Guided travel journal full#

Blend those reading habits, add a dash of Francophilia, and-voilà-I find myself heading to Provence. Every morning I open VeloNews to peruse the latest highlights from the European cycling scene, and most evenings I consult The New York Times’ cooking section for an interesting recipe. Ellen O’Brien, digital editor Wheeling About Provence The historic village of Venasque, France (Photo: Getty Images/John S Lander/LightRocket)Īt some point in planning this summer’s adventure, I recalled a favorite saying from Oscar Wilde: “It is what you read when you don’t have to that determines what you will be when you can’t help it.” How true. Other can’t-miss establishments include Quahog’s Seafood Shack and Bar for dinner, and Coffee Talk for your morning caffeine fix (it’s the famed establishment where Taylor Swift once performed acoustic shows). On summer nights, the line for a cone can wrap around the block.

A mile north is Springer’s, which makes the best homemade ice cream in the world. I’ve never considered myself much of a birder, yet I always love walking the sanctuary’s trails. When you’re looking for a respite from the bustle, stroll down Second Avenue to the Stone Harbor Bird Sanctuary. It’s also fun to kayak the marsh along the bay side or head just over Gull Island Thorofare Bridge to check out the Wetlands Institute. I’m looking forward to my seaside runs and bike rides along the path that extends the entirety of the island. It’s the perfect spot for large families to gather. This East Coast beach town is home to tons of wildlife, soft sand, and the best seafood. I’ll always be a defender of the Jersey Shore, particularly Stone Harbor, located on Seven Mile Island. Mikaela Ruland, associate content director at National Park Trips Recreating on the Jersey Shore A busy beach in Stone Harbor (Photo: John Greim/LightRocket) The decor feels like an Indian restaurant and a Red Robin collided, with a distinctly ski-town vibe, and the weird and wonderful pizzas are to die for.

We’ll be fueling up on caffeine and pastries at Local Coffee House in Aspen on the front end and celebrating our accomplishment with pizza and beer at Secret Stash, my favorite spot in Crested Butte. While I’m most looking forward to gorgeous lakes, vibrant wildflowers, and expansive views of the Elk Range, my pals are excited to spend a night in the towns on each end. (My friends must truly love me.) We’ve tapped one friend, who I couldn’t convince to trek with us, to drop the rest of us off and pick us up, though that service is also offered locally by Dolly’s Mountain Shuttle and Alpine Express. This year we’re hiking in Colorado from Aspen to Crested Butte, an 11-mile day trip over 12,500-foot West Maroon Pass, with some 3,000 feet of elevation gain.

Guided travel journal full#

I take full advantage of my birthday each year by forcing my friends-a group not quite as adventurous as me-to come along for activities they’d usually roll their eyes at. Reveling in Rocky Mountain Highs and Pies Maroon Creek Valley (Photo: Getty Images/SeanXu) Outside staffers have plenty of their own exciting getaways planned, including hiking from mountain town to mountain town in Colorado, pedaling and cork-popping in Provence, road-tripping to visit wolves and see iconic high-desert scenery in the American Southwest, and more. And this is the summer to beat all summers, as millions of American travelers attested over Memorial Day weekend, taking to the roads and skies to kick off the season in record numbers.