Hello Reader, I hope you all had a great July 4th! I just finished another Capitol Ride - Salt Lake City, UT to Boise, ID! I rode 425 miles (against the wind for the last two days)! And this time I had two Logistics Queens - Diana and Jen. They took incredible care of me while I made it through the desert, the interstate, gravel roads, and super hot days! Thank God for their Super Soaker and good aim to keep me cool! I've now finished my 10th Capitol ride (about 3,500 miles in total!!) I...
9 days ago • 4 min read
Hello Reader, I know the headlines right now make you want to burrow under the covers and stay there. The world feels heavy, unpredictable, and, frankly, exhausting. But after clocking in a lot of international travel already this year, I’m here to tell you something hopeful: don’t give up on travel right now. In fact, lean into it. To my surprise (and maybe yours), the more I travel, the more I see people opening their arms wider, not closing them. I’ve been welcomed in ways that remind...
about 1 month ago • 6 min read
Hello Reader, Much like my dad, I like big projects. They consume me and keep me focused on living in the present, rather than just repeating the same old routine day after day. Travel projects have a long-term, purposeful feel, like a bigger mission beyond just “go on a trip.” They make me look at my travels differently than simply roaming around to sights, I travel deeper, slower, and more introspectively when on a travel project. My latest travel project is taking over my dad's old Capitol...
3 months ago • 6 min read
Hello Reader, As we watched the low clouds slowly lift, revealing the famous Towers of Torres del Paine, Lauren said, "I don't want this trip to end." I just nodded my head. Earlier, as I was biking down the last bit of our route through the park, I thought the same thing. But strangely, this was the second time I felt this in the previous 2 years...in nearly the exact same place. When I finished the Estancias & Ebikes tour the first time, I knew it was one of the best trips I had ever taken....
3 months ago • 8 min read
Hello Reader, I recently returned home from 2 weeks in Alaska - it was full of dancing aurora, cat mayors, sled dog puppies, a tappa and dog party, glacier hiking, and I was introduced to the new sport of outhouse racing! I hope you followed along on my social media as my group and I had a wonderful time, and I'm thrilled that everyone fell in love with Alaska in the winter! I'm not exactly sure when I'll run this trip again - 2026 or 2027...but I will run it again so let me know if you are...
4 months ago • 8 min read
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...
5 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,...
6 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...
6 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...
7 months ago • 6 min read
