What Is It?
So I’ve started a new thing. It’s not a blog. It’s not a sales pitch. It’s just an irreverent, opinionated, and (occasionally) useful email about travel to sandy places that I send out to my readers. You won’t get it all that often – unlike a magazine or something, the content will drive the schedule, not the other way around. But I hope it will make your next trip or move abroad a little better.
What Is In It?
Among the short items you'll receive...
Island To Consider Visiting
Cool New Spot
New Travel Gadget
While Abroad Tip
New Travel Resource
Why We Travel - In One Sentence
What's Not In It?
Ads
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new island to visit
Santa Cruz - Channel Islands National Park (California)
I just went camping at this 61,764 acre island off the coast of Southern California last weekend. It's pretty great out there. Here's what I found out...
what's to love about it
Santa Cruz is like Southern California 500 years ago – which is really when you wanted to be there.
what might give one pause
The pier is broken so you have to enter via a skiff from the beach.
best camp sites
Santa Cruz is good day trip, but if you overnight, book sites 24, 25, or 26. They have the most privacy and the best views.
also to love
Tiny island foxes. Great hiking without bears, cars, snakes, New York real estate developers, etc.
how to get there there
Only one company takes people out and the boat fills up so book early. Need more details? Just send me an email (by replying to this or via my site.)
new travel thing
Okay, it's more new to me than perhaps to you, but I like this travel podcast Zero To Travel a lot. Funny yet sincere. And useful too. Hope you like too.
while abroad
Track down the Hash House Harriers – it’s an old British tradition/activity where local folks (a good mix of expats and actual locals in my experience) run through the woods, following one person designated the “hare,” before ending up at a bonfire and drinking, well, a lot of beer. I know – sounds maybe not awesome – but I end up meeting people and seeing a place in a way I never would have otherwise. And drinking a lot more than I would have too. One Tip: Spend some time looking at each group's site before going - these are local things, and they all have a slightly different character.
deep(ish) thought
At a writer's conference, I recently met a nice writer with an amazing name, Harrison Scott Key and a very funny book. He told me he tries to approach every new idea or new person not with skepticism and doubt but with a sense of wonder. Sounds kinda hokey, but seems like a better way to go through life, right?
cool new spot
&Beyond’s Benguerra Island in Mozambique.
What’s To Love: Has just thirteen rooms. And there’s diving nearby in a protected marine area.
What’s to Give Me Pause: Unless you live in coastal Mozambique, not all that convenient. Nor is the costat $1,550 per night per couple.
new travel gadget
Google Flights has a handy feature where you can look up costs and schedules to multiple airports at the same time. Click on the + button here and others nearby airports will pop up. Then you can sort by price or however you want.
and finally...
Have a suggestion? A complaint? Hit reply and send me an email. Want to unsubscribe? Click here. Or if you didn't hate this, forward it to everyone you've ever met! Or at least the last person you took a trip with.
cheers,
Alex
p.s. - Here's a little video diversion. 300,000 new videos are posted to YouTube each day - a few of them have to be good. Including this one…
This Japanese game show asks contestants to bite household objects that may or may not be made out of chocolate.
p.p.s. If you're somehow still reading this, perhaps you also have a little time to read my book which I recently tricked Penguin Random House into publishing. You can buy it here or wherever you buy lawn chairs and such.
This Japanese game show asks contestants to bite household objects that may or may not be made out of chocolate.
p.p.s. If you're somehow still reading this, perhaps you also have a little time to read my book which I recently tricked Penguin Random House into publishing. You can buy it here or wherever you buy lawn chairs and such.