Super Cringe, No Rizz

If you’ve ever scrolled through Instagram and seen those dreamy photos of white ships anchored in turquoise bays, you’ve probably seen a Sail Croatia cruise. I finally booked one—specifically the Explorer Cruise from Dubrovnik to Split aboard the Tempera —and I’m here to tell you everything about it. If you’re wondering if it’s a non-stop party or a sleepy retirement cruise, the "Explorer" route sits perfectly in the middle. It’s chilled out, focused on sightseeing and swimming, but with plenty of chances to grab a cocktail at sunset. Here is a look at my week island-hopping the Adriatic. The Ship: MS Tempera First, let’s talk about our floating home. The Tempera is part of Sail Croatia’s Explorer fleet. It’s a small ship (capacity for about 36 guests), which instantly makes the vibe intimate. You aren’t a number here; by day two, you know everyone’s face. The ship is instantly recognizable by its deep blue hull. It feels modern but has that classic nautical charm. The Deck...

Sarasota, FL is a magical paradise south of Tampa. Much smaller than its northern neighbor, Sarasota features a concise, walkable downtown bordered by historic neighborhoods to the north and south. The beach is a couple miles west of downtown and is easily accessed via a wide, car-free path over the causeway to St. Armand's and Lido Key beyond. There is a large network of bikeshares available throughout town, making this a true car-free destination. Combined with cheap direct flights, Sarasota is a no-brainer for a weekend getaway, weeklong vacation, or a month or two of snowbirding. Highly recommend!

I am going to try to port over a story or two per week of old stuff from Insta. If you liked it there, you are going to love it here. Pictures will be bigger and better and I will try to flesh out some useful travel information and other content that couldn't be included in the old format. Stay tuned! In the meantime, here is a picture of a beautiful beach to keep you warm during this arctic blast...

Hiking Season 2024 got off to slow start this year. The rail trail finally opened and I was spending most of my time on two wheels instead of two boots. I spent months with an on-again, off-again knee injury, the result of a terrible 2023 fitness season and not taking it slow enough to build back up before racking up the miles. Despite it all, I was able to check off most of my peak-bagging goals. Some notables: Mt. Van Hoevenberg An easy 4.2 mile roundtrip with a 900' elevation that leaves from the base area of the Olympic bobsledding venue of the same name. Recently rebuilt, it's a pretty easy 40-50 minute hike up to a fantastic view of the High Peaks. It was good before foliage, and was incredible once the color changed. This is a must-hike in the area for nearly anyone that wants a nice day out in the woods Cascade Mountain Billed as the "easiest of the Adirondack 4000 footers", this 4.5-ish mile roundtrip with 2000' vertical is an overcrowded, eroded hellscap...