Hello, I’m Elle.
My name is Elle. I’m a regular thirty-something-year-old gal who has a knack for exploring the world (and many times, revisiting the same places over and over again).
While this travel blog is California-based, you’ll also find a ton of useful travel guides on the rest of the West Coast, Asia, and beyond. Basically, all the places I love.
My goal? To showcase the world’s different cultures and unparalleled wonders–beyond all the typical tourist landmarks–and help YOU experience destinations on a deeper level for yourself.
I can’t tell you how many travel websites I’ve come across that just recommend the same old touristy things in a city: paid attractions where you have to stand in line for way too long, a never-ending list of museums, observation decks, and temples, and other things that’ll cost you too much money. 😴
They provide no alternatives for people who aren’t into that stuff.
That’s where my blog is different.
I want to help you learn about those charming little towns that make a region so unique, those mom and pop restaurants that’ll treat you like family, those locally-owned businesses on a mission to do good in the world, and those off-the-beaten-path opportunities to experience a destination like a local.
How It All Started
The website was born when I was solo-dolo on a boring boat cruise in Croatia; I was in my young 20s and had decided to quit my job, put everything on pause, and embark on a 4-month solo backpacking trip across Europe. I was already obsessed with traveling and wanted to share with others how I was able to quit my job and travel.
You can find that original post here (apologies if it’s cringey), but I’ve come a long way since then!
You won’t find any content from that 4-month trip on this blog because I was a total noob to Europe at that point, but that trip did teach me what my travel style was… and wasn’t.
I learned that I don’t love art museums. I hated waiting in lines. I could only really grasp history through live storytelling. Additionally, I discovered that my favorite thing to do while traveling was walking around local markets and getting lost on quiet, tucked-away streets (away from the masses).
Fast-forwarding to today brings us right here! Today, I have a deep love for visiting off-the-beaten-path destinations, going on road trips to smaller towns, exploring national parks, and embracing adventure, both locally and internationally. And yes, I still love getting lost in quiet streets.
We’ll Get Along Just Fine If You Love…
- diving headfirst into new cultures and immersive experiences
- getting off the typical tourist path (because crowds are a major turn-off)
- supporting local businesses
- veering off the beaten path on your international adventures
- slow travel
- road trips
- … and love a good travel deal from time to time.
My mission with this blog is to make traveling as easy, painless, and accessible for you as possible. Learn from my mistakes, discover the best-kept secrets in a city, steal my trip-planning tricks, and go experience the world for yourself!
And if you were wondering, my travel guides and itineraries are all based on my personal experiences. I plan and research everything on my own and fund them with my own money — so you know my recommendations are tried and true.
No lies, no fluff, no IG/TikTok-overrun recommendations, no BS!
Your friend,
Elle
Fun Facts About Elle
Childhood: I spent the first 7 years of my life in New York, which probably explains my snobbery and pickiness of pizza and bagels. We moved to the Bay Area, California, where I morphed into a geeky, PS3/Xbox 360-loving honors student.
My “9 to 5” history: In late 2022, I quit my Senior Product Manager job (you know, that techy stuff) to create useful content for my community on a full-time basis! I’ve been loving every second of my decision.
Current bucket list items:
- Experience as many Pueblos Mágicos as I can in Mexico
- See the “Avatar Mountains” at Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in China
- See capybaras bathing in Japan’s hot springs during the winter
Top 5 countries I’d love to visit: New Zealand, Morocco, Vietnam, Argentina, Korea
My favorite things:
- bakeries that know how to make a flaky croissant
- local farmers’ markets
- dressing up in period costume (it’s even more fun when done while traveling)
- capybaras, sloths, and persian cats
- flower parks, botanical gardens, mountain views, waterfalls, and alpine towns
- checklists and a good deep-seated couch
Favorite hiking snacks: banh mi, sour straws and gummy bears, and those Flamin’ Hot Lebron James Ruffles.
Favorite road trip tunes: Dua Lipa, old-school Paramore — anything that allows me to sing at the top of my lungs to prevent getting sleepy on the road, oh yeahhh!