I originally named LEGT after myself because I couldn't think of anything better. Five years, 400+ travelers, and one completely different life later, here's the whole story behind Type 2 Travel — the new name, the new trip leaders, and what it means for your trip.

Type 1 fun is fun while it's happening. Type 2 fun is miserable in the moment and legendary forever. This spring — two months, three countries, and a truly unhinged number of things going wrong — was the most Type 2 fun I've had in years.

Look, I get it. When I tell people I live in Wisconsin, they usually follow up with "...but why?" Like somehow choosing to call the Midwest home means I've given up on adventure entirely. Spoiler alert: I haven't. Here's the thing nobody tells you about travel—sometimes the most transformative experiences happen in your own backyard. And if your backyard happens to be the Midwest? Even better.

Type 2 fun: miserable in the middle, legendary forever. It's the safari stuck in the mud, the trip that broke you open, the story you'll tell for thirty years. Here's what it means — and why I built a whole travel company on it.

I once watched a traveler shotgun wine out of a clay roof tile in a Kakheti courtyard while a Georgian family cheered. That's Georgia—8,000 years of winemaking and the most relentless hospitality on Earth. Here's why I keep going back, and taking people with me.

Adults don't need another happy hour that ends by 8:30. They need recess. Fifty campers, one Wisconsin lake, real beds, and a group chat that outlives the weekend.

Learn how to pack like a pro with expert tips from frequent traveler Rachel Trapani! Discover the game-changing gear that will transform your packing routine, including two-compartment suitcases, suitcase backpacks, and hanging compression organizers. From the 5,4,3,2,1 packing method to planning outfits in advance, these strategies will help you travel lighter, avoid checked bag fees, and never feel unprepared again. Perfect for group trips, multi-city adventures, or any traveler tired of lugging heavy luggage!

You've seen the Instagram posts - hotels promising "eco-friendly" stays, tour operators using "sustainable" in every caption. But most aren't walking the talk. Welcome to greenwashing in tourism, where buzzwords are cheap but real ethical practices are anything but. Learn the two questions that reveal whether a travel company is actually ethical or just good at marketing.

We've all said it: "I'd love to travel, but I just don't have time right now." But here's what I've learned after taking hundreds of people on transformational trips: the people who think they can't afford to step away are usually the ones who need it most. Your brain needs space to work its magic—and that space doesn't happen at your desk at 10 PM grinding through emails.

When Carrie booked her first international trip to Cuba, she was terrified. She'd never considered leaving the country and worried it wouldn't be safe. Now, after journeys to Cuba and Morocco—with Kenya on the horizon—she's discovered a passion for travel she never knew existed. Read how group travel with Laura Ericson transformed not just her itinerary, but her entire worldview.

Last year on a scouting trip to Kenya, a teacher asked me for one thing: pads. Girls at her school were missing 3-7 days every month because they didn't have period products. Some were dropping out entirely. Their futures were shrinking because of something as basic as a period.

That conversation changed everything. In March 2026, both of my Kenya groups will distribute period care kits to 260 girls at a local school. Each $10 kit includes four reusable pads that last up to 10 years, underwear, soap, and a carrying pouch.

This isn't about showing up with disposable pads and leaving. It's about providing a decade of reliable period care, keeping girls in school, and investing in their futures. Here's how we're doing it—and how you can help.

If someone who literally gets set on fire for a living can book a trip to Morocco right after a divorce, what's actually stopping you? I sat down with two Hollywood stunt doubles to talk about fear, risk, and why the people who do the most "dangerous" things are often the calmest travelers. Here's what they taught me about overcoming travel fear.

If you've ever eaten ramen for the third night in a row while scrolling travel Instagram because you're "saving for a trip," this one's for you. Money coach Rachel Covert (who retired at 36 with $500k saved) just dropped a truth bomb: saving for travel doesn't have to suck. The problem? You've been conditioned to believe saving means extreme deprivation. No restaurants. No fun. No life. And then you crack and book a trip on a credit card. Here's what actually works: automation, clear priorities, and zero lentils required.

I'll never forget the moment I decided to quit my job and start my travel business. I was floating in a hot air balloon over Cappadocia, Turkey, when my entire body just... knew. Within a week, I'd submitted my resignation from a 14-year career. My brain was screaming at me the entire time. But my body? My body was calm. Quiet. Certain. That's the thing about intuition that nobody tells you: it doesn't scream. It whispers. And it lives in your gut, not your head.

"I didn't have to be brave. Everything just feels so safe and taken care of." That's how Danielle describes her 10-day Morocco adventure—and she's not alone. Three women who traveled Morocco as complete strangers share what it's really like to ride camels through the Sahara, survive 108-degree heat, bond in traditional hammams, and make lifelong friends along the way. Turns out, you don't need to be adventurous by nature to have the trip of a lifetime. You just need someone who's already done the hard work for you.

Let me set the scene: I'm coming home from Greece, jet-lagged, with an eight-hour layover at O'Hare. I set an alarm, put my head down at my gate, and pass out.

I wake up in a fog. Everyone around me is gone. Never a good sign.

My gate has changed to an entirely different concourse. So there I am, sprinting through O'Hare with a backpack full of Greek pottery weighing 40 pounds, literally dying, having a full-on asthma attack.

That was the hardest run I've done in a very long time.

Which is why when I sat down to talk with Joe Baur - a travel writer who runs ultra marathons through countries for a living - I had to laugh. Because while I'm over here proud of my 10-minute pottery sprint, this guy is out here running 60+ miles a day through Nepal, getting pneumonia on day two of an eight-day stage race, and still finishing.

I will never be a runner. But here's the thing: After talking with Joe, I realized his approach to travel resonates with me on a level that has nothing to do with running...

You have three tabs open comparing flights. You've read 47 blog posts about what to pack. You've calculated the budget six different ways. But you still haven't clicked "Book Now."

It's probably not about the money. And it's definitely not about finding the "perfect time."

I sat down with life coach Bonnie Surie to talk about why smart, capable people create elaborate barriers between themselves and the things they actually want. What we discovered: the limiting beliefs that stop you from booking a trip are the same ones keeping you stuck everywhere else in life.

Let's dig into what's really stopping you—and how to finally take action.

Let's talk about the stuff nobody posts on Instagram. Like the moment you're desperately tapping your tour guide's shoulder on a Moroccan highway: "I really need to go. Like, now."

This is Mel Ripp's story—from Door County encyclopedia reader to someone who handles roadside emergencies with remarkable grace. If you've ever worried that travel isn't for you because you have food sensitivities, get lost in airports, or aren't "adventurous enough"—this one's for you.

The unglamorous moments? They're the ones that transform you.

Remember COVID lockdowns? That feeling when going to the grocery store suddenly felt terrifying? That's what can happen to your comfort zone after divorce - except nobody's mandating it. You're doing it to yourself. Divorce coach Julie Danielson sees this pattern constantly: women who gradually stop going places, decline invitations, and watch their worlds get smaller and smaller. "If you do not continually work on stretching your comfort zone, it will shrink," she warns. "And you will isolate. And that is when women get depressed." Here's why it happens - and the surprisingly simple steps you can take to reverse it, starting today.

While Cuba is famous for classic cars, cigars, and free healthcare, the reality of daily life tells a very different story. Based on my conversation with Andres, a Cuban tour guide who has spent his entire 38 years on the island, here are the eye-opening truths about Cuban life that most tourists never see - from highly educated doctors who earn less than waiters to locals who've never tasted the "Cuban" cocktails served to visitors.