Guides and Itineraries Archives

Guides and Itineraries

The Adventures Atlas

How Fit Do You Need to Be for Antarctica? A Realistic Look at the Physical & Mental Demands

By Jackie|2026-01-24T04:30:50+00:00January 24, 2026|Destinations, Guides and Itineraries, South America|

18 Things to Know Before Visiting Antarctica (What No One Tells You)

By Jackie|2026-01-24T04:33:31+00:00January 20, 2026|Guides and Itineraries, South America|

51 Photos That Will Convince You to Visit Antarctica

By Jackie|2026-01-19T06:54:35+00:00January 19, 2026|Destinations, Guides and Itineraries, South America|

The Complete Antarctica Packing List (For a 10 to 22-Day Expedition)

By Jackie|2026-01-19T07:02:48+00:00January 12, 2026|Guides and Itineraries, South America|

The Ultimate Antarctica Expedition Guide [Falklands & South Georgia]

By Jackie|2026-01-26T21:24:13+00:00January 7, 2026|Destinations, Guides and Itineraries, South America|

31 Best Things to Do in Lake Placid, NY This Summer

By Jackie|2025-12-10T02:03:43+00:00December 9, 2025|Destinations, Guides and Itineraries, Northeast, United States|

Complete Iceland Summer Packing List (+ Free Packing List Download)

By Jackie|2025-08-04T04:42:48+00:00August 4, 2025|Destinations, Europe, Guides and Itineraries, Travel Tips|

19 Amazing Places to Visit in July in the USA (+Summer Travel Tips)

By Jackie|2025-08-12T19:43:46+00:00July 21, 2025|Destinations, Guides and Itineraries, United States|

Watkins Glen Gorge Trail: A Hiker’s Guide to Rainbow Falls

By Jackie|2026-01-08T00:33:39+00:00July 7, 2025|Guides and Itineraries, Northeast, United States|

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						If you live on the East Coast USA, you’re only a 5 hour direct flight from one of Europe’s best hidden gems: The Azores Islands 

For reference - this is the same amount of time it takes to drive from one side of New York State to the other 😉

If you’ve never heard of them, the Azores are a group of nine volcanic islands located in the North Atlantic. They are an autonomous region of Portugal, known for their lush green hillsides, dramatic cliffs, and volcanic craters.

Sometimes you can find flights from major airports along the East Coast direct to João Paulo II Airport (PDL) in Ponta Delgada on Sao Miguel (the main island) for about $300-400 RT with SATA airlines. 
 
Here are a few of my favorite snaps from the subtropical paradise of São Miguel island 🌴:

1. A rainy day at Terra Nostra hot springs
2. Ribeira dos Caldeirões Park in Nordeste 
3. Views off Vila Franco do Campo
4. Black sand beach 
5. Sunrise views over the village of Sete Cidades
6. Waves at the beach
7-8. The greenhouse at Arruda Pineapple Plantation in Ponta Delgada 
9. Views from our Airbnb 
10. Dusk in Furnas

———

If you’re interested in visiting Sao Miguel, check out my story highlight called “Azores” to catch up on our last adventure there ✨
						
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						Do you recognize it?

I saw this road in Forrest Gump forever ago and added it to the list of places I absolutely had to see in my lifetime

And it did not disappoint. 

While a drive through Monument Valley was so high on our list this trip, our campervan likely wouldn’t have made down the bumpy road (at least not comfortably)

Instead, we headed toward this view for sunrise and I’m pretty sure it’s topped the list of best sunrises I’ve ever seen 🥹🌄 

——

Also, shout out to @cudmobile for forever waking up with me for sunrise, dancing in the middle of the road, and helping me capture special moments like these ❤️
						
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						⛔️ Is ANY PLACE actually off limits anymore?

I first sat in this exact spot back in 2015, before the paved parking lot and entrance fees. Back when it was just a dusty little footpath on the side of the road. There are a lot more people now, but the view itself feels just as wild and humbling as I remember.

Horseshoe Bend is one of the most photographed places in the Southwest for a reason. 

‼️ Which is why it’s INFURIATING that there’s a proposed data center being planned in Page, AZ. 

Close enough to impact water, night skies and the integrity of this precious landscape. And to affect the Navajo Nation, where many communities already face limited access to water and have long been excluded from land use decisions like this.

FOR MORE CONTEXT:

👉 Updates on City of Page 
👉 Posts by shared by @clanger_mcbanger and @hikingbangers 
👉 Reporting from @arizonasfamily news
👉 City of Page Planning & Zoning agenda 

🗣️WHAT YOU CAN DO (even if you don’t live in Arizona):

These decisions are still being made and opportunities for public input haven’t been made available yet. 

Visibility right now is critical. SPREAD THE WORD. Share this. Talk about it. Keep eyes on the City of Page agenda so community voices are loud when the window opens.

——

⚠️ This is not a “local issue.” If we’re okay with industrial development creeping up next to places like this, it sets a precedent for every protected landscape.
						
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						…which is the same time it takes to drive from one side of New York State to the other 😉 

(just in case you need to take a break from the United States for a bit)

🔑 One thing I hope you take away from my account is that the KEY to traveling with a full time job is to maximize your PTO by visiting more places that are easily accessible, like any of the countries listed here!

Follow and like for more adventures from NY and East Coast USA ✈️

#travelguides
						
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						Here’s a secret…

I’ve been to São Miguel twice and I am SO convinced that the Azores are the best hidden gem within a 5 hour flight of the East Coast USA. 

If you’ve never heard of them, the Azores are a group of nine volcanic islands located in the North Atlantic. They are an autonomous region of Portugal with lush green hillsides, dramatic cliffs, and volcanic craters.

Sometimes you can find flights from major airports along the East Coast direct to João Paulo II Airport (PDL) in Ponta Delgada on Sao Miguel (the main island) for about $300-400 RT. 

Here are 5 of the best things to do in São Miguel when you get there: 

🌋 Visit Sete Cidades and take in the view from Boca do Inferno viewpoint 
🥾 Hike to Lagoa do Fogo
👙 Visit Furnas to soak in the hot springs at Parque Terra Nostra and try the traditional Cozido das Furnas meal
🐟 Eat fresh seafood! A whole restaurant meal for 2 costs about $40USD 
🐋 Go whale watching April -  October. The Azores are a marine hotspot and you can see humpback whales, sperm whales, fin whales and several species of dolphin
✈️ Take an inter-island flight to visit the other Azores islands, like Terceira, Pico, and Flores Island. 

If you’re interested in visiting Sao Miguel, check out my story highlight called “Azores” to catch up on our last adventure there. 

——-

Follow for more East Coast based travel ✨

#travelguides
						
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