Walking down travel memory lane the other day with our Top 10 Travel Photos Part 3 reminded me just how many incredible moments we’ve shared. I couldn’t help but keep going—revisiting more of those amazing memories and feeling so grateful all over again.
We are truly blessed to have visited so many incredible countries with so many wonderful people. That blessing is not lost on me. I’m so thankful that our paths have crossed, and that together we’ve built a travel community that inspires, supports, and celebrates each other.
Honestly, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do without all of you. You are the best part of what makes traveling so special. Thank you for being part of this journey with us.
#1 Scenic Train, Norway
While traveling across Norway from Oslo to Bergen, we took one of the most breathtaking train rides of our lives. The scenery was surreal—snowcapped mountains rising majestically above valleys, crystal-clear lakes mirroring the sky, and forests dusted with frost that seemed to sparkle in the fall light. Every time I tried to capture it in a photo, I felt a pang of disappointment—nothing could accurately convey the quiet beauty of what we were seeing. You simply had to be there.
But the train ride was more than just a feast for the eyes. It was alive with unexpected moments and human connection. Jordan and I found ourselves seated next to members of a men’s choir heading to Bergen to compete, their laughter and stories filling the car. In another car, several members of our group broke into a sing-along, belting out “The Hills Are Alive” from The Sound of Music, their voices bouncing off the windows and up into our train car.
Later, in the cozy cafe car, Peter struck up a conversation with a Norwegian passenger over a book. Before we knew it, we were invited to attend a lecture he was giving later that week—an unplanned connection that made the journey feel even more intimate.
I’ve taken many train rides in my life, but this one stands out. And as if the trip couldn’t get more thrilling, we later spotted a familiar face at breakfast in our hotel—one of the Hobbits from Lord of the Rings.
#2 Fresh Catch, Panama
Jordan uses nearly all of his PTO to join me on Land + See group tours, so when it comes to traveling with our kids these days, we have to get a little creative. In 2024, that meant trading in turkey and mashed potatoes for a glorified long weekend over Thanksgiving… in Panama—a place we’d been secretly obsessed with thanks to some trashy reality TV.
Even though we were only there for five days, we made every moment count. We started in Chame along the Pacific, then set off on an overnight catamaran adventure to the San Blas Islands, and wrapped things up in Panama City. Each stop different than the next.
For everyone, the highlight was San Blas. We snorkeled in crystal-clear waters, sipped straight from fresh coconuts, and were treated to the freshest seafood by local fishermen—like this guy—who welcomed us with warm smiles and generosity. It was a Thanksgiving unlike any other: non-traditional, sun-soaked, and full of laughter.
We missed seeing our family, of course, but sometimes you have to grab the little breaks when you can.
#3 Books in Kenya
I should start by acknowledging the obvious—this is not a great photo. I shot it on my iPhone, it’s out of focus, and honestly, the framing leaves a lot to be desired. But the image itself doesn’t matter. What it captures is a moment I will remember for the rest of my life.
Ever since I met my friend—and former neighbor—Peter, I’ve known how much he loves books. I first realized this before our trip to Croatia, when he left me a copy of Rebecca West’s Black Lamb and Grey Falcon, detailing her six-week journey through Yugoslavia in 1937. Peter has a remarkable gift for learning, and he often expresses it through small, thoughtful gestures—like giving books that reflect your interests, your shared memories, or something he knows will spark curiosity. For Peter, giving books is a love language. As a former educator and lifelong reader, it’s endearing, heartfelt, and deeply personal—a gift Jordan and I have been lucky enough to receive for years.
But this moment in Africa went far beyond books. Peter has volunteered with Books for Africa for years, and on this trip, he coordinated a generous donation to the children of Ewangan at Semadep School. Watching him hand over those books, seeing the joy and curiosity on the children’s faces, was profoundly moving. I could feel the meaning of it for him—the culmination of years of passion, care, and dedication to literacy and learning.
It was one of the most heartwarming and beautiful moments I’ve ever witnessed on a tour. For Peter, it wasn’t just about the books—it was about sharing knowledge, sparking wonder, and giving something that could truly change a child’s world. Being there to see it unfold was a gift in itself.
