Antarctica
Illustration by Zaria Forman
Antarctica for Polar Explorers Who Might Not Be So Tough After All
The great Antarctic journeys tend to involve great suffering. So how does a traveler make sense of a trip to the White Continent that’s . . . pleasant? Senior editor Aislyn Greene reports from the South Pole, croissant in hand. Read her story now.
>>Ready to head south? Here’s what Aislyn wished she’d known before her trip.
Europe
Illustration by Alice Tye
The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express Is a Real-Life Time Machine
The elegance of a classic train makes time-travelers out of all of its passengers. The tuxedos, the gowns, the martinis, and the four-course meals evoke a golden age of travel. But the fast friendships and shared spirit of adventure transport assistant editor Sara Button to a different time, when all she needed was a backpack and a hostel bunk. Read her story now.
>>Ready to hop on board? Here’s what Sara wished she’d known before her trip.
Asia
Illustration by Leslie White
A Trip to Borneo Challenged My Fantasy of Adventure Travel
The rain forest of Borneo is full of snakes and bugs and other critters that you really wouldn’t want to step on. So associate editor Maggie Fuller learns to stay on the path. But sometimes nature doesn’t recognize those boundaries—like when a family of monkeys alights on your balcony—and that’s when she realizes she is on an adventure after all. Read her story now.
South America
Illustrations by Samantha French
What I Learned from the Famously Fearless Animals of the Galápagos
On a weeklong cruise through the Galápagos Islands, destination news editor Lyndsey Matthews comes face to face with blue-footed boobies, marine iguanas, tortoises, sea lions—and her own fears. And she learns that sometimes you’ve got to swim with the sharks. Read her story now.
>>Ready to take the plunge? Here’s what Lyndsey wished she’d known before her trip.
Africa
Illustration by Erin Fitzpatrick
There’s More to Kenya Than Safaris
Deputy editor Jennifer Flowers discovers that if you want to connect more deeply with the people in the places you visit, sometimes you have to risk putting your foot in your mouth. On a trip to Kenya, she goes beyond the safari to witness a tender courtship ritual, to learn how to distinguish between different kinds of zebra scat, and to find out what you should never ask a Maasai cattle herder. Read her story now.
>>Ready to immerse yourself in Kenyan culture? Here’s what Jennifer wished she’d known before her trip.
Oceania
Illustrations by Dan Bransfield
New Zealand Will Welcome You With Open Arms
Assistant editor Sarah Buder listened to the songs, followed the stars, soaked in the hot springs, and ate the oysters. And that was how she found out that the New Zealand of the Māori is a warm and welcoming place. Read her story now.
North America
Illustration by Liz Wiltzen
Why Canada’s Pristine Wilderness Is Best Seen On a Heli-Hike
The quickest way to reach the most remote trails, the most serene lakes, and the most memorable views in the Canadian Rockies is to hop in a helicopter. Senior editor Tim Chester swallows his anxiety and prepares for takeoff. Read his story now.
