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Passions and Places

A travel + outdoors blog

  • Destinations
    • Africa
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  • Activities
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    • Skiing
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  • Planning
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    • Gear and Packing
  • Travel Styles
    • Active and Healthy
    • Couples Travel
    • Educational and Experiential
    • Foodie Travel
    • Long-Term Travel
    • Nature and Outdoors
    • Off the Beaten Path
    • Road Trips
  • Responsible Travel

7 Non-Touristy Things to Do in Bangkok for the Curious Traveler

January 13, 2021 By Ryan Victor 6 Comments

Corrugated metal fence with yellow cat mural painted on it.

Looking for something a little different in Bangkok? From abandoned department stores to quirky museums, this list has got you covered.

Filed Under: Asia, Off the Beaten Path, Thailand Tagged With: Bangkok

A Sunfish & A Shipwreck: Diving in Tulamben, Bali

January 25, 2020 By Ryan Victor 16 Comments

Underwater photo of a sunfish next to a scuba diver blowing bubbles.

A dive to more than 100 feet below the surface? A sighting of a rare gigantic fish? A famous World War II-era shipwreck? Ryan’s Advanced Open Water course in Bali had a little bit of everything, and all of it was memorable.

Filed Under: Asia, Indonesia, Nature and Outdoors, Scuba Diving Tagged With: Advanced Open Water, bali, Travel Styles, tulamben, wreck diving

Bisbee, Arizona: The Funkiest Town You’ve Never Heard Of

January 3, 2020 By Ryan Victor 105 Comments

White brick exterior wall with tan mural reading “Historic Bisbee Est. 1880. Shoppes, Restaurants, Galleries, Museums, Lodging, RV Park, Queen Mine Underground Tour.”

Love funky artistic communities, laid-back hippie vibes, and lots of interesting history? Believe us when we say – Bisbee, AZ, is the town for you!

Filed Under: Arizona, North America, Off the Beaten Path, Road Trips, U.S. Tagged With: abandoned places, bisbee, erie street, ghost towns, lowell, tombstone, Travel Styles, Tucson

Our 5th Annual Wishlist of Cool Gear from Small Businesses

November 20, 2019 By Ryan Victor 8 Comments

Rows of small bags, piles of folded clothes, and items like a notebook, camera, umbrella, and U.S. passport, on a blue background.

This is our fifth (!) annual post on travel and outdoor gear made by small businesses. As always, these products are unique, sustainable, and high-quality, and shopping them supports entrepreneurs, instead of corporations.

Filed Under: Gear and Packing, Responsible Travel Tagged With: Small Business Saturday, Small Businesses

Exploring the Best and Quirkiest Attractions in Jerome, AZ

July 19, 2019 By Ryan Victor 10 Comments

If you like offbeat towns, you’ll love Jerome, AZ. It’s home to a Claymation-esque museum and a massive stockpile of rusted out cars, among other unusual things – oh, and the town is purported to be haunted. It’s a quintessential road trip stop and an easy day trip from Phoenix, too.

Filed Under: Arizona, North America, Off the Beaten Path, Road Trips Tagged With: abandoned places, ghost towns, Jerome, Phoenix, Travel Styles

Hanoi Free Walking Tours: Exploring the Old Quarter of Hanoi Without Spending a Dime (or Dong)

July 9, 2019 By Ryan Victor 6 Comments

Free tours can be hit or miss, but this one in Hanoi was top-notch! This walking tour of the Old Quarter covers many of Hanoi’s most fascinating sights and offers a chance to dive into their context. (Plus, the guides provide expert navigation through what must be one of the world’s most confusing and chaotic neighborhoods.)

Filed Under: Asia, Educational and Experiential, Vietnam Tagged With: Guild Streets, Hanoi, Travel Styles, walking tour

Anaconda, MT: An Offbeat Stop on a Montana Road Trip

April 11, 2019 By Ryan Victor 12 Comments

An outdoor mural of buildings and the text “Historic Anaconda. Where Main Street Meets the Mountains.”

When we planned a road trip starting in Montana, we knew the little town of Anaconda would be one of our first stops. With some offbeat attractions and almost no other visitors, it was exactly the type of place we wanted to explore.

Filed Under: Montana, North America, Off the Beaten Path, Road Trips Tagged With: abandoned places, Anaconda, ghost towns, Granite Ghost Town, Lost Creek State Park, Philipsburg, Travel Styles

Ski Trip Essentials: A Packing List for Your Next Powder Day

February 13, 2019 By Ryan Victor 2 Comments

Snowy mountains with empty ski runs cutting among pine trees.

If you’re new to skiing or snowboarding, all the gear that’s required can seem intimidating. Here’s exactly what you need for a day on the slopes – plus some tips for finding great gear on a budget.

Filed Under: Active and Healthy, Gear and Packing, Nature and Outdoors, Skiing Tagged With: activities, packing list, ski gear, Travel Styles

Beyond Beerlao: Sampling Craft Beer in Laos

November 12, 2018 By Ryan Victor 4 Comments

We enjoy exploring the local beer scene wherever we travel, and we especially love finding microbreweries in unlikely places – like Laos. Ryan’s sampled just about all the beers available in Laos, and now he’s sharing where to find the best brews (and which ones to avoid).

Filed Under: Asia, Foodie Travel, Laos, Off the Beaten Path Tagged With: Beerlao, breweries, craft beer, Travel Styles, Vientiane

Seeing the Green in Singapore: Hiking the Southern Ridges Trail

August 30, 2018 By Ryan Victor 4 Comments

You might think of Singapore as just a sterile concrete jungle, but you’d be wrong! The city-state has a hidden side of parks, forests, and walking trails, and the Southern Ridges is probably the most iconic one.

Filed Under: Active and Healthy, Asia, Hiking, Nature and Outdoors, Singapore Tagged With: activities, Henderson Waves, Mount Faber Park, Southern Ridges trail, Travel Styles

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Close-up of a white man and woman both wearing black with trees in the background, and an overlaying green banner that says "Welcome!"

Hi! We’re Jen and Ryan, an American couple on a journey to travel the world while working from the road. We’re passionate about outdoor adventure, responsible travel, and getting off the beaten path. Passions and Places is a space for us to share our stories and tips with you, but most importantly, we hope to inspire you to seek your own adventure.

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