Every time we say “Faroe Islands,” people squint like we made it up. Nope, it’s real! It’s between Iceland and Norway, but also between reality and fantasy. Think: sheep > people, amazing cliffs, and weather that can change mid-sentence. Have you been?

It’s not glamorous. It’s not passive income. But somehow, this little travel photography side hustle keeps growing. This article is for anyone out there chasing a creative dream that doesn’t always make sense — but feels right anyway:

When we traveled with Arctic Tern, it changed how we think about silence, scale, and stillness. Now they’re offering something even rarer: A total solar eclipse over East Greenland. No mega cruise. No crowds. Just wild, remote awe. Only 12 people. And 4 spots are already gone.

Something rare is coming to the Arctic—a total solar eclipse. No crowds, no mega cruise. Just wild, remote stillness. We traveled with this crew in 2024. Now they’re doing something epic. ✉️ Get details + subscriber bonuses in tomorrow’s newsletter: buff.ly/9v2gX8T

Can we normalize taking stretch breaks during the day? It’s too easy to sit idle at your desk for hours. 5 minutes makes a huge difference. You can find tons of free 5 min stretch videos on Youtube. I’m trying to treat these moments like non-negotiables. You deserve that reset, too.

Ever heard the one about the sheep that mapped an entire country? Not a joke, I swear! Story drops in the morning. Part travel tale, part creative genius. It starts with a 360° camera and a solar panel… strapped to a sheep. 🐑 Seriously, you’ll want to subscribe for this one. buff.ly/9t1nCWU

We thought this National Park would be a one-and-done. Now we’ve been back more times than we can count. No crowds. No chaos. Just loons, otters, the smell of pine, and the occasional Northern Lights. buff.ly/OIxjvnq

Planning a trip where the sun doesn’t rise. Svalbard. Polar night. Total darkness. Everyone says we’re nuts. I think we’re nuts. I mean, I hate being cold and this is above the Arctic Circle. But something is calling us to give it a try. Would you go to a place where it’s 24 hours of darkness?

Young fur seals are ridiculously cute. Those little ears! 😍 This guy was watching us as we watched him from our zodiac. Being in South Georgia felt like we were in a wildlife documentary. One of many memorable wildlife encounters on our Antarctica/South Georgia expedition.

I hate the cold. So why does one of our favorite places on earth sit just 800 miles from the North Pole? buff.ly/emjMFaw

Last night I had a stressed out convo with ChatGPT. I think it may be my therapist now?? "But for tonight? You’re allowed to feel tired. ... You just might need a new map. And I’ll help you draw it when you’re ready. ❤️ ChatGPT"

Copenhagen just made sustainability irresistible. Pick up trash, eat plants, ride a bike—and get free wine, tours, or museum passes. CopenPay is back, bigger than ever. Only Denmark could make eco-goodies this cool. Would you trade cleanup for a kayak ride? 👉 buff.ly/FWYXn3D

The only pairing Europeans care about is: wine + friends. buff.ly/xBslpci

If it scares you, it might be worth doing.

The U.S. drinks less than Europe on average, but regulates it more. More laws. More fear. More restrictions. So why do we have more alcohol-related problems? If a sidewalk beer feels rebellious… Maybe it’s not the drink that needs examining. Maybe it’s the culture around it. buff.ly/xBslpci

These giant, painted, concrete jacks look like abstract art or something out of a sci-fi set. But they actually serve a very real (and important) purpose. Any wild guesses what they’re for? Bonus points if you’ve seen them in the wild.

We visited Greenville, South Carolina for "Artisphere" and now understand why it ranks among the top art fairs in the country. The entire downtown seems to lean into the celebration. It’s a weekend-long embrace of creativity. Have you ever been somewhere that really supports the arts?

A lot of people wait for big wins. We build small ones that pile up. This Camino sticker brings in travel cash with zero extra work. Low effort. Real results. Our kind of hustle. What’s your favorite small-but-mighty money win?

Not every adventure needs a passport. Watching Mylee sniff shade‑cooled grass at home reminds me that wanderlust begins when we are young. Simple things right under our noses (literally) spark the need for adventure, long before it ever crosses oceans.

Mark’s mom just moved into assisted living. It happened fast. In 2018, we asked where she wanted to go for her 80th. She said: “Budapest.” We added Iceland and Paris. Her last big adventure, though none of us knew it then. This is why we don’t wait: buff.ly/67idYjo

This new piece is part story, part rant, and part gentle nudge. If your whole trip is booked before you even pack your bag, you might be leaving the best parts behind. Like, say... watching a rare Ornate Hawk Eagle and its baby in the Costa Rican rainforest. buff.ly/DAZqAK8

There has to be another way... If most of us need there must be another way... If we need multiple side hustles alongside a 9-to-5 and use our limited free time to boost productivity just for a decent life, maybe our systems were never sensible. What if a “good life” didn’t require endless growth?

