Breadcrumbs Guide

A trail of crumbs to follow around the world

Free Things to Do in London

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Free Things to Do in London - Eye Thames River Panorama at Night

Several months ago, I found an old London Underground ticket from my first trip there 9 years ago. The ticket was faded and dim, much like my memories of the city. I had loved the old buildings and European architecture. I'd loved the convenience of the tube and the distinct black cabs shuttling people across the city. I remember getting lost and reading maps under our umbrellas on the sidewalks. As I pocketed the faded tube ticket, I realized how excited I was to rediscover the old city. … [keep reading...]

The Making of Breadcrumbs Guide – Year 1

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Best Beach on the Big Island Sunset

April 26, 2014 My laptop's humming came to a halt. I sat still, staring at the screen in a state of exhilarated disbelief. Lily snoozed at my feet, cheering me on with muffled yelps, paws twitching as she dreamed. I was filled with adrenaline as I checked over my first post one last time. Plans had been stewing for weeks. It began during a late morning shower one lazy Saturday. I was mulling over the details of my trip to Peru when I shifted to a common daydream I was always coming back to. I had long wished I could be a travel guide writer. I imagined myself exploring Peru, India, Thailand, and a hundred other places conducting on-location research and organizing my findings into a … [keep reading...]

All the Wrong Ways to Get from Heathrow to London

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Heathrow to London - Red bus on Oxford Street

The tale I'm about to tell is a jetlagged traveler's nightmare. It took me three full hours to get from Heathrow to London, from stepping off the plane at Heathrow Airport to stepping inside the doors of my hostel in central London. That's more than half the time it took me to fly across the Atlantic Ocean. Think about that for a second. … [keep reading...]

Matzo Balls and Mischief at DGS Delicatessen

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DGS Delicatessen Matzo Ball Soup

I was all on my own on my last night in Washington D.C., and it was the first night of Hanukkah. Not wanting to waste the night sitting in my hotel room, I decided to embrace the holiday and find some comfort food. I found myself at DGS Delicatessen, a Jewish artisan deli near Dupont Circle, named for the District Grocery Stores that used to line the streets of D.C. The space buzzed with hungry diners at butcher block tables lining the warm brick wall spanning two stories. I walked past the open-concept kitchen with its shiny white subway tile and watched chefs chop and latkes sizzle. … [keep reading...]

Walking Through Washington D.C.

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Washington D.C. Monuments Photo Walk - Lincoln Memorial Sunset

My first big professional conference was in Washington D.C. last December. While I spent a lot of my days listening to talks on tissue-engineered blood vessels and therapies for cardiovascular diseases, I managed to squeeze in quite a bit of sight-seeing with Garren, who tagged along for the ride. Turns out there are a lot of things to do in Washington D.C.! We even got a bit of family time with Garren's mom, who drove in from Virginia. It was a busy, productive, and fun five days in the US capital. … [keep reading...]

Peru Budget: Living Large in the Land of the Incas

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Peru Budget

If you've been following along, you've seen me wander Cusco, hike the Inca Trail, discover Machu Picchu, and explore the Sacred Valley. You've seen packing lists, travel tips, and itineraries. But you might still be wondering, what does it all cost? I put together a list of my own expenses so you can see what your Peru budget might look like if you traveled like me. I tend to live large in cheaper destinations, and scrimp and save in pricier ones. It is definitely possible to visit Peru on a budget. Compared to the US and Europe, Peru is cheap. It's easy to find private double rooms in nice hostels for under $55 per night, and you can stuff yourself silly on empanadas for a few … [keep reading...]

Inca Trail Packing List

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Inca Trail Packing List

Packing for the Inca Trail can be tricky. The weather ranges from hot and sunny during the day to below freezing at night, with the chance of getting a downpour if you're hiking during the rainy season. You're often over a day's walk away from civilization, meaning you want to have everything you might need in an emergency. You want to be fully prepared, but at the same time you want to pack light on the Inca Trail since someone (either you or a porter) will be carrying everything you bring up and down the mountains. This Inca Trail packing list has everything I'm glad I brought, some things I wish I brought, and leaves out the stuff I wish I'd left behind. … [keep reading...]