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!

Posted inKayaking, US
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.
cannon, beach, tidepools

Queer Voices: Turning Tides

Posted inVoices of LGBTQ Travelers
Homosexuality and its anthropomorphized connotations of sex and love are easily projected onto other animal species. Juvenile male lions will copulate as a form of bonding as they search for females to establish their own pride with, and dolphins are notoriously bisexual. But for the concept of being nonbinary, it is distinctly harder to conceptualize. The great cycle of life and its endgame is to have sex and to procreate, which is then dependent on sexual organs. The idea of rejecting an identity dependent on the existence of our dichotomous biological sex as humans is so radically antithetical to the great race of life, evolution, and genetics.
mountain, sky, nature

5 Best Places to Kayak in the Hudson Valley (Local’s Guide)

Posted inUncategorized
Kayaking offers a uniquely peaceful way to experience the Hudson Valley's charms. Unlike hiking, my other favorite outdoor activity, I don't have to stress about about ticks โ€“ a huge public health concern in the region. Instead, I'm free to scan the shoreline and sky for wildlife. While paddling, I've seen blue herons and bald eagles soaring overhead. I've watched baby ducks swim after their mom and turtles sunning themselves on logs. If you're ready too take the plunge (pun intended), read on for some of my favorite Hudson Valley kayaking spots. Not only can you paddle along one of America's great rivers, the Hudson, there are smaller lakes, river, and marshes to explore.
person riding on boat on river during daytime

The 10 Best Places to Kayak in New York State

Posted inKayaking, US
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.
Two women sitting in a green hammock

Is Adventure Travel (Finally) Becoming More Inclusive?

Posted inTravel Trends
There are many awesome folks in the outdoors industries who are deeply committed to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). I was thrilled to see the latest data from the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) on diversity and inclusion in outdoor travel. The numbers show that adventure travel companies are making a conscious effort to expand their audience by marketing to women, people over 50, LGBTQIA people, and people with disabilities.
My Ultimate Kayaking Gear Checklist for The Perfect Paddle

My Ultimate Kayaking Gear Checklist for The Perfect Paddle

Posted inKayaking
When I first dipped my paddle into the world of kayaking seven years ago, I often found myself on the water wishing I had brought this or that crucial item. Through countless adventures, from serene day trips to challenging 12-mile paddles in the Finger Lakes, I learned โ€“ sometimes the hard way โ€“ exactly what kayaking gear was essential for a safe and enjoyable paddle. That's why I've created this comprehensive checklist of everything I take kayaking with me.
Drone shot of Mexico City at night

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

Posted inCanada, Travel Planning, US
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!
A white man with black glasses, dark hair and a beard looks at a smartphone at the best LGBTQ travel apps.

The Best LGBTQ Travel Appsย 

Posted inTravel Planning
Iโ€™m a big travel planner. Along with my own personal travel itinerary filled with queer-friendly things to see, I rely on gay travel apps to help me make the most of a destination.ย  Whether Iโ€™m visiting somewhere LGBTQ travel safety is a concern, or just looking to connect to the local queer community, having the right LGBTQ travel apps downloaded on my phone helps me make the most out of any vacation.ย  Want to make your next trip more LGBTQ-friendly? Add these 11 gay travel apps to your device before your next trip!