Who Pays for Search and Rescue? Behind the Tricky Economics of New Hampshire SAR

Search and rescue missions in the White Mountains are on the rise—and with it costly fines. The author dives into how rescue finances work, and if it’s still a reasonable model for New Hampshire.

Trail Days Turns a Tiny Appalachian Trail Town into One Big, Sweaty Party

Join author Kelleigh Welch as she attends the 2019 Trail Days festival in Damascus, VA.

Historic Normandy: D-Day and Medieval Churches

There’s a lot more to France than just Paris (but don’t be fooled, I love Paris and could easily spend a week there exploring and still miss things). When given a limited amount of time, I recommend splitting your trip into two parts—Paris, and to one of the other regions of France. Where to goContinue reading “Historic Normandy: D-Day and Medieval Churches”

Cinque Terre: The Ultimate Urban Hike

As a college student, I visited the Cinque Terre in the heat of the late summer in 2008 for a two-day trek over the coastline cliffs, visiting each city and taking in the spectacular views. We were on a tight budget, opting to camp for free along the trail versus finding a last-minute hotel option, andContinue reading “Cinque Terre: The Ultimate Urban Hike”

‘Selfie’ Tourism and How to Hike Wisely in the White Mountains

Recently, I came across the term ‘Selfie Tourism,’ a phenomenon that has immensely affected travel industry in both a positive and negative way. It was used in a video on social media, where loggers in Costa Rica chopped down a tree to capture a sleeping sloth and sell it into the tourism trade for ignorantContinue reading “‘Selfie’ Tourism and How to Hike Wisely in the White Mountains”

Seattle: An Urban Hiker’s Paradise

Seattle, the home of 90’s grunge, Starbucks Coffee, ‘flying’ fish and plenty of rain, has become a booming metropolis that hits the top of travelers lists year after year. And how can you blame them? Seattle offers a bit of everything—from high end seafood to museums, breweries and easy access to some of the country’sContinue reading “Seattle: An Urban Hiker’s Paradise”

Montmartre: In the Footsteps of the Artists

It was my sister who first introduced me to Vincent Van Gogh. I forget if it was from her art class, or something at school that first lit that spark of interest, but the result became a fascination with this man and his famed stylistic works. It was his story that drew me to Montmartre,Continue reading “Montmartre: In the Footsteps of the Artists”

National Parks Week: April 21-29

Imagine for a moment that you are an explorer. It’s 1805 and you’re heading out into the unknown territories west of the Mississippi River. Already, you are aware of the changing landscapes of the country—the sand dunes of Massachusetts’ coastline quickly transition to rolling green hills, to flattened farm lands. You’re not exactly sure whatContinue reading “National Parks Week: April 21-29”

Old and New: Exploring Zürich, Switzerland on Foot

When it comes to tourism in Europe, Zürich doesn’t always make the top of the list. It’s labeled as a banking city, a college town, but with a small old city center, it typically serves more as a quick stop before travelers head out to the countryside. That doesn’t mean that Zürich doesn’t have anythingContinue reading “Old and New: Exploring Zürich, Switzerland on Foot”

48 Hours in Milan

Milan is a very livable city. While it may not be as packed with landmarks as Italy’s Florence or Rome, it provides travelers with a nice getaway filled with Italian charm, while also catering to the day to day lives of locals. With ample shopping and charming streets, Milan is perfect for urban hikers whoContinue reading “48 Hours in Milan”