Lia & Jeremy

I didn’t come up with many answers during my year-long trip, but it was the first time I started asking questions about ethical and sustainable travel: how does tourism impact local communities, environments, and cultures? While an Indigenous-owned community or cultural center is a fantastic and responsible resource for learning about and supporting the community, be wary of attractions that advertise or cover Indigenous history or culture but are not created by or in partnership with the local community, because “Indigenous people may or may not have much agency in how that interaction transpires and how much profit they directly derive. An extra layer of nuance comes into play when animal captivity is part of the traditions or cultures of certain Indigenous communities, such as elephants in captivity in Nepal which are used by local Indigenous communities to safely travel through the jungle or to grow food, or reindeer herding in the Sámi Indigenous communities of Northern Europe. Remember that in addition to actively educating yourself about marginalized communities in the destination you’re visiting, it’s important to economically support those communities by patronizing them, such as eating at Black-owned businesses in the USA, or purchasing Mola clothing and textile art made by the Indigenous Guna community in Panama.

Aarhus is the second-largest city in Denmark, and though many people outside of Denmark aren’t aware of its existence, its rich cultural heritage makes it a standout on its own – not to mention the charming historical Old Town, stunning modern architecture, incredible food, beautiful beaches, and a theme park in the center of town! Stroll down Strøget, the High Street of Aarhus Strøget is the main pedestrian shopping street in Aarhus and is actually named exactly in the same way as the High Street of Copenhagen (or any other Danish city for that matter). The Aarhus Card includes free admission to over 25 museums in Aarhus, including the art museum, The Old Town Museum, Moesgaard Museum, and Tivoli Friheden amusement park. They will guide you to the Aarhus Cathedral and City Hall, to the ARoS art museum and then to the reconstructed Viking stave church on display at the Moesgaard Viking Museum, all with a knowledgeable guide explaining the history of Aarhus!

The Best Wineries in Paso Robles, California We’ve also got a bunch of travel guides for nearby getaways in California’s Central Coast, where I grew up! But staying among the wineries surrounding town is a truly unique way to experience wine country: there’s nothing like sipping wine while watching the sun setting over the vineyards. Since there are different needs for different trips, we’ve broken our “Best Airbnbs in Paso Robles” list into two sections: the best Paso Robles Airbnbs for couples, and the best places to stay in Paso Robles for groups. The Best Wineries in Paso Robles, California We’ve also got a bunch of travel guides for nearby getaways in California’s Central Coast, where I grew up!

Zion National Park, meaning “heavenly city”, is the oldest National Park in Utah and the most visited National Park in the American Southwest – for good reason. While a lot of day hikes in Zion National Park are on the top of everyone’s list to conquer before they leave, rockfall and other natural disasters (like flash floods, which are no joke in the desert) can cause immediate closure of trails, so it’s important to stay updated on trail conditions! You’ll likely drive the Zion-Mt Carmel Highway if you’re entering or exiting the park from the East (or if you’re visiting some of Utah’s other Mighty Five parks). While Zion National Park isn’t recognized as an International Dark Sky Park, like its very underrated next-door neighbor Bryce Canyon, it’s still excellent for viewing billions of stars, that classic strip of the milky way, constellations, meteor showers, and planets!