Outtake: Tel Aviv Pride 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️

Tel Aviv could be considered the gay heart of the Middle East. But it’s not just because of the repressive culture and politics of its neighbors. Tel Aviv felt like one of the most welcoming and celebratory places I’ve been, especially as a destination for gay pride (check out my notes about other pride events […]

Five Days: Tel Aviv

The rich culture and history—and the food—of the Middle East put the region on my travel bucket list some time ago. As a gay traveler, though, I’ve had concerns about safety and whether I’d feel welcome or comfortable (and I’m not the only one, obviously). Cue Tel Aviv, and more specifically, Tel Aviv’s gay pride […]

Weekend: Seattle

Updated January 2025. Seattle is just a hop, skip, and jump away from our home in Portland, which makes it an ideal weekend getaway. Nicknamed the Emerald City for its year-round greenery, it generally shares Portland’s mild climate. This can make it an attractive spot for to escape oppressive summer heat for folks in hot […]

Four Days: Medellin

Medellin, Colombia is known as the City of Eternal Spring for its year-round mild weather. And I’d spring (pun obviously intended) at the chance to return—it was my favorite city on the trip to Colombia. Yes, I loved the nightlife in Bogotá, the heat and lively neighborhoods in Cartagena, and the spectacle of Barranquilla’s Carnaval. […]

One Week: Cartagena and Barranquilla

My first visit to Colombia was anchored around the opportunity to experience Barranquilla’s Carnaval. Inspired by stories from Colombian-American friends and others who recently traveled there, we were eager to check out Carnaval, nearby Cartagena, as well as Bogota and Medellin. Check out the links above for details of the rest of our February 2023 […]

Weekend: Bogotá

In February 2023, we made our first-ever trip to Colombia. Inspired by stories from Colombian-American friends and others who recently traveled there, we were eager to check out its cities and coastal regions and look forward to going back to see more. Be sure to check out notes on Cartagena and Barranquilla and Medellin (because […]

Lessons Learned: 5 Surprises in Colombia

Colombia packed a lot of adventures and surprises. Here are a few of the unexpected things I wish I’d figured out before we went…

Travel Gadgets: Five Favorites

Every traveler has their go-to travel essentials to make a trip more relaxing, fun, and productive. For some, it’s simple items like a neck pillow or a deck of cards; for others, it’s practical must-haves like an international power adapter or a secure passport wallet. The best travel gadgets and accessories ultimately come down to […]

Weekend: Oregon Coast

Updated 2/2025. I originally wrote this post in September 2020 after a weekend in Coos Bay, followed by a drive north along the Oregon Coast before returning to Portland. Since then, I’ve made updates to include more detail from weekends in and around Astoria and Netarts Bay. Short story, Oregon’s Pacific coast is beautiful, and […]

10 Days: Olympic Peninsula Camping

Despite living in the Northwest for over a decade, I didn’t take my first trip into and around the Olympic Peninsula until 2020: the coast, the towering evergreens, the unspoiled lakes, and—at least for the first half—clear skies. The National Park/lack-of-airport thing got in the way before, but after pivoting to different forms of travel […]