Unpacked by Afar
Unpacked by Afar tackles one tricky topic in travel each week. Whether you want to hack your points and miles, figure out where to travel next, or need advice on an ethical dilemma, we're your expert travel guides. Because the travel world is complicated. We're here to help you unpack it.
Episodes
The City of Good Neighbors: A Buffalo Travel Story of Arrival and Belonging
Buffalo, New York has called itself the City of Good Neighbors since 1940, and in 2023 Reader's Digest even voted it the nicest city in America. But is it true? In this episode of Unpacked by Afar, host Aislyn Greene turns a Buffalo travel story into a bigger question: what does it actually take to turn a stranger into a neighbor?
We begin 150 years ago, on the East Side patch that grew into the
Beyond the Wing: How Buffalo's Food Scene Quietly Became One of America's Best
Everybody knows Buffalo, New York, for the chicken wing. Fewer people know the real story behind the wing—or the full story of Buffalo's food scene, which is grounded in tradition and full of innovation.
In the first episode of our four-part Unpacked by Afar series on Buffalo, we start where you should always start: at the table. Host Aislyn Greene digs into a food scene that has quietly become o
Following the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail—and the Story It Left Out
Welcome to Unpacked Five Questions, a podcast that takes you behind the scenes of one great travel story. In this episode, executive editor Katherine LaGrave sits down with writer Latria Graham, Afar's Unpacked columnist.
Latria spent seven weeks driving the nearly 5,000-mile Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail—alone—to report a story about the Corps of Discovery's most essential and least c
Queer Travel Is About Joy, Not Just Safety
LGBTQ+ Americans are more than twice as likely as the general population to hold a valid passport. That stat sits at the heart of (Out )on the Road: The Radical Joy of Queer Travel, a new book from writer Lindsey Danis that's part memoir, part guide.
Most conversations about queer travel start and end with safety. Lindsey wanted to write past that, toward joy, belonging, and power. In this episo
Travel to Listen: Everyone Knows Motown. Not Everyone Knows Its Story
Welcome to Travel to Listen, a new Unpacked series hosted by veteran music journalist Tim Chester. Over four episodes, Tim took us into the cities where music is more than entertainment—it's the shortcut to a place's soul. In this season finale, he heads to Detroit to explore the legendary Motown sound—and to find out what's next for the little house on West Grand Boulevard that started it all.
M
Feel-Good Friday: The Viral World Cup Food Obsession and a Very American Bourbon
It’s the last Feel-Good Friday before host Aislyn and producer Nikki take a summer break. And they’re sending the season off with two of summer’s great pleasures: a viral World Cup food obsession and a very American bourbon.
First, why international soccer fans are falling hard for ranch dressing—and getting stopped at airport security over it. Then, a first-of-its-kind whiskey blended from all
Why a Michigan Road Trip Might Be the Best Way to Build a Friendship
On this episode of Unpacked, host Aislyn Greene and producer Nikki Galteland hit the road in Michigan and find epic adventures, gorgeous waterways—and a new way to connect.
Join them as they follow Michigan's mitten counterclockwise, exploring the state's many waterways. They paddle the Au Sable River, flying over the Lake Huron shipwrecks of Thunder Bay, ferry over to the car-free Mackinac Islan
Feel-Good Friday: An Ode to Obama, New London Museums, and a Hopeful Ocean Story
It’s Feel-Good Friday, and Unpacked host Aislyn and producer Nikki are joined by a guest they’ve been waiting weeks to record with: Afar senior editor Lucy Kehoe, who also edits our UK sister title, Suitcase. Three stories, all good news, landing fittingly on Juneteenth.
This week’s stories:
A landmark opening in Chicago lands right on Juneteenth: a nearly 20-acre campus on the South Side, a
Why the Best New Hotels of 2026 Aren’t All "New"
What makes a hotel the best? Not just new, not just beautiful, but worthy of a list that thousands of travelers plan their year around? For Afar senior deputy editor Jennifer Flowers, it comes down to a single test: does this hotel have a story? Not a marketing story—a real one, rooted in the place it sits, the community around it, or the history in its bones.
