Don't Fly Go! | Category Archives: Travel Inspiration

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February 14, 2019 by Chase Vandros

Preserving Your Travelling Memories

One of the hardest things about coming back from a holiday is that all those great experiences become memories which face all too soon. You can only tell your travel adventure stories so many times before it will start annoying people, so how can you keep all those precious moments fresh in your mind?

To that end we’ve put together a little list of a few possible solutions for exactly that problem, easy ways to insert those memories in your day to day life without being intrusive, but invaluable for beating those post holiday blues. Some suitable for work, some for home, but all of them will be perfect for giving you a little pick me up when it seems like you’ve spent too long on home ground and your feet are starting to get itchy again.

Create a Custom Screensaver

With everyone using digital cameras these days, everything is on your computer. All your images and videos from your trips, waiting to remind you of all the good times. One huge benefit of this is how easily you can then create yourself a custom slideshow screensaver on your computer, at home or at work, of all your favourite holiday shots. Whenever you pop away from the desk for a quick coffee break or lunch, you’ll be greeted by your favourite snaps, which will be a great little reminder of things to come. It can also be a good conversation starter if you’re new in the office or haven’t made any connections yet, as people might see they’ve been to the same place as you and there is nothing quite as good for a conversation as a shared experience.

Go Old School with a Photo Album

The one very small downside to digital, is there is no physical copy of your photos as there used to be with film. You can get past that very easily though with any number of photo printing services. A lot of places do it in store, or you could pick out the shots you like and email them off to a service that will then post the end result to you. Then just find yourself a nice photo album, fill it up with your favourites and you’ve got a great coffee table conversation starter, which also keeps your travel memories fresh.

Create a Canvas Print Collage

Another way to use printed digital photos is to find a few of your best and order a canvas photo collage. You’ll get a super high quality canvas print over a wooden frame, all ready to be hung up on a wall in a visible spot. Hang it somewhere you’ll see it often, and never worry about your holiday memories fading.

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February 4, 2019 by Chase Vandros

Best Ways to Discover Rome

The Eternal City is one of the dreamiest destinations on the planet. There is just so much to see and do it’s almost impossible to fully explore everything the city has to offer. There are countless possibilities in Rome, and everything you see is more unique and memorable than the last. It’s a city that’s ripe with history, culture, fashion, architecture, and so much more. If you want to fully discover everything Rome has to offer, then you better be prepared to spend some time in this wonderful city. Not that you’ll complain though, because it’ll be a fantastic time spent.

Take a food tour

A food tour is definitely one of the best ways to discover any place, and Rome is no exception. Italian food is one of the most popular cuisines for a reason, and Rome is its center. There are a lot of food tours you can opt in for to discover the best food places in Rome. You can even fully customize your tour and select exactly what you want to see in the tour. It’s fully private, so it’ll only be you and people you chose to go on the tour with. The tours are always organized by locals, and only they can truly make you appreciate just how wonderful true Italian food really is.

See a 2000 year old pyramid

On first glance it might appear like this pyramid is a fake, and that it’s something much more recent and made to evoke the old ages of Rome. However, the truth is exactly the opposite. Around 2000 years ago Emperor Aurelian built a boundary wall, and it’s on this wall that the pyramid is attached to. It was meant to be a fashionable statement of sorts, and to be used as a resting grounds for Gaius Cestius who was a Roman magistrate at the time. The Egyptian style was entirely deliberate, however, and it was meant to introduce Ancient Romans to Egyptian relics of the time.

Explore the street art

One thing that’s rarely mentioned about Rome is its thriving street art scene. There are so many street artists who have created masterpieces in plain sight that the city is entirely colorful. There is no one single place to view street art in Rome, however, because there are several neighborhoods that are awash with street art. Pigneto and Quadraro are two districts that are slightly away from the general tourist routes that are fully worth the time it takes to explore their street art. Arguably, the most famous spot for street art in Rome is Ostiense. It really looks wonderful, because there’s a lot of wonderful street art on practically every corner. There is even a building entirely covered by street art.

Walk Along the Appian Way

The days of Ancient Rome are definitely the most known thing about the city of today. There are a lot of attractions that are practically entirely intact, but few can match the spirit of Via Appia. It used to be a highway of Ancient Rome that connected it to many of its outer settlements. Although it was used the most by the military, it was still a popular road at the time. Walking along it feels like you’ve been transported back in time, as the highway is surprisingly well preserved. Make sure to experience this road on fine weather, because that’s when it shines the most.

Visit the National Museum of Contemporary Art

Sometimes it’s difficult to separate Ancient Rome from modern Rome. However, Rome of today is just as impressive and wonderful as it was back then. Contemporary art plays a huge role in this, because Rome never stopped creating and producing art in its entire history. Maxxi is the first national museum in Italy dedicated strictly to contemporary art. The building itself is worth just as much as the breathtaking collection of art pieces that are no older than the 1900s. It’s entirely worth a visit, and it’s a spot that just teems with the Roman spirit.

