Hello Reader, If you’ve been following me for a while, you probably know that Japan has completely stolen my heart. It’s a country that somehow makes me reflect on my own culture and upbringing—yeah, I know, sounds a bit odd, but stick with me. Just being there gets my brain buzzing about everything from relationships to capitalism to how the world works. Japan makes me think. Lately, Japan has been the hot travel spot—and honestly, I get it. It’s ridiculously cool. I’ve been writing a ton...
about 2 months ago • 6 min read
Hello Reader, Happy 2025! Ready to make this the year you finally check Japan, Nepal, or the South of France off your bucket list? I have some epic small-group adventures lined up to get you exploring new cultures and straying far from the tourist trail. First up: my brand-new Japan hiking tour! This trip has been in the works for a while, and it’s finally polished, prepped, and ready to blow your mind. NEW Japan Tour! Hiking Japan's MCT Trail Small Group Tour Dates: October 25 - November 1,...
about 2 months ago • 4 min read
Hello Reader, Welcome to 2025! I hope you all had a great holiday season. I disappeared off social media for the holiday season because everyone needs a break....and...I decided to get a facelift. Welcome to the new Ottsworld website! It had been 8 years since I redesigned my website, so it was time for a little facelift! Plus, I started running Ottsworld tours and didn't have a way to create tour pages on my old site. I know that many of you have probably never even visited my site - or...
2 months ago • 6 min read
Hello Reader, This is it...the year is winding down...and so am I along with it. There are things I love about my career (it truly is the best), and there are things I struggle with and wish to change. One of those things is vacation. I rarely take a real vacation - one that doesn't involve work (writing, social media sharing, photography, leading tours), one that is just for me. That's the downside of being a travel blogger/content creator I suppose. But for the remainder of the year - I'm...
3 months ago • 6 min read
Hello Reader, Are you planning a trip next year and need to pack more efficiently? Do you have a friend/family member who loves to travel? Do you need to refresh your hiking and outdoor gear for 2025? I got you...well...this newsletter has you! In a special newsletter edition, I will be sharing genuinely useful travel gifts. These are items I've actually used and loved over the course of 18 years of travel. Most travel lists are crap, just general lists that the author has researched and...
4 months ago • 5 min read
Hello Reader, Ugh—I sort of hated typing that subject line and putting the words grateful and black Friday in the same sentence. Sorry. However, there is room to hold both inside of me, which is why I decided to leave the subject line and send this email. I'm getting ready to hop on a plane on the busiest travel day in the US to spend a few days with family in South Dakota. I'm going to take the advice that I provided recently on a local radio show and go to the airport early. I will be...
4 months ago • 7 min read
Hello Reader, I'm back on solid ground after my Falklands/South Georgia/Antarctica trip! This was my third trip to Antarctica and my first to South Georgia, and it was once again absolutely epic. Walking over the crest of the hill and seeing 600,000+ penguins as far as my eyes could see, framed by a magnificent hanging glacier was about more than my mind could process. At that moment, I felt so much gratitude for witnessing this part of our world - this spectacle of wildlife more incredible...
4 months ago • 6 min read
Hello Reader, Greetings from the middle of the Atlantic Ocean! More on that below... I knew my fall would be really busy with many trips - so much so that I've had a hard time getting this newsletter out between trips. I recently returned from an epic trip in Bhutan and a short stop in Japan. And now I'm back on the road again. Bhutan was full of surprises for me. Not only was it much warmer than I was expecting - it was also more lush/green, cleaner, architecturally interesting, and...
5 months ago • 5 min read
Hello Reader, Happy September! I just wrapped up one of my hardest Capitol Routes - Santa Fe, NM, to Denver, CO! One of my favorite things about making big journeys where I'm trying to get from point A to point B is that you get stronger every day. It's a great feeling! It doesn't matter if you are hiking the Camino de Santiago, competing in India's Rickshaw Run, or biking from Capitol to Capitol - you will get stronger physically and mentally every day of the journey. That's precisely how I...
7 months ago • 5 min read