#4 Sunset in Maasai Mara
As much as I try to give each trip its own moment, I can’t move on without acknowledging Kenya—and its life-changing sunsets. We were lucky enough to witness several, but this one, on our way to camp in the Maasai Mara, stands out vividly.
It’s just a simple iPhone photo, but the memory is anything but simple. The sun radiated wavy heat lines as it sank behind an acacia tree. Not long before, we had stumbled upon a family of cheetahs, lying lazily nearby, and the sensory overload of it all—sight, heat, sounds of the wild—was almost more than I could process.
It’s the kind of moment photos can’t capture—you truly had to be there to feel it—but those of us who were know it was transformative. A fleeting sunset, a glimpse of wild beauty, and an experience that we often still talk about.
#5 Tomb Raider, Cambodia
In 2025, we traveled to Vietnam and Cambodia as a family during the boys’ Spring Break. Every day was filled with unforgettable moments, but for me, the most profound came at Angkor Wat.
Of course, the main temples are awe-inspiring—towering, majestic, meticulously preserved—but it was the hidden ones that left the deepest impression. Temples half-swallowed by the jungle, with roots twisting through stone and moss carpeting the walls, stood quietly, untouched by modern hands. Walking among them, you felt the weight of centuries and the quiet persistence of nature reclaiming history.
Maybe it was the nostalgia of years spent playing Tomb Raider on our old Compaq Presario, or the haunting first-person stories of a people still rising from the shadows of genocide—but Cambodia left its mark on my heart. The temples, the jungle, the resilience of its people—all of it combined into a moment that felt both timeless and painfully human.
#6 The Dolomites, Italy
As much as I understand why certain places become tourist hotspots—and recognize their undeniable value—I have to admit that sometimes, even while working, I get a little restless. I love Milan, but after a few visits, my heart starts to crave something new, something off-the-beaten-path, something that feels undiscovered.
When I’m planning tours, there’s always a balancing act: honoring the tried-and-true gems that people come to see, while also indulging my selfish pull toward the unknown. That tug-of-war is part of the thrill, but also part of the challenge.
That’s why our summer trip in 2025 holds a special place in my heart. We veered off the usual path and spent a few days in the Dolomites. It probably wasn’t the main reason most travelers signed up for the trip, but for me, it became the highlight. The mountains were jagged, majestic, and utterly untamed. The air was crisp and fresh, carrying the scent of pine and wildflowers, and the silence between peaks felt almost sacred.
Outside of a few adventurous souls, the Dolomites aren’t visited in quite the same way as the Swiss or Austrian Alps—and that’s exactly why I love them. The longer a place can stay set apart, quiet, and special, the more my heart wants it.
This particular photo is the view from our hotel—a view so expansive and mesmerizing that it was impossible not to get lost in it. Even now, I revisit that panorama in my mind, letting it remind me of why I fell in love with travel in the first place.
#7 Marija’s House, Dubrovnik
Boy, I could write an entire blog post just about this woman, but I’ll do my best to condense it into bite-sized pieces here. Marija is the very definition of resilience, ambition, and perseverance.
I first met her on our very first trip to Croatia in 2021. She had recently opened her home to travelers, sharing not just her incredible traditional Croatian cooking—like peka, slow-cooked under a steel bell with hot coals, or Zlatko’s home-brewed rakija—but also a human connection that felt rare and intimate. I’m not what you’d call a foodie, but Marija’s food melts in your mouth, and even more importantly, her warmth leaves a lasting impression.
There’s something profoundly special about being welcomed into someone’s home. It’s intimate, raw, and real. You can ask difficult questions, glimpse life through someone else’s eyes, and walk away forever changed. That’s exactly what happens when you spend time with Marija.
We make it a point to visit her whenever we’re in Croatia, and lately, the rest of the world is catching on. National Geographic, Forbes, and other major publications have discovered the magic of Marija and Zlatko’s home: sun-ripened tomatoes, sweet plum rakija, and a belly full of friendship.
