In the United Kingdom, there are exactly two correct answers to the question, “You alright?” They are—trust me on this—“You alright?” and “Yeah, you?”
There are at least a thousand wrong responses to this phrase. I know because I’ve been working my way through all of them while section-hiking the England Coast Path. As a Coloradan transplant to London, I’ve been on a quest to better understand my new home country, where I often feel a little out of place. What better way to do so than by trekking an unfinished, town-to-town trail that will soon dwarf the Appalachian and Pacific Crest? When it’s done, at 2,795 miles, the England Coast Path will be the longest coastal path in the world. Along the way, one can visit dozens of castles, take boat tours to spy on puffins and seals, and visit hundreds of tearooms.
The most memorable of my You alright faux pas happened on a rainy afternoon on the southwestern coast of Dorset last spring. I had just started hiking a famous section of the trail known as both the Southwest Coast Path and the Jurassic Coast. A friend and I had spent the day climbing grassy yet near-vertical hills with sheer cliffs plunging into the turquoise ocean below. In the dips, we motivated each other with the promise of sandwiches and Scotch eggs at the top of each hill. When we made it, we splayed ourselves on the soft grass and took luxurious naps in the fleeting sunshine, as if to photosynthesize between rain showers.
The only way I can describe Kungsleden, a Swedish long trail that extends into the Arctic Circle, is that it’s the trail of dreams. On a five-day trek last August stretching 70 miles from Nikkaluokta to Abisko, I drank directly out of rivers and streams, waltzed along boardwalks that made easy work out of miles of scree fields, and ended most evenings with a swim in Arctic waters or a sauna session at a wilderness mountain hut. Thanks to Sweden’s Right to Roam, I pitched my tent wherever it made sense, and thanks to endless summer days, I hiked well into the evenings and barely needed a headlamp.
As we floated somewhere east of Kirkintilloch, we moaned about how lovely it was: all blue skies, nesting swans, grazing sheep. Mossy trees stretched their branches across the water, making the forest enchanting and timeless. We did this for four days, waking each morning to set up kayaks and paddle miles upon miles to the next hot dinner. We’d hoped for mayhem; instead we got meditation. I’m already plotting to do it again.
If my early twenties were defined by casting the net too wide, collecting friends so that I had them, trying to be beloved by all, my late twenties are the opposite: Who are all these people to whom I think I owe my time? Who are these people who are nice and fun, but for whom I always feel like I'm dressed up?
From robot shows and poop museums to geek culture and maid cafes, Tokyo offers no shortage of offbeat activities you won't find anywhere else.
Flight booked? Check. Itinerary planned? Check. Local language learned…? Find out why this travel writer thinks adding a Rosetta Stone subscription, which are up to 55% off right now, to your trip planning checklist so you can master at least a handful of key phrases will make your next international trip an infinitely better experience.
Whenever I cross the state line and find myself in New Mexico, I feel like I’ve entered another country. Nowhere else in the U.S.– at least in the 44 states I’ve been to — do you find such distinct culture throughout the entire state. This is the kind of place where chiles are so paramount to local cuisine, even McDonald’s sells a green chile cheeseburger.
Delicious and eclectic restaurants abound here, so head to Providence for big city flavor at small city prices.
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As a travel writer who spends several months out of every year reporting on the road, I know all too well that the only thing better than an epic hike, run, or ride is having a great place to settle in and recap the day over a pint and a heaping plate of food. These bars, restaurants, and spas around the world offer delicious snacks, refreshing drinks, and plenty of history, making them the most must-see après destinations on the planet.
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