New Hotels in East Austin
Austin’s east side (specifically East 6th Street) is booming and several hotels are popping up. East Austin Hotel (pictured above) recently opened up with a restaurant – Sixth and Waller, a rooftop bar, and a pool bar. Their pool is open to the public at certain times. Their hotel is a bit unique in that it has “cabin rooms” that share a bathroom. Arrive is the other hotel, looking to open sometime this year.

No One Cares About Your Travels
Well, yes and no. Read this Forbes article for all the details. If you want someone to care about your travels, find people who like to travel!

Rick Steves
I “became friends” with Rick Steves in 2013 when I spent three weeks in Spain. On that trip with three other friends, we joked that Rick Steves (through his Spain guidebook) was our fourth companion. His guidebook helped us plan and experience an incredible, life-changing trip. This New York Times article introduces you to the man that has inspired and empowered many to travel. If you ever visit Europe, be sure to look up his guidebook.

This Seoul Coffee Shop
You’ve got to see photos of this coffee shop in Seoul to know why it’s becoming popular. It’s monochrome, Wes Anderson inspired, and feels like you’re walking in a 2D land.

Rent an RV
I’ve stayed in a parked RV before but I would love to one day try an RV road trip. Outdoorsy and RV Share are two companies (both Austin-based) that allow you to rent an RV from its owner. It would be fun to fly to another state to take a National Parks road trip. Who’s in?! If you want to learn more for an RV trip, go to GoRVing.com.

Sonder
Want to stay in a local home but ensure it’s spotless and aesthetically pleasing? Sonder looks like it fulfills this. The places look so nice! Have you tried it out?

Feed Your Wanderlust
Not doing a lot of traveling this summer? You’ve got to get all the inspiration you can get. See this list for movies, books, and more.

More Sustainable Travel
Flying, buying packaged snacks on the go, and indulging are just some of the things that make travel terrible for the environment. But there are things you can do to be more sustainable when you travel. Here are 19 ways.

Dive 50 States
My short list of goals includes diving 10 countries/places (I’m at seven right now) but then I found this list to dive all 50 U.S. states. There aren’t many states I’d want to dive but Hawaii and Florida are on my list!

A Beautiful Mess Duplex in Nashville
Do you follow the blog A Beautiful Mess? These bloggers know design! They bought and remodeled a duplex in Nashville and each side is now available to rent. They would be perfect for a weekend trip! (Can I go back to Nashville now?)

Bourdain Day
Can you believe it has been a year already? Anthony Bourdain inspired so many of us to travel, to ask questions, to speak out for others, to support the mom and pop shops, and to be fearless in experiencing the world. I liked this tribute.

Read a fun article or hear some interesting travel news lately? Share in a comment below.

Keep up with my travel posts and adventures. You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Bloglovin’. You can also subscribe to the exclusive email list.

The post Fearless Wanderlust v49 – June 2019 appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Should You Travel After a Terrorist Attack or Natural Disaster?
We had considered Sri Lanka for our honeymoon and after the attacks this past weekend, it made me wonder if we would have canceled our visit. Here are some of my thoughts on traveling to a place that recently experienced a terrorist attack or natural disaster.

• Assess the situation. Ultimately, do YOU feel safe traveling there? You don’t want to feel obligated to travel because you’ve already paid and then feel unsafe throughout your trip.
• In the immediate aftermath of an attack (a month, two, or maybe more), the city/country is focused on recovery. While there may be increased security measures, locals are physically and emotionally picking up the pieces. I would reschedule my trip to allow them time to process what happened.
• Attacks and disaster can happen anywhere. It’s smart to check government advisories for whether or not you should travel somewhere. What do travel experts and reliable organizations suggest based on what is happening? If it’s safe, don’t let fear keep you from traveling. Hate thrives on fear.
• Think about how much the city/country relies on tourism. This is a strong reason why you should re-schedule instead of canceling. Are they capable of supporting your visit? If not, when? If your time isn’t flexible, can you change your itinerary and visit other cities?
• If you want to change your itinerary for safety reasons, consider booking smaller hotels and visiting less busy places.
• Situations like this are why travel insurance is important! If traveling will be a serious risk, you’ll be able to have your costs refunded. I count on my travel insurance through my credit card and I’ve also used World Nomads.

