The first 24 hours in a new place can set the tone for your entire trip. Here are five simple ways to get oriented, settle in, and become comfortable enough to actually notice where you are.

Montrose wasn't supposed to be the destination. It was simply where the job happened to be. But after one month of hiking, music, glamping, mountain towns, and planning our ski season, we realized we'd stumbled onto one of Colorado's best places to call home.

Portugal is still one of Europe's most popular retirement destinations, but rising costs and changing priorities have us asking a different question: Has Portugal changed, or have we? Here's what we learned after trying to buy a home there.

Could Spain be the retirement destination you've been looking for? From vibrant plazas and Mediterranean cafés to mountain villages and coastal towns, Spain offers a lifestyle centered on community, walkability, and enjoying everyday life. In this second article of my retirement series, I explore what makes Spain such an appealing place to consider for the next chapter.

We almost retired in Portugal. Then France unexpectedly entered the conversation. From healthcare and quality of life to charming villages, château renovations, and retirement visas, here's why France may deserve a place on your shortlist.

When do you finally get "there?" After years of chasing jobs, identities, and expectations, I realized the destination wasn't what I thought it was. This is the story of how I stopped looking for the next job and started building my next There.

From mountain lakes and rivers he insists are actually lakes to one very large "ocean lake" in California, Gibby Stieg-Lampe ranks his favorite swimming destinations across the American West. Featuring sticks, cat food, questionable math, and expert aquatic analysis from a senior Labrador.

I thought I needed a complete plan before I could begin. Building Best of Both Worlds taught me something different: some of the most meaningful things in life reveal themselves only after we take the first step.

After seven months booking luxury vacations, I came away with an unexpected lesson: meaningful travel isn't always about spending more money. From guesthouses in Portugal to neighborhood cafés in New Orleans, here's what luxury travel taught me about traveling with intention.

What the photos don't show is often the most important part of the story. A picnic, an annoyed husband, a published travel journal, and a reminder that the biggest moments in life are often built one small step at a time.

Airfare isn't getting any cheaper, but that doesn't mean you have to let it dictate your travel plans. In this article, I explore why the cheapest flight isn't always the best value and share several ways to think differently about airfare, travel time, routing, and the overall experience. The goal isn't to find the cheapest flight. The goal is to find the best flight for your trip.

Somewhere between Cortez and Montrose, Paul and I are beginning to realize our Corps of Questionable Decisions may have been a voyage of discovery all along.

It may be time to question the stories we’ve been told about overworking, productivity, and success. What happens when the rules you followed faithfully no longer lead where you hoped they would?

Resigning as the Assistant Giant Cactus Mover was the best career move I ever made. Navigating "Paul-Land" requires grit, a chariot for a 7-foot succulent, and a total "no math" manifesto. From 4 AM managerial crises to the "Positivity Paradox" of moving day, this is what it actually takes to move a desert across the Four Corners.

Where does wanderlust even come from? For me it started with an 11-year-old girl on a plane, a man who asked why I didn't have a passport, and a sleeping bag that turned out to be the first key to freedom.

Meet Paul. According to his mother, he is a very nice person who wears the weirdest clothes. According to The Manager, he also requires a specific set of rules to travel with safely. This is a field guide for anyone who loves a Unique Soul and still wants to make it back to the hotel.

When life takes an unexpected turn, it can feel like something has gone wrong. But what if nothing is broken, just unfinished? This piece explores instability, relief, and the idea that we may still be in the process of becoming.

When the world feels unstable, waiting for things to settle can quietly put your life on hold. This is about choosing your direction anyway, and remaining the author of your life even when nothing around you feels certain.

A guide to ten memorable hot springs across Colorado, from rustic mountain soaking spots to classic resorts, each offering a different landscape, atmosphere, and wellness experience.

For travelers with food sensitivities, eating abroad requires preparation and curiosity. From local markets to simple regional dishes, discovering how food is prepared in Europe can make navigating unfamiliar menus easier and far more enjoyable.