Experience the steps of the Roman Gladiators

Gladiators and their matches are one of the most popular things about Ancient Roman history. They faced perils practically on a daily basis, and all of them hope that once they emerged in the Coliseum they would leave victorious. You can fully explore the passages that led from the Coliseum’s underworks to the main arena, which are some of the most well preserved parts of the entire building. That’s because they were filled in the 5^th century AD, and were unearthed centuries later. It’s one of the most mystical and ominous parts of the Coliseum, and entirely worth a visit.

Rome is a beautiful city, from top to bottom. It’s one of the most visited cities on the planet for a reason. Everyone deserves to be there at least once in their lives, as it’s a very recommended destination for a visit.

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December 4, 2018 by Chase Vandros

Travel to Learn: What Solo Travel Can Teach Us

Traveling can be pretty daunting as you will be filled with questions and worries being away from the comfort of your home. From you will return alone late at night from a club, or how uneasy will it be to eat alone in a restaurant to how you will pull your car out of the ditch or what if you get lost because two minds indeed work better than one, solo traveling can quite stingingly plague the minds before the first trip.

Is skipping solo travel worth all the worries?

The important question is; are all these questions worrying enough to skip traveling solo because of the lack of a traveling partner. A series of rewarding and life-changing experiences and memories will be bared behind if you do that. Sure, you will have to be extra alert while going out alone at night in a foreign country, or to be safe in an area known for pick-pocketing, but isn’t it good that you be careful even if you are traveling with a friend or a whole group?

Is loneliness even an issue?

Another central stigma around traveling independently is loneliness. Even introverts worry about being homesick, however, traveling alone doesn’t necessarily means you have to be alone or feel lonely. If you are traveling for volunteer work, you can choose to go with a group of participants and make some of the best friends you have ever had, or if you are just traveling to feed your lust for wandering around, you will find so many fellow tourists in your dorm, or even choose to live with locals so you don’t have to be alone and learn the culture, traditions, and religions of your localhost. You can learn to enjoy your own company if you are all by yourself, meditate, let go, be completely and irrevocably free.

Trails and tales of independent travelers

Millions of solo travelers have taken Thailand flights, leaving behind the comforts of their houses to find comfort in the soul by running through running through Thailand’s rainforests or spending early morning meditating in temples. Banana pancake trail is quite a famous backpacker route for all of you who want to loop around the islands, forests, waterfalls, and beaches that have the memories of thousands of independent travelers that have taken steps on the grounds.

You learn to be independent

Even if you are a grown up, how many times can you remember to have taking care of every traveling essential all by yourself? How many times have your mother not asked you if you have your passport and airline ticket with you or your assistant or co-worker have made sure you do have your passport? And you know if they hadn’t asked you or made sure, you might have lost it? Going solo will teach you how to manage the details all by yourself and to be aware of my things you wouldn’t be if you travel with your friends or family because you have them to depend on. The freedom and being independent is a thrill that allows you to do what to do whenever you want to.

You learn the sense of direction

You might be scared to hike through Thailand’s rainforests alone because you are bad at navigating your way. Especially when you are traveling alone, you are put to test is the only navigator. You learn to be a little more alert and aware of your surroundings.

You hear your inner voice in the silence

Imagine all the fans are off in a cold house and you can hear the clock tick-tocking hitting the four wooden walls in the eerie silence. That is exactly how the inner voice work. Being alone in a secluded forest will not only allow you to hear your thoughts but heighten them to the point where you can shut and twist them however you want to. You will understand and learn about the world from a whole another perspective and let you dig deeper into your soul. This can also improve your mental health.

Traveling to countries which focus on meditation and religious rituals such as Thailand, India, and China where Yoga retreats, spiritual healers, massage, hiking, and meditations will all help you relax and open the gateway to the third eye. When your thoughts are racing and you zone out of your physical surroundings, you can’t really command yourself to stop fretting over regrets of past and worries of what is to happen next, but you can tell it to focus on what is in front of you. Positive thoughts are a game-changer and so is breathing out your worries. Especially when you have an amazing mountain view in front of you.

Learn to go with the flow

Your main goal of traveling solo is to establish this connection with nature, God, and inner realm and to search for as many secrets of the world as possible. When you are traveling solo, you are your own decision maker and you don’t have to worry about your friend who doesn’t want to share a hotel bed with you. Alone, you can stay and go anywhere you want to. You can literally sleep a night on a hammock. Meeting people from all phases of life and discovering places and foods tends to relax you in a way no antidepressant can. You will learn to be tolerant and to compromise and accept life throws your way.

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September 7, 2018 by Chase Vandros

4 Family Friendly Places to Visit in New Zealand

New Zealand is the ultimate destination for families. It’s kid-friendly and safe everywhere- which is great since there are tons of attractions for families to choose from. New Zealand has lots of fun activities and once-in-a-lifetime adventures to offer. Though there are plenty of family-friendly places in New Zealand, the following destinations are the most popular ones.