DogHouse Brewery Hotel Now Open
Back in March 2017, Scottish beer company BrewDog started a crowdfunding campaign to open a hotel next to their brewery. It is now open in Columbus, Ohio! The 32-room DogHouse has an in-room tap of your choice of draft beer along with a mini-fridge of beers and a shower beer fridge. Sign me up! Who wants to go to Ohio?

Eco-Friendly Travel
Want to be more eco-friendly when you travel? Here’s an A to Z guide for that!

Best Islands of the U.S.
Ok, they’re not quite like the laid-back Caribbean islands but we do have beautiful islands in the U.S. Take a look here.

The Idolized Journey
We idolize travel, especially people who quit their jobs and go on long-term trips. The truth is traveling and experiencing somewhere new comes with its own struggles and your personal struggles don’t disappear on the road. I recently read a book about a man who traveled from Oregon to Patagonia, mostly by bike. I was expecting this great epiphany, some life-changing impact and it seemed like the author was also. While I’m sure journeys like this are eye-opening in some aspects, I think I put too much expectation on it. Life is what you make of it and sometimes it’s a lot more boring than you think. The excitement fades. And that’s ok!

Game of Thrones Travel
In celebration of the final season of Game of Thrones, here’s a post about the beautiful places around the world where the show was filmed.

Notre Dame
Did you watch the news in horror as Notre Dame burned? It was sad and astonishing to see. I liked this post about the significance of Notre Dame. While I agree that Notre Dame is more than a building, a part of me wishes people would act as urgently and passionately about people in need.

Offsetting Your Carbon Footprint
Travel is great for the mind but bad for the environment. The Blonde Abroad has a great article with more information about the effects of travel and what she’s doing about it. We can reduce our carbon emissions by flying less often and driving fewer miles. These will be great tips to put into action!

Will Travel for Mushrooms
I love mushrooms. I was talking to someone recently about foraging for morels, a sought-after and expensive mushroom, in Oklahoma and now I’m ready to pack my bags to go mushroom hunting. So, what great timing that this article about the best places in the world (cities and restaurants) for mushrooms came out. Does anyone want to go mushroom foraging?

Read a fun article or hear some interesting travel news lately? Share in a comment below.

P.S. Did you see the two posts about my Bonaire trip? See what I ate in Bonaire and all my dive photos!

Keep up with my travel posts and adventures. You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Bloglovin’. You can also subscribe to the exclusive email list.

The post Fearless Wanderlust v47 – April 2019 appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

I’ve become a bit of a scuba nerd but for good reasons! Diving energizes me and continues to leave me in awe. The abundance of adventure – in new places and new things to see – is never-ending! This hobby didn’t come naturally to me but now that I’m closer to 100 dives than zero, I hope to convince everyone to try it. I’ve got 10 reasons why, so keep reading!

Why You Should Dive When You Travel

1. Discover an incredible underwater world.

Did you know 71% of the earth is covered by ocean, and 12,100 feet is the AVERAGE depth of the ocean? Did you know only 5% of the ocean floor has been mapped? A little scary but also INCREDIBLE! From what is mapped, we’ve found beautiful and lively coral reefs and had close encounters with sea creatures. Under the sea it’s so foreign and mysterious, which gives it so much wonder.

2. Meet new people.

Chances are divers are world travelers. They’re from all over the world and are focused on traveling the world to dive. I’ve loved meeting dive masters and dive enthusiasts, all eager to talk about travels, dive stories, and what they saw that day.

3. Learn to breathe.

There’s an enchanting peace that comes with scuba diving. As I marvel the expanse of the ocean, the vibrancy of a reef, or the presence of a nearby shark, it dwindles down to what is happening at that moment. The ocean seems to make the surroundings fade and all you can hear is your breathing. In the moments when something scary or exciting happens, I have to remember my breath, in and out, so I can stay safe.

4. Pick up and practice a new hobby.

Research has shown that learning something new makes you happier and sparks creativity. Once you start diving more, you’ll be interested in learning about the technology tools involved, getting new certifications, and diving in a new place. It’s a continuous adventure to nurture your new passion.

5. It’s a workout for your body and mind.

Research has also shown that learning something new is good for your brain! When you’re diving, there are procedures to remember to stay safe, and the ocean is sure to spark your creativity with the colors and the wildlife. Physically, carrying a tank, walking up a ladder back on the boat, and controlling your movement underwater are some of the actions you’ll achieve. People of all shapes, sizes, ages, and athletic ability dive!

