Destinations

Seven temples to visit around Luxor and Aswan, from Karnak’s enormous columns to Philae’s island setting, with my photos, personal impressions and suggested visit times.

I had seen photos of Chefchaouen before we arrived, but I still couldn’t believe there was an entire city painted blue. It was so beautiful in person, with blue staircases, flowerpots, sleepy cats, and a little orange juice cart tucked into a colorful courtyard. That’s what I loved about Chefchaouen. Most of our favorite places […]

The Pyramids of Giza are one of those sights I’d seen in photos forever, but nothing prepares you for how huge and close they feel in person. At Guardian Guest House, I could look straight out from my room and see them without even leaving the bed. It was such a surreal way to start […]

I have stayed in some beautiful hotels, but Lodge in the Woods was one of the few that immediately felt completely unlike anywhere else I had been. This small Bali stay has white horses wandering around the farm, goats, friendly dogs, birds, a bright blue pool under the trees, and lush greenery in every direction. […]

We spent two full days in Kenya waiting for the Great Migration to cross the Mara River, only to watch the wildebeest gather along the bank and walk away again. I had wanted to see a river crossing for so long, so when we finally crossed into Tanzania, I was hopeful but trying not to […]

Before my first African safari, I had watched wildlife documentaries and The Lion King enough to think I knew what the landscapes would feel like. I pictured wide golden plains, acacia trees, and animals I had only ever seen on a screen, but I was not prepared for my first zebra. Standing in the grass […]

A 7, 10, or 12-day South Korea itinerary covering Seoul, Busan, Jeju, and Jeonju. Mix-and-match by trip length, with palaces, beach city days, a hanok detour, and a volcanic island finale.

A few days in Casco Viejo, Panama — the best coffee shops, rooftop bars, hotels, and restaurants in Panama City's most beautiful historic neighborhood.

My day-by-day itinerary for 3 days in Kyoto during cherry blossom season. Covers Arashiyama at sunrise, a full kimono day through Higashiyama and Fushimi Inari, and the best cherry blossom spots in the city.

My favorite cherry blossom spots in Kyoto, from the Philosopher's Path at sunrise to the weeping cherries at Oishi Shrine. Plus timing tips and why waking up early is the single best thing you can do during sakura season.

Renting a kimono in Kyoto was one of the best decisions of my trip. Here is what the rental process is like, the best photo spots in Higashiyama and Fushimi Inari, and practical tips for cherry blossom season.

A guide to the best photo spots in Kyoto, with real crowd levels, best times to visit, and why waking up early gave me empty bamboo groves, torii tunnels, and cherry blossom paths.

Oishi Shrine in Yamashina has a 160-year-old weeping cherry tree, paper lanterns, and almost no tourists. Just one train stop from Kyoto Station, it was one of my absolute favorite cherry blossom spots in Kyoto.

The Kimono Forest is 600 glowing silk pillars lining a tiny train station in Arashiyama, and it is one of the prettiest things I saw in all of Japan. Here is everything you need to know before you visit.