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Caribbean Series 3: Martinique

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Martinique: When the Sun Slows You Down, Culture Steps In By the time I reached Martinique, my pace had already been decided for me. A stubborn sunburn—earned from climbing hills and braving the steepest zipline in Sint Maarten, and long beach days in Antigua—forced me to rethink my usual rhythm. What felt like a setback turned out to be a quiet gift. Because Martinique is not just about beaches. It’s an island layered with culture, history, and soul—and slowing down allowed me to truly see it. A Cultural Welcome in Fort-de-France I began in Fort-de-France, a city that feels alive with history at every turn. My first stop was the Schoelcher Library. From the outside, its intricate architecture immediately draws you in—ornate, almost whimsical against the Caribbean sky. Inside, it transforms into a quiet sanctuary of creativity, where local art—especially vivid acrylic paintings—tells stories of island life, identity, and heritage. (I found myself lingering here longer than expec...
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Caribbean Series 2: Dominica & Dominican Republic

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Two Islands, Two Lessons: Reflections from Dominica and the Dominican Republic People often confuse Dominica with the Dominican Republic, but they’re two different countries that offer very different experiences. Dominica: Letting Nature Lead My first visit was to Dominica — often called the Nature Island. I arrived, admittedly, with a familiar Caribbean image in mind: white sand beaches and calm turquoise water. Instead, I found black sand — volcanic, dramatic, and unexpected. At first, I felt a quiet disappointment. The beaches didn’t match the postcard in my head. But that initial reaction became its own lesson: sometimes we miss the power of a place because we are comparing it to something else. Dominica is not curated for comfort. It is shaped by volcanoes, rain, rivers, and time. Rain kept me from hiking deep into Morne Trois Pitons National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its rugged volcanic terrain and dense rainforest. The closest I reached was Trafalgar Falls, ...
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Caribbean Series 1: The ABC Islands

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Trading Peaks for Palms: My ABC Island Reset My 2025 travels took me all over the world—30 countries in total. It was a year defined by adventure and challenge: rock-climbing my way up to the legendary “church in the sky,” participating in the America’s Cup 12-meter yacht regatta, and intentionally visiting places that pushed me far outside my comfort zone. After a year like that, I knew what I wanted in 2026.  Softer travels. More water than altitude. Fewer logistics, more beach days. Tropical islands instead of tough climbs. And I got a head start on this gentler chapter by visiting the ABC Islands of the Netherlands Antilles: Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao. Each island had its own rhythm—and together, they set the tone for the year ahead. Aruba: Familiar Shores, New Perspectives I’ve been to Aruba three  times, and each visit has revealed something different. On my first trip, I did the classic island tour—driving along the rugged northern coast to see the California Li...
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