Hello Reader ,

I’ve been creating a new presentation for the Denver Travel & Adventure Show around this idea: a journey gets you somewhere, but a quest makes you someone.

For years, I traveled like most people—choosing destinations, checking places off a list. But the trips that have stayed with me—the ones that actually changed me—were never just trips. They were part of something bigger.

That’s what a travel quest does. It keeps you inspired long after you return home. It builds confidence and resilience without you even realizing it. It deepens your connection to the places you visit. It keeps you focused and builds your confidence. And instead of a collection of memories, you start building a story.

Some of my most meaningful travels have been quests—from my Niece Project to Pilgrimages around the world, to my current Capitol to Capitol quest, finishing my dad’s journey in a way that has become entirely my own.

They’ve given my travels direction—and a whole lot more meaning than I ever expected. If this 'speaks' to you too, then I hope you can come to my talk this weekend at the Denver Travel and Adventure Show! And if you can't - and there is enough interest in it - maybe I'll turn it into a webinar for the future! Reply to this email if that's something you'd be interested in!

Travel and Adventure Show in Denver - Free Tickets!

If you live in the Denver or Front Range region of Colorado, I invite you to come to the Denver Travel and Adventure Show April 11th and 12th! The show is a great way to discover thousands of the newest vacation options and meet destination experts who are on-hand to help you personalize and book your trip.

Learn the latest travel tips, trends, and advice at 3 theaters on the show floor. I will be speaking on Travel With Purpose: Create a Travel Quest That Will Shape Your Life April 11th at 1PM!

Get your free tickets:
​Click here to buy a ticket - then use promo code OTTSWORLDVIP to get them free!

Travel to Colorado this Summer!

As most of you know, I've been home in Denver 5for 3 months, and it's been glorious. It's given me a chance to reconnect with Denver and do all kinds of fun local things such as history tours, food tours, a baking class, mixology, and get back to regular yoga at the botanical gardens in Denver! BTW - all of these things are in my 40 Things to do in Denver article!

I've lived here for 8 1/2 years now - so I have a lot of Denver and Colorado expertise to share. I've been updating Colorado articles this winter - so if you are thinking about coming to Colorado this summer - be sure to check these out!

• For city dwellers
  • ​Weekend in Denver – Where to Eat Stay and Play​
  • ​Weekend in Colorado Springs - What to do​
  • ​40 Unique Things to Do in Denver from a Local​
• For hikers:
  • ​Going to Great Heights in Crested Butte​
  • ​Best Hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park​
• For train enthusiasts: My Moab to Denver Rocky Mountaineer Train Journey​
• For cowboy lovers: Steamboat Springs – A Gateway to Western Culture​
• For foodies and wine lovers: How to Spend 3 Perfect Days in Grand Junction​
• For road trippers: Take a Northern Colorado Road Trip​
• For van lifers: Travel by Van in an Epic Colorado Road Trip Featuring Mountains, Dunes, and Canyons​
• For lake lovers: See a Side of Vail You’ve Never Seen Before​
• For day trippers: 7 of the Best Day Trips from Denver​
• For minimalists: Experience Wee Casa – the Tiny Home Resort in Colorado near Rocky Mountain National Park​

Where Next?

My time at home in Denver is ending this month as I take off and start traveling again! First up is Monterey, CA for a bike festival and a girlfriend weekend. Next I tackle another Capito Route from Topeka, KS to Oklahoma City, OK! Then I'm off to Ireland and Portugal for 5 weeks! I hope you'll follow along on my social media channels!

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Happy Travels!