The reality is that we don’t just ask our bodies to go the distance when we travel. We also ask them to bounce back from our everyday habits. We teamed up with Jim Brown from A Friendly Nudge, to share real-world tips on staying strong & adventure-ready. #travel #fitness buff.ly/HFrzbsO

Even bananas aren’t what they used to be. 🍌 Around 650 AD, farmers crossbred two wild types—and seedless bananas were born. The sweet snack we know today is a human-made marvel. Nature gave us the rough draft—we edited it. buff.ly/StohdWE #travel #naturefacts

Not everyone plans their day around a pile of skulls… but one time we did in Milan, Italy. #photography #travel #Italy

Said goodbye to our ecolodge in Costa Rica today, they didn’t thank us for visiting their lodge—they thanked us for supporting their project. That word choice stuck with me. Stay somewhere that cares about the land it occupies. Choose lodges, not just lodgings. Projects, not just profits.

We thought we were just watching a movie. Turns out we were mapping our future. Camino de Santiago wasn’t on our “must do” list…until we watched “The Way.” We made a list. You might want to steal it, or add to it. :) buff.ly/2UyUczZ #hiking #travel

Top documentaries you’ve watched recently. I’ll go first: 1) The Geography of Bliss 2) The Reluctant Traveler 3) Will & Harper

In a world of ultra-processed noise and shortcuts, real feels revolutionary. Travel will show you what real food tastes like. You don’t need preservatives. You need a mixing bowl, a little patience, and a reason. Crust first. Questions later.

We met in a coffee shop in 2009. Took a pic of our coffee cups on our first trip together to Oregon and framed it. Named our first blog "Coffee Cups and Wanderlust" and have since evolved into "Wanderlust In Focus" To us, coffee isn’t just coffee—it’s where our journey started. buff.ly/7b0mAQA

What truth do you live by now that your 25-year-old self would have ignored? Say it out loud and drop it here. I'll go first: "Quality over quantity in the people you surround yourself with."

Sometimes the most beautiful, meaningful experiences are hiding just a few steps off the well-worn path… You, traveler, didn’t come all the way to (fill in a location here) just to see what everyone else sees. Look away from the crowd and really see where it is you are.

We all know that one person who is in bed by 9pm, loves to stay home, won't make plans without knowing the parking situation, but travels 6 times a year. It's me. I'm that person. 🛫

"You can't add days to your life, but you can add life to your days" Reading that quote changed my whole perspective on life. buff.ly/tSRNt4G

If you travel to a place for a day, you take pictures. A week, you take notes. A month, you take part. At some point, travel starts being about connecting with the places you go What’s a place that felt like more than just a stop on your itinerary?

Some visitors ring the doorbell. Others quietly perch in our pine trees and chew on the pinecones. As self-proclaimed bird nerds, we keep a 'life list' for our travels and our backyard. Yesterday, we had some surprise guests, about a dozen White-winged Crossbills!

Ten years ago, this little Burrowing Owl struck a pose for us, gazing up as if lost in thought. A decade later, we still love chasing these quiet moments with nature. Wild, unexpected moments that stick with us. What photo(s) come to mind when you think of a memory from 10 years ago?

Have you ever felt a change coming? Something so exciting it makes you nervous? That’s where I’m at today. Nervous it may not happen because we want it so badly. Life is good, but we’re craving change. Have you ever felt guilty for wanting change, even when life is good?

Repeat after me: I am not too introverted to explore. My quiet observation is how I achieve seeing the world in ways others miss. You are so much more than someone else’s definition of adventure. #travel #vietnam #photography

You pack for adventure. You pack for comfort. But do you pack for emergencies? I didn’t. Until Italy taught me a painful lesson (literally). buff.ly/zEdZOZD

"I can't afford an African Safari." Wrong. You just need to know the right companies to book with. We've got lots of unique travel tips and stories for you: buff.ly/HbCWg7K

Stop letting excuses rob you of the life you actually want. All of the times you’ve told yourself… Yeah but I don’t know where to start. Yeah but I’m too scared to fail. Yeah but I have kids. Yeah but I’ve invested too much in my (crappy) career. ENOUGH. What dream do you want to make a reality?

What a rush! Old-school fishing, modern-day thrill. In False Bay, South Africa, we watched fishermen haul in their catch using a method that’s been passed down for centuries. No tech, no shortcuts—just skill, patience, and the rhythm of the sea. Accidental adventures are the best ones.

Most love to scroll Instagram for travel inspiration looking for the next viral “spot” to flock to for their own viral photo. But they will often neglect to learn anything about the place and the culture they are visiting. buff.ly/gknfDxO

Sure, Instagram shows off the highlights, but these travel shows dive deeper...

Some sunsets refuse to say goodbye. On our 2021 camper van trip around Iceland, we really got to soak in the ‘midnight sun’ for the first time. It felt like it was silently begging us to stay, dream, and wander a little longer. Man, I want to go back…..

Travel cracked us wide open. Turns out, life’s healthier, slower, and way simpler in more places than we ever imagined. You don’t realize how chaotic your “normal” is until you leave it behind. buff.ly/BddAEv8

Step one: Get your ducks in a row. Step two: Realize they’re Crested Terns. Step three: Roll with it.

Some moments stay with you forever. A colorful sunrise. A precious moment with family. An unexpected adventure that changed everything. If you could relive one favorite memory, just as it was… what would it be? Tell me yours. I’ll go first… buff.ly/QDHOaDE #travel#travel#europe

Spotted! The true kings of the Arctic. 🐻‍❄️ Well, queen, in the case of this beauty :) Today is #InternationalPolarBearDay - a reminder of these incredible (and vulnerable) giants. Seeing them in Svalbard was unforgettable. https://buff.ly/3Xh44PS #polarbear #travel #photographer