Welcome to the Adventures Abound travel blog. I think you’re going to like it here.
Outdoor Adventures
City Guides on a Budget
International Destinations
Hi, I’m Michele. I am the creative mind behind this space, and I am so happy you’re here. Adventures Abound is your go-to for all things adventure – big and small.
We are the weekend warriors, the PTO maximizers, and the local explorers. Come here for travel and trip planning advice and leave full of inspiration.
Have a look around, and I think you might find what you are looking for.
For more about me, click here.
There’s always a sunrise and always a sunset and it’s up to you to choose to be there for it.
Cheryl strayed, wild
Put yourself in the way of beauty.
Check out the latest on the blog:
9 Budget Tips to Make Travel Your Ultimate Priority + 7 to Make Your Travel Budget Go Further
This ultimate guide to budget travel tips is meant to help anyone who has dreamed of having adventures but isn’t sure where to start. Maybe you want to maximize your PTO to visit San Diego, or perhaps you’re thinking about taking a road trip but aren’t sure where to start. Whether you’re looking to explore…
Luxurious and Sustainable: Discovering the Best of Eco-Luxury Travel
Welcome to the world of eco luxury travel where tourists can experience high-end luxury and sustainability without compromising the planet. Eco luxury tourism refers to travel that blends luxury amenities with environmentally friendly practices. Sustainable travel doesn’t have to be gritty. Travelers can experience luxurious accommodations and experiences without sacrificing their responsibilities as global citizens….
What is Sustainable Travel and Why You Should Care
Sustainable Travel Guide Being a responsible traveler is important when you are a guest in another place. While eco-tourists may travel with the purpose of environmental sustainability, we should all be responsible travelers. This guide is the first in our series on sustainable travel and goes over what sustainable travel is, and why it is…
Where to Hike in Seattle: 17 Trails for Urban Hikes
The city of Seattle is known as the Emerald City, and for good reason. The sprawling city is flanked by the Puget Sound and Olympics to the West, and Lake Washington and Cascades to the East. All of this natural landscape affords the city a lush greenery worth seeing. If you are looking for where…
Magic Colombian Mountains: Things to do in Manizales, Colombia
When you think of Colombia, you might think of lush jungles and beautiful warm beaches, but there is even more magic to Colombia than what comes to mind. Colombia has beautiful mountain towns with glaciers and hot springs. The town of Manizales is a short drive away from Medellin in the Antioquia region. We were…
Experience the Emerald City: Best Views in Seattle, WA
They call Seattle the Emerald City for a reason – it’s teeming with lush greenery, bodies of water, and breathtaking views that look straight out of a fairy tale. But aside from the beauty at eye level, wouldn’t you love to see Seattle from a whole new perspective? Whether you’re a local or just visiting,…
Our Most Memorable Adventure: Road Tripping Down the West Coast
I opened my eyes to a crisp morning, with soft sounds of a creek nearby and birds and wildlife slowly coming to life as I sat up and unzipped my tent to greet the morning. I’d been on many adventures over the years, from swimming with manta rays in Hawai’i to parasailing in the hills…
How I Won A Contest That Paid For My Honeymoon
I see these giveaways and contests all the time, on the radio, on social media, at public events – and always wonder if anyone actually wins those things.
Day Trips from Bend, Oregon
Many of the incredible day trips in Oregon can be made with Bend as a jumping off point. Bend is one of the more underrated cities in the Pacific Northwest, the uppermost corner of the contiguous US. Known for being an outdoorsy town, there are endless day trips from Bend, Oregon that adventurous travelers can…
How Nearly Failing College Chemistry Led to a Lifetime of Travel and Adventure
I was failing chemistry and didn’t know where to turn. The next thing I knew, I was signed up to study abroad in Costa Rica and my entire life had changed.
Hawai’i Weekend Getaway: How to See the Best on a Big Island Road Trip
DAY 1 OF YOUR BIG ISLAND ROAD TRIP: ARRIVE IN KONA You can fly into Kona or Hilo and get around the rest of the Island from there driving around Big Island. We chose to start and end our adventure in Kona, where the island’s best beaches can be found. The best way to get…
The Perfect 3-day Itinerary for a Relaxing Weekend in Vancouver
Vancouver is the perfect location for a quick West Coast weekend getaway with friends. You could also easily take this trip with a partner or family, but we went for a girls’ weekend so that is the lens through which this guide will be laid out. The city is easily accessible by driving up from…
Studying Hummingbirds in Cerro de la Muerte
Back in 2016 I was working as an intern at a field studies program in Costa Rica. During the semester we traveled with the students and professors to field sites where they were taught about environmental conservation and how to conduct field research surveying wildlife, collecting samples from field sites, or even interviewing communities. At…
46 Free and Cheap Things to Do in Seattle
So you’ve been to the icky gum wall and bought some flowers from Pike Place Market, now what?? If you are looking for some more fun and free things to do in Seattle, Washington, you have come to the right place. We moved to the city over 3 years ago and have spent the last…
Weekend in Panama – A Day in San Blas Paradise
On my second day in Panama City, I wake up at 4:30 am, fill up my water, fry an egg, and cut up a fruit. I reluctantly swallow my breakfast, then stagger down the stairs of my hostel in the twilight hours to catch a jeep to the coast. I am not a morning person,…
Costa Rican Slang You Need to Know Before Your Trip
Costa Ricans speak Spanish, but as is the case with most of the world, they have their own way of speaking. Just as an elevator to Americans is a lift to the British, Costa Ricans have their own way with Spanish words that is unique to them. Learn the most common Costa Rican slang terms…
6 Day Hikes Near Seattle that Aren’t Rattlesnake Ridge
Living in the Pacific Northwest can have its ups and downs, like less day light and more moody weather, but I prefer to enjoy those ups and downs in the form of towering mountains and hillsides that lead to alpine lakes so I have spent the last 3 years living here happily exploring the terrain,…
The Ultimate Guide to Planning a Costa Rican Wedding on a Budget
My husband and I met under the cheesiest of circumstances- I was a senior in university studying abroad on my first time out of the country, and he was living back home with his mom – my host mom – after graduating from college. But cheesy as it was, we did fall in love, and…
The Perfect San Diego One Day Trip
What to do with only half a day in San Diego, California If you are visiting this coastal Southern California city on a road-trip, flight layover, or a day trip from LA, here are the top 3 things to do on a San Diego one day trip. 1. Shop and Snack in North Park We…
Weekend in Panama – One Day in Panama City
What to do with a day in Panama City
Wildlife of Costa Rica: A Photo Journal
Photos from the jungle to the sea of wildlife in Costa Rica
The Best of Charleston, SC
Everything you need to see the best of Charleston, South Carolina
Why You Should Definitely Visit Nicaragua
Nicaragua is known as the Land of Lakes and Volcanoes, and so with good reason when our student group set out to make a comparative study of the country just north of Costa Rica’s border, our first stop was the island of Ometepe: a land mass composed of two volcanoes on Lake Nicaragua. It was…
One Week in Paris – Day 1: How to Survive Jetlag in Paris
In the time leading up to our trip for one week in Paris, I did a ton of research on blogs, articles linked through Pinterest, and reaching out to a few friends who had previously lived and studied in the city of lights. With such a huge and well-traveled city, it really is impossible and…