Improving Resilience and Grit Adventures can be unpredictable at times.  One thing you'll definitely need whenever you go on an adventure is grit.  Toss in some fortitude and resilience, too!   Fortunately, grit is a skill you can learn.  On today's show, we dive deep into ways that we can improve our own resilience. This is an encore presentation of an episode that ran on my companion podcast, the Adventure Travel Show, which teaches you the skills you need to go on your adventures. ...

Grit and Resilience : One Woman's Story Eva Simons 'Embraces the Suck' After a Tragic Mauling to Reboot Her Life Sometimes life punches you in the face and your dreams shatter.  That's what happened to my friend Eva one afternoon last year.  Eva shows true grit and fortitude.  Her inspirational story will encourage you to embrace the suck when life throws you curveballs. Adventure travel, by its nature, often requires that you summon your own grit and spirit.  My hopes are this story will...

Avoid Crowds on the El Camino de Compostella There are three ways to avoid the crowds when doing the El Camino:  avoid peak season, avoid the busiest routes, avoid the last 100 km into Santiago.  Today's guest, David, chose a great way by walking the first two stages of the most popular route, the French Way, but instead of the last 100 km/60 miles like most people, he walked the first two stages over the Pyrenees from Saint Jean Pied de Port to Logrono.   While David made many friends...

25 Affordable Travel Gifts They'll Actually Want You are sure to find a great travel gift for your loved ones (and even yourself:) on today's show!  Discover 25 terrific gifts for under $60 - most $30 and under: Travel Gifts for Comfort Travel Gifts for Convenience Travel Treats and Little Luxuries Travel Gifts for Safety Armchair Travel Gifts  Link to the Webpage with Gift idea photos and complete description HERE Note that prices below are subject to change and that these Amazon links...

Advice for doing an El Camino These Days plus my Primitivo Camino The El Camino is SUPER popular these days and is on many adventurer's wish list.  Get important tips for avoiding crowds to ensure that YOU have a 'Buen Camino (Good Camino)" on this popular bucket list adventure. In addition to helpful insights on planning your El Camino, you will also learn about the very first 'Way' (what the Camino's is also called), the Camino Primitivo.  I walked the 200 miles/320 km last spring.  It is...

England's Coast to Coast Walking Holiday Spend your holiday walking the UK's epic Coast to Coast path from Saint Bees to Robin Hoods Bay!  You can walk one or both sections of this 180 mile/300 km trail (the mid-point is Kirby Stephen).   Take a self-guided tour where your luggage is moved daily and all logistics are arranged for you with my affiliate One Foot Abroad - ATA listeners save 5% on any OFA tour with the One Foot Abroad Promo Code ATA5! Taking a walking holiday is a fun and...

Boat and Bike Tour of the Cyclades and Saronic Islands of Greece Explore a less touristy and more authentic part of Greece on this week long boat and bike tour departing from Athens. Each day, you visit a different island and bike about a half day (e-Bikes available and recommended!).  The rest of the time you are exploring charming Greek villages and temples, enjoying a fresh local meal (most meals included on the BoatBikeTour.com trip that Kit took), or sailing to your next island. Each...

Hike Israel's National Trail! Kit interviews Malia, who backpacked the entire 680 mile/1100 km Israel National Trail from Golan Heights to Eliat, via the Dead Sea, Jerusalem and Masada.   On this magnificient long distance trail, that takes 45-60 takes to thru hike (60% of folks section hike it), you get a chance to experience Israel's beautiful mountains and deserts, witness tons of 'Trail Magic' of locals supporting hiker's efforts and the general kindness of strangers and fellow hikers....

YOU Did It!!!  Listener Adventure Stories Today we start a new segment on the show featuring folks like you and me, who got inspired to step outside of their comfort zone and took on an adventure. While in the future, these will be shorter segments added to the regular show, I thought we'd start off with this incredible story of Sally, who thought she was heading for a wheel chair due to multiple injuries from her days as a dancer.  Instead, through training, grit, and fortitude, Sally...

Independent Travel Tips plus the Balkans Kit discusses her fall and winter exploration of the fascinating, beautiful and incredibly complicated Balkan region.  In addition to some of her much loved travel tips, she shares impressions and experiences in Bosnia, Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Albania.  If you think , "Balkans = War/No Way" or any other "Eww, scary!"  thoughts : Think again!!!  It's been three decades since the wars and the Balkan region is a super safe,...

In this Part II of my Peru adventures, we finish up our adventure travel tour with my affiliate, Active Adventures (exclusive listener promo code ATA200 to save $200 off ANY of Active Adventures epic worldwide tours!), and then my sister Terry and I head off on our own to explore other exciting places in southern Peru and Bolivia, including: Climb up to sacred Humantay Lake Climb Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain Dune Buggy and Sand Board in Huacachina Explore the massive Uyuni salt flats in...

Trek Machu Picchu plus Hike and Bike the Sacred Valley of Peru Join Kit as she describes her hiking adventure with her sister Terry.  On this first part of their month long Peruvian and Bolivian adventure, they tackle a Bucket List adventure:  climbing Machu Picchu.  They also hike and bike the Sacred Valley of the Incas, and visit markets and learn about Peruvian culture. Learn all about this beautiful and exciting active adventure on today’s show. SAVE!!!  Kit went with her affiliate,...