6. Discover beautiful places all over the world.

Beach vacations forever! Places like the Caribbean, Thailand, and Indonesia are diving destinations, so the beauty underwater rivals the beauty above water. There is cold water diving in places like Canada, but even then, you’re enjoying the beauty of the underwater world and beautiful above-water views. Diving destinations have tourism built up around them, so you can typically plan a trip easily.

7. Challenge yourself to try something new and get out of your comfort zone.

If you’ve read my scuba diving stories post, you know I did not enjoy diving at first. I would have mini panic attacks and need to count my breathing to calm down. At the same time, I was captivated by the wonder of the underwater world and wanted to be a part of it. So, little by little, with every dive, I learned more and got more comfortable with diving. I continue to push through fear and find that the experience is worth it!

8. Make planning trips easier.

My vacations now revolve around diving, and as I mentioned above, it has taken me to some of the most beautiful places in the world! Diving makes trip planning a bit easier because it narrows down the choices of where to go. Booking a dive resort or liveaboard makes it easier because they are a one-stop shop for eating, sleeping, and diving in one place.

9. Connect with your partner and/or travel mates.

My fiancé is the reason why I started diving. He had done a Discover Scuba dive on a cruise and wanted to get certified. I had ‘scuba dive’ on my life list, so why not? Now, we plan our trips around diving and bond over our diving adventures. #DiveBuddies4Life We’re also excited to go on trips with our friends who also scuba dive. As with any shared interest, diving provides a topic of conversation and a common goal to work towards. If you want to come scuba dive with us, let me know!

10. Learn why we need to protect marine life.

Once I started scuba diving, I became a stronger advocate for the ocean. I was introduced to this incredible underwater world, and I see how it is being impacted by pollution and climate change. The coral reefs are dying because of the rising water temperature, and the wildlife that lives in those reefs is disappearing along with them. We respectfully uphold ethical practices when we dive, like not touching anything or leaving anything behind. On land, we do our best so that our actions don’t affect the oceans. When you’ve been there and seen the beauty, you’re more motivated to protect it, especially if you want to continue diving and experiencing it.

Diving has enriched my life, and it’s something I look forward to when I travel. I love looking back on my dive logs or watching my videos and remembering the creatures and landscapes we saw. It’s a humbling experience to always be learning, and I love nerding out with other divers! If you get the chance to dive, I hope you do!

Have you tried scuba diving? If you have, what’s your favorite place you’ve dived?

P.S. See where I’ve dove here and book your liveaboards here.

The post 10 Reasons to Scuba Dive on Your Next Trip appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

I love summer because there’s always a flurry of posts from people showing their vacations. I’m so glad people take the opportunity and invest the time and money to explore outside of their city. Not only is it good for the mind to get away but I think it’s good for the soul to adventure. I’m looking forward to leaving town this weekend for a long weekend trip!

Around the World Cruise
116 nights. 43 destinations in 23 countries. 5 continents. Would you take a cruise around the world?

Single-Use Plastics
Is it possible to travel without single-use plastics? From packing a reusable water bottle to turning down plastic cutlery, not using single-use plastics is possible though requires extra thought. See some recommendations here.

8 Museums for People Who Hate Museums
I’m a big fan of museums, particularly art and history. Here’s a list of interesting museums. I’ve got The Guggenheim in NYC, Viking Ship Museum in Norway, and Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam on my to-visit list. What’s on your museum list?

Pitcairn Islands
I’m going to start sharing some interesting destinations you might not have heard about in these monthly posts. This month is the Pitcairn Islands.

• The Pitcairn Islands are a British Overseas Territory in the Southern Pacific Ocean.
• The majority of the 56 residents are British or Tahitian.
• Out of the four volcanic islands, only one – Pitcairn Island – is permanently inhabited.
• Travelers visit because of its untouched beauty, especially to see the world’s largest contiguous marine reserve. Yes, diving! Watch this video.

Getting Away
Whenever I encounter hard things in life, I think, maybe I should just leave and go travel. But author Rachel Hollis conveys my follow-up thought in her book Girl, Wash Your Face:

“Moving or traveling or getting away? It’s just geography. Moving doesn’t change who you are. It only changes the view outside your window. You must choose to be happy, grateful, and fulfilled. If you make that choice every single day, regardless of where you are or what’s happening, you will be happy.”

