Travel is Our Greatest Adventure

Your Adventure Awaits…Let’s Go!

Welcome to The Worldly Travels!

Here, you’ll find my travel tales from across the globe—stories about breathtaking landscapes, vibrant cultures, and unforgettable experiences to awaken your spirit of wanderlust. My mission is to inspire you to find your wild, to explore art, culture, people, and places that will fuel your curiosity and ignite your passion for travel. 

From seeking out hidden gems and off the beaten path locations to indulging in local activities and exotic customs, to meeting new friends and discovering popular hot spots, the world is full of wonders just waiting for you to explore. Through my personal stories, travel tips, and even a few misadventures, I hope to inspire you to embark on your own unforgettable journey.

Whether you’re a millennial or a MILF, i got you.  There’s a world of excitement just around the corner. So, let’s begin this adventure together! It is never too late…

Journey to the Worlds most awe-inspiring places

Hallo, hola, konnichiwa, ciao, bonjour, hello, namaste, jambo…

I'm Brenda, seeking out joy in life through travel
women kneeling on rock by river
Woman standing next to a Komodo dragon statue at the entrance of Komodo National Park, Indonesia
a woman sitting in front of a white home in greece with colorful bougainvillea overhead
Woman jumping in front of colorful lighthouse
How can i help you?

Travel is our greatest adventure! If you agree, follow me!  Ask me your travel questions 

“The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams”Oprah Winfrey

 

Join me!
It is Never too late for A Life of Adventure

Welcome to The Worldly Travels—a blog born from a lifelong love of adventure, photography, storytelling, and genuine human connection.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been captivated by the magic of discovering new places and cultures. My dream is simple: to explore this incredible world and share what I find along the way. There are many young and carefree travelers living the dream full time. If they can do it, why can’t I? Sure, so far I have had a more conventional life with many chapters—marriage, children, caregiving, breast cancer and career. I am not done!  I am stepping into travel mode, with a suitcase in hand and the world to explore. It’s finally my time. And maybe, just maybe, it’s yours too.

If you’ve ever dreamed of something more—welcome. You’re not alone. No matter your age, your past, or your path, adventure is still waiting for you.

Let this blog be your invitation. To dream. To explore. To believe in new beginnings. Amazing things can happen—sometimes when you least expect it.

According to Rick Steves one can be a tourist, a traveler or a pilgram. After visiting over 50 countries, and doing it mostly in my 50’s, I have progressed through each phase: I have seen my journey as visiting a playground (travel for fun), visiting a school (travel to

Temple of Bacchus Baalbek, Lebanon

learn about people and place) and/or visiting a “church” (travel to learn about oneself).  I have experienced all of the above and through these journeys have picked up more than a few tricks along the way. I’ll be sharing my best travel stories and strategies, solo travel hacks, pro-tips for saving money, how to see the world after 50, my go-to websites for booking flights and accommodations and more. I’m also about traveling smart – you don’t need to break the bank to experience the world. I often travel budget not bougie because I value amazing memories more then anything. Why splurge on a room when I can invest in an epic adventure, like diving into crystal-clear waters or feasting at a local restaurant indulging in unique flavors?  Most importantly, I want to show you that it’s not just about the destination – it’s about the incredible journey you’re on!
Still need convincing? Here’s why travel is magic: it’s about finding joy, letting go of daily stress, sparking your curiosity, laughing with new friends, tasting unforgettable food, and learning about everything, building confidence and walking a lot, don’t forget all the walking.  Traveling helps you discover not only new places but the best version of YOU.

