I would put forth the idea that for an active, outdoor vacation, Oregon might be the best state in the country. Why? Geographic variety. Portland Oregon’s main city – despite what you sometimes hear in the news – is fun and vibrant. Start here. It really doesn’t matter whether you stay in the downtown area Continue Reading →
Author: Allan
Europe’s New Entry/Exit System
As of October 2025 but apparently only fully operational as of April 10, European countries in the Schengen zone have implemented a new biometric Entry/Exit System registration process for non-European travelers. This includes fingerprinting and a facial scan. The registration is good for three years or until the passport expires. In theory, this means subsequent Continue Reading →
Why Bolivia and Oman Have a Lot in Common
We recently ran an Oman Multisport Adventure that we will repeat next year and are heading to South America in August for a Bolivia Multisport Adventure. Both tours are part of our new Exploratory Adventure series and have a surprisingly Bolivia and Oman have a lot of similarities. Dramatic Landscapes Both Oman and Bolivia have Continue Reading →
Are US State Department Travel Advisories Useful or Political?
In May 2025 the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland were moved from Level 1 – Exercise Normal Precautions to Level 2 – Exercise Increased Caution. The change also affected Spain, France, Germany, Italy, and most of Europe. The advisories cited increased risk of terrorism. But Austria, Switzerland, and most of Eastern Europe remain at Level Continue Reading →
Who Created Flaeming Skate: The World’s Best Inline Skating Network?
We have already written before (and more recently here) about one of the world’s best inline skating networks of trails, the Flaeming region in Germany. Read that post first if you are not familiar with the trails. But how did it come to be? We checked in with our friend Uwe Kuhlmey, the owner and Continue Reading →
All About Germany’s Flaeming Skate Trail Network
Germany’s Flaeming Skate region south of Berlin is relatively unknown among the world’s inline skaters and bicyclists. Yet it has one of the finest trail networks anywhere in the world. Having recently run a tour there with 14 cyclists and skaters, I will take this opportunity to talk about the area’s pros and cons. What Continue Reading →
How to Take Great Action Photos on a Tour
I have been looking at photos from our travelers, guides, and staff for the past 29 years. It is not easy to take great action photos – or even good group shots. Here are a few tips for you, along with examples. Set the Stage in Advance The best action shots rarely happen by accident. Continue Reading →
Travel with the de Cocquéau Brothers in Belgium
Having a great local guide can be the final component that turns a very good vacation into an amazing experience. In Belgium, we double that recipe ingredient by using the brothers Yannick and Jérémie de Cocquéau as our local guides. Yannick de Cocquéau Yannick is adept at what he describes as a “Burgundian Lifestyle” which Continue Reading →
Where are the Apennine Mountains?
Where are the Apennine Mountains? That is a question to which most Americans do not know the answer. Almost No Tourists We recently ran our first tour in the Apennine Mountains, a seven-day hiking adventure. From the moment we left our meeting city to the point we reached our final destination, we saw only two Continue Reading →
The Miami Valley Trails Among the Best in the World
Back in 2017 I wrote a blog post called “The Best Paved Trails in the World are in … Ohio“, which is all about the Miami Valley Trails network in Ohio. Do I still back up that claim? Maybe. The Miami Valley Trails network is located in the southeast corner of Ohio in the vicinity Continue Reading →