I've been traveling non-stop since 2006, inspiring others to get out and see the unique corners of the world. Check out my newsletters below that are full of travel tips, unique tours, gear recommendations and travel discounts. I focus on outdoor adventure travel for women and will help you get out to see the world in an active way with the best gear. I also run active adventure tours in places like Ireland, Alaska, and El Salvador. Wether you are a newbie to outdoor adventure travel or a seasoned expert - my newsletters are a great way to join my community of other women who are looking to live their best lives.
11 riders, 200 miles, 1 rejection
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Hello Reader , After only 4 fast days at home, I'm back on a plane today — and this time I packed up my bike and took it with me! Let's hope I can get it back together when I land in Portland. I've barely had time to process Uzbekistan. I spent my last few days there off the bike, seeing the ancient Silk Road sites — mosques, schools, mausoleums — and they were stunning. In my opinion, even more impressive than the Taj Mahal. And that's not a coincidence; these 2,500-year-old buildings were the architectural inspiration for it! They've all been refurbished, obviously, and there's beauty in that too. It must have been an incredible undertaking. I loved Uzbekistan, and now I want to see the rest of Central Asia! Capitol to Capitol - A New WayNow I'm headed to Maine to ride another Capitol Route during the most popular time of year in the Northeast! Ever since I saw my dad hadn't walked this route, I've wanted to cycle it in autumn, when the leaves are great for 'peeping.' Somehow I convinced 11 other people this would be a great ride — and now I have a full-blown Capitol to Capitol Ottsworld tour! I'm so honored that people want to do this route with me. To kick it off I designed a jersey for the occasion. We are going to look incredible! Plus I worked with two of my favorite cycling brands to get us Bivo water bottles and Tifosi sunglasses — I use both on every single ride I do. Follow along as our group of 12 takes on the 200 miles between Augusta, Maine and Montpelier, Vermont, on Instagram and Facebook stories! 20th Anniversary WinnersThe winners have been announced and contacted! You can see the list of winners here. Thanks to everyone who entered — I so appreciate your support. Last night I had my 20th anniversary video call, and we had a great time talking travel and sipping cocktails! It was so fun to see people I hadn't seen in years. My old Intrepid tour roommate from Egypt in 2007 even joined! That reminded me how important it is to get out of our comfort zones. Even something as simple as saying yes to a roommate you don't know on a small group tour is a way to roll the dice and not always be in complete control. So many people on my trips get single rooms because they don't want to share with a stranger — I get it, we want our own space. But sometimes putting yourself in a potentially uncomfortable situation is how you grow and gain new friends. Be open to being a little uncomfortable! Where Next?After we finish at the capitol in Vermont I'll rest one day, then keep riding four more days to Albany, New York. Two routes in one trip, which is the whole advantage of traveling with my bike. After that, Patagonia — my last Ottsworld tour of the year. I hope you're enjoying the change of seasons wherever you are. Happy Travels! A New Capitol to Capitol EpisodeI just released another Capitol to Capitol Episode from Lincoln, Nebraska to Des Moines, IA. This was a short one, but it wasn't without challenges. Tough gravel riding, detours, missed communications, and rain. Plus - you learn a bit about how my parents used to communicate without our modern technology when my dad was walking between capitols. And for this one - my brother was my Logistics Queen! Watch below and share the Capitol to Capitol docu-series with a friend! RejectedA while back I mentioned that I'd submitted the Capitol docu-series to the Bicycle Film Festival this year — and we got rejected. I'll admit it crushed me. In fact, I'm still upset about it. I thought for sure it would get accepted; I had so much confidence in it, for my producer Michaela Potter and for me. But apparently they didn't find the heartwarming story of me finishing my father's legacy interesting enough. I go to film festivals often and I thought this one would fit right in. It didn't. But Michaela and I are still creating new episodes regardless of the stupid Bicycle Film Fest! Women's Virtual Travel SummitMark your calendar for November 14–15, 2026, for “The Ageless Adventuress: Making Our Own Rules” — JourneyWoman’s first-ever virtual travel conference, created just for women over 50. In addition to a Rick Steves keynote, there will be a lineup of travel industry leaders, trailblazing women, and JourneyWomen who’ve been exactly where you are — wondering if it’s too late, too much, or too far. (It’s not. It never was.) Registration isn’t open quite yet, but you can be the first to know when it is. Join the waitlist here and we’ll make sure you never miss a moment. Ottsworld ToursThe only tour I currently have availability on is my Nepal trekking tour next spring. Honestly - I have no idea why there's availability on it because it's a great itinerary and chance to experience Nepal's Himalayas with an incredible guide and company! Hidden Himalaya: Nepal Trekking & Culture Tour We are headed to my favorite region — the Annapurna — for a loop hike to Kopra Ridge that most trekkers never find! With the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges stacked up in front of us the whole way, we'll climb to 12,000 feet, with an option to push to 15,100 for those who want it. We'll walk through rhododendron forests in full bloom, through Gurung and Magar villages where mountain life hasn't been rearranged for tourists, and we'll eat, laugh, stay, and become friends with the people who actually live there! My departing impressions of Nepal have never really had anything to do with the mountains. They have to do with the people. This trip is built around that.
