It’s a glorious blue-sky spring morning here in Vermont, time for me to round up the most inspiring, most entertaining and most informative links from around the web.
The collapse of the cheap oil economy demands action. James Howard Kunstler offers 10 ways to prepare for a post oil society.
350 parts per million is the red line for carbon dioxide in the atmosphere - any more than that and we’re all in serious trouble. Bill McKibben and the team of eco-ninjas at 350.org are spreading the word.
Turns out not everyone loves Americans. For Rachel Friedman, the shock of seeing her nation from abroad led to feelings of betrayal, denial and awakening.
Photo by Scott Muscatello
My first solo trip abroad was less than a year after 9/11.
Life in the U.S. was still tense, especially on the East coast, where I was a junior in college.
Airports were enveloped in almost sanctuary-like silence. While I waited to board my flight to Dublin I watched people remove shoes and sweaters and belts.
Returning home after an awesome trip is tough; when you’re a couple, it can be even harder.
Don’t let your relationship fall into a post-travel rut.
After weeks or months of all day face-time in exotic destinations—along with the intimacy (good and bad) that it creates—going back to the drudgery of cubicle life can put a serious damper on even the strongest relationships.
Tags: How, Beat, The, Back-Home, Relationship, BlahsWhen the principal attraction of a trip is looking at other people’s lives, there’s a fine line between human interest and human zoo.
Photo by Lucy Corne
While much of Africa is best known for its stunning wildlife and superlative National Parks, Ethiopia’s main travel draws are scenic natural beauty and fascinating people.
Therefore, it seemed only natural that when our overland trip passed through Ethiopia, we took a detour to the Omo Valley, an area rich in colorful tribes.
Tags: Can, Tribal, Tourism, Actually, Help, Preserve, Indigenous, CultureOuter Banks fishing is legendary. The barrier islands stick so far out into the Atlantic that the Gulf Stream is very close to the shore. The sea and the sound mix here, allowing anglers to land both saltwater and freshwater species. You have to be a very unlucky fisher person to go home empty handed on the Outer Banks.
While headboats or private charters can leave you with an experience you’ll long remember, pier fishing is the way to go if you have children or newbies in your group. No sea sickness, no slippery decks, restrooms instead of heads and you can leave when they’ve had enough.
Tags: Outer, Banks, Fishing, Nags, Head, PierStepping into bars, alone and in foreign climes, can be intimidating. Break the ice with these tips.
Photo by junku-newcleus
Recently I was talking to a female friend of mine - a friend who is incredibly gutsy when it comes to solo travel.
We were talking about my bar-hopping habit when I travel solo, and she mentioned how impressed she was by my ability to wander into a local drinking hole on the road and make myself at home.
Tags: The, Gutsy, Girl, Guide, Drinking, AlonePublishing online is still viewed as less “legitimate” than publishing printed words on the physical page.
Photo by Bhollar
The Internet has made it much easier for writers to break into the world of publishing. As an aspiring writer myself, I’ve spent countless hours exploring every website imaginable, all of which promise the key to success.
Websites such as Matador Travel, Transitions Abroad, and EditRED provide opportunities to hone your journalistic endeavors.
Tags: When, Will, Online, Writing, Get, The, Respect, DeservesWhile every trip has the potential to include a traveler’s moment, it isn’t something that can be forced or expected.
Photo by Benjamin Orbach
As I waited for the monorail that would take me to my connecting gate at O’Hare Airport, the sun rose and painted red the lower edges of the Chicago sky.
It was the color of the elderly Sikh’s turban in Jaipur, the man who had sold me a bottle of water between handing out change to the pilgrims who passed his shop.
Tags: What, Would, You, Give, For, Your, Traveler, MomentPlanning a destination wedding can seem like a daunting task. Here’s what you need to know.
Photo by Tom Purves
Destination weddings have become increasingly popular in recent years, and a growing number of couples say they’d like to celebrate their special day in an exotic location.
Planning a destination wedding, however, can seem overwhelming, especially when so many details are being coordinated from afar.
Tags: The, Ultimate, Guide, Planning, Destination, WeddingAmericans have been vacationing at Nags Head North Carolina since the 1830’s and with very good reason - the beach! The barrier islands that make up the Outer Banks, of which Nags Head is a part, have some of the best beaches in the country.
While walking beside the ocean, you get the feeling that the thin strand of sand goes on forever. (It really stretches 100 miles.) There’s the soothing rhythm of breaking waves on one side and tall sand dunes dotted with sea oats on the other.
Tags: Nags, Head, North, Carolina, Classic, Beach, Vacation