Top 10 Travel Memories of 2020

Why hello!

I’m writing once again to bring you my top 10 top travel memories of 2020… I know what you’re thinking, Evan, how can you have a Top 10 travel list in 2020? You’re right; this is the first time in 5 years I didn’t leave the country to travel with all the craziness going on around the world. I still got a chance to head out in my Subaru and explore and have some great adventures with friends and family. A lot of this list will be hikes and local destinations around the North East (where I live). I did leave the state (New Jersey) a couple of times but I want to let everyone know once I got home I did quarantine myself for the appropriate amount of time so everyone is safe and healthy. It was a weird year no doubt with a global pandemic, a historic election, something about murder hornets, and at one point there was talk of an asteroid hitting earth? Anyway, even though we are still not out of all the craziness 2020 is coming to an end (Thank goodness). So here are my top 10 adventures of 2020!

10. Hiking in the Catskill Mountains & Kaaterskill falls.

I recently took a hike to Kaaterskill Falls with my girlfriend, this was all her idea and I was just glad to be getting out into nature. I had no idea what to expect because I’ve never heard of this hike or about these falls but once I saw them I was in awe! The hike was super beautiful and easy, we took the longer route and walked down an old railroad line that New York State converted into a hiking trail. I highly recommended taking a day trip here (If you can).

9. The Boys came up to the cabin in Adirondacks to hunt down a snowstorm.

Besides traveling, snowboarding is a huge passion of mine. So Gore Mountain is my home when it comes to snowboarding. A couple of days after New Year we got word a snow system was moving in. The boys jumped in their car and met me up at the cabin. It’s always a blast when you get the crew together for a boarding adventure.

8. A day in Philadelphia.

Melissa and I had dinner plans in Philadelphia with an old friend and his partner. We thought it would be a great idea since we had time to make a whole day out of it. We walked around the city (wearing our masks of course), ran the Rocky Steps, viewed art at the Philadelphia art Museum, grabbed comes alcoholic milkshakes, then met friends at a cute little wine bar called Tria Café Rittenhouse. It was just a lovely day.

7. Canoeing & Camping down the Delaware River.

So a great way to get outside besides heading to the beach and being around a bunch of people was heading Canoeing down the Delaware Riving during the day and camping along the river at night. I did this twice this summer with family and friends, both times were great. So many great views to take in, wildlife to see, and laughs to be had.

6. Bachelor Party out in the Poconos.

One of my best buddies chose me as the best man and I was trying to figure out what’s the best way to get a group of guys together during this covid crisis. I chose to rent a lake house on Lake Harmony where the guys can golf during the day, enjoy the lake, and sit around the fire by night. The weather was perfect and it turned out to be a great little weekend meeting new friends and seeing old ones as well

5. Snuck to the Mountain house for a couple of weeks (Start of Covid).

So when covid came to the United States and everything was shut down in the North East the family and I headed to the cabin in Upstate New York. At the time we didn’t know how bad it was going to be so we wanted to get to a place that had less population and where you can still do outdoor activates. Why it made my list is because a snowstorm rolled in and the area was so quiet and beautiful, it was just breathtaking to take hikes in the woods and be with family during that time.

4. Headed Down to The Charlotte area

So This trip was extra special because I got to meet Noelle for the first time. I rarely get to see one of my best friends now since she has moved to Charlotte. Earlier in the year she had her first child and I never met the little nugget so when both of our schedules lined up I drove down to see Noelle. I’m so grateful to her and her husband for opening up their house and letting me stay for an extended period of time to give me the chance not only to spend time with them but also to meet their child.

3. Tim and Monica’s Wedding

You know the bachelor party I was talking about earlier well Tim and Monica’s wedding in Wilmington Delaware is nowhere! They planned this wedding in 2 weeks after the original location was able to host do to Covid, Understandable. I give them some much credit for putting this together and it’s really nice coming together celebrating this special moment in life for two people when 2020 has been a shit show of a year. Congratulations once again Tim and Mon!

2. Shipped Up to Boston!

So earlier this year my uncle, unfortunately, passed and due to the start of Covid, I did not get a chance to see him. I knew my Aunt was sad and going through loneliness without him being around. I want to take time out of my life to see her since she is someone I really look up to in life being a world-traveler with her husband and let her know she’s not alone and family will take time to travel no matter how far to see her. We had a great couple of days walking around Cambridge, Harvard University, The Charles River, a nearby Reservation area, and also took me to see where my Uncle was buried so I can pay my respects. While I was also in the area I was able to grab dinner with friends I have made traveling Scandinavia the year prior.

