Our Journey: 100th Post!

Another milestone reached! This is Off Path Travels’ 100th blog post!

We are ecstatic about reaching this point. Thousands of people visit Off Path Travels each week, we have questions and reader comments coming in daily, and our audience continues to grow!

Thank you for your support! Thank you for coming here to read what we have to say. And thank you for the kind comments and remarks so many of you have shared with us.

Our goal is to provide you with excellent information so that you can explore the world, and we are feeling great about what we have done so far.

So what are we up to now? Still going to Baja? Have we hit the road yet?

WHEN ARE WE LEAVING?!?!

We love hearing these questions from you! We can tell that more and more people are teeming with excitement about our Baja adventures.

And we can finally say it…

Expedition Begins

We are leaving for Baja! As I write this, the car is mostly packed and we are tying up the last loose ends over the next few days. Then we’re hitting the road and crossing into Mexico!

This may sound silly, but it hasn’t been easy for us to be still for so long (wanderlust is a very real thing). However, we are grateful to have the flexibility to spend the additional time here. We spent the majority of it working, but we also got to spend more time with family and friends. Even spent the holidays around loved ones! A rarity for us.

It also doesn’t hurt that San Diego is a pretty awesome place to spend some time. I’ve thrown in a bunch of random photos so you have some idea of what we have been up to. Yes, we love visiting the many awesome breweries here.

But it is happening! By this time next week, we will be back to doing what we do best: exploring off path locations to share with you.

So what exactly is ahead? Is snow in the forecast? Will we stop in wine country now or on the return? When will we be back on a beautiful beach?

Well, I’m not going to spill the beans quite yet. You can see our last Our Journey post for a quick rundown on what the Baja peninsula has to offer, but I’ll warn you that our plans have changed a bit.

You’re going to have to stayed tuned to see exactly where the road takes us. Follow us on Instagram @offpathtravels and signup for our email newsletter to follow along in real time!

Be Happy, Share Love, and Create Joy

“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” – Mark Twain

I know I’m not alone in loving that quote. And I don’t think it applies to physical travel only. Traveling vicariously through good books (and blogs) can help too.

Kristina and I feel a large sense of responsibility by having this platform and we do all that we can to make the world a better place. We try to stay aware of that during our travels and in the way we share and present information.

Recently, I’ve had a string of death pass through my personal life. And 2020 seems to be off to a rough start around the world between ferocious fires and a recent helicopter crash. Not to mention that the United States is plunging into what’s sure to be a long and ugly election year.

As I’ve processed the feelings that come with each passing, I keep coming back to one thing: be grateful.

While we all want to live in utopia, that’s not how life works. There are good times and there are bad. Perfection is impossible and sadness is bound to happen. But there is a lot you can control.

Be grateful for each day you open your eyes. Be grateful for each laugh you share with someone special. Be grateful for all you have in this world, big and small, material and immaterial.

And remind yourself of that each day. Wake up and think of three things you are happy to have. Take a moment out of your day to tell someone how much they mean to you. Set aside time to enjoy yourself. Smile.

Remember that you do not have to take from others to retain what is yours. This world is not one pie where you have to fight for a slice. It is full of growth, full of life, and full of beings who can create wonderful things from nothing. Don’t believe everything you hear and do not get sucked into the idea that you need to pay attention to every minute of the 24-hour news cycle.

Be happy within yourself by remembering the incredible things you have. Share love with those around you. Be aware that people who you cannot see nor hear still have feelings and are worthy of your consideration. And finally, create joy whenever you can.

You have the power to create a more positive, loving world. And you will benefit yourself and all those you impact by doing so.

That wraps up this Our Journey update. As we embark on our Baja adventure, we look forward to having you tag along. Stay in touch and go spread happiness on our behalf.

Until next time,

Michael (and Kristina)