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Passions and Places

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A Koh Chang Travel Guide for Getting Off the Beaten Path

September 26, 2017 By Ryan Victor 6 Comments

Koh Chang, Thailand, is the perfect island to get a bit off the beaten path. While Lonely Beach is a popular backpacking destination, the southern beaches of Bangbao and Klong Kloi are more secluded. Diving and snorkeling, as well as hiking, are the top things to do in Koh Chang. This complete travel guide has everything you need to know about Koh Chang, including what to do, where to stay, and how to visit the other islands of eastern Thailand.

Want to visit a not-too-touristy beach in Thailand? Head to the southern tip of Koh Chang. Here’s everything you need to know about traveling to the island.

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

In Honor of Canada Day: A Guide to Fundy National Park

June 29, 2017 By Ryan Victor Leave a Comment

Fundy National Park in New Brunswick makes a great road trip or long weekend getaway, especially if you live on the East Coast of the U.S. or Canada. This guide covers all the best hiking, camping, and other activities the park has to offer, including the unique Hopewell Rocks in the Bay of Fundy.

In honor of Canada Day 2017, we’re highlighting one of Canada’s smallest and least-visited national parks. Fundy offers great hiking, stunning campsites, and unique landscapes, all without the crowds. Plus, it’s super accessible from the East Coast.

Filed Under: Camping, Canada, Hiking, Nature and Outdoors, North America, Off the Beaten Path Tagged With: national parks

Seeing History Repeat Itself: An Alabama Road Trip

June 7, 2017 By Ryan Victor Leave a Comment

This Alabama road trip was the final segment of a longer trip through the Deep South, focused on human rights and social justice. A historical itinerary like this one is a great way to travel through Alabama. Birmingham, Montgomery, and all Selma offer great museums and opportunities to learn about the Civil War, the history of slavery, and the Civil Rights Movement.

The final state on our road trip through the South was Alabama, home of a gigantic steel statue, some delicious bagels, and several amazing museums. From protests to voting rights to immigration, it turns out Alabama has a lot to teach us about history and about issues facing the country today.

Filed Under: Alabama, North America, Off the Beaten Path, Road Trips, U.S. Tagged With: American South

Learning about History and Culture on a Mississippi Road Trip

June 3, 2017 By Ryan Victor Leave a Comment

As part of a longer route through the Deep South, our Mississippi road trip included historical sites and museums that taught us all about slavery, race issues, the Civil Rights Movement, and even Muslim culture. This historical road trip itinerary includes Natchez and Jackson, MS, and follows part of the famed Natchez Trace.

Mississippi might not be high on your bucket list, but it’s a great place to learn about civil rights history. The state’s capital of Jackson also surprised us in a lot of ways, from its museum on Muslim culture to its delicious vegan restaurant.

Filed Under: Mississippi, North America, Off the Beaten Path, Road Trips, U.S. Tagged With: American South

Exploring Louisiana from Baton Rouge to Bayou Country

May 21, 2017 By Jen Ambrose and Ryan Victor 2 Comments

Many people who travel to Louisiana only visit New Orleans, but it’s not too representative of the rest of the state. As it turns out, Southern Louisiana is a great place to learn about history, politics, climate change, and oft-forgotten communities. Follow along on our road trip to see the best things to do in Baton Rouge and then explore the Louisiana bayou. Stops include Houma, Thibodeaux, Cocodrie, Montegut, and Isle de Jean Charles, the setting of the film Beasts of the Southern Wild.

As much fun as New Orleans is, there’s more to see in Louisiana. Our road trip took us to the highlights of Baton Rouge and then to Houma and the bayou, a place where land becomes water.

Filed Under: Louisiana, North America, Off the Beaten Path, Road Trips, U.S. Tagged With: American South

What To Do in New Orleans Beyond Bourbon Street

May 6, 2017 By Jen Ambrose 9 Comments

During our human rights and social justice-themed road trip through the American South, we weren’t too sure how New Orleans would fit in. The Big Easy not only gave us a great time, it also turned out to be a really interesting place to explore history, culture, and ecology – a few of the things we’d come to the South to learn about.

Filed Under: Louisiana, North America, Off the Beaten Path, U.S. Tagged With: American South

The Ghost Town of Rodney, MS: A Photo Essay of Stories in Ruins

April 28, 2017 By Ryan Victor 10 Comments

What’s a road trip through the American South without a stop at a ghost town? This photo essay tells the story of Rodney, Mississippi, a formerly important port town with some interesting Civil War history. Today, it offers a unique and quiet beauty to the few visitors who head that way. But at only an hour from Natchez, a visit to Rodney is a fun thing to do if you’re in the area.

The ruins of Rodney, Mississippi, tell the story of a thriving Southern town decimated by the Civil War and the changing course of a nearby river. The churches and houses are abandoned now, and we loved experiencing their quiet beauty.

Filed Under: Mississippi, North America, Off the Beaten Path, U.S. Tagged With: abandoned places, American South, ghost towns, photo essay

A Human Rights + Social Justice Road Trip in the American South

April 25, 2017 By Jen Ambrose 18 Comments

Road trips just might be the best way to travel in the American South. Our trip through Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama was focused on history, civil rights, human rights, social justice, and the environment. The route included New Orleans, Natchez, Birmingham, Selma, and more, with stops at some of the region’s best museums and monuments. See our full road trip itinerary, and get our best tips to plan your own visit to the South.

The South might not be too touristed, but it’s full of sites all Americans should see. Our Southern road trip taught us so much about this country’s past and about human rights and social justice, both historically and today. Relive the journey with us, and get some tips for planning a trip of your own.

Filed Under: Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, North America, Off the Beaten Path, Road Trips, U.S. Tagged With: American South

Ski Like a Local: 6 Lesser-Known Ski Areas in Montana

February 25, 2017 By Ryan Victor 7 Comments

Skiing and snowboarding can be pricey hobbies, especially at all-inclusive destination resorts like Big Sky or Park City. Fortunately, budget-friendly ski trips are completely doable, especially in Montana. Skip the exclusive resorts, and head to local ski areas instead. These six lesser-known ski resorts in Montana have great conditions, but they're also budget-friendly - and relatively uncrowded.

Skiing (and snowboarding) definitely isn’t a cheap hobby, but a ski trip doesn’t have to wipe out your savings. Skip the famed destination resorts, and head to one of Montana’s lesser-known ski areas instead. You’ll save a ton money but still get great ski conditions – plus a little more local charm.

Filed Under: Montana, Nature and Outdoors, North America, Off the Beaten Path, Skiing, U.S.

Hometown Tribute: A Travel Guide to Great Falls, Montana

February 14, 2017 By Ryan Victor 17 Comments

Our hometown of Great Falls, Montana, isn’t much of a tourism hub, but it attracts visitors for Western Art Week & the Charlie Russell Art Auction, the Montana State Fair, and occasional rodeos, as well as people on their way to visit Glacier National Park. We created a travel guide with tips for visiting Great Falls, including the top restaurants, coffee shops, things to do, and outdoor activities. If your will travels take you to Central Montana, use it to plan your trip!

It probably won’t surprise you that our hometown of Great Falls, Montana, doesn’t attract too many tourists. But with lots of new restaurants, tons of outdoors activities, and a handful of other things to do, the town has plenty to offer people who might be passing through.

Filed Under: Montana, North America, Off the Beaten Path, U.S.

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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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