The Power of 'Yes' On today's special episode, we discuss the Power of Yes, and why saying 'yes' to opportunities that excite you, intrigue you and maybe even make you a bit nervous, can enhance your life and open up even more fantastic opportunities in the future. We talk about about when to say 'no' using Derek Sivers's philosophy of, "If it's not a 'hell yes', than it's a 'no'"! You'll also hear about my incredible experience moving four thousand sheep fifty miles on rural roads of...

Bucket List Builder Building a Bucket List is a great way to help make sure you achieve your life's dreams. For some, it may mean climbing Kilimanjaro. Others may want to see the cherry blossoms in Japan. In today's fast paced world, it is easy to let your life and thus your years slip away without you doing those things you most want. Our guest on today's Active Travel Adventure's podcast is Chase Boehringer of Bucket List Lifestyles. Chase has a great story about how he went from...

Austria Hike, Bike and Paddle Adventure Hike, bike and paddle your way as you explore the Austrian alps in this active adventure holiday.  This is a fantastic adventure if you want to be active but don't want it to be so hard core.  It's also a great 'tester' holiday to see if you like adventure travel, or for multi-generational travel where not everyone is of the same physical ability. You'll explore the quaint and historice villages and valleys of Mozart and the Sound of Music surrounded...

Hike, Bike and Paddle Banff Canada! Go on a multi-activity adventure on Active Travel Adventure's most popular destination : Banff!  See why thousands of people choose to explore this magical area of towering mountains, fantastically colored glacial lakes and glaciers. Learn about things you can do, what to expect, when to go and whether this fantastic adventure is for you. Our guest went with my affiliate Active Adventures.  You can use Promo Code ATA200 to get $200 off ANY of their...

Sail the East Coast Fjords of Greenland Come explore the rarely visited East Coast of Greenland for a unique polar experience!  While sailing through the world's largest fjord system, you will get to explore the epic grandeur by foot and kayak, so you can get up close to the amazing landscape filled with mountains, glaciers, icebergs and maybe even a polar bear or two!   People visit Greenland for the natural beauty, the wildlife and sometimes the chance to see the Northern Lights. Our...

Explore Iceland by horseback!  On today's show, we horseback ride Iceland's dramatic landscape of waterfalls, hot springs, mountains and valleys on a multi-day adventure tour. Learn what its like to take a horseback riding holiday.  You'll hear what to expect and what to pack.  You'll learn about the cozy ranch you stay end with its natural hot spring to soak away your tired muscles after a fun day's ride.  You'll learn about the great food you'll eat and what types of people take this kind...

American Ramble with Neil King Jr I interview author Neil King Jr. about his book, American Ramble : A Walk of Memory and Renewal, about his 330 mile walk from Washington DC to New York City.  Part travelogue, part memoir and with much insight about the landscape he travels and the people he meets along his unorthodox and unforgettable journey. Buy American Ramble HERE COMPLETE SHOW NOTES    See all the links mentioned and to get more information. Get FREE Travel Planners for ATA...

Hurtigruten's MS Fram : Expedition Ship Behind the Scenes Take a peek behind the scenes of a polar expedition ship, Hurtigruten's MS Fram, the ship I recently took on my three week expedition to Antarctica and the Falkland and South Georgia Islands. I wondered how they made things operate so smoothly when we were so far from civilization and a hardward store for parts, a grocery store for food, and a water or sewage treatment plant for our daily necesities. Today, we explore the Bridge,...

Antarctica Expedition including the Falkland and South Georgia Islands Part II Best trip EVER!  In Part I, we sailed to the Falklands and the South Georgia Islands.  In today's show, we finally reach Antarctica, and the beauty and magic of what I see brings tears of joy to my eyes. In addition to all of the amazing glaciers and sculptural icebergs we see, we see hundreds of thousands of penguins of several breeds.  We see whales - and we weren't even there during 'whale' season! We get to...

Antarctica Expedition plus the Falklands and the South Georgia Islands : Part I Best trip EVER!  Join me on an EPIC journey to the seventh continent:  Antarctica to see the wildlife, icebergs and glaciers of the south polar seas.  En route, we visit the Falkland and South Georgia Islands, rugged places of history and outstanding wildlife!  South Georgia is called the Serengheti of the Southern Oceans for good reason! Learn what its like to go on an expedition ship where you are actually...

Not everyone has a month or so to walk the El Camino.  Did you know that you can BIKE the Portuguese Way???  Yes!  One of the most popular Camino routes can be done by bike.  Whether you are interested in cycling or hiking the El Camino, you are sure to get some great insights and tips from today's show. COMPLETE SHOW NOTES  See important links for planning your adventure, photos, videos and more cool info doing your El Camino.  Here is a page that includes ALL the Camino routes I've covered...

Have you dreamed about climbing Africa's tallest mountain in Tanzania: Mount Kilimanjaro?  Join Kit as she interviews Damon about he and his wife and friends successful summit of Kili on the Lemosho Route, the prettiest route of them all and the one with the greatest success rate. We discuss what Damon saw and what it was like each day of the climb.  We talk about dealing with high altitude.  We will learn about the food, guides and porters, and other important details about this amazing...

Explore Croatia's stunning Dalmatian coast by hiking, biking and paddling!  Start from Split and work your way to Dubrovnik on this exciting and fun adventure. We discuss all of the fun activities our guest Lesley did on her Active Adventures tour, the great food and wine and wonderful accommodations. COMPLETE SHOW NOTES  See important links for planning your adventure, photos, videos and more cool info about Croatia.  Email Kit for an exclusive Active Adventures  discount promo code good...