Lauren Allain

laurenallain

Lauren Allain

  • Bryce Canyon National Park: The Complete Guide for 2023

    As if the word hoodoo isn’t cool enough, the park where you can find these towering geologic creations is even cooler. Hoodoo means “to bewitch,“ which is the exact effect that Bryce Canyon’s whimsical rock formations and winding trails will have on you. Bryce Canyon National Park is a treasure trove for those who like […]

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  • Saguaro National Park: The Complete Guide for 2023

    “Do whatever you want” – the Saguaro cactus. Pronounced “suh·waa·row,” these tree-like blossoming desert cacti are kind of hard to define. They can live 200 years. They can grow up to 49 arms. But there’s no pressure, so some of them don’t grow any arms at all. Some Saguaros spend 10 years growing only two […]

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  • Zion National Park: The Complete Guide for 2023

    If you love: crying out of sheer happiness, seeing something so beautiful that you take 80 pictures of basically the same thing, and the Milky Way, Zion National Park is the place for you. From extreme hikes for those who don’t mind heights to leisurely paved strolls along the Virgin River, at this uber-famous Utah national […]

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  • Strong Beer Festival: Munich’s Other (Better) Beer Fest

    Think of Oktoberfest in Munich. The scent of fresh pretzels and currywurst linger in the air. Everyone is dressed in lederhosen and dirndls. Helga (yes, your server’s name was indeed Helga) is delivering beers the size of your head to you and your new best friends. Only pictures and headaches as memories tomorrow. Wrap all […]

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  • 10 Cheap Eats in Thailand for the Budget Foodie

    We’ve all eaten a mountain of pad thai from our favorite Thai restaurant down the street. We’re familiar with a dozen different curries, and we always order some fresh rolls. But sometimes, the Thai restaurant menus we’re accustomed to at home are vastly different from the menus in Thailand. We’re here to bridge that gap. […]

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  • 41 of the Best Things to Do in Thailand

    Thailand: the country appropriately named The Land of Smiles. The nation that has something for everyone to enjoy, whether it’s your first international trip or the 57th. The country evolves quickly, so there’s always something new to explore, a neighborhood that’s been redeveloped, or a new trendy food to try. Thailand is never boring and […]

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  • 21 Boozy Travel Destinations For Wine Lovers

    When Jesus turned water into wine, he was really onto something. If the Nobel Prize was around back then, he would have won for chemistry, economics, peace, and medicine. Since Jesus’ time, a few others have turned water into wine (with the helpful addition of a few other ingredients), and all over the world, people […]

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  • The Best Unconventional Beaches For Your Non-Tropical Vacation

    Pina Colada in hand, toes in the sand, serenity increasing with each wave as it quietly laps onto the shore and then disappears. There’s no denying a vacation on the beach is often just what we need to hit the reset button. More often than not, this idyllic beach destination belongs in the tropical family […]

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  • 40 Free Things to Do in Tokyo

    Tokyo! The city you’ve always wanted to visit, and now you’re finally going. But your mom read on the internet (Facebook) that Tokyo is “expensive,” and she’s concerned about you. She suggested packing some granola bars to offset the cost of food. She’s not entirely wrong. The overwhelming sentiment is that Tokyo, and Japan on […]

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  • 8 of the Best Travel Destinations For the Casual Coffee Addict

    Something magical happens when hot water pours over ground up coffee beans. It’s led us coffee-lovers to form a special cult of people traveling the world in search of the very best cup. If you love coffee, you loooove coffee. Every place has their own speciality, and often they’re unique enough to leave us saying, […]

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  • 3 of the Best Beaches in Hawaii For Off The Beaten Path Travelers

    Some of the world’s most beautiful beaches lie on a chain of islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. It’s not a secret destination by any means. Babies are born with a desire to go there. It seems to be on everyone’s bucket list. It’s where nearly half the people from your high school […]

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  • Your Guide to 2am Shopping in Seoul

    The jetlag got you good. You passed out at 6pm after eating dinner with the old folks, which was actually breakfast time back home. Fast-forward to now: 1am. You’re beyond wide awake and ready to explore the city you wandered through with a hazy brain yesterday. In most cities, this would be a recipe for […]

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  • Places to see in Tokyo Beyond Shibuya Crossing

    Neon lights everywhere, drunk salarymen stumbling in the streets, squishing yourself on the trains overflowing with hurried commuters, robots, steaming bowls of ramen, robots serving ramen — this is how everyone in the world views Tokyo — except those who’ve been there and found things to do in Tokyo outside of the city. Yep, Tokyo’s […]

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  • Iceland in Winter: Fall In Love With Reykjavik In Total Darkness

    In December, Reykjavik will see just four hours of daylight from when the sun rises around 11am and sets at 3:30pm. During the daylight hours, the sun will rise to a max high of 3-degrees on the horizon, barely peeking out. If you think that visiting Iceland in winter sounds totally crazy, think again! Not […]

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  • The Best Asian Festivals You’ve Never Heard Of

    To fully experience a culture is to experience a festival — one where locals congregate to celebrate their home, traditions, and seasons. Attending one of these lesser-known Asian festivals is a sure fire strategy of gaining insight into what life truly looks like in Asia. February 19, 2019 Standing on the beach in the February […]

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