Changing geography and going into nature can be catalysts for changing your life, but once you get there, you’ll still need to face the things you left behind. You’ll still need to find closure and forgive. You’ll still need to reconcile the person you didn’t want to become. And you’ll still need to decide how you will live your life from here on out and the changes necessary to do that.

Travel Tools

• Travel a lot? TripCase is an app to manage all your travel info. You can input reservations or easily forward confirmation emails to add the info. It makes finding travel documents easier.
• Trying to find the best way to get somewhere? Rome2rio is a website that aggregates all the travel routes for you to decide which route you want to take.

Basic
Want to travel better? This website can help. While “Basic Bitch” is in the title, this post will help you put it into context. It’s about traveling deeper, respecting the culture, and checking privilege. Overall, it’s a good website to learn. For example, they have a “White People Asking Questions” series where submitted questions are posted anonymously and get real answers. These are usually questions people are afraid to ask for fear of offending someone.

World’s Best Places
Time released a list of “The World’s 100 Greatest Places,” and we were surprised and excited to see Austin Public Library’s Central Library on the list! See the full list of places to visit, stay, and eat here.

Floating Backpack
Have you seen the floating backpack? An upcoming Kickstarter campaign for this is making the news. The backpack uses bungees and pulleys to alleviate the pain of carrying a heavy backpack while you travel. It’s hard to describe, so check out the video of it in action and learn more here.

India
I am both wanting and not wanting to visit India. I’ve read a handful of travel blogs lamenting about how hard traveling in India is because of health and the usual travel woes like language. But I’ve also heard about how magical the country is. This article shares one writer’s experience.

Best Trips and Tips for Solo Female Travel
Need some travel inspiration? These ladies have got you covered with travel tips and destination recommendations.

Fall Foliage
Wouldn’t it be nice to visit one of these National Parks to see the leaves change? In Texas, Lost Maples State Natural Area and Garner State Park are popular to see fall foliage, but make your reservations early!

Read a fun article or hear some interesting travel news lately? Share in a comment below!

Keep up with my travel posts and adventures. You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Bloglovin’. You can also subscribe to the exclusive email list.

The post Fearless Wanderlust v39 – August 2018 appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Mini RV Rental
One of my dreams is an RV road trip one day. These Jucy RV rentals look a lot more doable than the humongous vehicles!

Passport Privilege
The travel industry is thriving and it seems like everyone I know has a high level of wanderlust. It’s easy to forget that traveling is a privilege. Many around the world don’t have the economic ability to travel and they also don’t have the passport privilege. Read more about passport privilege here.

30 Insta-Worthy Desserts in NYC
It’s been too long since I’ve been to NYC. There are many, many more desserts in the city now. Check out this list. It’s a perfect city, though maybe overwhelming, for a foodie!

Best Hotels in the World
Travel and Leisure posted their annual world’s best hotels list.

Travel Podcasts
Love podcasts? Here are 16 travel podcasts you can check out.

Sustainable and Responsible Tourism
I’m an advocate of sustainable and responsible travel! What does that mean? Respect the wildlife and culture. Know who and what your dollars are supporting. Support local. Use environmentally-friendly products. See more info in this post.

Bogota Graffiti
When I make it to Bogota, Columbia, I’ll definitely be taking in all the street art. This would be a fun tour to take.

Visiting Austin
For all of my out-of-town readers, you should plan a fall trip to Austin! This offensive heat will start cooling off and there’s so much to do. Check out some of my Austin posts to plan your trip.

• Austin, Texas Travel Guide
• Tips for an Austin Bachelorette Party or Girls Weekend
• My Favorite Austin, Texas Restaurants

Travel Lessons
Bon Appetit has 21 unique tips that can make your life better. From interesting souvenirs to validation of doing nothing, these tips are fun.

Best Marine Life Aggregations
When it comes to scuba diving, seeing big swarms of life is an incredible sight. Here’s a handy chart of where and when to see certain types of life.

Free New York Museums
This one is for New Yorkers. Did you know your library card can get you into a number of museums in your city for free? Thirty-three of them in fact!

P.S. Do you love trying new foods when you travel? Here are some tips to travel like a foodie.

Keep up with my travel posts and adventures. You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Bloglovin’. You can also subscribe to the exclusive email list.

