I knew I wanted to book a swamp kayaking tour in New Orleans. When I started researching companies, I quickly discovered that many of the swamp tour operators bait wildlife for tourists. That isn't the kind of our operator I want to support. I went down a research rabbit hole to find an ethical swamp tour operator โ€“ one that doesn't hold out marshmallows on sticks to draw alligators, or let tourists handle baby gators for selfies. I wanted to share my full review to help you plan your NOLA trip without having to do all the research! So keep reading for my full New Orleans swamp kayak tour review including what I wished I'd done differently.
person riding on boat on river during daytime

The 10 Best Places to Kayak in New York State

Growing up in Boston, I spent my childhood enjoying beaches in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. It wasn't until I moved to New York that I became a kayaker. Living by the Hudson River, kayaking was the easiest way to get out and enjoy the water. Since I took up kayaking seven years ago, I've been able to explore many of the lakes and rivers across the very large, very rural state that I now call home. That's right, most parts of New York are nothing like NYC โ€“ and I am passionate about helping people escape the city and experience the rest of New York. So keep reading for the best places to Kayak in New York state, from an unforgettable urban adventure to multi-day trips along the New York-Canada border.
Drone shot of Mexico City at night

10 Best LGBTQ-friendly Cities in North America for Queer Womenย 

North America contains some of the most LGBTQ-friendly cities anywhere, in my opinion. But how welcome you'll be as an out bi, pan or lesbian traveler really depends on where you go. I've rounded up 10 most LGBTQ-friendly cities in North America for queer women travelers. While some of these places are still on my bucket list, I've visited a majority of them and have been fortunate enough to call two of these LGBTQ-friendly cities home! So keep reading to learn the top destinations in North America for queer women!
Museum exterior at the Huntington with garden beds.

How to Spend a Day at Huntington Gardens in Pasadena

The Huntington Library & Gardens has one of the best gardens in the U.S. While the Huntington Library is a few miles from downtown Los Angeles, many visitors to LA don't put the Huntington on their to-do list.ย  In my opinion, a day trip to Huntington Gardens is one of the best ways to spend a day in LA (even though it's not actually in Los Angeles, but in nearby Pasadena).ย  I'm sharing some of my favorite garden photos and my recommendations for the best things to see and do at the Huntington - since it's so large, you can't see it all, even if you spend the entire day, like I did!
Mountain with desert shrubbery at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, one of the best Las Vegas day trips by car

The Best Las Vegas Day Trips by Car

Las Vegas is best known for its glitz and glamour, from the vibrant neon signs and over-the-top stage shows to the "anything goes" vibe of the Strip. Las Vegas day trips by car deliver a new perspective on a destination known for its party scene. While many of the best day trips from Las Vegas cross state lines to venture deep into the nearby mountain ranges and desert landscapes, there are worthy adventures to be had without straying too far from the Strip. From short hikes through Red Rock Canyon to kayaking on Lake Mead and touring Hoover Dam, I loved the activities I chose โ€“ which is why I'm sharing my favorites with you!
Sun shining on the ocean

Queer Voices: Open Waters

Necessity drove my decision to swim across the Hawaiian โ€˜Auโ€˜au Channel. Six months into the pandemic, I craved a sanity break from hunker-in-the-bunker mode. The prolonged isolation had induced an existential quandary: was the enormous time spent on my writing worth the effort?ย 
Kayaks on the beach with the Colorado River in the background

Kayak Lake Mead Emerald Cove: Everything You Need to Know for a Half Day Tour

Kayaking to Emerald Cove was the highlight of my Las Vegas trip, but finding all the logistical information to actually plan my Lake Mead kayak trip was rough. I know how frustrating it can be to plan trips when you don't have the answers. Especially when it comes to planning a day trip from Las Vegas by car. I've put together this helpful guide to kayak Lake Mead Emerald Cove so you don't have to research the way I did. It's packed with everything I wish I knew ahead of time!
A bicycle with loaded panniers in a field with mountains in the background

Unengendered Terrain – LGBTQ Essay Contest Winner

Caro Tyner shares their first bike packing trip in this story, which took first place in our LGBTQ essay contest, themed on firsts. Before my first bikepacking trip, I impulsively grabbed the razor in my childhood bathroom, which had probably sat idle for years, and took it to my pits. Iโ€™d been fixating on the damp, sweaty hair under my arms when I woke up, and I didnโ€™t want to deal with it on the road.ย ย  As I dried off, the bare skin in the mirror left me a little queasy. I hadnโ€™t shaved in years, and the sudden loss made me worryโ€ฆ Do I look less queer?