Thanks for joining us on this journey! I'm so glad you're here. I'm a writer and travel essayist with a goal of "Rolling to 100" countries in my lifetime. For me, it's not about checklist tourism, but about deep, immersive travel and the life-changing lessons we can learn from it. In my spare time, I provide writing support to others through Rollerbag Goddess Global Communications. I'll take on almost any kind of writing, including speechwriting, blogging, websites and much more! Travel and food writing are my twin passions, which are only eclipsed by my relentless pursuit of experiences worth writing about.
On a recent sojourn, I had to carry a rather cumbersome item onboard a flight: a life-sized cardboard cut-out of Edward Cullen. It was a gift intended for a dear friend, to be given during a destination birthday celebration. I did my due diligence, contacted customer service ahead of time, got the standard “policy” email … More Airline Throwdown: A Question of Customer Service
The Dickeyville Grotto, in Dickeyville, Iowa. Photo by Charish Badzinski. If you ever find yourself in Dickeyville, Iowa, set aside a few minutes for a roadside attraction: the Dickeyville Grotto. If you’ve never seen a grotto before, it’s an odd, amazing, and even eerie stop. Reportedly built between 1925 and 1931, the grotto is located … More Pictorial: The Dickeyville, Iowa Grotto
For those of us who are wanderlusters at heart, there is a persistent internal voice that whispers promises of something more: more than the cubicle in which we dwell, more than the paycheck we receive for it, more than the grind most of us resign ourselves to as a means to an end. But what … More Dispatch from Ethiopia – Part 1: Joining the Peace Corps
In travel, as in life, there are many lessons we can only learn the hard way. So that you might avoid making these same mistakes, here are eight bits of painfully-gained wisdom; some of which you probably know, most of which came at a high cost to me or my friends. Lesson 1: Don’t carry … More 8 Hard-Learned Travel Lessons
The winding road from Pai, Thailand to Chiang Mai, Thailand, is enough to make you lose your lunch. Easier on the way up than on the way down (the vans go slower on the climb), this drive lasts about 2.5 hours. Video by Charish Badzinski. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Join our community of travelers and enjoy exclusive content … More Mini Vacay: The Shuttle from Pai to Chiang Mai, Thailand
Grand Prismatic, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. A stunning geothermal wonder.Photo by Charish Badzinski. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Join our community of travelers and enjoy exclusive content by liking us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/RollerbagGoddess Charish Badzinski is an explorer, foodie and award-winning travel and food writer. When she isn’t working to build her blog: Rollerbag Goddess Rolls the World, she applies her … More Random Travel Photo: Grand Prismatic, Yellowstone National Park
In September of 2008, I sold my car and opted to live without one. It’s good for the planet. It’s good for my wallet. And, it’s good for me, because I walk and bike more than I otherwise would. So since 2008, I’ve depended upon public transport, private enterprise and the kindness of strangers and … More The Green Goddess: Living Car-Free
Sunset on North Long Lake, Crow Wing County, Minnesota. Photo by Charish Badzinski. There’s nothing quite like a late summer boating excursion on one of Northern Minnesota’s pristine lakes. On a clear night at sunset, the views, and the reflection upon the glass-like water, cannot be beat. It’s moments like these, when you’re wondering whether … More Random Travel Photo: Sunset on North Long Lake, Minnesota
Aboard the public bus, on the way from Ixtapa to Zihuatanejo. Video by Charish Badzinski. Note the questionable dangling electrical wiring on the bus. This trip will cost you about $20 USD by cab, or $1 USD by bus each way. Video by Charish Badzinski. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Join our community of travelers and enjoy exclusive content … More Mini Vacay: Bus Ride to Zihuatanejo
As winter’s grip grows tighter, and all memories of those beautiful days of summers past are vanquished, it’s natural that we, as a people, sink into a deep funk that only that first thaw of spring can remedy. Yet with so much time between now and then, Coulee Region Women offers you an elixir which … More 10 Great Beaches: From Coulee Region Women magazine
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