Isle of the Books

I set off on a solo road trip to southern Nevada and California to explore the great outdoors. As I was taking the trip over the holidays and would be in some remote locations, I had a few factors to consider when planning the order of my trip. Not only would there be holiday traffic in these places, but the sheer fact that it wouldn't be boiling outside meant the increased chance for more visitors. The order I decided on was in large part impacted by campground availability, as camping was going to be the cheapest--and most convenient--option. The places on my list were Valley of Fire State Park, Red Rock Canyon, Death Valley National Park, Joshua Tree National Park, the Hoover Dam, and the Mojave National Preserve. I had listed the Alabama Hills as a maybe. With all the campgrounds I was going to be staying at, I did a lot of flipping back and forth between tabs to see when campgrounds were open for all the nights I needed. I started planning about two months in advance, which I ...

Jeju Olle Trail 6 I spent the summer of 2025 in South Korea and Japan (4 weeks in Korea and 2 in Japan) and wanted to share my experiences, what I learned about traveling over there, and any advice. Since there will be a lot of information, it will be broken apart by country and then further into categories.  I won't provide a cost analysis, as I greatly benefited by spending time at my friend's house. Staying at hostels was one way I saved money. I ate out some, but convenience stores and groceries helped save money (I ate so much microwaveable rice). As cheap as public transportation can be, it becomes expensive if you don't plan your day well, as I experienced my first day in Tokyo. I chose to upgrade my flight, as it was a looong flight and my friends gave me the advice that the price difference would be worth it, and it totally was. Like any trip, you have to choose what you want to spend money on and where you can save money. Both countries have free and paid attracti...