Backpacking combines hiking, camping, and sightseeing into one activity. The idea is that you pack up all of your essential items, then embark on an on-foot journey of epic proportions. You can certainly bring your devices with you, but backpacking is all about reducing your screen time, not increasing it. A lot of veteran backpackers trek through mountains and forests. However, pedestrian-friendly cities with wide streets and rolling hills will also do nicely. 

Athens, Greece certainly fits that bill.

I always do my best to encourage people to travel their own countries.That advice, however, marks me a hypocrite.I’ve seen about six states but stepped foot in nine (layover flights and whatnot), but any prospect of seeing all 50 was always low on my bucket list.Until now.

Hidden inside of New Zealand’s South Island lies the majestic and dramatic landscapes of Milford Sound.

Few who witness its glory leave unchanged. You can never catch Milford on a bad day, either; gloomy weather only enhances the jagged carvings of the mountainside.

Over 3,000 glaciers rest on New Zealand’s South Island, but the Franz Josef holds its own as the most inspiring. A hike on its walls is on most people’s “NZ Must Do” list, and missing the experience is regrettable.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to wield Aragorn’s sword as you wandered through the fields of Edoras? Would you love to be surrounded by the mountains that cradle the horse-fueled land of Rohan? Or to prop your feet with a glass of champagne and a picnic as you gaze at some of the finest scenery in Middle-earth?