Other Tours I'm working on for 2027 2028:
If you are interested in any of these - reply to this email and I'll put you on the list to contact when they are live! On The BlogI haven't had a lot of time to write, so here are some oldies but goodies. The Stuck in Morocco story was written about my roommate I mentioned before from the Intrepid Egypt trip in 2007. This is early blog writing - so it's a story...not a resource...but it's a good story. I have a whole category of stories called 'bad travel stories' on my site, and this is one of my favorites! Enjoy! Gear CornerI want to talk about the brands who are supporting my tour this week - Bivo and Tifosi: BivoBivo is a Vermont-based hydration company founded in 2020 by endurance athletes Carina Hamel and Robby Ringer that specializes in creating the first stainless-steel performance water bottles specifically engineered for cyclists. They collaborated with an ex-NASA engineer to design a sustainable, plastic-free alternative that fits universal bike cages. Because metal bottles cannot be squeezed, Bivo developed a patented gravity-flow venting system, delivering a smooth, steady stream of water faster than traditional plastic sports bottles. I love their insulated ones which keeps drinks COLD...perfect for hot riding days! AND...they are based in Montpelier - our capitol destination! So excited get to show off our great bottles in their 'home'. TifosiTifosi Sunglasses deliver high-performance technical features and an ultra-lightweight design at a highly affordable price. Engineered specifically for the demands of the road and trail, most models feature flexible Grilamid TR-90 frames that weigh next to nothing, ensuring long-ride comfort without pressure points. Plus, they offer many of their styles in prescription glasses, which is hard to find! They are offering my audience 15% off their order when using the promo code OTTSWORLD Thule Roundtrip Bike CaseI love Thule travel bags and packing cubes, so it's no surprise that I was pretty excited to try out the Thule Rountrip bike case for traveling with my bike to Maine! It's a semi hard case and comes with a bike stand to make taking it apart and putting it back together an easier process. If you are a cyclist who travel with their bike - be sure to check this out! Ottsworld Travel DiscountsIf you want to experience Ireland but couldn't make one of my tours this year - check out Ireland Walk Hike Bike - they do custom tours, group tours, and self-guided itineraries through the west coast of Ireland! Use code OttsWorld2023 for 5% off their offerings - not good with other offers. Get $100 off at Adventure Life on your next custom trip anywhere in the world. Just tell them Ottsworld sent you! Get 5% off your Patagonia travels with my friends at Chile Nativo! They will be running my Patagonia ebiking trip and I love them! Use code Ottsworld for 5% off ANY of their regular, non-custom programs (including W hiking and puma tracking). If you plan a trip to Japan, check out OKU Japan for its incredible multiday hikes and cultural activities in lesser-known areas. Get a 5% Discount for people using code OTTSWORLD5. If you've been finding value in these newsletters and the info I've been sharing, please forward this along to any travel-loving friends whom you think might find them useful! Use these helpful links to book and plan your next trip:
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Are you a 40+ woman looking to travel more?
I've been traveling non-stop since 2006, inspiring others to get out and see the unique corners of the world. Check out my newsletters below that are full of travel tips, unique tours, gear recommendations and travel discounts. I focus on outdoor adventure travel for women and will help you get out to see the world in an active way with the best gear. I also run active adventure tours in places like Ireland, Alaska, and El Salvador. Wether you are a newbie to outdoor adventure travel or a seasoned expert - my newsletters are a great way to join my community of other women who are looking to live their best lives.
Hello Reader , Greetings from Samarkand, Uzbekistan! This city is 2,500 years old. Alexander the Great walked here. Genghis Khan roared through here, leveling most of it. Some of the earliest work in astronomy happened on this ground. The United States just threw itself a 250th birthday party, and standing here, 250 feels 'adorable'. My own 20-year travel blogging milestone feels downright tiny. I'll be honest about what it's like, because it isn't easy. They aren't used to European and...
Hello Reader , Twenty years ago, on September 8, 2006, I stood in Penn Station with a one-way ticket to Africa and a plan to travel for one year. I thought I was starting a new chapter. I had no idea I was starting an entire novel. I want to take a minute today, before I send you into the actual celebration, to just say it plainly: thank you. Thank you for reading my travel advice and actually using it. For coming on a tour with me. For telling a friend about that one post that talked you...
Hello Reader , I have been trying to write this newsletter for a month. Every time I sat down to do it, something else won: house guests, a laundry room remodel, two kittens who consider my keyboard a bed, and a pile of Ottsworld Tours work. And, quite frankly, being home in Denver and hanging out with my friends was more fun than writing about it. I tell people I have the best travel newsletter because I hardly ever send it. The downside is that when I finally do, a month's worth of stuff...