Follow me to Antarctica, the most extreme place on Earth
My Antarctic travels reveal more than the differences between Weddell and Leopard seals. Or, how Gentoo penguins care for their young. My Antarctic travels reveal the power of the wind. And how much of an iceberg we really see floating above the water's surface. Antarctica evokes awe. I discover anything can happen in Antarctica—which is exactly the way it should be. Wondering about how to travel to Antarctica? Read on. A humpback whale breaks the water’s inky surface. Remains of barnacles, those ubiquitous ocean hitchhikers,...
Blue Rock: A Beautiful Mini-Break in the Blue Ridge Mountains
A butterfly floats out from the greenhouse door as I walk in. Its pale amber and brown wings catch the breeze. Inside, the smell of ripe tomatoes fills the air—intoxicating in the way only farm-fresh vegetables can be. It’s early morning at Sunnyside, a farm in Washington, Virginia, just 90 minutes west of where I live in Washington DC. Earlier, I’d spent time speaking with Sunnyside’s Vegetable Production Co-Manager at the Flint Hill Latin Market. Nik Kohl had Asian pears, tomatillos, purslane, herbs, and other...
How To Start A Travel Blog, I Mean, Website
Starting a travel blog turned out to be a bigger challenge than I thought. From learning the language of SEO and OptinMonster to overcoming fear of failure, and embracing vulnerability. My travel website, I am Lost and Found was a true labor of love. If you ever wondered how I started a travel blog, I mean, website, you are in the right place. Thank you, Brené Thank you, Brené Brown, part-time TED-Talker, full-time mother, and all-time story collector, for introducing me to my vulnerabilities. Nice...
Hacienda AltaGracia in Costa Rica is the best choice for wellness
Hacienda AltaGracia is the Costa Rican wellness resort everyone is talking about. Never-ending choices of activities and treatments to nourish mind and body in a tropical, fairy-tale setting. THE WELL, Hacienda AltaGracia’s spa, is a sanctuary within a sanctuary. Good luck choosing between wellness experiences, off-property excursions, where to eat, what to eat, or where to lounge. There are more than enough choices at Hacienda AltaGracia, an Auberge Resort. There just isn't enough time. Our twin-engine Cessna glides over the mountainous interior of Costa Rica....
This Pendry Hotel is Baltimore’s Ultimate Community Center
Community centers are public spaces where people gather for activities, social support, and public information. The introduction of radio, TV, and the internet may have downgraded the need for community centers, but they were local lifelines at one point. “What does this have to do with Baltimore’s Sagamore Pendry Hotel?” you might be asking. Be patient—I’m getting there. Rec Pier: A Brief History The Sagamore Pendry Hotel was originally a former cargo warehouse located at the top of Recreation Pier in Baltimore’s Fells Point neighborhood....
Sveti Stefan, Modern Day Luxury in a 15th c. Village
Imagining the past at Sveti Stefan, Montenegro / The 15th-century island village of Sveti Stefan is a dot in the Adriatic Sea—no cars, golf carts, or bicycles, just narrow pedestrian lanes and thousands of stone steps. The perimeter is a mere 1.2 miles, only accessible by foot along an isthmus from the mainland, and only if you are a guest at the hotel that now occupies the entire island. Yes, a dot in the Adriatic, but if someone asked me to spend a year there...
Welcome to the Neighborhood, Kappo Makoto
Kappo Makoto opened in DC's Palisades not long ago, filling a sushi-shaped hole in the neighborhood. Recently, I snagged a reservation at one of Kappo Makoto's 21 seats and watched Chef Ogawa create an omakase dining experience not unlike the kind one would have in his home country of Japan. I turn left onto MacArthur Boulevard. The peloton races by, all lycra-clad and perky in their collective excitement. I walk past Black Coffee, its line for morning glory muffins and oat milk lattes rolls out...
12 Hours In Mérida: Everything You Need To Know
Mérida has captured the attention of intrepid travelers seeking a combination of history, art, architecture, music, culinary adventures, shopping, and good old-fashioned fun. Located in the northwest corner of the Yucatán Peninsula, Mérida is quickly climbing the hot list ranks with its boutiques, boutique hotels, rooftop bars, and street-side taco stands. Follow along for my Mérida guide—the ultimate way to spend 12 hours in Mexico’s hottest city. My whirlwind trip to Mérida is hardly enough time to scratch the surface of the Yucatán State's culturally...
5 Travel Wish List Destinations That Will Inspire
I am Lost and Found’s original tagline was ‘Luxury Travel.’ Over the years my travel tastes evolved and ‘luxury travel’ felt limiting. Plus, I wasn’t only traveling to luxury hotels anymore. So I changed it to ‘Adventure and Luxury Travel.’ Eventually, even that felt limiting. I thought about the goals of my site. I am Lost and Found inspires travel—so ‘Inspiring Travel’ it is. Ready for inspiration? Follow along for five travel wish list destinations I’m dreaming about right now. It’s another sticky, steamy day...
The Most Beautiful Places to Go Sailing in Belize
Sailing in Belize is the antidote to Caribbean over-tourism. Follow along on our adventure to the Belize Barrier Reef where we discover some of the world's best underwater life, remote islands, and just how much food one really needs to survive. I wake up with the sun. In Belize, the sun is an early riser. Only two things motivate me to wake up this early—a morning flight and the promise of a magnificent sunrise. The fact that the former is mandatory and the latter is...