Mostly, this is for me. I didn't want to start a travel blog. I wanted somewhere to keep an archive. It started as a way to remember the places I've been and the little details I'd inevitably forget over time. Every now and then, someone asks about a place I've been, and having everything here beats trying to remember it all off the top of my head.
When I book a trip, I want to experience everything a place has to offer. Not necessarily every checklist attraction. I care more about the greenest part of the map than the busiest one. Walkable neighborhoods. The splurge that's actually worth it. The kind of experiences that accidentally become the best part of the trip. Mom and pop restaurants. Quiet trails. I care more about how a place feels than how many things I can check off.
I believe the best part of almost every destination happens before everyone else wakes up. Give me an early morning, a long walk, and a good cup of coffee over a group tour, a crowded attraction, or standing in line any day.