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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 maybe you visited it long ago. I invite you all to go check out the new site! It's tough to squeeze 18 years of nonstop travel into a little website, but hopefully, I have made it a bit easier to navigate and ultimately will inspire you to travel.

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My Start Here Page is a good place to start - it will walk you through the new sections of the site! I will also highlight website areas in newsletters going forward. But for now - hope on over and check it out, read the Start Here Page, and let me know if you have any feedback!

Panama Surfing, Yoga, and the Canal

I kicked off the year with my annual women's surf and yoga trip. This year, we surfed in Panama! Panama is a new up-and-coming destination on many people's radar. It's an easy flight to get there, they use US Dollars for currency, it's beautifully warm and tropical, and it has some great sites to see.

We surfed in the little community of Santa Catalina and had five returnees and five newbies. Everyone crushed it in the waves, and we all had an incredible week in the sun! Sadly, I couldn't surf this year due to a pinched nerve, but I still had an incredible time cheering on this group of badass women! This is my favorite way to start the year - girlfriends, sun, and people trying new things - it makes me so happy.

We also snorkeled in Coiba National Park/Island, visited other nearby islands, and many of us took extra time in Panama City to visit the canal (more on that below!).

So where are we headed to surf next year???? I'll be announcing that soon!

Where Next?

I have a small Colorado winter adventure coming up. I will be taking the Colorado Ski Train (Winter Park Express) from Denver to Winter Park for a weekend! The Ski Train is a winter only offering from Amtrak. It leaves from Union Station in Denver, takes you up, up, up through the mountains and drops you right at Winter Park! They have expanded their schedule this year and lowered the price (something you rarely hear of these days!). I'll be snowshoeing with friends in Winter Park, and I can't wait! You can learn more about the Winter Park Express here. ​

I'll be back in your inbox soon with announcements about new Ottsworld Tours!

Happy Travels!

Ottsworld Tours

NEW: Biking Southern France with ExperiencePlus!

Dates: May 10 - 20, 2025
Cost: $5995 - Ottsworld readers get a $200 to $300 discount! Email me to learn more!

Join me on a spring cycling adventure in a little-known region of Southern France! I'll be traveling with ExperiencePlus - a women-owned cycling travel company. It is run by 2 sisters whose parents started the company more than 50 years ago. I've met both sisters (they live in Colorado!) and they have helped me get into the cycling community for my Capitol to Capitol rides. I'm excited to go on one of their epic European tours finally!

​Provence to the Pyrenees is a Classic tour, which means navigation is by chalk arrows. This affords travelers exceptional guided independence. They encourage everyone to go their own pace and take the time they want and need to immerse themselves in what the day brings and...yes, they have ebikes!

Join me on the Provence to Pyrenees tour!

Join me on a Women's Hiking Tour in Nepal​

Dates: September 16 - 29, 2025
Cost: $2790 ( $400 Deposit)
Max People: Women Only

Do you love hiking? Then join me next year in Nepal to hike the world's most majestic mountain range. It's also loaded with cultural opportunities to interact directly and learn about the Nepalese culture. We'll have local female guides and will be hiking through small communities where you can learn about how they live daily and understand their spirituality. You'll gain a unique insight into Nepali women's lifestyle all while being active. This really is an incredible opportunity, and I hope you'll consider joining me!

We'll be hiking from village to village enjoying beautiful views all day and learning about the local culture. We are staying in World Expedition's ecoCamps, where you'll be greeted with incredible 360-degree views from your tent! The tents are set up for you with cots and plenty of warm, comfortable bedding. Western toilets are available at each camp as well as an indoor area where the group can gather and eat and socialize. Porters will carry your luggage, so all you need it a daypack so that you can enjoy your hiking to the fullest!

Shortly, I will be announcing two new tours to Japan for 2025 and the next women's surfing/yoga trip!

Make sure you are signed up to receive my Ottsworld Tour emails here. to be the first to know of the Japan openings.

Japan Hiking & Culture - October 25 - Nov. 1 2025
Japan Cat Themed Tour - Nov. 3 - 10, 2025

Travel News

I can't wait to go to Alaska next month - this is why ->Why Northern Lights Viewing Will be Stellar the Next Two Years​

ChatGPT and similar AI tools' output has to come from somewhere. But where? If you want to know where, read this great article by my friend Amanda from A Dangerous Business Travel Blog. How Google and AI are Killing Travel Blogs Like Mine​
It's about the decline of the blogging industry...insert sobs here...and why you keep getting Reddit results in your Google searches!

Ottsworld Blog Posts

This was my 2nd trip to the Panama Canal, it's an engineering marvel and if you are in Panama, you can't miss it! I updated my Panama Canal post as soon as I got home from my surf trip, check it out! Plus - it's that time of year - snowshoeing season! Check out my article if you are new to snowshoeing or have always wanted to try it.

Gear Corner

We are in the heart of winter! What winter travels and activities do you love to do? I recently updated my Winter Packing List Article, so if you have any cold winter travel coming up (hello northern lights!), then this packing list is a must!

A few additional things to highlight that I love for winter are battery-operated hand warmers! You no longer have to travel with the disposable/shaker ones. Electronic hand warmers are abundant and reasonably priced, and you simply charge them with a USB. Here are some of my favorites

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And as a nod to Antarctica - Vim & Vigr has some new Penguin compression socks that are so cute! I always travel with my compression socks to guard against blood clots. But compression socks don't need to be Blah...they can be cute...like these! Use my Promo Code - OTT15. It's good for 15% off

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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.

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 your next trip:

• 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​

Did you know that you can get my blog posts into your inbox as soon as they are published? Click here to sign up!​!​

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