The post Fearless Wanderlust v38 – July 2018 appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Boyfriend and I had been planning on traveling to Italy for at least a year. I had even bought a guidebook. But when we started talking about the exact details of the trip, more and more we didn’t feel like it was the trip we wanted to take.

The big deciding factor was that while there are opportunities to dive in Italy, it’s not diving that’s raved about among the world’s best. Italy IS grand with its incredible food, amazing architecture and sights, and plenty of history. But we decided it’s a country we’ll love when we slow down a bit. I’m not knocking Italy at all! I would love to take this trip now if we had time. For now, world-renown diving takes precedence!

BUT. Here’s all the research I did before we changed our plans! All of this will be very handy when we do visit Italy one day and/or it can help you if you want to visit Italy. This little “Wanderlust for” guide will help you start planning, then I would recommend looking over the Italy tourism website and Rick Steves’ Italy guidebook for hotel and restaurant recommendations.

We were planning to go to several cities in Italy and either the Italian island of Sardinia or the country of Malta to dive. You can easily spend three weeks in Italy traveling throughout the country. There’s so much to see!

This was our proposed 15-day schedule:

• Day 1: Travel
• Day 2-3: Venice
• Day 4-6: Cinque Terre (Monterosso, Vernazza)
• Day 7-8: Florence
• Day 9-11: Rome
• Day 12-14: Sardinia or Malta
• Day 15: Travel

General Tips for Italy

• Best time to visit Italy: tourists flock to Italy from May to August. The best time to visit for fewer crowds, better prices, and good weather are April and October.
• If you’re visiting cathedrals, be prepared to cover your shoulders and knees.
• The best (and cheapest) international airports to fly into are Rome (FCO) or Milan (MXP). You could fly into Venice (VCE), though it’s a little more expensive.
• For the best flight prices, look in April through June to travel in September or October.

Which Italian Cities to Visit

The hard thing about Italy, especially with limited time, is that there are so many cities to visit and each one has its own notable sights. Here’s a run-down of popular destinations.

• Rome: Colosseum, The Sistine Chapel and Vatican City, St. Peter’s Basilica, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Roman Forum
• Venice: The Grand Canal, Basilica di San Marco/St. Mark’s Basilica, Doge’s Palace
• Florence: David (statue at Galleria dell’Accademia), Uffizi Gallery (art museum), Duomo Santa Maria del Fiore (cathedral)
• Bologna: foodie city
• Milan: Milan Cathedral, Lake Como (an hour outside of Milan)
• Pisa: Leaning Tower of Pisa
• Cinque Terre: five picturesque villages of Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. We were planning to visit Monterosso and Vernazza.
• Positano/Naples/Pompeii/Sorrento: these cities are in the same region, the farthest north is Naples, which is an hour away from the others
• Amalfi Coast: a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Capri: this island can be accessed from Naples or Sorrento; Blue Grotto

Amalfi Coast vs Cinque Terre

We knew with limited time, we had to pick one or the other. We decided on Cinque Terre because it fit us better. Here are some details so you can choose between them.

• Cinque Terre is in the north while Amalfi Coast is south.
• Cinque Terre is easier to get to and around.
• Cinque Terre is known for its breath-taking views on hiking trails and low-key backpacker vibes. Amalfi Coast is known for its beaches and luxury resorts.
• While Cinque Terre is colorful and quaint (see photo below), Amalfi Coast is more whitewashed and posh.
• From the Amalfi Coast, you can do day trips to Positano, Pompeii, and more.

Getting Around: City-Hopping in Italy

The train seems like the most efficient way to get around Italy. Here are some times for train travel around Italy.

• Milan to Cinque Terre: 3 hrs
• Milan to Venice: 3 hrs
• Venice to Cinque Terre: 5.5-6.5 hrs
• Cinque Terre to Florence: 3 hrs
• Florence to Rome: 1.5 hrs
• Venice to Florence: 2 hrs
• Rome to Naples: 2 hrs
• Rome to Positano: 1 hr

Diving in Italy

• The best dive areas are the Aeolian Islands, Portofino Marine Reserve, Ustica, and Sardinia.
• Dive April to October.
• Divers usually dive from land. You don’t even need to go far; you could dive while in Rome.

