Photo just.luc

Escape. Get out while you still can. Hit the road, and be grateful you pushed yourself.

How do you know when it’s time to go traveling? More

We all probably have our own preconceived notions of what Australia is like as a destination on any sort of trip. Loads of great weather, beautiful beaches and bouncing kangaroos were definitely a few of author Brooke Schoenman’s top expectations, and to her surprise, they all turned out to be spot on. Even after a year in this country, she says she is still amazed at what is on offer for travelers. Adventure and tourist activities for one are never understaffed, but to be honest, the best of the best in Australia is pretty much provided to us naturally or culturally. More

Matador Network’s Alex Nolette took the beefy challenge of picking 50 of the world’s best burger joints. He came through with a list of the most recommended, droolific burgers on earth. More

Spring Break 2010 might be over, but now’s the time to start getting pumped over summer vacation…and all of the splurge purchases that come along with it; from “collector” novelty cocktail glasses to sweatpants that read “Down Under” across your bum, nobody can resist the urge to return home with cheap goodies that flaunt your tropical travels in the most garish way possible.

And what’s the king of souvenirs? The T-shirt! If you remember the days of “Coed Naked this” and “I Survived that,” and even those trompe l’oeil scuba tees that, when you turned around, revealed you’re hooked up to a Corona bottle and not an air tank, then prepare to be blown away by these.

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You always hear about the distinction made between tourists and backpackers, but even among backpackers, we love to group each other into categories by who is the better traveler. Check into any hostel, and you will find a variety of different travelers wearing their distinctive tribal gear. Here are some of the more common that can be found in a hostel’s jungle  …More

photo by Cormac Mulhall

What is Busking?

Busking is the time-honored practice of performing for spare change in public – generally on the street or in a park. Most buskers are musicians, but if you have any sort of talent, you can generally make some good money by putting on an honest performance in a high traffic and relatively affluent area.

If you’re looking to get a sense of the local culture, street performance is a great way to do it. Your status as a foreigner adds to the exoticism of your act, so it can help give you a leg up on the locals.   …More

Ever wonder what it would be like to live in France? Sophia has been blogging about her time on SWAP France… more >

Sean Aiken graduated from college and didn’t know what he wanted to do for a career. So he came up with an idea. Starting Feb 2007, he traveled around North America, working 52 jobs in 52 weeks. He hitchhiked, slept on couches, and donated all his earnings to charity. more>

Supertubes at J-Bay, South Africa

South Africa has become a popular destination for surfers from all around the world. And not without reason; in South Africa you will find world class surfs, but also get a real African adventure at the same time. Here you can enjoy safaris and wildlife one day and “Super Tubes” at J-bay the next. But before you leave home you should remind yourself that South Africa is a huge country, more>

The incredible story of how two recent college grads are traveling around the world on an impossible budget. more>

Big Earth will help you plan, share, film and even broadcast your trips. Why not join our free community and see the world today. more>

We live and breathe New Zealand, and we just love hitting the long and windy roads of New Zealand to discover all of the wonderful New Zealand travel experiences that await you. We’ll let you know about the most stunning scenic vistas that will take your breath away, the extreme hair-raising adventures that will make you feel really alive, and we’ll unearth the most sublime and indulgent ways to rest and relax. more>