Jessie on a Journey

As someone who has traveled solo to dozens of countries, I’m often given “helpful” advice from well-meaning friends and family. The problem is, much of this advice can actually hinder your trip experience. Think twice when you’re given these common travel tips. 1. Don’t Talk To Strangers Not talking to [...]

Many times when you’re traveling long-term, and sometimes even during shorter trips, you’ll find yourself having to stay a night or two in a small town with not much to do. Instead of sitting around complaining about how you have to waste a travel day, use these tips to make [...]

In your home country, you probably have no problem starting up a conversation with other locals. However, when traveling abroad it becomes a bit trickier. You may find yourself losing your temper in stressful situations, or feeling anxious asking simple questions, like for directions or where the nearest bathroom is. [...]

Travel isn’t just about seeing new cities and discovering new landscapes. Many times, the physical journey leads the traveler on an internal journey, as well. From my experiences backpacking solo, volunteering abroad, living with families in other countries and being open to new adventures, I’ve learned a lot about life [...]

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 [...]

While destinations like New Zealand, Nepal and Ecuador are well-known for their adventurous offerings, there is actually an off-the-radar region in Ohio that offers an array of thrills: Hocking Hills. While I’ve talked about the region’s quirky, cultural and sustainable offerings, it’s now time to shed some light on its [...]

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 [...]

“I just don’t feel the same about our relationship,” *Mark confided to me over the phone. “And, there’s someone else I want to pursue.” I closed my eyes tight and shook my head, hoping it would go away like a bad dream. “But less than two weeks ago you told [...]

For those looking for some alternative relaxation on their next trip, news.com.au has compiled an excellent list of places where pot is legal. Along with recently-legalized states Colorado and Washington, Mexico, Argentina, Peru, Ecuador, Uruguay, The Netherlands, Switzerland and Cyprus are a few other places allowing smokers to carry small [...]