Destinations

Travel is supposed to “open your eyes.” If that’s true, I’ve spent most of my life wandering around with mine wide open.

This page is the working map of where I’ve been — the countries and regions that shaped how I travel, think, and live. Some places already link to deeper stories and reflections. Others are placeholders, waiting their turn.

How to read this page:

Bold country names = destinations I’ve spent meaningful time in

Linked (Taupe Colored Posting Button + Click Here) country or city names = published posts are available

Unlinked entries = stories coming later

North America

United States

49 states and counting. Decades of tent camping, Westfalia road trips, cross‑country moves, and a life split between Hawai‘i and the mainland. Alaska remains unfinished business.

Mexico

Multiple trips since the late 1960s, including a Westfalia drive from Wisconsin to Acapulco. A long stay in Michoacán for our daughter’s wedding remains one of the most vivid cultural celebrations I’ve experienced.

Canada

Several visits over the years — camping, road‑trip wandering, and a cold but memorable view of Niagara Falls from the Canadian side.

Central & South America

Argentina (2006)

Buenos Aires, Mendoza, Bariloche — European‑feeling cities, wine country, and mountain air.

Costa Rica (2008, 2010, 2018)

Pura vida in practice: beaches, forests, generous people, and (at the time) some of the best dental care anywhere.

Peru (2009)

Lima, Cusco, Machu Picchu, Puno, Lake Titicaca, and a homestay on Amantani Island. A trip that lingers long after the altitude headache fades.

Asia & Southeast Asia

This region became my longest and richest chapter — places I kept returning to for the food, the chaos, the kindness, and the daily surprises.

China

* 2010: Beijing, Hong Kong

* 2012: Beijing, Xi’an, Li River, Shanghai

* 2016: Shanghai

Thailand

2011, 2013, 2016, 2018

Cambodia

2011, 2013, 2016, 2018 — temples, markets, dusty roads, and remarkable warmth.

Laos (2013)

Myanmar (2013)

India (2012)

Nepal (2012)

Sri Lanka (2016)

Indonesia

* 2016: Bali, Java

Vietnam

* 2016: Ho Chi Minh City, Hoi An, Hanoi, Ha Long Bay

Malaysia

Japan

Australia & New Zealand

Australia

* 2009: One‑month RV trip from Port Douglas to Sydney, including snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef (a lifetime top‑five moment)

* 2016: Short holiday stopover

New Zealand

* 2017: One month exploring both the North and South Islands

Africa & Middle East

United Arab Emirates

*2016 Dubai — A fast three‑day stopover en route to South Africa.

South Africa

*2016 — An 11‑day self‑drive safari through Kruger National Park — one of the most unforgettable travel experiences I’ve had.

Europe — A Second Home Base

• 2019 Paris (3 weeks)
• 2021 Paris (9 weeks)
• 2022 Paris (8 weeks)
• 2023 Paris (5 weeks)
• 2024 Paris (8 weeks)
• 2025 Paris (8 weeks)
• 2025 Avignon (2 weeks)

* 2023 Amsterdam

* 2024 Amsterdam

* 2025 Amsterdam

* 2025 Italy (Tuscany)

What Comes Next

This page is an outline, not a finish line. Over time it will expand into:

* Linked stories and reflections

* Photo essays

* Favorite places to stay

* Itineraries that worked (and ones that didn’t)

* Lessons learned — including the occasional “what was I thinking?” moment

The map never really fills in. I just keep adding to it.