Erika is an avid traveler and explorer of over ninety countries on six different continents. Since 2011, she has spent time studying Arabic in the Middle East, teaching English in Namibia and working as a flight attendant for a major US airline. When not traveling overseas, she loves exploring her own backyard in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.

  • North Falls, Oregon
    United States of America

    The Trail of Ten Falls in Oregon’s Silver Falls State Park

    Whenever I find myself complaining about the Oregon rain, I’m always quick to remind myself that the state’s jaw-dropping beauty is thanks, in large part, to its dreary climate. The precipitation that drenches western Oregon for nearly nine months out of the year gives birth to a wonderland of lush forests and scenic waterways. Without it, places like Silver Falls State Park would not exist.  The iconic Silver Falls State Park is a microcosm of what makes western Oregon so beautiful. It is verdant. It is lush. It features towering…

  • Redwoods State Park
    United States of America

    Visiting the Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park

    The redwoods in California’s Jedediah Smith State Park are among the most impressive and awe-inspiring trees in the world. Like giants of the forest, they pierce the skies overhead and tower above the lush sword ferns that carpet the ground at their feet. These massive trees—tucked away in the coastal hills of northwestern California—have stood the test of time. Many of the Redwoods that still stand today date back more than 2,000 years. They are true examples of perseverance. Pinnacles of efficiency. A testament to nature’s resilience. If you find…

  • Shore Acres State Park
    United States of America

    Southern Oregon Coast Road Trip Attractions

    Few places on Earth can match the Oregon Coast’s rugged natural beauty.  The 300+ mile-long coastline is a testament to nature’s supreme craftsmanship. It is a masterpiece of scenery. A photographer’s dream. A mighty display of sea-meets-land.  Defined by its wildlife-laden sea stacks, sweeping sandy beaches, towering cliffs, and rugged dunes, Oregon’s scenic coastline makes for an unforgettable road trip destination.  And nowhere does this ring more true than along the southern Oregon coast—a spectacular stretch of wild shoreline that spans Highway 101 between Coos Bay and Brookings.    ATTRACTIONS…

  • Samuel H Boardman Park
    United States of America

    Samuel H Boardman State Park on the Oregon Coast

    As Highway 101 winds along the Southern Oregon Coast’s rugged and wild shoreline, it showcases jaw-dropping vistas and superlative natural splendor. The winding ribbon of road traverses some of the most breathtaking scenery in the Pacific Northwest. It features jagged rock monoliths, deserted beaches and sweeping sand dunes that have been sculpted by harsh winds and crashing waves over the course of millennia. Oregon’s southern coastline is a testament to nature’s capacity for both careful creation and heedless destruction. And nowhere is its harsh and fragile beauty more spectacular than…

  • Deception Pass
    United States of America

    6 Things to do on a Whidbey Island Day Trip from Seattle

    For stressed-out Seattleites, Whidbey Island is an idyllic emerald escape. The spindly vertical isle in Washington’s Puget Sound features evergreen forests, cozy waterside towns, sweeping beaches, and soaring mountain views. It is the type of place where artists set up shop, where waves lap gently against lonely windswept beaches, and where the humdrum of city life seems worlds away. At about 57 miles long and 10 miles wide, Whidbey is the largest island in Western Washington’s Puget Sound. Its wealth of tourist attractions and proximity to Seattle make it a…

  • beautiful Bay in St John's
    United States Virgin Islands

    The Best Beaches in St John, USVI

    The tiny Caribbean island of St John is home to untouched wilderness and pristine landscapes. It is a fleck of emerald in a sapphire sea. A place where nature still rules supreme.  With its blanket of greenery, its idyllic beaches, and its translucent waters, the small territory is the most scenically endowed of the three main U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI). St John wears a thick green cloak of gnarled trees and spiky cacti. These forested hillsides—part of a US Virgin Islands National Park—cover two thirds of the island’s surface. Beyond…