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Passions and Places

A travel + outdoors blog

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23 Unforgettable Things to Do on Orcas Island, Washington

December 24, 2024 By Jen Ambrose Leave a Comment

A grass hillside overlooks a large body of water with forested islands.

Part of the San Juan Islands chain in Washington, Orcas Island is one of our favorite places ever. Read about all the amazing things to do there, and you’ll see why!

Filed Under: Nature and Outdoors, North America, U.S., Washington

27+ Fun Things to Do in Driggs, ID & the Teton Valley

March 23, 2023 By Jen Ambrose 12 Comments

A road leading toward a mountain range with two distinct peaks

Idaho’s Teton Valley is an offbeat getaway that’s packed with year-round adventures, mouth-watering food, and gorgeous nature. Check out all the fun things to do in the charming towns of Driggs and Victor, and all throughout the Valley.

Filed Under: Idaho, Nature and Outdoors, North America, U.S.

49 Gifts for Outdoorsy Women + 3 Things NOT to Give (2023)

November 24, 2021 By Jen Ambrose 17 Comments

Woman in dark T-shirt and capris looking toward tan rock formations.

This list has all the best fun and practical gifts to give the outdoorsy woman in your life – plus three things NOT to give her!

Filed Under: Gear and Packing, Nature and Outdoors Tagged With: gifts, maps, travel decor

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: Bali, Southeast Asia

Aboard the Dragon Legend: An Unforgettable Bai Tu Long Bay Cruise

November 18, 2019 By Jen Ambrose 4 Comments

Boats rowing toward small overwater buildings, in front of tree-covered karst mountains and a gray sky.

The Dragon Legend cruise was hands-down one of our coolest travel experiences ever. It was a taste of luxury, a chance to unplug, and a sustainable way to see Vietnam’s most iconic scenery.

Filed Under: Asia, Nature and Outdoors, Off the Beaten Path, Responsible Travel, Vietnam Tagged With: Southeast Asia, sustainability

Why Bai Tu Long Bay Is a More Sustainable Halong Bay Alternative

November 4, 2019 By Jen Ambrose 14 Comments

Cruising through Halong Bay is a major bucket list item in Vietnam – but it’s as crowded and polluted as it is beautiful. So we were thrilled to discover its more sustainable neighbor, Bai Tu Long Bay.

Filed Under: Asia, Nature and Outdoors, Off the Beaten Path, Responsible Travel, Vietnam Tagged With: Southeast Asia, sustainability

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: Asia, Hiking, Nature and Outdoors, Singapore Tagged With: Southeast Asia

Why Tam Coc Should Be More Than a Day Trip in Vietnam

April 30, 2018 By Ryan Victor 12 Comments

We made the decision to visit Tam Coc, Vietnam, based mostly on what we’d heard about the scenery – and it turned out to be the perfect setting for boat trips, bike rides, and temple visits.

Filed Under: Asia, Nature and Outdoors, Vietnam Tagged With: Southeast Asia

Climbodia: A Rock Climbing Adventure in Cambodia

January 9, 2018 By Ryan Victor 8 Comments

Why just look up at Southeast Asia’s limestone mountains when you could climb them? Ryan went rock climbing in Cambodia (with a company called Climbodia, ha!) and tried everything from top roping to rappelling.

Filed Under: Asia, Cambodia, Nature and Outdoors Tagged With: Kampot, Southeast Asia

Taking a City Break: The Best Parks in Bangkok

October 23, 2017 By Ryan Victor Leave a Comment

The capital of Thailand is a sprawling urban metropolis, so it might surprise you that this city has many wonderful green spaces - and they’re some of the most underrated Bangkok attractions. The best parks in Bangkok are great places to relax and feel like you’ve escaped the city for an afternoon, so put Lumpini Park, Chatuchak Park, or another green space on your travel itinerary. Bonus: some of these parks make great things to do in Bangkok for kids.

Bangkok may be a massive urban center, but it turns out this city has a number of beautiful green spaces. Plus, a day out in a park makes a great respite from all the chaos.

Filed Under: Asia, Nature and Outdoors, Thailand Tagged With: Bangkok, Southeast Asia

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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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