Dave Lee

2 days ago | gobackpacking.com | Dave Lee |David Lee

On a sunny April afternoon in Seattle, I boarded an Argosy Locks Cruise, not knowing how much of the city I'd see in just two hours. What followed was a floating front-row seat to the sights, sounds, and stories that define the Emerald City from Lake Union's houseboats and seaplanes to the Ballard Locks, where we "rode the elevator" from freshwater to saltwater, and finally into the wide-open views of Puget Sound.

3 weeks ago | gobackpacking.com | Dave Lee |David Lee

I've been curious about SpaceX since they muscled into Boca Chica at the southern tip of Texas to build rocket launch facilities. In the two years since they began launching Starship rockets there, I've followed the news from Austin about environmental concerns and noise complaints. I loathe the company's founder, but I can't help but admire the ingenuity of engineers and the collective ambition to return humans to the Moon and send them to Mars.

3 weeks ago | gobackpacking.com | Dave Lee |David Lee

For as long as I've lived in Texas (about 10 years), I've been aware of South Padre Island on the southern tip of the Texas Gulf Coast. When I finally traveled there for a long weekend in November with Kel, I found a laid-back barrier island always open for business. Beach walks at sunrise, visiting rescued sea turtles, and drinks under the stars were among the many fun things to do on South Padre Island. It's no wonder SPI receives millions of visitors annually.

1 month ago | gobackpacking.com | Dave Lee |David Lee

Galveston Island is a popular vacation destination on the Texas Gulf Coast, just an hour's drive from Houston. When I visited for the first time with Kel over a weekend in April, we found lots of free things to do to help keep our costs down. Between meals, museums, and other paid attractions, we walked along the Seawall, explored the historic Strand District, and saw a submarine on land. Here are ten ways to enjoy Galveston Island for free, laid out over a day.

2 months ago | gobackpacking.com | Dave Lee |David Lee

During my summer of island-hopping in Greece, I spent a few nights on the island of Paros in the Cyclades, primarily because it was a convenient waypoint between Ios and Mykonos. If you're looking for things to do in Paros, Greece, there's plenty to fill a few relaxed days. Paros is not as expensive or well-known as the island of Santorini. Yet, it still attracts approximately 450,000 visitors during the peak summer travel season.