Coffee drinker, photo lover, nomadic traveler since 2006. Found at www.ottsworld.com
Photography Tips for Mountain Hiking
Hiking among majestic peaks, scrambling up mountainsides, ‘sliding’ down a scree slope, AND capturing the moment. How do you balance mountain hiking and do great photography? One of the hardest types of photography is trying to get great shots as you are on the trail. After all, your first priority when you’re hiking should always be safety, and when you are trying to also photograph the mountains and landscapes, it can become a lot to juggle, not to mention that it’s a lot of extra weight to...
California Wild
Just outside the big, popular, metropolitan hubs in California exists a wild part of the state few people know about. Rural regions full of Native American and gold history, a lost coast, volcanic bubbling, cracked desserts, and rural landscapes that feed the nation. Among all of that, there are ample adventures to be had and culinary delights to try.
Get off the beaten path and see 8 regions of California in a new way; rugged, natural, unadulterated places that are prime for ...
Why the best travels happen when you face your fears
You know what fear eats for breakfast? It eats procrastination and avoidance. It loves it, it frequently gets second helpings. You know what makes fear go on a diet? Action. And travel is all about action.
I’m not a naturally brave person; I think travel taught me how to be brave. When you actually do something you didn’t think you could, you get an incredible adrenaline rush. That elation brings on a boost in confidence, and you are more likely to conquer your fears in the future, as they wo...
Cruising one of the world's most remote places - the Antarctic's Ross Sea
We left sight of shore 12 days ago. We bobbed and swayed through the Southern Ocean and finally the jagged peaks of the Admiralty Range came into view. The captain slowly navigated us through the sea ice closer and closer to Cape Adare and the continent of Antarctica.
I had been to Antarctic Peninsula before, but this was different. This time I journeyed through the Southern Ocean from New Zealand arriving at historic Cape Adare on East Antarctica – the route of the famous explorers. Cook, Ro...
Eerie photos show a Hawaiian resort that's been abandoned for over a decade
When travel photographer Sherry Ott was exploring all the Hawaii Islands in 2015, she left the island of Molokai for last.
"I knew Molokai was very special. Unlike the other Hawaiian Islands, there is very little tourism on it. It's for people who want to slow down and experience the old Hawaii and its culture," she told Business Insider.
While staying at the only operating hotel on the island at the time, she discovered the abandoned Kaluakoi Res...
Tiny Glamping at WeeCasa
I opened the door to #9 excited to see what I was about to encounter. I felt like I was falling into Alice’s rabbit hole; everything seemed familiar yet came with slight twists. It’s as if my world had shrunk to a tiny Wonderland.
I surveyed the 135 square feet carefully, taking in all the expose...
Why New Zealand’s North Island is the trip of a lifetime
“Whenever I get on a plane to go somewhere far away, I just know I’m going somewhere special on the other side. It’s like you get on a magical spaceship and when you get off it you’re somewhere exciting,” my niece Lindsey remarked as we were about to embark on our 30 hour journey from Minneapolis to New Zealand.
I looked at her and thought, what a fun way to look at long distance flights that most people think are a burden.
Ask 10 people and seven will have New Zealand on their bucket list. T...
"Welcome to Jordan!" Seven tips to help you achieve total local ...
n Jordan, expect to be welcomed multiple times from tour guides, bus drivers, shop venders, kids, taxi drivers, and people randomly on the street. The locals kill you with kindness. I found myself travelling more local and closer to the ground than I had ever done in another country because Jordan is the type of country where finding local experiences are easy
How to See the Hidden Sides of Alaska
Alaska gets millions of visitors every year, but most of them stick within a well-defined radius set by cruise itineraries. While cruising is great way to see Alaska’s beauty, cruises don’t give you much chance to interact with the local culture. To experience the Alaska that few travelers ever see, you’ll want to journey to the far west, east, and north of the state to seek out remote communities, local experiences, and people living in extremes that most of us can’t even fathom.
5 Ways to Explore Canada's Bay of Fundy
It rolls in, it rolls out; Canada’s Bay of Fundy is never still. Tucked between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, Fundy has the highest tidal range in the world. You could simply watch as the water fills up that 50-foot-deep hole, or you could use the phenomenon as an opportunity to see the Atlantic in a whole new way. Here, five adventures to find on, in, and around the Bay of Fundy
A Real-Life German Fairytale You Can Be Part Of
This Valentine’s day, skip the flowers and chocolates — instead, why don’t you travel to a place that will remind you what love is really all about. That place is Annaberg-Buchholz, Germany, and when I visited last fall, I discovered a tale of romance that uplifted my heart.
Hidden Hearts Found Around the World
My theory in life is to just live the life you want and love will find you. However, in my travels I do search for signs of love. And throughout the years in various corners of the world, I’ve found them. Some are obvious, and some are hidden.
What to do in a ski town if you don't ski
I recently went to Banff, Canada in the winter to prove it’s not just about skiing. It's possible for adventure buffs to find plenty of chilly, heart-pounding fun and still meet your friends après ski. Here are six great alternatives to seek out before resigning yourself to the lodge.
5 Surprising Things You Can Do in Antarctica
“Welcome to Antarctica!” the voice in front of me boomed. Surprised to hear the sentence verbalized for me, a wave of excitement rolled through my body. A hand was extended out to me and I instinctively grabbed it in the ‘sailor grip’ that we were taught on the ship. It felt like I was moving in slow motion when I looked up at the face of my greeter to the seventh continent — all I could do was smile
How to Befriend a Reindeer in Alaska
As reindeer roamed freely in the Running Reindeer Ranch yard and around the cars, the owner, Jane Atkinson, greeted us and started filling our heads with fascinating reindeer facts.