Jessie on a Journey

One of my favorite ways to get to know a culture is through their national and regional drinks. Here, I share some of my favorite libations from around the world, so you can bring them from abroad to your home. Caipirinha - Brazil Literally translated, caipirinha translates to “country bumpkin”, although [...]

First-timers to South America will probably find the bus system daunting in the beginning. That being said, it’s actually a fairly easy system to navigate. Use this guide to ease your worries and ensure stress-free overland travel throughout the continent. Don’t Book Early Yes, you read that right. When traveling [...]

Think you know a lot about the Caribbean destination of Trinidad & Tobago? Here are some lesser-known facts about the sister islands: 1. It’s where you’ll find the world’s hottest pepper While many people believe the world’s hottest pepper is the ghost pepper, within the past six months or so [...]

While most people head straight to the city of Burlington when visiting Vermont, a lesser-known but worthwhile area to stay is West Townshend. This charming town is full of bed and breakfasts, outdoor recreation, farm stands, antique shops and a feeling or honest, rural living. Additionally, it’s a great homebase [...]

There are many stereotypes that exist about different travelers –”loud” Americas, “rude” French, “drunk” Irish, “whiny” English. So while people think they know who they wouldn’t want to travel with, where do the world’s best behaved tourists come from? CNN has answered that question in a recent article. While not [...]

In terms of long-term backpacking, I’ve done Europe twice, Ghana, South East Asia, China, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and — my personal favorite — South America. After three months making my way from Brazil, through Argentina, Patagonia, Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador and ending in the Galapagos, I realized South America [...]

And you thought your five-hour layover was long? According to news.com.au, Spanish tourist Rodrigo Ben-Azul has been stranded in Chile’s Santiago Airport for more than two months. While the Tom Hank’s film “The Terminal” makes airport living out to be somewhat interesting and romantic, the reality is less so, as [...]

While Bolivia has much to offer the curious traveler, it is still one of the lesser-visited South American countries. For this reason, there are many things people don’t know about the destination. To peak your interest in one of my personal favorite travel spots, here are 15 facts you didn’t [...]

Trying to decide where to go on your next vacation? Well, that will depend on what you want to do. Looking for extreme adventure? An eco-friendly island? Somewhere to get away from the world? Read on for information on some of the world’s best destinations depending on your mood. If [...]

When backpacking, one major concern is bringing all the essential gear while also keeping your pack light. On my last long-term trip through South America, I knew I would be doing a lot of hiking, and wanted a good pair of trekking shoes without having to carry extra weight. That’s [...]