Marija has even gone on to open her own restaurant, Local, in downtown Dubrovnik. As much as I hate to share her with the world—because her home and her hospitality feel so personal—it’s incredible that more people now get to experience a taste of that magic.
Marija isn’t just about food. She’s about generosity, connection, and the way a shared meal can bridge cultures, hearts, and stories. And anyone lucky enough to meet her leaves richer than when they arrived.
#8 Mel, England
Around the same time I was wrestling with the evolution of Land + See, I realized I wanted to take it to the next level—to scale it in a way that would allow more people to experience the kind of travel that changes you. I am so proud of what we’ve accomplished so far: trips selling out, long waitlists, and countless people saying yes to adventure. But quickly, it became clear that if we are going to grow, it was more than I could handle on my own.
In January, I put on my vision board that I wanted to hire a tour director—a dream that felt almost too big to imagine. I knew that the more people we could get out in the world, the faster empathy, connection, and understanding could spread—and I didn’t want to be in the business of turning people away.
Enter Mel. Mel and I met on LinkedIn of all places, and over the course of the year, we decided to collaborate on our England trip—her home country. For the first time, I stepped back from leading the tour myself, and Mel took the reins. Watching her fit in so naturally with our travelers, and seeing how warmly our travel community welcomed her, was so rewarding.
It reminded me why I started Land + See in the first place: for the people, the stories, and the moments that only happen when you share a place through someone else’s eyes. It also gave me hope—and excitement—for the future. There are so many more Mel’s out there, eager to show travelers their hometowns, their traditions, their worlds. And I can’t wait to bring them into the fold, to continue growing this community, and to create even more moments that inspire connection, curiosity, and joy.
The future of Land + See feels limitless—and this is just the beginning.
#9 Gap of Dunloe, Ireland
On our trip to Ireland this fall, we saw so much, but my favorite day was riding with a jarvey through the Gap of Dunloe. We were blessed with perfect weather, and even though our group had to split up and walk part of the way while our horse took a little break, the scenery was absolutely breathtaking.
This photo captures Christina—probably the most photogenic human alive—embodying the joy we were all feeling that day: unbridled, wild, and full of life. It was one of those moments where the landscape, the laughter, and the sheer sense of freedom all came together perfectly.
#10 Tequila, Mexico
When we first moved to Atlanta, we hired an au pair—more out of necessity than convenience. Schools were virtual, and Jordan and I were juggling in-person jobs. That’s when Denisse came into our lives—our fifth family member, and honorary Picchiottino.
We had an incredible year sharing our lives with her, but, as these things go, she eventually returned home to continue her studies, leaving a Denisse-shaped hole in all of our hearts. That’s why it was so special to visit her this past year and get a glimpse into her life.
Together, we explored several areas of Mexico, tasting the local treats, laughing, and bonding with her family. One day in Tequila stood out as a favorite. It hit me that while the places we visit draw us to travel, it’s the shared stories, the people, and the bonds we form along the way that linger the longest. One of the most beautiful things we can do in life is share our lives with one another—and that trip with Denisse and her family embodied that completely.
It’s no secret I love getting inside people’s homes when we travel, but seeing life through Denisse and her family felt like experiencing Mexico as authentically as possible without actually being from there. And in a rare gift, she let me simply be the traveler—without worrying about holding it all together. That freedom, that shared connection, made the experience profoundly special.
At the end of the day, travel is about so much more than the places we see or the sights we check off a list. It’s about the people we meet, the stories we share, and the moments that remind us how beautifully interconnected our lives can be. And for me, that is the true magic of travel: the chance to open our hearts, see the world through someone else’s eyes, and leave a little piece of ourselves with the people and places we encounter along the way.
I’m so excited to see what the upcoming year has in store—the inside jokes we haven’t laughed at yet, the meals we haven’t tasted, the hidden corners of the world waiting to surprise us, and the memories we haven’t even imagined. I can’t wait for the sunrises over new horizons, the quiet moments in bustling streets, and the laughter shared with people we’ve yet to meet.
