Chris Backe's Blog, page 79

You need help to start your own ‘digital nomad life’ — but not like this

So the New York Times recently wrote about the digital nomad life — an article I looked forward to reading as soon as I read the headline (“The Digital Nomad Life: Combining Work and Travel”).

It’s rare to be disappointed by a name as highly regarded as the New York Times, but I was. The article starts by mentioning a start-up (Unsettled) that’s made a name for itself by offering month-long ‘experiences’. As if being a digital nomad was a thing to experience, like salsa dancing or a football...

8 Things I Wish I Knew About Toronto Before Arriving

While Toronto may not be as exotic as southeast Asia or some Eastern European countries, the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) has plenty of reasons to check it out. Here’s what I wish I knew before arriving.

We spent about 2 1/2 months in the Toronto area – a bit of a break from the road trip across Canada. I’ve already written the 3 Days in Toronto itinerary, but if you’ll be there for awhile, read on.

On a budget? Scope out the Dollarama, Value Village, No Frills, and Talize…

Food, clothes, toile...

7 Things I Wish I Knew About Florida Before Arriving

Without a doubt, Florida is a lot of fun. Know what to expect before you go. Each region has it’s own feel.

In my next book What the Florida, I’ve broken Florida down into the four regions you see above. The panhandle region (in blue) tends to be very similar to Alabama and Georgia north of it — in other words, don’t be surprised to hear a southern drawl. The northern region (in green) tended to have more Floridian natives, while the middle and southern regions (in pink and orange) has a lot...

Know where to go: 17 foreigner-friendly neighborhoods in cities around the world

Sometimes you just have to know where to start.

As a place to start exploring a city, the foreigner-friendly neighborhoods around the world are an easy place to get settled and accustomed to what’s happening. They let you get your feet wet when you first arrive without getting too overwhelmed by everything happening around you.

I’ve asked my travel blogging friends about the foreigner-friendly neighborhoods they can vouch for, and I’ll likely be referring back to this list myself as I tr...

From Canada to Croatia: the journey behind the journey

So we’re sitting at my in-law’s dining room table in Nova Scotia…

Getting ready for the next big adventure. We had just completed an epic road trip from Nova Scotia to Toronto to Key West — and back to Nova Scotia. There’s a fair bit of decompression going on here as we’re sleeping in, looking at photos, pruning our stuff back down to a suitcase, a carry-on and a hopefully-not-too-oversized-personal-item-slash-computer-bag…

Stay with me here.

We know we’ll be spending some time in Eastern Eur...

Exploring Costa Rica, Finding Freedom, and Going Local: Book reviews for March 2017

Once a month, I put together the books I’ve read into a single review post. Alternatively, see plenty of previous book reviews over here, or see how I rate books.

Also, a quick disclaimer: review copies are typically provided or downloaded for free, and links may be affiliate links. These reviews cover the version of the book I read, not necessarily the version that’s currently available. A newer or updated version may be available – check for yourself using the links below.

We’re baaaaacckk!...

See the teeny, tiny place where four men lived underwater — Destination: the Man in the Sea Museum

For centuries people have been exploring and working underwater. At the Man in the Sea Museum, it’s time to enjoy some of those stories.

Panhandle Florida is a lighter on the weird stuff than the peninsula, but the Man in the Sea Museum is a delightful place to see as you head west from Panama City. Look for the bright red SEALAB 1 as you’re driving down the highway (but be aware you’ll need to be slowing down before you see it or it’ll be hard to make the turn!).

The SEALAB  1 sub was the 1...

Review: a carry-on that weighs less than a kilo? Introducing CabinZero, a carryon-slash-backpack

This soft-sided cabin bag packs it all in at under a kilogram.

Disclaimer: I was sent a CabinZero bag of the ‘Classic 44L’ variety to test and keep. As always, my reviews and opinions are my own.

Billed as ‘the suitcase on your back, this soft-sized carry-on / cabin-sized bag weighs well under a kilogram (about 760 grams or 1 pound 11 ounces, to be more precise). Coming with the usual backpack straps and a couple of handles (top and side), it lacks the handle, frame, and wheels found on hard...

The end of one journey, the start of another, and an announcement

On May 13, 2016, we left my mother-in-law’s place in Nova Scotia to embark on an epic road trip throughout Canada and the US.

Just myself, Laura, a 2001 Pontiac Sunfire… and just about everything we owned. We drove all around Nova Scotia, west through New Brunswick and Quebec, and explored a lot of Ontario before settling into Toronto for about three months.

While earlier plans had us traveling through the western part of Canada, we ended up opting to see more of the US instead, routing ours...

Destination: the World’s Only Coon Dog Cemetery (Alabama)

It’s a resting place for a very specific type of dog — and there’s a lot more going on than you might think.

For my non-American readers (or you city slicker types): Coon dogs are a specific breed of hound dogs regarded for their prowess at hunting raccoons. Not as tasty than corn dogs.

Alabama isn’t known for having tons of tourist attractions. We found a few while driving through, sure, but this one is quite a bit off the highway.

Started in 1937 by Key Underwood to honor his coon dog Tro...