Central North Island

The Central North Island has some of the most picturesque locations in New Zealand. The Hobbiton Movie Set is one of the most popular tourist spots in this area. If you’re a nature lover, you’ll definitely appreciate Rotorua, which is a volcanic playground surrounded with stunning natural hot springs and relaxing mud baths. Various adventure activities are also available at Rotorua. Kids will enjoy a visit to the Agrodome where they can feed different animals and experience what it’s like to work on a real farm. Visiting the Mitai Maori Village can help you learn about the village’s interesting indigenous culture. You’ll be travelling with your family so you must keep all your bags intact, since lost luggage can ruin a vacation.

Auckland

Auckland is New Zealand’s modern paradise. One of the most exciting activities to enjoy in this destination is taking the ferry to experience the beauty of the stunning gulf islands. One of them is the Waiheke Island where you can enjoy stunning beaches that will ease any tension you may be carrying. There are so many cafes to try in this island. Kids will surely enjoy Auckland’s Butterfly Creek where not just butterflies, but different animals can be observed. It also has a Buttermilk Farm and Dinosaur Kingdom for kids to enjoy. Auckland also has lots of beautiful playgrounds where kids can roam around and just experience simple joys all throughout the day. Finally, your family can go on a unique adventure by climbing an inactive volcano in Auckland.

Hokianga

Hokianga is another great destination for your family. Its temperature is perfect for taking a dip on its clear waters and spending the entire day just relaxing on the beach. The giant kauri trees on the west coast are also something to look forward to. One awesome activity in this beach destination is sand boarding the sand dunes that go as high as 300 meters. If you’re lucky, you can even get a glimpse of orcas and dolphins roaming underneath the beach. There are lots of fun activities that you can enjoy in Hokianga. Each member of your family will surely find an activity that is suitable for them. But don’t forget to be responsible while enjoying nature. Wherever you may go, always make it a point to leave no trace behind and protect the ocean.

Queenstown and Arrowtown

Queenstown and Arrowtown are perfect places to take in the beauty of nature and have a relaxing but equally fulfilling adventure in New Zealand. You can take your whole family on a trip to Queenstown’s Gondola to get a phenomenal view of the stunning mountains. The main fun activity in these locations is going on a picnic during a warm, autumn day. There are lots of exciting activities in Queenstown, including going on short hikes, renting a bike, walking by the lakeside, and exploring markets. For sporty people, there’s also a golf course around the area. This place is definitely a perfect destination for families. A relaxing trip with picturesque views is an absolutely great way to bond with your family.

New Zealand is one of the best places to enjoy with your whole family. It’s a beautiful paradise especially for nature lovers. Exploring New Zealand can be a great bonding activity with your family.

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July 29, 2018 by Chase Vandros

4 Can’t Miss Hikes in the Pacific Northwest

If you’re going to the Pacific Northwest, there’s one activity you don’t want to pass up: exploring the can’t-miss hikes in the area. Of course, Seattle is known for coffee, craft beers, and eclectic restaurants, but what many people don’t realize is some of the best hiking trails in the Pacific Northwest are located in and around Seattle. While making plans for your trip, you just might realize that stationing yourself in and around the Seattle area to be close to these hiking trails is an idea you don’t want to miss.

Old Mount Si Trail

Want to find a trail less traveled but still itching to experience Mount Si in its entirety? The Old Mount Si Trail gives hikers a view similar to one you would find on the newer Mount Si trail but without the crowds. Located in the Snoqualmie region, the Old Trail is only 24 miles from Redmond, the perfect place to make your hub if you’re wanting to be outside of the city. While this hike will give you a more challenging experience with an 8-mile round trip hike and an elevation gain of more than 3,200 feet, it will be well worth the trek.

Little Si Hiking Trail

With an elevation gain of more than 1,200 feet and a 4.7-mile hike round trip, Little Si is perfect for those hikers who are less experienced or want a moderate workout with stunning sights along the way. At the top of Little Si, you will find a panoramic view of Mount Washington, the Upper Snoqualmie Valley, and Mount Si on a clear day. Make sure to obtain the Discover Pass before hiking Old Mount Si Trail and Little Si Trail.

Mount Teneriffe

While Mount Si and Little Si are well-known hikes in the Seattle area, don’t shy away from the lesser-known hikes such as Mount Teneriffe. It’s longer, at 13.8 miles round trip, and has an elevation gain of 3,800 feet. You will pass the Kamikaze Falls and come across incredible views of Mount Rainier from the summit without dealing with the heavily populated trails at Mount Si and Little Si. Note that the trailhead is only 36 miles from Seattle.

Crystal Lakes Trail

For those looking for a hike farther outside of the city, Mount Rainer has the Crystal Lakes Trail. Gaining 2,300 feet elevation during this 6-mile round trip hike, you will come across a view of Mount Rainier, the wildflowers lining lower Crystal Lake, and various wildlife as you make your way towards Upper Crystal Lake. If you’re looking to camp, both Lower and Upper Crystal Lakes have sites available, but be sure to obtain a permit.

Whether you decide to hike Mount Si, Little Si, Mount Teneriffe, or Crystal Lakes, the Pacific Northwest does not skimp on diverse terrain or stunning perspectives. If you can’t decide on one trail, make a weeklong trip out of it to enjoy as much as you can of this spectacular region of the United States.