Some popular dive spots:

• St. Lucia wreck (off Rome)
• St. Elmo’s Rock (Sardinia)
• Sorrento: Punta Campanella
• Abyss of Christ Statue in Liguria
• Costacuti Reef (off Rome)
• Wreck dives in Sicily

Visiting Sardinia

Sardinia, Sardegna in Italian, is an island 190 miles west of Italy. An hour flight from Rome, Sardinia’s white sand beaches and clear blue waters are yours to enjoy when you visit. If you can pull yourself away from the beach, there are places to hike and picturesque towns to explore. You’ll also find “The Stonehenge of the Mediterranean,” which are thousands of stone structures from the earliest civilizations.

I was considering Sardinia because of the notable diving, which some consider as the best in Italy. While there are a lot of wrecks, one notable spot is Grotta del Nereo because of its caves and tunnels.

Eating in Italy

Here are some restaurant recommendations and tips to get you started.

• Eat fried pizza in Naples
• See all Michelin star restaurants here.
• Giolitti in Rome is the oldest gelateria.
• Eat tiramisu in its birthplace – Treviso (outside of Venice).
• Eat at a trattoria or osteria instead of a ristorante because it usually means they’re family-run and cheaper.
• Award-winning restaurants: Osteria Francescana (Modena), Piazza Duomo (Alba), Le Calandre (Rubano/Venice), Reale (Castel de Sangro)
• While wine in the Tuscany region is a must, be sure to keep a lookout for craft beer in Italy. I wrote about Birradamare, which is located in Rome, and there are over 400 breweries in the country!
• Eat gelato every day.

Now, are you wanderlusting for Italy like I am? I can’t wait to visit Italy (again! I visited once years ago) and eat so much gelato and carbs. The country is full of history, art, and culture. I hope this guide helps you start planning or makes you consider visiting!

P.S. There aren’t many yet, but you’ll find my “Wanderlust for” posts here.

Keep up with my travel posts and adventures. You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Bloglovin’. You can also subscribe to the exclusive email list.

The post Wanderlust for Italy appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

All 59 National Parks
Y’all. I want to visit more national parks! This is a fun story about a couple who is road tripping to all of them. They’re partnered with a company to create national park guides for all the parks. This is their road trip route. Cool project!

VW Van Rental
Speaking of road trips, a Northwest U.S. road trip in a VW van is on my bucket list. I have a small obsession with VW vans and road tripping in Oregon, Washington, and California would be beautiful!

Win: Oregon Van Road Trip
Crossing my fingers I can make that bucket list item come true by winning this road trip! Enter for yourself here.

Top Literary Stops in Europe
Hey, book nerds! Check out this Rick Steves post about the places you need to visit in Europe. The list includes historic bookstores and interesting museums. I’ve had a tendency for visiting bookstores when I travel. Remember the one in Greece? Or of course, the one in San Francisco?

Beer Trips
I went to the Texas Craft Brewers Festival and it was already a lot of beer, so I can’t imagine what going to the annual Great American Beer Festival would be like. 800 breweries in one place!?! And that’s not counting the numerous breweries in Denver! My friend Caitlin went to the fest and gave a great recap. I want to try it one day, especially since I love Denver.

Trip Inspo
This list is called “20 trips to take in your twenties” but it’s easily a list for trips to take in your lifetime! Which is your favorite?

9 U.S. States Need Passports
Residents of these nine states will need passports for domestic flights starting in January 2018. This could be changed if the states become compliant with a security law made in 2005.

How to Help Wine Country
Hearing about the fires in California has been heart-breaking! Thousands of businesses have been destroyed, billions in damages, thousands of jobs at risk. More than 20 wineries in Napa and Sonoma are forever changed. The vineyards take years to develop grape vines and the taste of wine has much to do with the land and soil. This is a great list from Afar about how you can help now and later.

New Mexico
My friend Terra recently went to New Mexico and IT’S SO BEAUTIFUL! Be sure to check out her blog posts on Terra Goes.

The Role of Travel Agents
My parents have booked and still book all of their travel through a travel agent. You might scoff at travel agents but they’re the insiders to travel deals! They get paid through commissions so it’s not costing you for their service but in return, they’re giving you perks like free hotel nights, hotel amenities, discounts on packages, and more. If you’re working with a travel agent that specializes in a region or country, they can help you decide on the hotel and activities that fit your preference. Sounds like a win-win if you don’t want to do the planning! Have you ever used a travel agent?

