Photo Diary – Travel Daze

26 Photos to Inspire You to Visit New Zealand

Almost exactly two years ago today, I hopped on a plane to the other side of the world. I spent a year in New Zealand on a working holiday visa, traveling all over the country and seeing as much as I could. A little over a year ago, I left New Zealand to return to… Continue reading 26 Photos to Inspire You to Visit New Zealand

Great Smoky Mountains: America’s Most Popular National Park

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is America’s most popular national park. It sees well over 10 million visitors every year! That’s almost twice as much as the second-most-visited national park (Grand Canyon National Park sees 5 ½ million visitors a year). Naturally, I had to see what all the fuss was about. With all the… Continue reading Great Smoky Mountains: America’s Most Popular National Park

Virtual Travel: Queenstown, New Zealand

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… Continue reading Virtual Travel: Queenstown, New Zealand

Christchurch: A City in Progress

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… Continue reading Christchurch: A City in Progress

Virtual Travel: Victorian Heritage in Oamaru, New Zealand

The town of Oamaru isn’t on the main backpacker trail around New Zealand. It’s not a big city, there’s no nightlife scene, and it’s generally a pretty quiet place. I heard about this seaside, South Island town in passing, but it was only mentioned for the penguins. However, the name stuck in my head. Back… Continue reading Virtual Travel: Victorian Heritage in Oamaru, New Zealand

Virtual Travel: Artful Details in Napier, New Zealand

Napier, New Zealand is an incredibly visual city. Known as the “Art Deco Capital of the World,” this seaside town is a haven for art and architecture lovers. Napier has one of the highest concentrations of Art Deco and Spanish Mission style buildings in the entire world. Combine that with local art, city-wide murals, outdoor… Continue reading Virtual Travel: Artful Details in Napier, New Zealand

Virtual Travel: Explore Glacier National Park in Montana

On my roadtrip from Jackson Hole to San Juan Island, I knew I wanted to visit Glacier National Park. Located in Northwestern Montana, not too far from the Canadian border, this national park is one that many only ever dream of seeing. After seeing Grand Teton and Yellowstone, I needed to add more national parks… Continue reading Virtual Travel: Explore Glacier National Park in Montana

Virtual Travel: Explore Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone is the first National Park, established in 1872. It is also one of the most famous and one of the most visited of the U.S. national parks. People all over the world hear about Yellowstone and its geysers, hot springs, and thermal pools. I feel lucky that I’ve had the chance to visit Yellowstone… Continue reading Virtual Travel: Explore Yellowstone National Park

Virtual Travel: Explore Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming

Grand Teton National Park has a special place in my heart. Ever since visiting last summer while working on a ranch in Jackson Hole, it’s had a strong hold on me. Recently I’ve been thinking back on long days spent in the park, hiking the many wonderful trails, and taking in the incredible scenery. The… Continue reading Virtual Travel: Explore Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming

Auckland Day Trip: Waiheke Island, New Zealand

I ended up back in Auckland over Easter weekend. But I wanted to spend as little time as possible in the city, so visiting one of the nearby islands was top priority. I considered going to Rangitoto, but I didn’t quite feel up to that adventure at the time (I was dehydrated all week). Instead,… Continue reading Auckland Day Trip: Waiheke Island, New Zealand