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10/28/2026

One of the more surprising discoveries of our Mediterranean trip: apparently, being covered in an enormous cloud of bubbles is one of the most relaxing experiences imaginable.

We visited a traditional Turkish hammam, and while I expected to enjoy the experience, I was completely unprepared for how comforting that particular part would be.

It's a bizarre sensation to describe. Someone pours what feels like an entire cloud of warm, soft bubbles over you, and suddenly you understand why people have been enjoying Turkish baths for centuries.

Jared loved it, too. In fact, it was one of his favorite experiences of the entire trip.

I spend a lot of time thinking about how to plan travel around people's interests. But sometimes you discover something you didn't even know you'd enjoy.

And I certainly didn't expect to come home from Turkey recommending that everyone experience being buried under a mountain of soap bubbles.

10/26/2026

I talk a lot about planning trips around the traveler rather than a generic list of must-see attractions. But there's a catch to that philosophy.

If we only plan around things we already know we enjoy, we might miss something wonderful.

Part of the fun of traveling is discovering that you're interested in something you never would have considered at home. Or finding out that an experience you were a little skeptical about turns out to be one of your favorites.

I think the trick is knowing the difference between stretching your comfort zone and ignoring your preferences altogether.

A good itinerary should feel like it belongs to you. But it should probably surprise you a little, too.

10/23/2026

I'm curious how other people approach downtime when they travel.

Are you the kind of traveler who wants every day planned, with tickets booked and a list of things to see? Or do you deliberately leave days open for wandering, resting or deciding what sounds good when you wake up?

I've always loved a well-researched itinerary, but our recent Mediterranean trip reminded me that there's a difference between planning thoroughly and filling every available hour.

And I'm increasingly convinced that some of the best travel decisions are about what you choose *not* to schedule.

So tell me: Team Full Itinerary or Team Leave Some Room?

10/21/2026

When we booked our Mediterranean cruise, neither of us was particularly excited about having four sea days. We were going all the way to Europe, and four entire days weren't going to involve seeing much of Europe!

But the itinerary was irresistible. Ephesus, Athens, Philippi, Pompeii...an extraordinary concentration of archaeological sites, which is exactly the kind of trip that appeals to us. We decided the ports were worth the trade-off.

Turns out, those four sea days were among the smartest parts of the itinerary.

We walked miles through ancient cities, climbed an astonishing number of stairs and absorbed more history than I could possibly recount. Having a day when the biggest decision was where to sit and read wasn't wasted time. It meant we were ready to enjoy the next place.

We'd chosen this cruise in spite of the sea days. By the end, we were grateful for them.

10/19/2026

Here's a question I think we should ask more often when planning a trip:

How much energy will you have on day twelve?

It's easy to build an itinerary around everything you're excited to see. And on the first morning, when you're rested and the entire trip is ahead of you, that itinerary probably looks fantastic.

But after ten days of museums, archaeological sites, cobblestones, stairs and public transportation, you may be a slightly different traveler.

A good itinerary doesn't just budget your time. It budgets your energy.

And sometimes that means deliberately leaving something off the schedule so you can enjoy everything that's still on it.

10/16/2026

Travel confession time: Is there a famous attraction you've skipped on purpose?

Not because you ran out of time or couldn't get tickets. Because you looked at it, considered your options and decided you'd rather do something else.

We skipped Olympia on our recent Mediterranean trip. I love history, and I'm sure it's extraordinary, but after Ephesus, Athens and Philippi, we were ready for something different. And looking at this view, you can see why!

I'm curious what other travelers have passed up—and whether they regretted it.

Bonus points if your alternative turned out to be wonderful.

10/14/2026

One of our favorite stops in Greece was a tiny museum in Katakolo devoted to ancient Greek technology.

We saw mechanisms, inventions and machines that made us repeatedly quote our friend Walker, a history professor: "People in ancient times weren't stupid."

No. No, they weren't.

For a couple of amateur musicians, seeing a pipe organ and the system of musical notation was amazing, but there were no end of calendars, alarm clocks, weaponry, automatons, and even vending machines! The ingenuity was astonishing, and we spent far longer there than we'd expected.

By the time we left, we'd read nearly every explanation, bought entirely too much in the gift shop and appointed ourselves unofficial ambassadors for the museum.

If you happen to find yourself in Katakolo, I have a recommendation. 😂

10/12/2026

I've become a little suspicious of the phrase "you can't go all that way and NOT see..."

Because of course you can.

Sometimes the famous attraction really is the highlight of a trip. Sometimes it's crowded, exhausting or simply not something you're especially interested in. And sometimes you've already seen enough ancient ruins that another archaeological site, however important, isn't going to get the appreciation it deserves.

The goal isn't to check off everything you're supposed to see. It's to come home glad you spent your time the way you did.

10/09/2026

After our day in Istanbul, we compared notes with some of our tablemates at dinner.

Several people really didn't like the city.

We loved it.

Another woman at our table had one of her favorite days of the entire trip.

Same ship. Same port. Same day...and three completely different Istanbuls.

I've been thinking about that conversation ever since, because it made me question something we ask about travel all the time: Is this place worth visiting?

Maybe the destination isn't the only thing we're actually evaluating.

I wrote more about our three Istanbuls—and the Greek ruins we deliberately didn't visit—in this month's Curious Traveler.

Read Three Istanbuls, One City → https://buff.ly/qvXxLv0

10/07/2026

One of the things I kept noticing on this trip was how often we'd compare notes with other travelers and realize we'd had completely different experiences in the same place.

Not better. Not worse. Just different.

Some people want to see every major landmark. Some want a great meal and an afternoon wandering a neighborhood. Some will happily spend three hours reading every single placard in a tiny museum of ancient Greek technology. (It’s us. We are some people.)

It's one reason I'm increasingly suspicious of travel advice built around what you "have to" do somewhere.

The better question is usually: what would make this place interesting to you?

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