Five-State Roadtrip, Part II: Walking in Memphis

The most appropriate thing to do on one’s first morning in Memphis is to head directly to its most popular attraction: Graceland, of course! Luckily as part of the TravelCon registration fee, we were entitled to several “familiarization trips,” or FAMs for short. These are free entrances to museums, parks, or tours; special events just…

The 12-Hour Walk: Disconnecting, Pushing Yourself, and Crushing Limiting Beliefs

Colin O’Brady There isn’t much that Colin O’Brady hasn’t pushed himself to do. Speaking at the World Domination Summit (WDS) in Portland, Oregon in June, he captivated attendees with stories of his incredible feats like crossing Antarctica solo, summiting the highest peaks of the world in record time, and rowing across the treacherous Drake Passage…

Five-State Roadtrip, Part I: The Road(s) to Memphis

The beautifully choreographed intricacies of circumstance continually amaze me. If it hadn’t been for the twice-postponed travel conference that finally took place at the end of April, I might not have orchestrated my job exodus and resulting three-week roadtrip through five states. Despite some significant setbacks and lessons learned, I pulled it off and wouldn’t…

Twenty Twenty Too

Happy New Year! Let’s cut to the chase. I clearly haven’t been consistent with this blogging business. Quite honestly, the twisted mental vortex that the pandemic sucked me and most of the rest of us into can take a portion of the blame. I spent a lot of the last year wallowing in some self-pity…

On Top of the World

Founded in 2011 by Chris Guillebeau, the World Domination Summit is an eclectic event that brings together creatives, entrepreneurs, and dreamers who want to live a life bigger than what society imagines it to be. Here is a chronicle of my first experience at WDS, in its penultimate year.

Travel Mishaps

Air traffic control tower at tiny Manhattan, Kansas airport

The Top Takeaways from the DC Travel and Adventure Show

Saint Patrick’s Day weekend featured another two-day travel show, this time right here in my neck of the woods. How could I be any luckier? The Travel & Adventure Show returned to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC for a fifteenth year. I’d heard of this one, but had never been before….

The Paradise Next Door: Discovering the Beauty of Querétaro, Mexico

“Mexico is so dangerous! Why would you go there?” That was one of the first things I’d heard from someone when I excitedly told them I was going. “But is it safe?” was another common question. Unfortunately for Americans, the media paints our neighbor to the south as a land riddled with nothing but drug…

Attending a Travel Show for the First Time

Every year in the nation’s largest city, delegations from around the world gather to dazzle us with dreamy offerings from every corner of the globe. Various tourist bureaus, travel industry businesses, journalist and speakers converge for one weekend dedicated to that favorite fancy. I’m talking about the New York Times Travel Show. This year is…