Have you ever seen the northern lights? Watching the aurora was something that was on my bucket list ever since I can remember. I was fascinated with stories about Alaska, with my grandparents frequently making the long drive to the state every year, telling me all about their encounters with moose, the incredible wilderness scenery and the aurora. In the early 1990s, the TV show 'Northern Exposure' was my favorite, and on one episode the mood induced by the lights caused dreaming among Cicely's residents to intensify, reminding me once again that I really needed to go someday.

It was another decade or so before I made it to Alaska, and as my visit was in July it was all about the Midnight Sun with no chance of witnessing the aurora. In 2015, I made my first trip to Iceland and instantly fell in love. One of the top spots for watching the lights, I made it my mission to find them.  The odds are better close to or above the Arctic Circle in Finland, Norway and Sweden, all countries "on my list," but the fantasy-like scenery in Iceland makes for a fantastic adventure, aurora or not.  

As part of the first-personal travel stories series by Trips To Discover, I chronicled my journey here in Chasing the Northern Lights in Iceland.

Have you ever witnessed the aurora? I'd love to hear about it, and, pictures if you have them, please! ​

In the spring of 2010, I started a new life chapter by packing up my little red Mitsubishi Mirage with camping gear and other necessities, with the goal to break out of cubicle life and live my dream. A decade later, while I may not be a famous travel writer, I've accomplished more than I ever imagined, breaking free from the 9-5 grind, visiting many countries around the world, and hopefully many more to come. It all began with six months of (mostly) car camping. While there's a lot more to this story, you can read about my journey here, Adventures on the Road: 6 Months Car Camping in the West.

With travel on hold, I've been doing a lot of reminscing lately. My schedule has been incredibly busy for many years now. Documenting all my trips is something I haven't had much time for, with much of it spent creating itineraries so that others could go and enjoy. But thanks to a new series with TripsToDiscover, I've been able to put together some of those stories for the site. 

Tourist crowds just aren't my thing. When planning a trip to Italy, I wanted to go beyond the usual hot spots, and Puglia didn't disappoint. This area in the southeast often referred to as the "heel of the boot," is far less-visited, providing an authentic Italian experience that I won't soon forget. While it's worth visiting places like Florence and Rome, getting "lost" in Puglia was the highlight. You can read all about it here: Lost in Authentic Puglia – Exploring Italy’s Least Traveled Region