Travel By Design
Design your own travel experience by exploring many travel niches on this Travel by Design page.
Whether you are an adventurer or arm-chair traveler you will find stories on this page that will pique your interest and curiosity. Nearly any hobby, interest or experience can be the very essence of a travel niche and you’ll find many of them below.
Perhaps you are looking for the best LGBTQ destinations or you’re interested in different experiences, volunteer travel (voluntourism) or health and wellness opportunities there are many travel niches to experience. We have several stories that showcase a traveler’s insights and there are other stories that illuminate the outdoors and beautiful landscapes. We have stories of varied experiences from far and wide. The experiences are unique and quite interesting and come from various places across the globe. Our stories will give you a wide coverage of places from around the world.
Whatever travel experience you’re interesting in learning about or designing for your future travels you can find something here. As new travel trends evolve we will continue to add new content that addresses new travel niches.
Go through the interesting stories listed below on this Travel by Design page.
We’re not crossing the Atlantic—this time “Glasgow” sits on Montana’s sweeping Hi-Line, a ribbon of highway and rail towns running just south of the Canadian border. In this episode, World Footprints journeys along U.S. Highway 2 from Havre to Malta and Glasgow, tracing the stories carved into Montana’s vast prairie. This is Big Sky country at its most authentic: where dinosaur bones emerge from badlands, ancient buffalo jumps overlook the Milk River, and locals still wave at passing Amtrak trains. Along the way, we venture south to Fort Peck—home to one of the most ambitious New Deal engineering feats in America—and Fort Benton, a steamboat-era trading post often called the “Birthplace of Montana.” These stops reveal how geology, Indigenous heritage, railroads, and Roosevelt-era infrastructure together shaped a frontier that’s still evolving. Through conversations, on-the-ground exploration, and a few surprises in between, this episode peels back the layers of Montana’s cultural [...]
Expedition cruises extend to some of Earth’s most fragile and captivating lands with itineraries that focus on nature and culture. Traditional cruises may offer a robust choice of onboard activities and a seemingly endless number of food options, but expedition cruises provide a very different motivation: Scientists, marine biologists, historians, and other experts lead expeditions. And no two cruises are ever the same.
Hydro-therapy circuits, infinity pools, Mayan-inspired culinary delights, a kids club, and even a PGA-sanctioned golf course all await travelers anxious to unwind at The Bahia Principe Luxury Akumal, along Mexico’s pristine gulf coast. An all-inclusive villa-style retreat located directly between Tulum and Cancún, Akumal features exceptional amenities for families of all ages. The property also includes an attentive staff that values the importance of genuine hospitality
Known for its incredibly biodiverse rainforests, Borneo, the world's third-largest island, offers a walk on the wild side. Borneo also boasts the distinction of being the only island in the world controlled by three countries: Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia. I took a deep dive into Malaysian Borneo's jungle by experiencing three wildly different and rustic lodgings. An exceptional family runs the lodges. The inspiring family also makes a difference by protecting this part of Malaysia’s most precious resource: nature.
Gift shops are my guilty pleasure. I’d love to say that the cultural and personal enrichment of new knowledge, experiences, relationships, and flavors was enough for me, that memories and photos were all I’d take home. But if there’s a gift shop, I’m making a beeline for it. That said, as a frequent traveler, I must take a mindful approach to souvenirs. I don't want to be the cause of waste or clutter. Below are some of my favorite souvenirs that don’t take up space or collect dust, as well as ones I (almost) always avoid.
I live in New York State's Adirondack Mountains half the year. Here, there are two semi-touristy places, Lake George Village and Lake Placid. I'll always have a soft spot for slightly tacky Lake George Village because my dad took the family there every July 4th for fireworks. He'd yell, over and over, "Thank you, Thomas Jefferson! Thank you, Benjamin Franklin!" However, far greener and atmospheric, Lake Placid feels genuine and provides a real sense of community. And it’s home to a really fun, unassuming place to stay, the sprawling High Peaks Resort. But more than just a fun getaway location, the land it sits upon boasts an amazing history dating back to 1850.
Explore Dorothy Parker’s New York with author Kevin C. Fitzpatrick. Visit her haunts, uncover her legacy, and plan your own literary walking tour.
The 1970s television series The Waltons bridged generations in my family. The story was set in my grandparents’ youth, and my parents were teenagers when it premiered. Reruns were the reason I decided at an early age to become a writer, like the character John Boy. The summer I turned sixteen, Dad and I watched The Waltons on TV Land together every morning. One day, as John Boy took his Model AA Ford pickup to Richmond and Charlottesville, Virginia, Dad asked, “I wonder if any of those places still exist?” After all, the fictional stories were based on real events in author Earl Hammner’s life.
Saying the mainsail on the 100-year-old schooner Zodiac is big is like saying Babe Ruth knew how to play ball. A massive understatement, at 4,000 square feet, the Zodiac's mainsail is not just the largest working sail on the West Coast — it's larger than the average American house.
“There is never a traditional way of foraging. You develop your own approach over time.” Jyrki Tsutsunen explained when asked about Finnish foraging traditions. His approach combines careful identification with creative experimentation, without ever compromising the balance of nature.
Listen now to Part 3 of our conversation with Eric Braeden and join us as we explore Egypt, voluntourism, and the power of cultural connection.
A vast trail system, for hiking or biking, is not the first thing that comes to a person’s mind when the topic of discussion is the state of Alabama. The “Heart of Dixie” is more likely to evoke thoughts of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, the Tuskegee Airmen of World War II, or the University of Alabama's Crimson Tide football team.
