For many travelers, long term exploration begins with a single decisive break from routine. For Aleks (@Aleksxrx) that moment arrived shortly after finishing his studies. The original plan had been to move to Australia and pursue a surf-oriented lifestyle, but a lack of money forced him into full time work instead. During that first year of employment, he used short holidays to backpack through Thailand and later Mexico.

Photo credit: Ricardo Kaljouw Ricardo Kaljouw grew up in Zeeland , a province in the southwestern Netherlands where much of the land lies below sea level. There, risk is not theoretical. Dikes, storm barriers, and coastal defenses shape daily life, reinforcing the understanding that safety depends on preparation, vigilance, and respect for environmental forces. That early exposure to managed risk shaped Kaljouw’s approach to exploration. Growing up below sea level taught m

Fees Are Changing. Visitors heading to some of America’s most popular national parks in 2026 will notice a change at the entrance gate—especially if they’re traveling from outside the U.S. Beginning Jan. 1, 2026, the U.S. Department of the Interior implemented a new “America-first” fee structure that raises costs for international visitors while keeping prices steady for U.S. residents. The changes affect 11 of the country’s most visited national parks, including Yosemite, Y