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Passions and Places

A travel + outdoors blog

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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: gifts, small businesses

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

Shop Small, Go Far: Cool Travel Gifts from Small Businesses

November 24, 2018 By Jen Ambrose and Ryan Victor Leave a Comment

In honor of Small Business Saturday, it’s time for our annual post featuring travel and outdoor gear from small businesses. Shopping small means getting unique and high quality products you won’t find elsewhere, plus it supports entrepreneurship and innovation. Win-win!

Filed Under: Gear and Packing, Responsible Travel Tagged With: gifts, small businesses

Our Favorite Travel and Outdoor Gear for Small Business Saturday

November 20, 2017 By Ryan Victor 4 Comments

Supporting small businesses is part of being a responsible traveler, and we believe it starts at home. Lots of small companies are making unique travel and outdoor gear, and in honor of Small Business Saturday, these are some of our favorite products.

Filed Under: Gear and Packing, Responsible Travel Tagged With: gifts, small businesses

A Traveler Celebrates Earth Day: The Top Reads on Sustainable Travel

April 22, 2017 By Jen Ambrose 6 Comments

Whether you call it eco-travel, sustainable travel, green travel, or something else, this link round-up includes some of the best resources on travel, sustainability, and the environment - just in time for Earth Day 2017. This reading list has tips on vacation planning, destinations, animal welfare, and plenty of information on why we should care about how travel affects the planet.

Celebrate Earth Day 2017 with some of our favorite articles on sustainability and eco-friendly travel! Learn how travel impacts the environment, why it matters, and how to do your part to care for Mother Earth from the road.

Filed Under: Responsible Travel Tagged With: sustainability

Support Small Businesses with These 8 Travel Products

November 26, 2016 By Ryan Victor 4 Comments

We love to buy our gear from small companies as a step toward responsible travel. Here’s a list of favorite products made by local businesses, from travel and camping necessities to clothes and bags that are great on the road or for everyday use. Whether you’re Christmas shopping or planing your own vacation, consider travel and outdoor gear like this and make a social impact.

Need a gift for the traveler or nature lover in your life (or just a treat for yourself)? Try one of these awesome products, and make an impact by supporting a small business.

Filed Under: Gear and Packing, Responsible Travel Tagged With: gifts, small businesses

7 Things to Pack for Eco-Friendly Travel

August 31, 2016 By Jen Ambrose 32 Comments

Eco-travel starts with what's in your bag. Here's a packing list to make your next trip more eco-friendly.

Make your next trip more eco-friendly from the moment you start packing your bag. The key? Anything you can bring that isn’t plastic and replaces using disposable items is a step toward reducing your environmental footprint. Here’s seven items to start with.

Filed Under: Gear and Packing, Responsible Travel Tagged With: sustainability

8 Cool Travel & Outdoor Products from Small Companies

December 22, 2015 By Ryan Victor 6 Comments

Why shop at big chain stores when you can support small businesses - and get cooler stuff? Check out our recommended gear and discover some great local companies.

Why buy your gear at big chain stores when you can support small businesses – and get even cooler stuff? Check out our recommended travel & outdoor products and discover some great local companies.

Filed Under: Gear and Packing, Responsible Travel Tagged With: gifts, small businesses

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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