Travel Daze - Adventures of a Restless Wanderer

Photo Diary June 19, 2017

Queenstown, New Zealand // Photo Diary

If you’re traveling in New Zealand, EVERYONE is going to tell you to go to Queenstown. They’ll tell you that it’s the coolest place in the country, that it’s so much fun, it’s a great place for backpackers and tourists…after you hear someone spout off about Queenstown, you’ll start to believe it’s truly the best place in the entire world.

I’m not going to disagree completely, but I am going to have an unpopular opinion. I didn’t really like Queenstown.

Queenstown is the adrenaline capital of New Zealand. It’s a playground for adults—definitely a place for the more active traveler. You can go bungy-jumping and jet boating, both of which cost a fortune. It’s also a great place for socializing, meeting other travelers, and going out. It’s a real party town.

Activities June 15, 2017

15 Things to Do in Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park is mainly located in Wyoming, but it also extends into Idaho and Montana. To put it modestly, it’s a big park. It covers almost 3,500 square feet, some of which is only accessible via backcountry hiking. With all that space to explore, there’s no shortage of things to do in Yellowstone National Park.

When someone says Yellowstone, most people will instantly imagine the geothermal features it’s famous for, like geysers and hot springs. Two-thirds of the world’s geysers are located within the park, so visiting geothermal attractions can easily take up all your time in the park. There are so many other things to do in Yellowstone National Park, though, so take the time to explore other parts of the park.

It’s easy to spend a few days in Yellowstone and still feel like you missed something. There are waterfalls, geysers, mountains, lakes, forests, and great wildlife spotting opportunities. Instead of trying to see everything, plan your time wisely and focus on what’s most important to you.

To help you plan your trip, here are 15 of the best things to do in Yellowstone National Park.

Featured Posts Travel Tips June 12, 2017

Top Travel Accessories: 4 Things I Bring on Every Trip

I’m a big proponent of packing light so I generally don’t bring much with me when I travel besides clothing and toiletries. I don’t bring a bunch of extra stuff or gadgets or whatever fancy things people think they need to travel. I keep it minimal.

However, there are a few things I truly need when I travel. I have a handful of travel accessories I like to pack for every trip to make my life a little bit easier. These things just make my trips run smoothly. I think everyone should have their go-to travel accessories so they can pack quickly without worrying about forgetting something important.

Some people bring camera gear, some people bring a lot of health or beauty products, and some people like to fill their suitcases with gadgets. It really just depends on what kind of traveler you are, and what you like to do when traveling. While I might bring a few different products for specific trips, there are a couple of things I pack no matter what.

Wherever I’m going in the world, these are the 4 top travel accessories I bring with me on every trip.

Activities Featured Posts June 8, 2017

Christchurch Tram: The Funnest Way to See the Top Christchurch Attractions

It’s hard to start writing about Christchurch, New Zealand without immediately bringing up the 2011 earthquake. Six years later, and it’s still the one thing that seems to define the city. Most people have no other point of reference for it. Before I visited myself, I knew absolutely nothing else about Christchurch.

What else is there to know about Christchurch? Well, to start, it’s the largest city on New Zealand’s South Island. After Auckland and Wellington, it is the third most-populated city. Christchurch sits in the Canterbury region, on the eastern coast. The city was founded in 1848, and the building of Christchurch Cathedral began just a couple of decades later.

If you do want to read about the Christchurch earthquake, you can read that here. This post, however, is about some of the best Christchurch attractions. The city’s top attractions range from museums and gardens, to parks and cultural landmarks.

The easiest and funnest way to see all of the top Christchurch attractions is to take the Christchurch tram.

Photo Diary Stories June 5, 2017

Christchurch: A City in Progress

Christchurch Earthquake: Six Years Later

In September 2010, a 7.1 earthquake hit the Canterbury region of New Zealand. Just a few months later, in February 2011, a 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck Christchurch, destroying most of the city’s buildings and infrastructure. It did not, however, destroy the city’s spirit.

It’s been over six years since the fatal earthquakes, but just by looking at the city, you’d think only a year or so had passed. Christchurch is still very much a work-in-progress, with construction sites and crumbling buildings everywhere you turn. Gates and warning signs surround historic structures. Gravel lots outnumber operating buildings, amplifying the emptiness left behind by the quake.

Accomodation June 1, 2017

Staying in a Camper Cabin Between Yellowstone and Grand Teton

Headwaters Lodge is the perfect accommodation between Grand Teton & Yellowstone. The camper cabins are a fun option for camping in Grand Teton National Park.

When I was working in Jackson Hole, Wyoming a couple of years ago, my friend and I went on a little weekend getaway to Yellowstone National Park. Even though we were living just outside of Grand Teton, we wanted to actually get away from the ranch and stay somewhere between the two parks. Headwaters Lodge & Cabins at Flagg Ranch was the best option.

Accommodation near Yellowstone and Grand Teton is very expensive, especially if you want to book last minute. We considered camping, but we didn’t have a tent. Overall, the camper cabins at Headwaters Lodge were exactly what we were looking for. We got a little bit of the outdoors without sleeping on the ground, and renting one out for the night wasn’t too expensive.