Wherever We May Roam

Author: Blake Beard

  • 🇦🇺 Exploring Australia: Sydney, the Outback & a Kangaroo Island Side Quest

    🇦🇺 Exploring Australia: Sydney, the Outback & a Kangaroo Island Side Quest

    Wherever We May Roam

    Why Australia

    For years, Dylan and I have been chasing a goal: visit all seven continents together.

    Australia was the next one up — and this time, we brought along a couple of my lifelong friends from Pennsylvania.

    Our plan was simple:

    Explore Sydney Road trip into the Outback Take a side quest to Kangaroo Island

    Three very different experiences.

    One unforgettable trip.

    Sydney: Skies, Seas & Swans

    Sydney Harbour & Royal Botanic Garden

    Sydney hit us immediately. We wandered Circular Quay, explored the Royal Botanic Garden, and soaked in views of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge from every angle imaginable.

    The harbour itself was calm and scenic — with views of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge you simply can’t get from land. It was the perfect introduction to the city.

    BridgeClimb: Our Father–Son Adrenaline Fix

    Dylan and I signed up for the Sydney Harbour BridgeClimb to satisfy our shared adventure bone. Standing above the city, wind whipping around us, skyline glowing — it was one of those quiet, powerful father–son moments that sticks with you long after the trip ends.

    Whale Watching: The Disaster Tour

    We were explicitly told not to go whale watching because the seas were too rough.

    Naturally, we went anyway.

    The harbour was smooth and beautiful.

    The open ocean? Absolute chaos.

    Dylan and my buddy Shawn got hella seasick.

    And the whales? Not a single one showed up.

    Not a splash.

    Not a fin.

    Nothing.

    10/10 memory though.

    (Side note: the beanies we were wearing were from our Peru trip — a reminder that our continents list keeps growing.)

    Australian Rules Football (AFL): Becoming “Local” for a Night

    Dylan and I scored tickets to see the Sydney Swans play Australian Rules Football (AFL) — which I mistakenly called rugby exactly once before being corrected by locals with great enthusiasm.

    We crushed meat pies, downed a couple pints, and got swept up in the crowd energy.

    AFL fans go hard.

    Road Trip: Heading West Into the Outback

    Leaving Sydney, we picked up a rental car and headed west.

    Driving on the opposite side of the road — with the steering wheel on the opposite side of the car — came with a steep learning curve. But once the nerves settled, the drive became incredible.

    Big skies.

    Open roads.

    That “holy hell, we’re really doing this” feeling.

    Blue Mountains & The Three Sisters

    Our first stop was the Three Sisters in the Blue Mountains. The views stretched forever, and the scale of the landscape forced everyone to stop talking for a minute. It was one of those quiet, humbling moments travel gives you.

    Dubbo: A Stranger Things Steakhouse

    We stayed overnight in Dubbo, where the only open restaurant was an 80s-themed steakhouse that felt straight out of Stranger Things.

    The food was fine — but Dylan ordered the biggest steak on the menu, determined to finish it like it was a personal challenge. Watching him try was the real entertainment.

    Broken Hill: Australia’s Wild West

    We continued west, dodging kangaroos and massive road trains barreling down the highway.

    Broken Hill felt like Australia’s Wild West — dusty, quiet, and full of stories. We toured the Outback with Tri-State Safaris, learning about Aboriginal culture and spotting emus and kangaroos tucked among rock formations.

    Somehow, I also won $200 on a random gas station slot machine, which later paid for a kangaroo loin steak.

    Australia rewards chaos.

    Cleland Wildlife Sanctuary: Up Close With Australia

    Rain and overcast skies kept crowds away, which meant we basically had the run of Cleland Wildlife Sanctuary.

    We fed kangaroos and wallabies that swarmed us the second they smelled food.

    The highlight was meeting Matilda, one of the koalas — calm, curious, and happy to munch eucalyptus leaves while we stood there in awe.

    Kangaroo Island: The Side Quest That Stole the Show

    From Adelaide, we boarded a ferry to Kangaroo Island — and everything about the trip shifted.

    That first night, we stocked up on groceries, cooked a big lasagna together, opened local wine, and told high school stories that had Dylan shaking his head in disbelief.

    After dinner, we wandered outside, wine-drunk and laughing, under a sky full of Southern Hemisphere stars. Spotting the Southern Cross felt like a quiet reward for making it this far together.

    Wildlife Everywhere

    Seals lounged on the beaches like they owned the place — and clearly weren’t impressed by us.

    Koalas appeared casually in the trees, completely unbothered.

    And kangaroos… everywhere. Including joeys popping their heads out of pouches like curious little aliens.