In this episode, Afar editorial dire
Travel to Listen: The Spacey, Sunbaked Rock of California's Mojave Desert
Welcome to "Travel to Listen," a new Unpacked series hosted by veteran music journalist Tim Chester. Over four episodes rolling out every other week, Tim takes us into the cities where music is more than entertainment—it’s the shortcut to a place’s soul.
This week, he heads into the high desert of Southern California to find out why the Mojave has been spawning some of rock’s most original sound
Feel-Good Friday: Australia’s Plastic Win, a Different Kind of Summit Story, and the Women Changing Safari
It’s Feel-Good Friday, when your Unpacked host (Aislyn) and producer (Nikki) get together to swap the stories making them feel good this week. And this week they're joined by Afar's director of photography, Michelle Heimerman. They share three stories that are making them feel optimistic this week.
Stories like...
Some genuinely good news for anyone who loves a beach: one of the world’s most
What a Safari Looks Like When a Woman Is at the Wheel
What does a safari look like when the guide isn't a man? Award-winning writer and editor Ellen Carpenter went to Botswana's Okavango Delta to find out. (To learn more, read her Afar story about the experience.)
Meet this week's guests
Ellen Carpenter is a New York–based culture and travel journalist. She served as editor in chief of Hemispheres, United's inflight magazine, for seven years, an
Feel-Good Friday: A Queer Dance Revolution, Dog-Friendly Hotels, and What Actually Makes You Happy
Welcome back to Feel-Good Fridays. This week, host Aislyn Greene and producer Nikki Galteland are joined by Afar executive editor Kathrine LaGrave—and the three of them are ready to carry you into the weekend a little lighter, with stories about line dancing, travel with your dog, and the surprisingly simple science of being happy.
The happy news
Country line dancing is having a queer renaiss
What My 96-Year-Old Grandmother Taught Me About Travel
What would happen if you called your grandmother out of the blue and asked her to go camping that night? For Brad Ryan, that impulsive phone call sparked a seven-year journey across all 63 U.S. national parks.
Along the way, he and Grandma Joy, now 96, healed old wounds, faced down lifelong fears, and became unlikely internet stars. Brad's new book, Grandma Joy and Me: A Journey of Healing One N
Travel to Listen: The City That Made Prince
Welcome to "Travel to Listen," a new Unpacked series hosted by veteran music journalist Tim Chester. Over four episodes rolling out every other week, Tim takes us into the cities where music is more than entertainment—it's the shortcut to a place's soul.
This week, he heads to Minneapolis to hear how a community center, a cold climate, and a once-in-a-generation genius combined to create one of
Feel-Good Friday: A Road Trip, a Public Health Win, and the Great Millennial Song Debate
Welcome back to Feel-Good Fridays. This week, host Aislyn Greene and producer Nikki Galteland are bringing you a special road trip edition — recorded live from the car somewhere in the forests of Michigan, microphones balanced on laps and sunscreen close at hand.
It’s a two-story episode today, and both come straight from the headlines of everyday life:
Sunscreen use is up worldwide — and it
Feel-Good Friday: A Hidden India, a Celebrity Elephant, and the Future of California Wine
Welcome back to Feel-Good Friday. Every Friday through the end of June, Unpacked is popping into your feed with a brand-new series designed to carry you into the weekend a little lighter. Each episode, host Aislyn Greene and producer Nikki Galteland are joined by a different Afar staffer to share three travel stories that made them smile, tear up (in a good way), or rethink what's possible. Funny,
Travel to Listen: Why This Southern City Is America's Most Underrated Music Town
Welcome to Travel to Listen, a new Unpacked series hosted by veteran music journalist Tim Chester. Over four episodes rolling out every other week, Tim takes us into the cities where music is more than entertainment—it’s the shortcut to a place’s soul. This week, he goes to the source in Macon: meet the people keeping the city’s legendary songbook alive, and find out why a trip here might be the m
Feel-Good Friday: Pottery, a History-Making Pilot, and a Salmon Race Worth Following
Welcome back to Feel-Good Fridays!