2018 Travel
Have you already thought about where you’re traveling to next year? (Or are you not type-A like me??? haha) On my list are Cayman Islands, Miami, Mexico City, and Italy. One of my life goals is to visit 100 countries, so I would love to visit at least two new countries a year. I would love to do more quick weekend trips but those are always a tease and more costly. Where do you want to go?

What travel places, ideas, and articles have you been thinking about lately?

P.S. Want more travel inspiration? Check out my Destinations page.

Keep up with my travel posts and adventures. You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Bloglovin’. You can also subscribe to the exclusive email list.

Photo from Death to the Stock Photo

The post Fearless Wanderlust v.29 – October 2017 appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Is Travel Insurance Really Necessary?
You’ve heard my thoughts on needing insurance when you travel. You never know what could happen before or during your trip. This article gives some great pointers on the basics about how and why.

Sea Turtles No Longer Extinct?
I hope it’s true! Research shows that 95 of the 299 nesting sites they monitored for 6 to 47 years shows an increasing number of nests. Conservation and education efforts could be a big part of why. (I loved seeing the release of baby sea turtles on Padre Island!)

Fund Your Travel with a Remote Job
Dream of traveling the world? These 30 companies hire remote freelancers.

Why Solo Travel as a Woman?
Solo travel can be an eye-opening experience and an incredible adventure. This Travel and Leisure article shares one woman’s experience. If you want to read more on the subject, I also enjoyed the book What I Was Doing While You Were Breeding.

What Happens When a Hurricane Comes
Hurricanes are at the top of minds because of the many that have happened. It has affected travelers and travel companies. This New York Times article gives helpful things to know if you are ever stranded in a destination before or after a storm.

To Cancel or Not Cancel Travel Plans?
The storms have brought a lot of damage to many areas of the world, which has caused travelers to cancel or change travel plans. Should you cancel? It depends on where you are traveling to but definitely gather all the information you can before making the decision. For example, this CN Traveler article highlights the Oaxaca, Mexico area and the economic effects on tour operators by travelers canceling their plans.

How Do Families Around the World Spend Their Vacations?
I enjoyed this long New York Times feature about family vacations around the world. Lots of fun photos too.

Best Travel Cameras
Camera phone technology has come far in providing incredible photographs but sometimes camera phones don’t always have the power to capture the shot you want. This article shows you the pros and cons of six cameras recommended for travel.

Travel Makes You Smarter
A number of research studies have found that travel makes us smarter and more creative. Correlation and causation aside, it wouldn’t hurt to travel more in case it’s true.

Fine Dining and Insects
When I visited Thailand last year, I knew eating insects was a likely situation. We had them at a street vendor on a food tour, and people eating insects is nothing new. One fine dining restaurant in Bangkok is highlighting insects in their dishes. If you’re visiting Bangkok, consider a visit.

Where is Anthony Bourdain off to next?
The 10th season of Parts Unknown is here and Anthony Bourdain answered a few questions, including how he chooses the destinations. I enjoy how he combines travel, food, culture, and history into his show. You really can’t separate them out when you think about it.

What travel places, ideas, and articles have you been thinking about lately?

P.S. Now is a great time to visit San Francisco. See all my guides here!

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Photo from Death to the Stock Photo

The post Fearless Wanderlust v.28 – September 2017 appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Forever Bicycles
Art exhibits are one of my go-to sights when I visit a new city. In Austin, we have a handful of cool exhibits, museums, and notable features. Artist Ai Weiwei’s Forever Bicycles exhibit was revealed this summer and it was really cool to see! It’s across from Waller Creek Boathouse if you want to check it out.

Room Service Robot
A hotel in Singapore now has a room service robot to bring you room amenities. I’m all for efficiency but I think I might miss the human hospitality connection too. What do you think?

Education to Reality
UT School of Architecture is designing some cool structures for Texas State Parks. As this Facebook video shows, the recent project at Galveston State Park will help visitors interact with the park better. It would be cool to see these structures in real life!

Yayoi Kusama Museum Coming!
I was excited to read that a permanent Kusama Museum will open in Tokyo this fall. I loved seeing her exhibit in Houston and have been wanting to see her other touring exhibits.

Sleepover at a Brewery
There are seven breweries around the world where you can have a sleepover. None of these are in the U.S. but the one in Norway would be pretty cool to stay at. Speaking of breweries, check out this list of favorite breweries in every state.

