Welcome to the Adventures Abound travel blog. I think you’re going to like it here.


Outdoor Adventures

A colorful sunset sets the backdrop of the cityscape in Seattle as seen from the Bainbridge Ferry

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.
Put yourself in the way of beauty.

Cheryl strayed, wild

Check out the latest on the blog:

Travel Tips

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…

Warm thermal spring waters cascade down among lush rainforest plants at Tabacon - an eco luxury hotel in Costa Rica
Sustainable Travel Travel Tips

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 Travel Tips

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…

Magic Colombian Mountains: Things to do in Manizales, Colombia
Hiking International South America

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…

Golden light streams through redwood trees along a curving road.
Adventure North America Road Trips Stories USA

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…

Hawai’i Weekend Getaway: How to See the Best on a Big Island Road Trip
Adventure North America Road Trips USA

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
Adventure Hiking International North America

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
Central America Costa Rica International Stories

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…

The Ultimate Guide to Planning a Costa Rican Wedding on a Budget
Central America Costa Rica Destinations International

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…