where are you going?

I’ve been doing several Top 12 of 2012 lists to round out the year, and initially had a Top 12 New Destinations of 2012 list in the making. But I decided to scrap it — 12 wasn’t a good number for this one.  I wanted to narrow it down to the destinations that REALLY floored me this year, without adding any fillers. Here are the new 2012 destinations that impressed me the most this year: Faroe Islands Wild, barren, stark, isolated, and breathtakingly beautiful — I never dreamed that paradise on Earth would look like this (or feel so cold!), but that’s what the Faroe Islands were to me.  The scenery was so beautiful, I found myself constantly picking my jaw off the ground. Don’t Miss: The photogenic village of Gasadalur , haute Faroese cuisine at Koks in Tórshavn , hiking around the island of Mykines . Istria This is the side of Croatia often overlooked by tourists.  Leave the coast and drive into the hills and you’ll find adorable towns...

What is the number one thing travelers tend to stress over? What to pack! Each gadget and gizmo claims to make life on the road easier, but what truly is helpful to keep you calm, focus and having a lot of fun? We’ve compiled our list of perfect gifts to give your loved ones who are jet-setters all over the world that are useful, beautiful and should be included in everyone’s suitcase. Scroll below to enter the GIVEAWAY hosted by Pure Wander and Learning Patience, open to UK and US residents. Prizes include Brookstone Active Noise Cancelling Headphones, Lomography Camera Marrakesh Edition and iTunes gift cards. Winners announced just in time for the holidays!   Osprey Ozone 36 Convertible Carry-On Bag It’s a never ending battle with airlines to make sure your carry-on luggage is up to standards. Too many times I’ve had to pay a fee for a too-big bag when I’m trying to avoid checking one. It was well worth investing in the Ozone 36, which fits all EU standard carry-on require...

Our trusty guide Gulli leads the way. When my sister Sarah started planning her own trip to Iceland two weeks before mine, we decided to have her tell you about some adventures of her own!  Here’s the story of her Hot Spring Hunt with Arctic Adventures.  –Kate If there is one thing you must do in Iceland (especially if you are a city dweller like myself), it is to get out into the middle of nowhere.   Luckily, Icelanders know how stunning their country is, and there are countless easy ways for visitors to get out and see it.  When Zack and I heard about the Hot Spring Hunt – a trip that would allow us to hike through the beautiful countryside, and bathe in natural hot springs – we knew we had to check it out. The Arctic Adventures office is located on Laugavegur, the main shopping street in Reykjavik, an easy walking distance from almost anywhere in town.  While we opted to meet at the office, the Arctic Adventures crew will pick you up from just about any hotel, ho...

After the shipwreck, we were taken from Komodo Island to the port town of Labuan Bajo on the island of Flores. Lonely Planet describes Labuan Bajo as “the next big thing” in Indonesia travel. I think there are two kinds of places you can describe as “next big things” — either places that are fantastic and virtually unknown, or places that are simply the next step. Labuan Bajo falls into the latter category. It’s not an amazing secret yet to be discovered, and people are there because it’s a gateway to better sights in Flores — but it’s pretty nice, nonetheless. Labuan Bajo has almost a Wild West feeling to it — dirt roads, gap-filled sidewalks, dogs running down the street (though thankfully not as bad as the Bali dogs), children staring wide-eyed at the Westerners walking by. Westerners, though coming to Labuan Bajo in increasing numbers, are still relatively rare — especially in the outer reaches of town. Most...

The end of 2012 is rapidly approaching. On top of that, the second anniversary of Tanama Tales is around the corner. What better way to celebrate than remembering some of the best adventures of these past two years? Today, I bring you a recount of the Top California Moments  in honor of the state I have called home for the last 9 years. History in Old Town San Diego Building near the Fiesta de Reyes Area   First Ghost Town in Randsburg Old train and cart   Taking a look at the continental United States peak Mount Whitney seen from below   Rock Creek Lake   Visiting a castle in the Central Coast La Casa Grande also known as Hearst Castle     Santa Barbara: America’s Riviera Santa Barbara Mission   Catalina Island The Casino   Perfect photo of Avalon from the top   Orange Sea at the Mojave Desert   Eating in San Francisco’s Chinatown Bok Choy Beef   The Canals of Venice Beach   Ethni...