Hard Pivot: Air Travel to Road Trips

Back in January and February 2020, I had big plans for this site: posts from Boston in April for my birthday. Norway in May to celebrate Sytten de Mai. Alaska in July … wheels up, let’s do this! Wow, how things can change. To quote Lily Tomlin as Violet Newstead in 9 to 5: “I’m […]

Quick Take: Sonoma Wine Country

Sonoma’s wine country is more than just great wine—its rolling hills, twisting old vines, and the earthy scent of harvest in the air. Whether you’re a wine lover or just chasing the views, it’s a destination I love to explore in every season.

Havana for Two Days

Before diving into the trip to itself, I can’t help but preface things with the sense of nervousness we felt heading to Havana. Information about traveling to Cuba felt generally vague and often questionable whether it was up to date, especially what documentation is needed (or not) for the various types of visas, or what […]

Maui: Part 1 – Van Camping and Touring

As much as I love the Northwest (aka: Upper Left), winter can be a gloomy drag. A solution: take two work holidays, add two weekend days, and mix in round trip flights to Maui and a camper van. Presto! Sounds simple, right? Well, kind of. Sure, Thanksgiving and the day after are work holidays for […]

Oaxaca for Día de Muertos

Dia de Muertos in Oaxaca was an experience I’m eager to repeat. A few days in the City of Oaxaca, particularly during Dia de Meuertos, was really different than spending time elsewhere in Mexico, particularly resort towns, but even other places like Puebla or Mexico City. And seeing Dia de Muertos through the ojos of […]

Quick Take: JFK’s TWA Hotel

We started a quick Big Apple weekend with drinks at the restored Saarinen-designed TWA terminal-turned lounge and hotel at New York’s JFK airport. If you have a flight through JFK Airport, it’s definitely worth making your way through the red carpeted tunnel. Drinks aren’t cheap, but are less pricey than you’d expect. And the servers […]

Puebla for the Holidays

My love of traveling was hugely influenced by my mom, who loves exploring places and cultures far and wide (as her mom did as well). As an adult, it’s great to share this love with my parents and to experience different places traveling with them: like Puebla, Mexico over the Christmas holiday. (Lo siento, amigos. […]

About Upper Left Traveler

Welcome to Upper Left Traveler, a travel blog exploring the world. I’m Travis—storyteller, adventurer, and advocate for social justice from Portland, Oregon. From LGBTQ-friendly travel tips to weekend getaways and campervan adventures, I share real stories and travel insights with heart. Follow along and find inspiration for your next journey.