1. Camping & Hiking Adirondacks High Peaks

We are back in the Adirondacks, it’s like a second home for me. I had an extended long weekend so I put it to good use. This is always channeling heading up camping and hiking by yourself because there’s a lot that can go wrong. Accomplishing one of the hardest hikes I’ve ever done was so fulfilling not only for the physical health but the mental health as well. It was a great experience, the views at the top were breathtaking. That is why I travel for the adventure and stories you get to bring home and write and tell people about.

That was my top ten adventures of the year. I hope you enjoyed it and I hope you are also getting out and enjoying nature and seeing new places. Remember though do it responsibly, wear your masks, and following safety measures. I’ll be back with more blogs and content soon.

Until Then Enjoy Everyone!

Top 10 Travel Memories of 2019

So 2019 was an amazing year of travel for me. At the start of the year, I told myself I'd dedicate this year to travel the world and see where it takes me. These are my top 10 moments of traveling and memories of 2019.

10). The double doink happens in Chicago sending the Philadelphia Eagles to the Divisional Round of the playoffs. Paul and I make a spontaneous trip to New Orleans and the Super Dome.

9). I head out to Breckenridge Colorado for a bachelor party and get stuck in a 4-foot snowstorm. An Avalanche takes out the highway leaving us stranded in the Rockies. (Extra day of Snowboarding in powder up to the hip).

8). I hit the West Coast after traveling across the country. This has been a goal of mine I've always dreamed about accomplishing it.

7). Nyhavn, Copenhagen Denmark. I've always seen pictures of this canal and it was a dream of mine to go. I love this picture.

6). Sunrise over Texas. While driving 14 hours from the Dallas area to the Grand canyon the sun rose over Texas and it was the most beautiful sunrise I've ever witnessed. This sunrise will always stay with me.

5). A day trip to Bruges, Belgium. Bruges is such a peaceful and beautiful place full of amazing architecture and history.

4). Meeting some amazing people traveling through Scandinavia. These people will always hold a special place in my heart.

3). The Adirondacks in the fall. If you ever get a chance, travel to the North East and see the colors of fall in the Adirondacks. This is a second home for myself so it holds a special place with me.

2). Amsterdam, Netherlands! The annual boys trip around the world. This year was amazing, so many great memories that I will always have to share with my best friends.

1). The Jersey Shore. After every trip, I come back to the place that I've always called home. I find the Jersey Shore to be the most beautiful place in the world.

There are so many travel memories this year and people i’d like to thank for making my 2019 a year i’ll never forget.
All pictures were taken by myself.

Get Out There!

This is going to be my first blog post and it’s not about a trip i’ve had but it’s going to be encouraging you the reader to travel.

As a traveler that has been to 12 countries (only 4% of the world) I want to encourage you to travel, travel, travel. There is so much to see and so many different cultures that you need to experience. Go with family, friends and even by yourself. I believe it is crucial to travel by yourself, you will meet more people, have better stories, and you will feel more accomplished with yourself after you complete your travels.

Traveling gets pretty expensive and takes a lot of time out of your schedule so it’s understandable if you can’t get out all the time. I believe it’s imperative you at least get out once a year. I’ve used a couple way of travel that will help you save money. The first is greatvaluevacations.com, it has great deals and it’s very affordable to get out of the country. They give you the freedom in their packages to travel and see the countries you’re visiting as you please and on your time. Another way to travel that i’ve used is EF tours, EF tours lets you make down payments which make the ease of not putting a lot of money upfront at once. If you are friendly and good people person I recommend traveling EF by yourself. You will travel in a group about 30, will meet a ton of new friends that will last the rest of your life. The other interesting way I travel is with 2 other buddies. We take turns planning a trip around the world and there are rules that save us money. The first rule is that the person planning the trip picks a country that the other 2 people including yourself have never been to. Second rule is that the person responsible of planning the trip has to cover the expense of room, transportation, and any excursions the group takes. This leaves the other 2 people with just the cost of flight and food/beverage. This is another way that helps me travel the world because 2 out of 3 years i’m only buying a plane ticket to my destination. If you have a group of friends that can get together and do this, it’s a fun way to see the world and a different twist on traveling.

These are some of the ways I travel and saves me money. I hope these tips, websites, words encourage you to get out there and travel. By yourself, with your friends, and with family. Go see what this beautiful world has to offer you. Gain knowledge on what different cultures are up to. Make new friends. Get Out There!