• People on a street in Florence, Italy
    Nomad Life

    Overtourism in the Places We Love

    Do you dream of riding a gondola on Venice’s Grand Canal, visiting the Game of Thrones filming locations in Dubrovnik, or getting a little wild in Amsterdam? If so, you aren’t alone. These places ignite our wanderlust. They have something else in common; they, and many others, are overtouristed. So how do we reconcile our desire to experience the places…

  • Collage of people traveling with their adult children
    Nomad Life

    9 Reasons Why Traveling with Adult Children Rocks

    Adult children. I believe that is an oxymoron. But what else can you call them? They are your children, your kids, your babies, all grown up and running their own lives. You may live with them, see them regularly, or not very often. Whatever your situation, I ask you: now that they’ve evolved into self-sufficient beings, should you travel with…

  • Pier with white buildings and lights at dusk
    Nomad Life

    Bye, Bye Bucket List

    Barcelona sat right at the top of our bucket list. It was the first city in which Steve and I would spend a month as we began our new life as full-time travelers. La Sagrada Familia and Park Guell awaited us. We couldn’t wait for the city to cast its spell on us as it had for several friends who…

  • American flag
    Nomad Life

    Is The Ugly American Dead?

    We’ve all heard about ugly Americans. Tourists from the U.S. who talk too loud, wear garish clothes, compare things in other countries to how they do it in the U.S., and expect everyone to speak English. A Case in Point Many years ago, I was sitting at my daughters’ soccer practice when a very loud man told a story of…

  • Steve and me with six students studying English in Strasbourg, France
    Nomad Life

    Don’t Be Afraid of Multilingualism

    Traveling to countries where English is not the primary language has made me rethink my attitude toward multilingualism. Before Steve and I started traveling full-time, I would be annoyed when businesses offered a Spanish option on their phone menu. I was even more annoyed when they asked me to press one for English. I felt like many Americans. Why should…