I must be honest; I had never heard of Andorra before we started traveling in 2010 and, it appears, my ignorance was shared by many. I blame it on the fact that the country is only 181 square miles (about the same size as the metro center of Albuquerque in New Mexico), and the entire…
Destination of the Week :: Unspoilt Xcalak, Mexico
Xcalak pronounced “ish-ka-lak” is a town that sits about 40 miles south of Mahahaul beach, or a seven-hour drive from Cancun, and is thankfully mostly ignored by the hordes of tourists visiting the wild Caribbean coast of Quintana Roo in Mexico, due to the remoteness of the village. The MesoAmerican Barrier Reef is the second…
Destinations :: Khiva (Uzbekistan)
Khiva, also known as Itchan Kala, is a world of caravanserais, palaces, turquoise-tiled mosques, madrasas, and minarets that takes you into the heart of the ancient Silk Road. What you’ll find is a romanticized version: well-restored and maintained adobe buildings, clean alleys without open sewers, and only shadows of the slave market and public executions,…
Norway, the Country of No Rest
We quickly understood Norway was going to be the country for us. Once the capital, Oslo, passed, the road started winding through the mountains. There is no rest in this country. The roads go up and down at the rhythm of the valleys. Someone told us, “In Norway, the roads were built following the cows.”…
Destination :: Botallack Mine, Cornwall, England
On my recent trip to Cornwall I was determined to photograph some of the county’s most dramatic landscapes. I gravitate towards scenery that’s harsh and imposing and get especially excited if the location is also of historical significance (Tintagel Castle is a great example). One such destination that ticked all these boxes was the iconic…
Destinations :: Backland—Beyond Glamping
Located 20 minutes outside Williams, Arizona, Backland is an eco-resort nestled amid Kaibab National Forest. Consisting of 160 private acres of heaven on the old Moose homestead, large meadows and marshland are flanked by ponderosa pines, all under the protective eyes of the San Francisco Peaks. Driven by a vision to provide a lodging experience…
Destination of the Week :: The Trans Bhutan Trail, Bhutan
The Trans Bhutan Trail has recently been restored and is open to the public for the first time in more than 60 years. Historically the trail was used by messengers, traders and pilgrims as the trail was the only way in which to cross the country of Bhutan. If you’re wondering where exactly Bhutan is,…
The Great Gravel Boom :: 4,000 riders expected at Garmin UNBOUND Gravel 2023
unbound adjective un·bound | \ən-ˈbau̇nd\ 1: having no limit The gravel race that began with 34 participants in 2006 will boom through the scenic rolling hills of Kansas’ Tallgrass Prairie in 2023, with thousands of cyclists clamoring for a lottery ticket to ride. Although participants will hit blacktop roads in smaller sections, the vast…
Weekends with the Family :: How to successfully plan small vacations
I really have no quarrel with the way I live. I am a day-job dreamer and a weekender, meaning I define my relationship to travel and the outdoors by breaks in a five-day workweek and amid limited vacation time. I live for the weekend, you might say. It’s time spent with my wife in middle…
Destination :: Tintagel Castle, Cornwall, England
I spent much of my childhood visiting castles, ruins, and other areas of historical or mythical significance. Bedtime stories were often those of Greek mythology, and I’d lose myself in the adventures of Jason and the Argonauts, Odysseus, Hercules, and more. Although I didn’t realize it at the time, these experiences would sow the seeds…
Tips for Riding the Trans-America Trail (TAT)
Armed with a 2022 Royal Enfield Himalayan, some YouTube videos, and a recent dirt bike safety training course, I took on the Trans-America Trail, a route crossing the United States on mostly unpaved roads and trails. While I had extensive road bike experience, this would be my first time riding off-road for any distance since…
Destination :: Bedruthan Steps, Cornwall, England
Cornwall will always hold a special place in my heart. As a child, I spent many summers with my family at caravan parks situated along the county’s rugged coastline. Some of my earliest memories are holding my dad’s hand tight as I peered nervously over the battlements of Tintagel Castle. It was trips to Cornwall…
Exploring America’s Swampiest State :: The Florida Adventure Trail
It took a lot of dirt to raise Jon Birkmire. A lot of water, too. As a child growing up in Florida, there’s hardly a river, beach, or dirt road he hasn’t explored in the peninsula state known for its abundance of coastline, swamps, alligators, and snakes. So ten years ago when he discovered Florida…
Destination of the Week :: Bardenas Reales, Spain
We love overlanding in Spain, the north is far different from the south, where British tourists and the like throb to the beat of the drum and screams of “Ibiza!”. We prefer to leave the crowds behind and head to Bardenas Reales and the surrounding areas, which is the perfect getaway from the tourist hordes….
Destinations :: Paradise on the Gulf of Mexico
The sand along the sea coast stretching from San Destin to Rosemary Beach, Florida, glistens like crystallized powdered sugar. Beyond these beaches lie the crystal clear and intoxicating Aegean-colored waves of the Gulf of Mexico. There is no other sand like this wind-weathered quartz which originated in the Appalachian Mountains hundreds of miles away. Over…
Destination: Nelson, British Columbia
Photography by Richard Giordano Located in British Columbia’s southern interior, Nelson is a funky bohemian hub in the heart of the Kootenay region. Surrounded by the Selkirk mountain range, Nelson boasts a vibrant arts community, colorfully restored heritage buildings, and more restaurants per capita than Manhattan or San Francisco. Part of the traditional territory of…
Destination of the Week :: Cappadocia, Türkiye
Cappadocia in Türkiye is best known for its hot-air balloon rides at sunrise and sunset, with its volcanic spires and honeycombed hills and the sun peeking out over the infamous “fairy chimneys.” This landscape, carved out and inhabited since the 6th Century, is a magical tourist destination with far more to experience than just an…
BMW: Still Time in 2022 to Ride & Improve Skills
BMW has a host of ideas help you improve skills, try out new bikes, and keep the adventure alive. Root for the USA at the upcoming GS Trophy competition or hit the road to a rally. Whatever you pick from their grab bag of options, motorcycles will be front and center. BMW Motorrad GS Trophy…
The Best of the Late Summer Moto Rallies
There’s still time to get in on late summer motorcycle rallies and rides and soak up the remnants of summer sun before the leaves turn golden and the weather cold, and the west has no shortage of great moto events to choose from. Four Corners Motorcycle Rally The Four Corners Motorcycle Rally is scheduled for…
Destination :: Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park, British Columbia
Photography by Richard Giordano Located south of Banff and within the traditional territory of the Ktunaxa or Kootenai First Nations, Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park is a culmination of the Canadian Rockies’ finest. Bright alpine lakes border jutting rocky ridges, while spruce, fir, and pine trees shade blazing wildflowers in fiery orange, pretty pink, and delicate…