Travel News

Since I am focusing on Colorado - I thought this was a great article about the Denver Airport! How Denver amassed the country’s weirdest airport art collection​

Since I'm headed to Northern Ireland shortly - I had to start looking into the new entry requirements for the UK and how to get an ETA. Here's more info: U.S. travelers must apply for United Kingdom’s ETA via the ETA app

Europe's new entry process - Europe’s New Digital Border System Goes Into Full Effect in April—What You Need to Know​

Ottsworld Tours

New Tour! Come to Vietnam and Cambodia with me on a culturally focused tour! Mar 22 - April 6, 2027

I am working with Wandertours to host their Vietnam and Cambodia tour next March 2027. As you may know - I used to live in Vietnam - so the region is near and dear to my heart. It's been about 10 years since I've been back, so I'm really excited to host this trip and to my old 'home' in Asia!

This is a women's only trip, and it's more cultural than adventurous - which is different from my normal tours. We start in Hanoi, head north to the rice fields for a little wellness stay, stay overnight on a boat in Ha Long Bay, head south to Hoi An, then on to my old home in Saigon, and further south to the Mekong Delta. We basically cover the entire country of Vietnam. Then there is also an add-on trip to Siem Reap Cambodia and Angor Wat.

And if you have any questions - please just reply to this email and I'm happy to get you some answers!

Ride the Capitol Quest with Me 🚲

Dates: October 7-14, 2026
Cost: $3550 Max: 12 people - only 4 spots remain!

Join me on my Capitol-to-Capitol Quest. We'll cycle from Augusta, Maine, to Montpelier, Vermont, during peak leaf-peeping season, when New England explodes in golds, reds, and fiery oranges.

Quiet backroads, car-free trails, charming small towns, and a front-row seat to one of the most beautiful times of year in the U.S. Every detail is handled, local guides have our backs, and you get to be part of an epic story that connects generations, places, and people.

Patagonia ebike Small Group Tour
Dates: November 1 - 7, 2026 - 2 spots remain!
Cost: $5400 ($1350 deposit)

This tour is starting to fill up - I only have 2 remaining spots left! Looking for an incredible, epic November trip before the craziness of the holiday season - then this is for you! Ride an e-bike across the Patagonian steppe and into the shadows of the Paine Massif, stay in remote ranches, meet seasoned baqueanos, spot guanacos and wild horses, and end every day closer to one of Earth’s most iconic parks. It’s more than a vacation—it’s a transformational adventure that challenges, inspires, and delivers a story you’ll remember forever.

South Africa Surf & Safari​
Dates: Feb. 21 - 27, 2027 - FULL Waitlist only

Other Tours I'm working on launching for 2027:

• Nepal Annapurna Hiking - April 2027
• Spain's Camino Ronda and Catalonia - Sep 2027
• Japan's Michinoku Coastal Trail - Nov 2027
• Japan Cat Tour - Nov. 2027

And if you are looking for an awesome Spain tour - be sure to check out my friend's and fellow travel writers - Tom and Kristen - tours​ to Spainjkbg this fall! If you are a curious traveler who loves to learn about history, architecture, and food - then this is a super trip to check out! Join them as they do a deep dive into Andalucia culture with Elective Study Abroad in Cordoba and Granada. Learn more here!​

Or if you are interested in a Scotland tour - another friend of mine, Lynne from Wander You Way Adventures, has an incredible Scotland tour that has availability! Lynne Nieman is the founder of Wander Your Way, a Europe-focused travel business that helps travelers see a different side of Europe — beyond the main tourist track - and she's an expert in Scotland! Check out her Island Odyssey tour September 1 - 9, 2026​

New on the Blog

I've been working on some travel tip articles lately! Be sure to check out my Ottsworld Travel Tips section on my blog as it's full of packing and gear advice as well as solo travel tips, flying tips, and more!

Ottsworld Travel Discounts

If 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.

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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:

• ​Schedule a call with me - ditch the overwhelm, avoid the cookie-cutter tourist traps, and craft travel experiences that inspire and energize you. Whether you’re planning your first big adventure, dreaming of a career break, or just need someone to help make sense of it all, I’ve got your back.
• Get my Free ebook Where to Go & When​
• Read through my 99 Travel Tips before you go
• Book your travel insurance with the company I use, Allianz Travel Insurance​
• Check out my Gear Shop on my Amazon Store​

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