Blog – Lose the Map

Riverhouse on the Deschutes: Retreat to Nature in Bend, Oregon

Joanna KalafatisNovember 6, 2019

Though I am a city girl at heart, I need frequent trips into the wild outdoors to avoid going crazy. To breathe in the fresh air, hike up wooded hills, and take a long mental pause from the constant noise and lights of the city. So I ventured up t... Discover More..

AdventureHotelsNatureNorth America

Dia de Los Muertos Festival: A Celebration of the Dead

Joanna KalafatisNovember 4, 2019

I recently realized that in nine years of living in LA, a city where 32% of the population identifies as Mexican-American, I have never attended a Dia de Los Muertos Festival. This year I set about changing that enormous oversight. One of the r... Discover More..

CultureNorth AmericaOffbeat

The TWA Hotel: A Night in the Golden Age of Travel

Joanna KalafatisAugust 14, 2019

When I first moved to New York, I spent most of the winter eagerly awaiting the day I would pull up with my parents to the front of the TWA Terminal at JFK Airport. Being a ten year old at the time, it wasn't because I was looking forward to admir... Discover More..

ArchitectureHotelsNorth America

6 Kickass Greek Women Travelers You Need to Follow on Instagram

Joanna KalafatisAugust 8, 2019

It's summer, and one of the most popular destinations this year (and any year, really), is Greece. I wanted to give a shoutout to both the gorgeous landscapes, towns, and beaches of my home country, and some incredible Greek female travelers I follow... Discover More..

EuropeInspiration

end of summer blues in Venice California

10 Instagram Accounts Everyone Who Loves LA Should Follow

Joanna KalafatisJune 1, 2019

Living in Los Angeles is sometimes an idyllic, sun-soaked dream. Other times, it's an unnavigable sprawling mass of endless neighborhoods featuring a constant barrage of events and activities that leave you stuck at home, absolutely paralyzed with in... Discover More..

InspirationNorth AmericaPhotography

25 Kanji You Should Know Before Visiting Japan

Joanna KalafatisApril 21, 2019

I probably don't have to convince you that visiting Japan is a great trip idea. Wandering through Japan on my own remains one of the most beautiful, awe-inspiring, exciting, yet at times, challenging trips I have taken in my life.There is a lot to lo... Discover More..

AsiaCultureTips

Eco hotels lining the beach of Isla Baru

Cartagena Beaches: Isla Baru vs. Isla Grande

Joanna KalafatisApril 14, 2019

Cartagena may be right on the Caribbean coast, but its function as a major port city and oil extraction site make the city-adjacent beaches...somewhat less than alluring. If you truly want to spend time on beautiful Cartagena beaches, you're going to... Discover More..

CaribbeanNatureSouth AmericaTips

Janice Lintz: Surviving Abuse and Cancer to Start a Journey to Every Country in the World

Joanna KalafatisMarch 13, 2019

I recently had the pleasure to interview Janice Lintz, an incredible woman on a mission to visit every country in the world. This is a feat that has only been accomplished by 15 women to date, and Janice wants to get her name on that list! Lintz o... Discover More..

AdventureInspirationInterviewTips

MSC Cruises: Cultural Cruises for a Different Kind of Traveler

Joanna KalafatisFebruary 22, 2019

Confession: I usually don't think much of cruises or cruise culture, even so-called cultural cruises. If you're like me - and if you follow this site, chances are you at least travel like me - you think of cruises as overpriced and tacky, with little... Discover More..

CaribbeanEuropeNorth America

Top Tips for RV Trips on a Budget

Joanna KalafatisFebruary 15, 2019

The following is a guest post from Outdoorsy, an RV rental site. After my California campervan trip last year, a lot of you wanted to know how to RV the country on a budget. Since the folks at Outdoorsy have a lot more experience with this topic than... Discover More..

AdventureRoad TripTips