Blog – Lose the Map

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 t... 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

42 Most Adventurous Destinations to Visit in 2019

Joanna KalafatisJanuary 17, 2019

Are you trying to decide what destination you should visit in 2019? Do you like exploring new places while also getting to experience incredible adventures? And most importantly, do your friends usually think you're really weird when you're describin... Discover More..

AdventureAfricaAntarcticaAsiaCaribbeanEuropeInspirationNatureNorth AmericaOffbeatSouth AmericaTips

Life in a Sami Village: Herding Reindeer in Norway

Joanna KalafatisDecember 29, 2018

Since Christmas just passed, I thought it would be seasonally appropriate to write a post on one of the most surreal experiences I had in Norway - visiting Sami reindeer herders in their traditional Sami village. Yes, reindeer herding is a real wa... Discover More..

Tips

7 Surprising Perks of a Palm Springs Getaway You May Not Know About

Joanna KalafatisNovember 15, 2018

I will be honest here: in the past eight years of living in Los Angeles, I had not once been inclined to go on a classic Palm Springs getaway with my friends. The distance from LA to Palm Springs is just over two hours. I had gladly traveled more ... Discover More..

ArchitectureFoodHotelsNorth America

9 Myths About Immigration (And Why They’re Wrong)

Joanna KalafatisNovember 6, 2018

While it may not seem to fall under the purview of "travel blogging", you can look at immigration as a very permanent form of travel. Also, it is impossible to travel the world today and not be aware of the vast migrations of people happening in a... Discover More..

HistoryNorth America