Outdoor Stories: Spotlight On A Polar Bear Expedition Leader

Trust me: Exercise dresses are worth all of the hype. Activewear is my uniform when I'm working from home or running errands, but sometimes I want to look more put together before or after a workout, especially on vacation—that's where the exercise dress comes in. Versatile, comfortable, and feminine, these dresses have joined the ranks of a packing list must-have. The built-in shorts and bra make these dresses comfortable and supportive enough for hikes, pickleball games, and the gym, while the design lets them double as cute daytime outfits for sightseeing and walking around, making them extra worthy of a spot in your carry-on. Below, our list of the 18 best exercise dresses to pack in your weekend bag, no matter how active you plan to be on your next trip.

As a seasoned travel and adventure writer who has soared solo all over the planet, I’ve learned a few things about what makes a journey truly extraordinary. It’s a bit like entering into a social experiment over and over. What will it be like if I join X group in X country doing X activity with X assemblages of people? Flip it, change it—what’s it like now? What I’ve gleaned is that the perspective, confidence, and positivity of individuals matters; attitudes—good or bad—are contagious; experiences aren’t nearly as meaningful unless they’re shared; and a guide who sets the tone for the group of strangers with enthusiasm, encouragement, and inclusiveness is everything.

If you stand still long enough, Costa Rica’s flora and fauna has a way of making you feel like it’s closing in, threatening to drag you into the dense vegetation’s fold. It’s difficult to not linger when you see a busy chain of leafcutter ants crossing the trail or when you marvel at an ecosystem bursting with trees and vascular plants like angel’s trumpets, lipsticktrees, or—my favorite—wild sensitive plants, with leaves that curl and close when touched.

Thinking of something a bit…bigger than another beach holiday? We might suggest heading to the remotest points on Earth – literally.

One of the most visited national parks in the US is the Grand Canyon National Park, with nearly five million visitors per year. Of those millions of tourists, only about five percent dip below the rim and broaden their exploration. Further, of the five percent that hike below the rim, only about ten percent actually make it to the Colorado River. This is the magic of a backpacking trip to one of the most beloved national parks in the country. You don’t have to go far to have the place to yourself.

There’s something so beautiful, so meaningful, about distilling an adventure down to everything that you need and nothing that you don’t, keeping the focus on manageable ways to get outside and get outside often. If it’s easy, if you have the trappings at your fingertips, you’re more likely to take advantage of the real prize: spending quality time in nature.

The outdoor industry, and all of the wild and thrilling careers within it, is an exciting arena to be a part of. As a seasoned travel and adventure writer, who has journeyed all over the planet to experience and write about exciting locales, I’ve been lucky enough to connect with folks who love to play in the outdoors: wilderness experts, naturalists from diverse destinations, and even surfing guides.

America’s coastal areas don’t have a monopoly on great beaches . . . or groovy beach towns.

It happened at an indoor wall for the sport of “bouldering”. I was standing watching some athletic young men conquer a tricky route that was beyond my abilities, half-listening to their banter, when I suddenly understood what they were discussing. A proposal to climb outdoors. They had never done it. They dreamed of it, but were uncertain how to go about it.

This year our national neighbors to the north celebrate their 150th anniversary and we’ll be celebrating with them as they do. Each month we’ll focus on one part of their magnificent country and share it with you. From sky-high trees and brown bears in British Columbia to kitchen parties and codfish-kissing in the Maritimes, our toast to Canada will give you well over 150 reasons to make this the year you take the trip. This month, we’re kicking things off in Manitoba, home of the Churchill polar bears and northern lights, plus fun winter festivals in Winnipeg.

Often described as the most romantic river in the world, the Seine in Paris is poised to open a new chapter in its mythology with the revival of an old heritage: the return of public swimming.

Fishing trips to Canada are a tradition for Jeffrey Hardy and his three friends from Vermont. They have, since 2001, been anglers loyal to Quebec’s northern wilderness, where the walleye are plentiful and the cellphone service is not.