Travels Jessica Knowlden Travels Jessica Knowlden

Glowworms of Waitomo & the Geothermal Wonders of Te Puia

Drift through Waitomo Glowworm Caves, a dark underground river and look up to see thousands of tiny lights — like a terrestrial Milky Way. The hush, broken only by the guide’s whisper and soft water splashes, makes the boat ride pure joy. In Rotorua’s heart, Te Puia blends raw geothermal power — geysers and bubbling mud pools — with Maori culture. Craft demonstrations and the haka add warm human presence, making it a sensory-rich place where land and culture meet.

Read More
Travels Jessica Knowlden Travels Jessica Knowlden

Dominica’s Indian River: A Serene Eco-Boat Tour

Glide into magic on Dominica’s Indian River — a gentle boat ride where the island’s wild heart meets cinematic calm. The Indian River cradles the island’s history and biodiversity in its slow, shimmering waters — where mangroves whisper ancestral stories and rare birds find sanctuary, inviting visitors to pause, listen and feel the pulse of nature and culture intertwined.

Read More
Travels Jessica Knowlden Travels Jessica Knowlden

Northern Montenegro’s Durmitor National Park, Tara Canyon & Ostrog Monastery

Northern Montenegro — the country's most majestic region — borders fairy-tale Kotor, a perfectly preserved medieval town of cobbled lanes, stone houses and postcard views. Nearby, gentle yet imposing mountains cradle emerald national parks home to the thunderous Tara Canyon, glassy Black Lake and sacred Ostrog Monastery — small, unforgettable wonders of the region's wild, soulful heart.

Read More
Travels Jessica Knowlden Travels Jessica Knowlden

The Frozen Frontier: Chile’s Southern Patagonian Ice Field

Imagine a place where wind-carved peaks meet crystalline icebergs and the horizon feels endless — that’s Southern Patagonia. Witness the dramatic spires of Torres del Paine, where copper towers pierce luminous skies, then sail among luminous blue icebergs calved from ancient glaciers. It’s raw, cinematic wilderness that invites slow, soulful travel and unforgettable stories.

Read More
Travels Jessica Knowlden Travels Jessica Knowlden

Dominica: Nature Island of the Caribbean

Lush, volcanic and undisturbed, Dominica is the Caribbean’s ultimate off‑grid destination for those who crave raw nature over resorts. Hike through emerald rainforests, soak in natural hot springs and snorkel pristine coral reefs teeming with marine life. Dominica promises immersive adventure, wildlife encounters and restorative solitude. Pack sturdy boots, a sense of curiosity and leave your itinerary flexible — the island rewards exploration.

Read More
Travels Jessica Knowlden Travels Jessica Knowlden

Nantes Uncovered: Secrets of the Dukes’ City

Nantes — spirited and audacious — marries a storied past with a fresh, creative pulse. Once a bustling seaport with a painful link to the slave trade, the city keeps those memories close while continually transforming: a refined art of living, imaginative cultural ventures and renewed neighborhoods where history and innovation meet on every corner.

Read More
Travels Jessica Knowlden Travels Jessica Knowlden

Towers of Morocco’s Atlas Mountains

The Atlas Mountains unfurl for about 1,500 miles across northwestern Africa, a mosaic of sun-baked ridges, secret canyons and timeworn Berber villages. Local families tend terraced fields and cliffside gardens, carrying on age-old, self-sufficient traditions — churning golden butter, pulling warm loaves from wood-fired ovens. From the bustle of Marrakesh, you can be winding through this quieter, soulful landscape in roughly an hour.

Read More
Travels Jessica Knowlden Travels Jessica Knowlden

Cappadocia’s Anatolia Region

Southwest Cappadocia is storybook: fairy chimneys, honeycombed cliffs and sculpted rock faces. Wander Pigeon Valley’s alcoves where light and drifting birds add quiet poetry. Climb Selime Monastery’s cavernous chapels and carved stairways. Follow Ihlara Valley’s cool, green canyon with a river and frescoed cliffside churches. Descend the Underground City’s labyrinth of chambers. Together, these sites form an ancient, living tapestry of nature and history.

Read More
Travels Jessica Knowlden Travels Jessica Knowlden

Little Gem of the Balkans

Little gem of the Balkans, Mostar is one of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s most visited towns. Situated on the Neretva River, it's named after bridge keepers who watched over the Old Bridge during the Ottoman era. A UNESCO World Heritage site, the stone bridge only adds to the charm and character of this fairytale-like town.

Read More
Travels Jessica Knowlden Travels Jessica Knowlden

Elephant Watching in Pinnawala

Pinnawala is a village near Sri Lanka's capital city of Colombo. The small village is special because of its elephant orphanage, nursery and captive breeding ground for wild Asian elephants. Pop over for a night and grab a room overlooking the elephant's watering hole.

Read More