Hey Reader,

It’s been a minute since my last newsletter! While I’ve still been blogging, 2024 brought a big move back to Washington, DC—and life there got exciting being near our friends and family.

But now… we’ve moved again! In March, we relocated to Kigali, Rwanda, and I’m so happy to get this newsletter going again from our new home.

You might remember our 10-day trip to Rwanda back in 2022, when we explored Kigali, Volcanoes National Park, and Lake Kivu. I shared a few blogs about that trip, and now I look forward to expanding on those posts as we get to know the country.

Rwanda has several long weekends early in the year, and we’ve already taken advantage of one to visit Akagera National Park for a safari—and we saw the Big 5 (yes, even the leopard!).

2 Nights in Akagera National Park ​Read more...​

2025 Vacation Cheat Sheet

As part of my reintroduction to the newsletter, I've made a 2025 Vacation Cheat Sheet. Based on the countries we’ve explored over the past couple of years, I’ve picked the best times to visit—factoring in great weather, fewer crowds, and more. Each month, I’ll share travel tips and ideas for what to do in each destination.

European Getaway: Spain

Experience Madrid, Seville, and so much more with easy train routes around the country. You can combo a couple of my guides to make a larger trip across Spain. For example, start with 3 days in Madrid, take a day trip to Salamanca and another one to Cuenca, then spend a night in Seville. Visit now before peak tourist season.

Visitors on the blog keep booking this Flamenco Show in Madrid though I went to this show in Seville. It's clearly a hit! I've put all the tours I recommend up on Viator to make your planning easier.

South Africa Experience: The Wild Coast

Hike the Wild Coast in 5 days over dramatic landscapes and through rivers. You should review my packing guide (2 pants, 3 shirts, and a rain jacket are all you need) to avoid over-packing. Check out accommodation (with food recs!) along the route. Even if you don't hike, I loved staying at the remote Bulungula Eco Lodge (support the local community) and Wild Lubanzi (and stay in a hobbit hole). Both are accessible from the airport.

The Ultimate Wild Coast Guide ​Read more...​

US Escape: Wilmington, NC

Escape to warm (but not humid) Wilmington for cute vibes, the Azalea Festival, and walks along the boardwalk.

Culture and Food: Cuba

Explore Havana’s old town, shops, and sites before the old-timey feel leaves the city. Visiting the country is much easier than it used to be. You can get a visa online that is mailed to you, or you can get it before you board in Miami (which is your likely transit airport). Tourists can get a sim card, and I had internet for almost everything I needed (except my work email haha). Instagram and Facebook worked. It feels like the city is changing by the day; the classic older cars we've all seen in pictures are slowly being replaced by imports. We experience great food, music, and incredible art (especially mosaic madness Fusterlandia). You can read my guide for all the logistics or go straight to my 5-Day Havana Itinerary.

All you need to know to visit Cuba ​Read more...​

African Getaway: Ghana

Rich in cultural heritage and with great food to eat along the way. Although May is around the start of the rainy season, you'll encounter less tourists. Spend a few days exploring Accra and then head to the Cape Coast to visit Elmina Castle. The castle was built in 1482 by Portuguese traders originally to protect their gold trade until it was captured by the Dutch in 1637. It served the Dutch slave trade to Brazil and the Caribbean. The Dutch West Indies Company sent 30,000 slaves a year through Elmina’s door of no return until slave trading was abolished by the Dutch in 1814. This was one of the most moving tours I've ever gone on.

If you're heading to Accra for work or just have a long weekend to explore, definitely do a Cape Coast Day Tour.

South Africa: Clarens

Just 3.5 hours from Joburg, Clarens is a lovely little town that has plenty for you to eat, see, and hike. We stayed in a dramatic 2-bedroom castle tower with amazing views for a long weekend. The hiking at Golden Gate Highlands National Park caters to all, and there are even two driving loops for those who don’t feel up for a hike. If you’re spending a weekend at Clarens, I suggest doing the 4-hour Wodehouse Hike on your full day in Clarens, and then doing a combo of smaller hikes like Echo Ravine, Mushroom Rock, and even Holkrans before you head back to Joburg.

Read my Clarens Guide for all the deets.

US Getaway: Maryland & DC

Explore Baltimore for a day or head to the National Arboretum in DC where you can catch the beautiful Azaleas bloom.

Master planner?

Looking forward to June, we have a South of France road trip and a desert getaway to Namibia. If you’re in South Africa, escape to Durban, and in the US you should take a weekend trip to Minneapolis.

What I like right now:

1) Tree tomato juice – This fruit is grown in just a few regions around the world, and Rwanda happens to be one of them. It’s tangy, slightly sweet, and super refreshing—kind of like a cross between passion fruit and tomato.

2) Rwandan Coffee: The cold brew here is no joke! The cafe culture is excellent (with good wifi too), and I need to write about where to work remotely in the city...

3) Tracking veggie prices: We’ve visited the local fruit and veggie market two times, and I’ve started tracking prices to figure out what’s a fair local rate vs. where we might be getting the foreigner markup. Case in point: the first time we bought carrots, we paid RWF 1,500 per kilo. The second time? Only RWF 700! That said, RWF 1,500 is only $1...

You can keep up to date on what I'm up to on Instagram. Otherwise, see you next month!