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10 tips for riding the Dubai Metro in the UAE

When we arrived in Dubai we were struck by how modern the transportation system was but after two months in Southeast Asia we could have used these tips for riding the Dubai Metro. Asia had been hot and sticky and we really wanted to go someplace…
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How to choose a dude ranch vacation

For years I’ve dreamed of a vacation out west, but I had no idea how to choose a dude ranch.  I’ve always loved the beauty and romance of the wide open spaces. As a kid I avidly watched John Wayne movies; my secret fantasy was that I’d…

TEDx: Larissa speaks about changing your life

Recently I had the privilege of giving a TEDx Talk in Philadelphia at Drexel University. The theme for the day was “The Next X.” Since TED Talks are designed to be “ideas worth sharing,” my message was about “The Next . . . Phase of…

Are RTW plane tickets right for you?

RTW plane tickets are an option for anyone considering a trip around the globe. These "round the world" (RTW) tickets are usually purchased before you leave on your trip and typically provide a series of flights in one continuous direction,…
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Road trip tips: 7 rules for a smooth ride

Whenever you take a road trip it's important to set up some rules of the road.  A simple road trip tip (or seven) can keep a dream drive from turning into a nightmare.  You want wide-open spaces and adventure, not wrong turns and flat tires. Michael…
plains georgia main street
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Get retro at the Plains Historic Inn

The turquoise Princess phone in the corner was the first clue that the Plains Historic Inn in Plains, Georgia was going to be different from any other place we'd ever stayed. The second was the note from former President Jimmy Carter welcoming…

Farewell, my lovely shirt

I believe a garment should last at least a decade, sometimes even longer. It's a trait I inherited from my father who held onto his 1970s-era wide ties forever, predicting they'd make a comeback someday along with sideburns and powder-blue…
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Road Trip Book Review: Harry Truman’s Excellent Adventure

Ahh what a simpler time. When a recently minted ex-President could hop in the car with his wife and take a road trip, unescorted by any security, halfway across the country to visit his daughter and some friends. Even though Harry…
Larissa and Michael in empty storage unit

The bearable lightness of being . . . without stuff

Do you ever feel burdened by having too much "stuff?" Wondering what you are going to do with it all? One of the biggest tasks in preparing for our year-long journey was deciding what to do with all our stuff, the things we had spent a lifetime…
how to drive on the left
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7 tips for how to drive on the left side of the road

With a little planning it's easy to drive on the left side of the road. On our around-the-world journey we spent more time driving on the left side of the road than we did on the right; doing so in Ireland, the UK, Australia, New Zealand and…
Rocky Mohammad Lebanon Abu Dhabi
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How to travel: 14 Travel Myths Debunked (Part 2)

This week we tackle travel myths and misconceptions related to destinations. In our many years of travel to 70 countries, we've learned to take what we read in guidebooks with a grain of salt and form our own opinions. Some places were…
travel myths luggage

How to travel: 14 travel myths debunked (Part 1)

There are many misconceptions out there about travel, so it's time to set the record straight. This week we debunk seven common travel myths. Next week we'll tackle seven travel myths about select destinations. Travel Myth #1: International…
rtw travel blog

There’s no place like Earth: The world as home

We were at the other end of the globe: literally. The opposite spot on the planet from Philadelphia (known by map geeks as the antipodal point) is Perth, Australia. We were 12,000 miles from home, as far away as we could possibly be. Going a…
Hurricane Sandy damage fallen tree on house

Hurricane Sandy reveals how lucky we are

In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy I headed to Long Island to check on damage to my mom’s house. She lives in a waterfront community that was in a mandatory evacuation zone but was out of town for the storm. Fortunately her neighborhood…
elephants and zebras at waterhole Etosha
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How to travel for a year: Picking destinations

The second most popular question we get about how to travel for a year has been: How do you decide where to go? (We’ll tell you the most common question later.) Trip planning is different for everybody but here’s how we did it. We knew…
map round the world trip planning

A sort of homecoming

October, 2012: We’re back in the USA. After 400+ days, 6 continents, 31 countries and 100,000 miles we’re home . . . sort of. Our goal was to get away from a destructive family situation, using time and miles to help us heal. Our plan: travel…
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How to travel for a year: Beyond Backpacks and Hostels

Earlier this year we attended the Travel Bloggers Unite conference where we met many people who were going to travel for a year. Most of them were lugging huge backpacks, while we had wheeled suitcases. One girl looked longingly at…
Unique Places to stay Little petra Bedouin camp
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7 unique places to stay in the world

From a kitschy throwback hotel in North Korea to a nudist B&B in Portugal, we found a few unique places to stay in the world. Here are some of our favorites: 1) Little Petra Bedouin Camp, Jordan The Little Petra Bedouin Camp…