    Remarkable Rocks & the Indian Ocean

    The wind-carved formations at Remarkable Rocks looked like something from another planet. Standing there, overlooking the Indian Ocean, felt like being at the edge of the world — small in the best possible way.

    The Food

    Besides our home-cooked lasagna, we ate the freshest seafood I’ve ever had.

    It completely ruined seafood anywhere else for me.

    Leaving Australia

    We ferried back to the mainland, flew to Sydney, and had one final meal — where I finally used that slot machine money on a kangaroo loin steak.

    Leaving didn’t feel like the end of a vacation.

    It felt like walking away from a place I wasn’t finished with.

    Australia did something to me — the land, the wildlife, the space, the feeling of possibility. It made me want to stay and figure things out.

    It’s a feeling that’s become a theme for me.

    Australia was our fourth continent together…

    and one I can’t wait to return to.

  • Thailand: Jungle Treks, Lanterns, and the Adventure That Changed Everything

    This was our very first trip to East Asia — and the first time we celebrated both Christmas and New Year’s abroad. We based ourselves in Chiang Mai, a city buzzing with energy, food, and culture. From the moment we arrived, Thailand felt like a whole new world.

    Markets, Food & Cooking Like Locals.

    The day and night markets quickly became our playground. The smells of sizzling street food, the chatter of vendors, the colors of endless stalls — it was pure sensory overload in the best way. Dylan and I ate everything from noodles to skewers to Thai iced tea (which he made a ritual of getting every single morning). We even took a Thai cooking class!

    Cooking up some yummy goodness

    But nothing compared to the meals we had during our jungle trek. The mountain tribes we stayed with cooked dishes that blew us away — especially one batch of chicken wings Dylan still swears are the best he’s ever had.

    Adventures with Animals

    Adventurous was the theme of this trip. We (probably not so wisely) visited a tiger sanctuary, where Dylan and I found ourselves inside cages with tigers. Not my brightest dad move, but… whatever man!

    Tiger selfie!

    Balance came when we spent time at an elephant sanctuary, where we saw these giants in their natural habitat — no rides, no tricks, just elephants being elephants. It was beautiful and humbling.

    Jungle Trekking with Mr. Goo

    The heart of our Thailand adventure was a three-day trek through the jungle with our unforgettable guide, Mr. Goo. (affiliated with Chiang Mai Trekking) He led us up steep trails, across farmland worked by indigenous people, and through tiny villages where life moved at its own pace . Along the way, he kept pointing out spiders and other “eatable” critters, laughing as Dylan and I politely declined.

    We stayed in mountain tribe homestays, where showers were nothing more than spigots in wooden huts, and we woke at dawn to the sound of roosters and goats. Each village had its own little “mall,” where locals sold handmade goods — woven bags, carved trinkets, and simple treasures we couldn’t resist bringing home.

    Hill tribe homestay

    Evenings were my favorite: sitting with locals, sharing food, and sipping mekong whiskey while the sounds of the jungle surrounded us.

    The Golden Triangle

    One day, we hopped a longboat up a tributary of the Mekong River to the Golden Triangle, the meeting point of Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar. We learned about the opium trade that once dominated the region — a history as fascinating as it was sobering.

    Mr Goo and us in the golden triangle

    Christmas & New Year’s in Thailand

    Christmas isn’t a big holiday in Thailand, but our guesthouse had a tiny two-foot tree set up for the handful of Western tourists staying there. Dylan and I exchanged our small gifts around that little tree, and it felt just right — simple, special, ours.

    Merry Christmas

    New Year’s Eve was nothing short of magical. Together, we lit a paper lantern and sent it floating into the night sky, joining hundreds of glowing lanterns carrying wishes into the new year. That image — the sky filled with light — will stay with me forever.

    Getting ready to launch our NYE lantern

    Tuk-Tuk Thrills

    Of course, no Thailand story is complete without mentioning the tuk-tuks. Zipping around Chiang Mai in the back of those little three-wheeled rockets felt like putting our lives in the hands of daredevil drivers. It was chaos, it was loud, it was slightly terrifying — and it was unforgettable.

    Why This Trip Changed Everything

    This trip checked every box: culture, food, animals, adventure, and perspective. It pushed us beyond comfort zones and showed Dylan a world completely different from what we knew. It was raw, real, and eye-opening — the kind of travel Anthony Bourdain would’ve approved of.

    One of many temples

    We still keep in touch with Mr. Goo, and whenever Dylan and I talk about Thailand, we’re reminded how life-changing those three weeks were. This was the trip that truly set us on a new path of adventure.

    More tigers

    And from there, the journey continued — our next adventure took us Down Under to Australia, this time back with our lifelong friends. But that’s a story for the next post.