My hope is that you will join me on my travel adventure and be inspired to make your own travel memories! It’s never too late!    Brenda Landau

P.S. I am not a millennial, I just act like one 🙂

On the road

There is no better way to escape life’s daily grind then jumping in the car and driving.  I have taken some amazing roadtrips in my life and it is an easy way to start your adventure. Luckily for us we currently have some of the most stunning parks and public lands in the world.  According to ProtectOurWinters, roughly 30% of US land (thats 640 million acres) is owned by us – the American Public.  These lands include national parks, forests, wildlife refuges and BLM lands and provide clean water, store carbon and sustain wildlife – not to mention give us beautiful spaces to explore and recharge.  The United States’ topography is so varied one can spend many a year exploring.  Forests, deserts, oceans, mountains: we’ve got cha.  From sea to shining sea, we must protect these things that make us free…

U.S. National Parks: Best of the Best

You cannot go wrong exploring our National Park System.  What an amazing way to begin your travel journey! 

We are very fortunate to have protected National Parks throughout the United States. Having these preserved wilderness areas help the environment but also help us find our wild. These parks are accessible to everyone and are great places to begin your first road trip or mini adventure.

The idea of protecting our natural resources and creating public lands in the United States started with Abraham Lincoln in 1864 when he signed the Yosemite Grant Act to protect and preserve the ancient giant sequoias, a tree found only in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains.  These trees have survived for thousands of years and are often hundreds of feet tall and lead to the creation of Yosemite National Park, arguably one of the most stunning parks with it’s famous granite cliffs, sparkling waterfalls, ancient forests and breathtaking vistas. Currently the National Park System boasts 63 preserved and protected wilderness areas with Yosemite National Park in California being the first. It is also the first National Park I visited and the one I visited most often.  Check out the National Park Website for some excellent information and resources on planning your trip to one or more of these treasured wilderness areas. I have only visited a handful of our national parks and I am curious.  Please let me know in the comments what your favorite National Parks are and why.  Pro Tip: Download the NPS app for all the features at your fingertips. Check out my blog posts on GLACIER, YOSEMITE, ARCHES

A Solo Roadtrip: Glacier NP

When I visited Glacier NP I had no idea what was in store for me. Glacier is on the Northern end of Montana and is quite a drive from Colorado where I start, but it is the perfect target for an epic road trip. I explored the deserted expanse of Wyoming and the Western towns of Montana before finally getting to GNP.
My roadtrip began towards the end of September to try and miss the crowds. Although I was surprised at the number of visitors and campsite were full, I was able to pull over and park when I needed to, was not sitting in traffic, and some of the hikes did not have many people. Going in September is cool so plan accordingly. A light puffy and a long sleeve wool top did the trick keeping me warm when I was out hiking and exploring.

Two people sitting on the edge of McDonald in Glacier Naitonal Park
Glacier National Park

When I drove to Glacier I car camped. Car camping is an easy alternative to tent camping or rv camping and since I was alone it felt safe sleeping in the back of my SUV.  The camp zones and lodges in Glacier fill up fast. Check the NPS website for the latest.  Here are my top things to do and see in GNP presented in a photo gallery. The Going to the Sun Road is the main road, with stunning vistas and mind blowing roadside stops, that takes you through the entire park.  Pay attention as you drive this road because you will see modest pullover signs like ‘Emerald Lake’ or ‘Rainbow Bridge’. Each of the stops that I checked out are epic and beautiful. You could spend the day just driving this road and stopping at all the points of interest. Going to the Sun Road

“There’s a whole world out there, right outside your window. You’d be a fool to miss it”
 Charlotte Eriksson

 

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Highlights from around the Globe

Two people looking sunset vista of islands and bays at Komodo National Park
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From left: Padar Island, Egypt, San Juan Del Sur, Narok, Sumatra, Formentara

Cinque Terre sunset view
Profile of woman standing with motorcycle pads on her legs in front of mountains in Ha Giang loop, Viet Nam
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Four sheep herding siblings in Kenya, Africa holding their herding staffs looking at the camera
Syrian siblings in Turkey
woman with camel on cliff in Malindi, Kenya

From top: Cinque Terre, Kenya, Ha Giang, Sumatra, Watamu, Derinkuyu