I'm iterating on my best life.
Because it's a wonderful world.
I've always viewed travel as one of the best ways to increase your knowledge, expand your worldview, and supercharge creativity in ways you can't manage from the comfort of your home. There's something about being somewhere long enough to settle in and develop a routine that exposes a wealth of hidden treasures you won't find running through a week-long checklist of tourist destinations.
Below are some of my and my family's favorite destinations from the past few years.
And the world, still so wild, called to me.
BRITT DANIEL, SPOON
Bali, Indonesia
2023
In Bali, we split our time between the hectic, old town in the heart of the city and the quieter countryside on the outskirts of Ubud.
The people of Bali have such a beautiful culture and the most laid-back attitude of anywhere else we have ever traveled. The traffic on this small island is enough to rattle even the most hardcore commuter but I never once saw the locals say a word. It's like "island time" on another level.
Hoi An, Vietnam
2023
We reconnected with several families we met elsewhere in SE Asia when we traveled back to Vietnam.
An amazing jewel of a city, Hoi An and the surrounding areas (including Da Nang via the Hai Van Pass) held many incredible sites and experiences. We enjoyed traditional music and dance, local arts and crafts, and of course a variety of regional food. Vietnam has a contagious energy that my family soaked up every single day.
Chiang Mai, Thailand
2023
We thought we might have to leave Thailand without seeing Chiang Mai and the northern part of the country but a sudden shift in weather brought heavy rains which helped clear the "smoky season" air.
While in northern Thailand we could reach several unique temples and landmarks, not to mention the ancient, walled city in the heart of Chiang Mai. I've never seen a more ornate and beautiful place than Thailand. There was so much unique art and culture at every turn, it was truly breathtaking.
Ao Nang, Thailand
2023
After our time in Hua Hin the families we had met went their separate ways but we weren't ready to leave Thailand quite yet. The country is so diverse and we wanted to see more.
We stayed in a few locations around Krabi where we took part in the Thai New Year celebration, Songkran. We also spent time at Spirit Mountain, an incredible eco-village where we learned traditional cooking, rock climbing, Mangrove reforestation, coral reef repopulation, and sustainable building and living.
Hua Hin, Thailand
2023
Thailand had been on my list of places to visit for several years. I'd read and seen so much about the temples, the beaches, the geology, and how friendly the people were.
Our first stop was Hua Hin, located on the eastern side of the Thai peninsula on the Gulf of Thailand. The city itself had a very Western influence with large malls and shopping centers interspersed between small shops and food carts. It made a great jumping-off point for exploring and offered a chance to spend time with some of the families we met in Vietnam.
Phu Quoc, Vietnam
2023
After a year with family back in the Pacific Northwest, we set off to meet a group of families traveling through SE Asia. Our first stop, Phú Quốc, Vietnam.
Phú Quốc is a Vietnamese island off the coast of Cambodia. We stayed south of the central city, Dương Đông, in a small beachside area called Cửa Lấp. The food, beaches, and natural scenery were all incredible but the people who came together there from all over the world were a highlight that made this an exceptional experience.
Yucatan, Mexico
2022
The Yucatan peninsula of Mexico was our first stop after the new year. We stayed in the town of Valladolid and then followed some friends we met there to Puerto Morelos.
This part of Mexico is home to the Chicxulub Crater, formed more than 66 million years ago when an asteroid 6-9 miles across impacted the earth wiping out almost all life and causing the extinction of the dinosaurs.
Puerto Rico
2021
After the Dominican, we decided to meet some old friends in Puerto Rico. We arrived in San Juan, and then visited the island of Culebra. Later, we headed back to the mainland to Maunabo and visited the towns on the southern shore.
Puerto Rico is home to the only rainforest in the U.S. Forest Service. Though a U.S. territory, it definitely has a vibe & strange magic all its own which is reflected in the art and music.
Dominican Republic
2021
A tip from some friends we met in Nicaragua led us to the Dominican Republic. We spent a few days in Santa Domingo and then it was on to Cabrera where we stayed while visiting the beach towns to the south and west.
Dominican Republic is the only place in the word where Larimar, a rare form of blue pectolite, is mined. I've heard tourists (read: not me) can actually visit a mine, usually 30-40 meters below the surface, to procure their very own stones.
Nicaragua
2021
We left Panama for Nicaragua and spent most of our time in the beautiful beach community of San Juan del Sur, with shorter stays on the island of Ometepe and the capital, Granada.
Nicaragua has around 40 volcanoes, with as many as 20 having active lava flows. It's on the eastern most edge of the Ring Of Fire in the Pacific Ocean.
Panama
2021
After Covid restrictions lifted we left the PNW for Central America. Our first stop was in Panama. We spent time in Panama City, then the beach community of Playa Reina, and a brief visit to Isla Cebaco for some exploring.
The formation of Panama 23 million years ago changed the evolution of the world as tectonic plates forced the continents of North and South America together, and volcanos once beneath the sea were pushed above the surface.