“Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not.”               -Ralph Waldo Emerson

After a busy day of activities, every traveler seeks the comfort and security of a place to rest.  From five-star hotels and resorts to a rustic cabin in the forest, a place to stay exists at every price point for every need.  As the peer-to-peer economy takes hold with services like AirBnB and others, new ways of finding accommodations are transforming how travelers find that special place to stay and connect with each other.


Chelsea 10

Traveling with small footprints: A guide to eco-tourism

By Chelsea Wiersma

Eco-tourism has been rapidly growing in popularity over recent years. There are now eco-friendly stores, eco-lodges, vegan restaurants, and sustainably made products in almost every major travel destination. It is the responsibility of travelers to be mindful of their impact on the environment and make informed decisions while exploring our … Read more   Read more

The World Eco-tourism Sustainability
albuquerque HotAir Balloons

Have a high time in Albuquerque

By Kathleen Walls

A major highlight in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is a hot air balloon ride at daybreak.   Read more

United States Off the Beaten Path Food & Drink
KOA Campsite scaled

What to do about Racism and Bigotry as Travelers of Conscience and Culture

By Ian Fitzpatrick

With everything taking place in the world from the coronavirus pandemic, global recession, and America’s racial reckoning, even a brief escape from these problems can be an elixir for the body, mind, spirit, and soul.   Read more

United States Backpacking & Camping Insights Social Responsibility
Carters Lake

Ellijay, Georgia: Extraordinarily out of the Ordinary

By Kathleen Walls

Set in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Ellijay, a city in Gilmer County Georgia, is very different from the urbanized America that most visitors picture.   Read more

United States Backpacking & Camping History
9. Belgadia Palace

Mayurbhanj: Odisha’s Hidden Secret

By Sugato Mukherjee

The stately manor that dates back to 1804 is the residence of the Bhanj Deo royal family that had ruled the princely state of Mayurbhanj in eastern India   Read more

India Experiences Luxury Travel History
iguazu with rainbow

On the edge of the world at Iguazu Falls

By Devon Older

Iguazu Falls is the largest waterfall system in the world, made up of 275 cascades, drops, and falls. Standing at the edge of the Garganta del Diablo, which translates to the Devil’s Throat, a visit to Iguazu Falls truly feels as though you are perched on the edge of the … Read more   Read more

Central and South America Family Travel Landscape
Capitol Hill

U.S. Democracy examined and Home Exchange inspirations

In her new book, You Call THIS Democracy? author Elizabeth Rusch illuminates undemocratic elements plaguing American democracy.  She also offers international comparisons and provides insights into how American democracy is viewed from abroad. “You Call THIS Democracy? gives us a clear look at the problems we face in our politics … Read more   Read more

United States Experiences
backpack

Adopt a Backpacker: Seeking Refuge During the COVID-19 Crisis

By Ann-Marie Cahill

For many long-term backpackers, it has been a new adventure in survival and endurance as their usual fallback job opportunities have also been affected by the shut-down.   Read more

Oceania Backpacking & Camping
vail colorado village

Colorado Rocky Mountain Getaways: Top 3 Options for an Ultimate Experience

Nature is embracing; it has a solution for all your moods and needs. And the Colorado Rocky Mountains are its proof! Located in the western region of North America, the Rockies are a blessing for adventure seekers, nature lovers, and those who want a short break from the hustle of … Read more   Read more

North America
Candy Cane House for Christmas

Stay in an Edible Candy Cane House this Holiday Season

For people looking for something really unique to do this Christmas season, Booking.com suggests its edible London booking – the Candy Cane House. The Candy Cane House is located in the Soho neighborhood and is being offered for two guests for two nights. It’s designed for people who love sweets … Read more   Read more

Off the Beaten Path Events & Festivals
city palace jaipur

Royal Family Rents Palace Suite on Airbnb

If you like the idea of spending the night at a castle, you can live like royalty when you rent out a palace suite in Jaipur. Visit India in November, and you can book a suite on Airbnb in its 300-year-old City Palace of Jaipur, which is the home of … Read more   Read more

Asia Luxury Travel Architecture
hotel room

Barter Your Skills For Free Accommodations

The second international Barter Week saw over 600 hotels and self-catering businesses around the world sign up for the event that will occur Nov. 18 to 24. The initiative encourages accommodation owners to provide free stays to guests who share their goods or skills. Hosts register their wish in exchange … Read more   Read more

Budget Travel
airbnbjpg

Hawaii Passes Law To Stem Number of AirBnBs

Hawaii recently passed one of the island’s most strictest vacation rental laws in over 40 years. A bill signed by Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell, aims at limiting the number of bed and breakfast rentals to 1,715. The Honolulu City Council suspects there are close to 10,000 vacation rentals on Oahu … Read more   Read more

North America Budget Travel
Mackinac Island bridge

“Somewhere in Time” at Mackinac Island’s historic Grand Hotel

Mackinac Island’s Grand Hotel.  Photo:  Tonya Fitzpatrick What does great fudge, the world’s longest porch, U.S. presidents and Hollywood have in common?   Mackinac Island. World Footprints will take you on a journey to a little known crown jewel that sits in Lake Huron between Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas –Mackinac … Read more   Read more

United States Family Travel Architecture History
Hotel RL exterior

HOTEL REVIEW: Red Lion Hotels debuts new urban lifestyle brand in Baltimore, joins in fight against homelessness

There’s a new hip hotel in town and it is leading the way in social responsibility and preservation.  Earlier this week, World Footprints attended the grand opening of Hotel RL Inner Harbor Baltimore, a new urban lifestyle brand of the Red Lion Hotel Corporation (RLHC) .  Guests enjoyed signature cocktails, … Read more   Read more

North America Social Responsibility