  • Peru Travel with Friends – Machu Picchu, Inti Raymi Festival & Tasting Cuy (Guinea Pig)

    We picked Peru for one reason: Machu Picchu. More specifically, I wanted to climb Huayna Picchu — that tall peak in the background of everyone’s famous photo. I’d seen the pictures for years and thought, That. I want to stand on top of that.

    I mentioned it to a couple of friends I’ve known for 30 years, and they were all in. It would be our first trip traveling together — and the first of many to come.

    Cusco & Acclimating to Altitude

    We flew into Cusco, and let me tell you, thank God we were prepared for the altitude. That place sits at 12,000 feet, and your lungs know it. We took it easy the first couple days to acclimate — no hero moves, just soaking in the city and hydrating like we were training for a marathon.

    (Pro tip: we actually got prescribed altitude pills before the trip, and they made a huge difference.)

    Inti Raymi: Dancing in the Streets

    Inti Raymi festival

    We planned the trip around the summer solstice, which lines up with Inti Raymi — the Incan Festival of the Sun. The whole city of Cusco gets involved, and it’s wild in the best way. Street parades, dancers, colors everywhere. The kind of thing you don’t just see — you feel it.

    Cuy: Not Chicken. Definitely Not.

    Did not taste like chicken

    We spent several days exploring Cusco. Took a

    chocolate-making class, wandered cobblestone streets, and hit as many local food spots as we could. I went full Peruvian — tried lomo saltado (my go-to), and even ordered the infamous cuy… yup, roasted guinea pig. It came out whole — face, teeth, the works. But hey, when in Peru, right?

    Making our own chocolate bars

    Let me be clear: cuy does not taste like chicken. If anything, it was closer to pork — kind of gamey, and honestly, not much meat on it. It was more about the experience than the flavor. One of those “I did it” travel moments… and I’ll leave it at that 😅

    Pisco Nights & Dylan’s “Adult” Drink Menu

    Every night we ended up in these tiny, hole-in-the-wall bars where pisco was the star of the show. Pisco sours, pisco with coke, pisco straight — they were proud of it, and rightfully so.

    The wildest part? Dylan was only 13, and they had zero hesitation offering him all the same pisco options like it was totally normal. He stuck to Sprite , but it cracked us up every time.

    Climbing Huayna Picchu

    But the main reason we were there was still ahead: Machu Picchu.

    We caught a scenic train from Cusco to Aguas Calientes (aka base camp), and the next morning started early — like before sunrise early. We had to, if we wanted to hike up Huayna Picchu.

    The climb was steep. Not just “catch your breath” steep — “don’t look down” steep. But Dylan and I made it. We stood at the top, looking out over the ruins and the Andes and the clouds below us, and man… it’s one of those moments that just locks in your soul. You don’t forget views like that. You don’t forget how hard you worked to get there, either.

    The Shift: From Tourists to Adventurers

    This trip changed things for us. It kicked off our more adventurous era. I realized Dylan and I could handle more than just chill city wandering. We could climb mountains — literally and metaphorically.

    On top of Machu Picchu

    It was also a chance to introduce him to a culture that wasn’t European or American. To learn about ancient civilizations. To walk slower, breathe deeper, eat differently.

    We saw alpacas roaming the streets like dogs. We danced in festivals, ate things we couldn’t pronounce, and pushed out of every comfort zone we had.

    And the best part? We got to do it with friends I’ve known most of my life.

    One Continent at a Time

    After Peru, we made a pact — one continent at a time.

    This was just the beginning.

    Next Stop: Thailand

    Our adventurous side’s about to level up…

  • Italy Travel – Milan, Pearl Jam at San Siro, Venice, Monaco, Lucerne & Modena

    Our Italy adventure was based in Milan, where pizza was Dylan’s main priority and music was mine. We got lucky—Pearl Jam was playing at San Siro Stadium, and it turned into one of the most unforgettable concerts we’ve ever seen. In between, we took day trips to Monaco (lunch at Port Hercule), Lucerne (a train ride up Mount Pilatus), Venice (wandering canals and Murano), and Modena (home of Ferrari and incredible food). Italy gave us a mix of history, food, and music that shaped how we’d travel going forward.

    This was the trip where our style started to take shape. We weren’t just sightseeing anymore—we were learning how we liked to travel: small hotels, local advice, loose plans, and a willingness to just figure things out when shit went sideways. And on this trip? It did.

    🇮🇹 Milan as Our Base

    We stayed in Milan for about two weeks and used it as our launchpad. The highlight—for me—was Pearl Jam at San Siro Stadium. Nothing like hearing “Alive” in a stadium full of Italians screaming along with you.

    We also made time for some of Milan’s heavy-hitters:

    The Last Supper – You need to book ahead, but it was worth it. The Duomo – We climbed it. So many stairs. Worth it. WWII Museum – History lesson tucked into our food tour.