Hamilton Pool
Finally visited Hamilton Pool! Take a look at this post with all the details to plan your visit.

Cruise Lawsuit Settlement
Have you ever gotten a robocall telling you you’ve won a free cruise? If you have, you might be eligible to receive $900 from this lawsuit settlement. You can check to see if your phone number is in their online database and file a claim.

Riding Elephants
I’ve shared a few posts and stories about why you should never ride elephants. Travelers might think it’s a tradition that is ok but it does include a brutal history in an elephant’s life. Check out this post to learn more about riding elephants.

Visiting Nepal
One of the incredible things about travel is experiencing different cultures and learning about their history. This post by Hand Luggage Only shows the beautiful culture of Nepal, and I would love to see it for myself!

Vacation Shaming
A new survey revealed 25% of millennials feel vacation shame, a feeling of nervousness when requesting time off. For me, work ethic, the fear of falling behind at work, and letting my team down are the reasons why I get nervous about asking for time off. But taking extra days off is important to reset and recharge! There are other studies that show productivity increases after vacation.

Mexico Travel Warning
Because of the increase in violent crimes involving tourists, the U.S. Department of State has issued a warning about traveling to parts of Mexico. Some of the highly touristic areas like Los Cabos and Quintana Roo, which includes Tulum, Cancun, Cozumel, and Playa del Carmen. Some of the crimes are not directed towards tourists but they have been hurt as a bystander. This doesn’t necessarily mean you should cancel your trip, but do what you think is best and as always, stay aware and alert when you travel. (See my post about staying safe while you travel here.)

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The post Fearless Wanderlust v.27 – August 2017 appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Standing “Seats” Coming to Flights?
A budget airline in Columbia is considering removing its normal seats and replacing them with standing seats. They don’t look very comfortable! I’m all for cheaper flights but not at the expense of comfort and safety.

Brazil’s Blue Lagoons
Brazil’s Lençóis Maranhenses National Park is such a mystical place to see! It is usually a desert-like area but when it gets 47 inches a year, the rainwater makes huge pools.

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A post shared by Blog Vamos pro Mundo (@vamospromundo)

Galapagos Islands
This destination is one I didn’t know I wanted to visit so badly! There’s a reason why Darwin wanted to come here. It’s filled with the most unique wildlife, on land and underwater. This is a great post about how to visit. I hope to scuba dive there one day! You’ll also see the largest tortoises!

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Parthenon of Books
In Germany, an artist has built a full-scale replica of the Parthenon with 100,000 banned books on a site where Nazis burned books. What a sight!

Kusama Exhibit in Dallas
I’ve been following Kusama’s art so I was excited to see that the Dallas Museum of Art has secured the Kusama pumpkin infinity room. It will be on display October 2017 to February 2018.

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Before You Travel to Germany
I haven’t visited Germany and I haven’t researched anything about Germany, so this article on Matador Network about things to know before you visit was very interesting. Truth?

Best Travel Shoes?
I tend to do a lot of walking when I travel, exploring the city and enjoying activities. I usually wear classic canvas TOMS, though for my Thailand trip, I got their black slip-on Avalons which I love. I like that they’re comfortable, could pass for day and night wear, and matches with everything. I’ve also heard recommendations for Teva, Naturalizer, Chacos, Crocs, Birkenstock, and Sanuk. Do you have a go-to travel shoe?

The Next Big Destinations
I feel the Internet and Instagram have propelled travel to increase. We see the experiences at our fingertips and want to go experience them for ourselves. Want to know the next Iceland or Thailand? Take a look at this Traveler list.

Mexico City
I must have mentioned my desire to visit Mexico City before! This city has been on my short to-travel list for the last year or more. It’s got food and culture, and this feature on Camille Styles about the city shows why I want to visit it. My friend Peter visited earlier this year. Here’s one of his photos:

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A post shared by Peter Tsai (@supertsai)

How to Find Cheap Flights
This is a very handy list of eight tricks to help you find cheap flights!

21 New World Heritage Sites
UNESCO voted to add 21 new World Heritage Sites to the list. The decision is somewhat controversial because of cultural differences. Here’s the full list of the new sites. A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area that are protected for their cultural, historical, or scientific significance. Places like Stonehenge and cities like Istanbul are on the list of 1,073 sites.

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The post Fearless Wanderlust v.26 – July 2017 appeared first on Fearless Captivations.