Kyoto is divided into 11 wards (ku), but when people talk about the “main districts” for visitors, they usually mean six key districts that group attractions, neighborhoods, and cultural experiences. With three days, we visited the first three districts below (one per day), and did the hike to Southern Kyoto to explore the Fushimi Inari Taisha. While we did not have enough time to see all the districts, we felt we got a great overview of this amazing city and all it has to offer in thre...| Thirdeyemom
Journey into the heart of Panama's Naso Comarca, where bamboo rafts replace roads and ancient traditions thrive. Discover how this resilient Indigenous tribe is embracing sustainable tourism to preserve their culture and homeland.| Thirdeyemom
A visit to the Naso Indigenous Community in the Bocas del Toro Province of Northwestern Panama is a magical experience and a way to support community tourism in Panama.| Thirdeyemom
The Chiriqui National Marine Park covers 14,740 hectares of islands and sea off Panama’s western Pacific coast and is home to over 20 stunning islands many uninhabited. The best way to reach the park is from Boca Chica which is roughly a 50 minutes drive from David, the capital of Chiriqui Province. A visit to the Chiriqui National Marine Park is a must-do for those seeking beauty, wildlife and adventure, and I was grateful to visit this extraordinary place last October during my two-week t...| Thirdeyemom
Our last Dolomites hike in Alleghe, Italy was the awe-inspiring hike from the western side of Lago di Alleghe to the Rifugio Sasso Bianco. This hike was on the other side of Alleghe and afforded spellbinding views of the town, its namesake lake, and the flank of Mount Civetta. The hike is a rare find, as it is not crowded and is a local treasure. It takes roughly 5 hours roundtrip with of course a stop for a delicious homemade lunch at the Rifugio Sasso Bianco.| Thirdeyemom
The magical spiraling towers of the Italian Dolomites afford some of the most spectacular scenery for hiking in the world. This summer, my family set off on a seven-day hiking trip through the Dolomites basing ourselves in three different places: Alleghe, Salva di Val Gardena and Cortina. We opted to do long day hikes as opposed to staying up in the rifugios (high mountain huts) so we could enjoy hot showers, delightful dinners and the coziness of our own space where we could spend time toget...| Thirdeyemom
In the hills of Kathmandu Valley lies the ancient village of Panauti, renowned for its culture, traditions, and well-preserved Newari architecture. At the heart of the community, is the Panauti Community Homestay a women-led initiative that started in 2012 and today has spread to 36 communities throughout Nepal, creating hope, inspiration, and opportunity for rural communities worldwide.| Thirdeyemom
The recent opening of the Maya Train through the heart of Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula has been greeted with much criticism around the world. However, a small, dedicated alliance of indigenous and local community-led tourism groups are hoping that the opening a new train line will help keep their traditions, culture and community alive. Learn about this successful community-based tourism initiative in Mexico.| Thirdeyemom
The Yokdzonot Cenote is a cenote of 40 meters in diameter and 45 meters deep which is located within a local Maya community of the same name. The town is less than 20 km from the popular, well-visited archaeological site of Chichén Itzá, which gives the community a constant flow of visitors allowing the women's cooperative, called Zaaz Koolen Haa, to develop sustainable, community-based tourism initiatives. Spend a day taking a cooking class and enjoying the beautiful cenote.| Thirdeyemom
On the second day in the Yucatán, we set off to the tranquil fishing village of Chuburná located roughly 40 minutes south of Mérida near the town of Progreso, the Yucatán’s main port and the launching off point to the stunning yet relatively unknown Isla Columpios.This rich mangrove ecosystem and group of small islands and sand banks on the coast were formed as a consequence of the devastation of Hurricane Gilberto in 1986. The hurricane wiped out all the infrastructure and it took the ...| Thirdeyemom
Hiking Glacier Lake Trail in the stunning Kachemak Bay State Park in Homer, Alaska is not for the faint at heart. While the hike itself is easy and the views are serendipitously surreal, remember that you are in the wild. Be prepared for seeing a lot of fresh bear poops. (We counted 12 !). The remoteness of the park. and getting there is half of the adventure, making this day hike one of the best in the area.| Thirdeyemom
Nepal is an incredibly special place for me. I was there 14 years ago on a life-changing trek with my dad. Both of us were celebrating milestone birthdays, and we set out to hike the Annapurna Trek with just a guide and a porter who became dear friends. This experience inspired me to start my blog, Thirdeyemom, and set me on the path of writing about sustainable, impactful travel for years to come. I revisited Nepal this past May with Community Homestay Network and can't wait to share the story.| Thirdeyemom
