Find off-the-beaten-path travel ideas and unique hotels.

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Hi! I’m Jessie B.,

Your well-traveled friend

I'm an avid adventerurer and travel industry professional. My inbox is always buzzing with intel on unique hotels and restaurants, underrated destinations, and incredible outdoor activities—both in California (where I live!) and around the world. I’m here to share all of it with you as your go-to source for unique travel ideas and exceptional hotels.

Blog

On this blog, I cover three main topics:

People on a boat near Kyoto Japan

Unique travel ideas

Go beyond the tourist hot spots in popular destinations, or travel somewhere totally unexpected.

→ Visit Japan’s Art Islands
→ Ever Been to Malta?
→ Skip Cabo, Go Here Instead

Beautiful hotels

No bland chain hotels here. Just beautiful, welcoming properties with a sense of place.

→ Sea Ranch Lodge, California
→ Villa-des-Prés, Paris
→ Fave Hotels in California

Useful travel gear

Don’t let your bags bog you down. Find honest travel gear recs and packing lists for any adventure.

→ My Go-To Travel Backpack
→ 9 Essential Travel Accessories
→ Mexico Packing List

Let’s be friends!

Join my newsletter, get two off-the-beaten-path travel ideas, every other Monday.

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Articles + Guides

Get intel on where to travel next, beautiful boutique hotels you can’t miss, plus itineraries and packing lists to prepare for your trip.

Google Map Lists

Instantly access all of my recommendations, right from your Google Map app with these downloadable Google Map lists.

Trip Planning

Whether you just want to chat and get expert advice, or have your entire trip planned and booked for you, I’m here to help.

Popular Reads

Featured
This Luxury Hotel in Austin is The Perfect City Retreat—Here’s What it’s Like to Stay There
This Luxury Hotel in Austin is The Perfect City Retreat—Here’s What it’s Like to Stay There

The Loren at Lady Bird Lake in Austin, Texas is one of the city's newest luxury, boutique hotels. With rooms starting at $450, is it worth it? I stayed there to find out.

These 7 Weekend Getaway Destinations Are All Within 3 Hours of San Francisco
These 7 Weekend Getaway Destinations Are All Within 3 Hours of San Francisco

Looking for an easy getaway from San Francisco? From the coast and wine country to an off-the-beaten path spots in the Sierra Nevadas, here are some of my favorite weekend getaway spots in Northern California—all within 3 hours of the city.

A Local’s Guide to Biking Across San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge
A Local’s Guide to Biking Across San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge

Read tips for biking across the Golden Gate Bridge. Whether you need to know how long it takes or where to rent a bike, this article will help you.

A Complete Travel Guide to Japan’s Art Island, Naoshima
A Complete Travel Guide to Japan’s Art Island, Naoshima

Naoshima is one of Japan’s art islands, located in the Seto Inland Sea. In this guide, I’ll share how to get to this off-the-beaten-path destination, as well as everything you’ll need—from hotels and restaurant recommendations to tips on getting the most out of the island’s art scene—to plan a trip here.

7 Beautiful Hotels in California Worth Planning a Trip Around
7 Beautiful Hotels in California Worth Planning a Trip Around

From Palm Springs to Sonoma wine country, these are 7 boutique hotels in California worth planning a trip around, thanks to their excellent design, hospitality, and location.