    And speaking of food…

    🍕 The Food Was the Star

    This trip was all about eating—and eating well. Pizza, pasta, gelato, repeat. Every place we stayed, we’d ask locals for their favorite spots, and we skipped anything with a menu full of pictures (that rule was starting to set in).

    I always had Dylan order for himself. It’s part of the training—get comfortable with menus you don’t understand. Ask questions. Be okay with being awkward.

    One of our best stories came from that: Dylan wanted fries on the side with his pizza. But something got lost in translation… and the pizza showed up with fries ON TOP. Like, baked into the cheese. Still one of our favorite meals.

    Dylans fry pizza

    🚆 Day Trips That Didn’t Go According to Plan (and That’s Fine)

    We took some wild day trips on this one:

    Monaco: We had lunch at Port Hercule, living bougie for a day. One of those spots where you look around and think, “How did we end up here?” Lucerne, Switzerland: We rode the steepest cog train in the world to the top of Mt. Pilatus—incredible views, chilly air, and a lot of “wow.” The ride back? I booked the wrong train and didn’t realize it until we were already moving. We had to figure out new connections on the fly and somehow made it back to Milan. Travel lesson: have a plan, but be ready to pivot. Venice: No itinerary. Just vibes. We got off the train and wandered through the canals. A local told us to skip the tourist gondola ride and hop on a vaporetto instead—Venice’s water bus. We ended up on Murano Island, way less crowded, great gelato for Dylan and wine for me. No regrets. Modena: Quick stop to see the Ferrari Museum. Not a full-day thing, but totally worth it if you’re a car nerd or just want to see something shiny and red go fast.

    🧳 How Our Travel Style Started to Shift

    This was the trip where I realized:

    I don’t like big hotels—I’d rather stay in a small hotel or hostel with character Tourist restaurants are fine, but local recommendations are always better I love having a plan, but I love ditching the plan even more The less we scheduled, the more we discovered

    This trip had it all—music, mishaps, incredible food, and those small, in-between moments where you just get it: travel isn’t about checking boxes. It’s about being open to whatever the day throws at you.

    Next stop: Peru—with lifelong friends, big mountains, and a totally different kind of adventure.

    Thanks for reading. Wherever we may roam… we eat well, roll with it, and always learn something new.

  • Belgium Travel – Brussels, Day Trips to Lille, Dordrecht & Aachen, and Rock Werchter Festival

    Our first trip abroad took us to Brussels, Belgium, where we based ourselves for two weeks of exploring. From wandering the Grand Place and eating Belgian frites with mayo to day-tripping into Lille (France), Dordrecht (Netherlands), and Aachen (Germany), every day brought something new. The highlight was timing our trip with the Rock Werchter Festival, where we saw Pearl Jam, Jack White, and Wiz Khalifa live. Belgium became the perfect starting point for our future travels abroad.

    First day in Brussels

    We based ourselves in Brussels for two weeks, and it quickly became a crash course in navigating new places together. The trains were easy once we figured them out, and every corner seemed to offer something unfamiliar—in the best way.

    We wandered art museums, checked out chocolate shops, and tried frites with every sauce they had. I’ll admit it I loved mayo mixed with ketchup. Dylan, on the other hand, kept it classic—pizza and frites became his go-to order. Very on brand for a 12-year-old.

    Waffles secured

    🚆 Day Trips from Brussels

    We used the train system to explore a few places outside the city:

    Dordrecht, Netherlands – quiet, beautiful, and full of canals. I ordered something that I thought was pancakes… it was not. Lille, France – cobblestone streets and a super patient waiter who humored our very broken French. Aachen, Germany – Dylan loved the cathedral and the Knights armor. I just wanted an authentic German pilsner and schnitzel.

    Art Museum in Lile, France

    🎸 Rock Werchter: Our First Festival Abroad

    The big event of the trip? Rock Werchter—a massive music festival that just happened to be happening while we were there.

    Waiting for Pearl Jam

    We went mainly for Pearl Jam (okay, I went for Pearl Jam), but ended up seeing Wiz Khalifa, Jack White, and a whole crowd of fans from all over Europe singing along in the rain. That kind of vibe is hard to explain, but unforgettable.

    Pearl Jam would end up becoming a travel theme for us. You’ll see.

    ✈️ The Start of a Tradition

    That Belgium trip set the tone. One trip became a tradition—first one a year, then two: summer and Christmas break. Now that Dylan’s older and can’t always travel with me, I still travel—just solo more often than not.

    This blog will be our story: trip by trip, place by place. You’ll get wildlife, local food, music, history, and the kind of unexpected moments that only happen when you’re far from home.

    Next stop: Milan. And yep—there’s a story behind that one too.

    Thanks for reading. Glad you’re here.

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