Every Friday through the end of June, Unpacked is popping into your feed with a brand-new series designed to carry you into the weekend a little lighter. In each episode, host Aislyn Greene and producer Nikki Galteland are joined by a different Afar staffer to share three travel stories that made them smile, tear up (in a good way), or rethink what’s possible. F
Towing With an EV: What Hundreds of Miles Down the Oregon Coast Taught Us
In last week's episode, host Aislyn Greene shared the story of towing a 20-foot Airstream down the Oregon coast in an all-electric Rivian truck — the campsite mishaps, the strangers who became friends, the joy of slow travel. This week, she's back with the practical guide: how an EV road trip actually works when you're towing, and what to know before you try one yourself.
Aislyn sits down with Sa
Feel-Good Fridays: A New Series for Brighter Weekends
Welcome to Feel-Good Fridays.
Every Friday from now through the end of June, Unpacked is popping into your feed with a brand-new series designed to carry you into the weekend a little lighter. Each episode, host Aislyn Greene and producer Nikki Galteland are joined by a different Afar staffer to share three travel stories that made them smile, tear up (in a good way), or rethink what's possible.
We Towed an Airstream Down the Oregon Coast Using an Electric Truck. Here's What Happened.
What happens when the person who knows how to tow has to leave — and you're left with a 5,000-pound Airstream, an electric truck, and 800 miles of Oregon coast ahead of you?
On this episode of Unpacked, host Aislyn Greene shares the story of the eight-day road trip she and her wife Jeannie took down the Oregon coast in August — towing an Airstream Basecamp 20 XE with a Rivian Tri-Motor R1T, with
Unpacked, Five Questions: Why This Photographer Spent Four Weeks in the Egyptian Desert
Welcome to Unpacked, Five Questions, a podcast that takes you behind the scenes of one great travel story. In this episode, executive editor Katherine LaGrave sits down with documentary photographer Nathalie Mohadjer, whose images of the desert oasis of Siwa appear in Afar's winter 2026 issue.
For four weeks in Siwa, an ancient town some 450 miles from Cairo, Nathalie traded the typical three-day
Forget the Algorithm. Here's How to Actually Eat Well When You Travel.
Jennifer Hope Choi plans every trip the same way: open a Google doc, start with food, and build outward from there. As a former Bon Appétit editor, 13-year restaurant industry veteran, and author of a travel memoir, she has strong opinions about Michelin guides (skip ‘em), low-rated restaurants (sometimes worth it), and why you should always follow your optician's food recs.
She also edited Afar
The Joyful Instrument That Became the Sound of Hawai'i
It started as an abandoned ukulele on a wall. Afar’s Aislyn Greene hadn’t touched it in two years — but that idle instrument sent her down a rabbit hole into one of the most joyful origin stories in music. The ukulele arrived in Hawai'i on a Portuguese immigrant ship in 1878, got a royal endorsement from a king and queen, fell into obscurity, and then took over the world. Along the way, a family o
How Two Years of Phone-Free Travel Rewired the Way I See the World
What if the secret to a great trip was leaving your phone in airplane mode — forever? Journalist Lisa Abend has been doing exactly that, arriving in cities she's never researched, GPS turned off, without a hotel reservation or itinerary of any kind. The result isn't chaos; it's the kind of travel that actually surprises you. In this episode, Lisa makes a compelling case for leaving the phone out o
In the Age of AI, This Is What Only a Travel Advisor Can Do
You've got more booking tools than ever — so why would you hire a travel advisor? In this episode, Afar editorial director Billie Cohen sits down with travel journalist and matchmaker Wendy Perrin, founder of wendyperrin.com, to answer the questions travelers actually have: What can an advisor do that you can't do yourself? When does it make sense — and when doesn't it? How do you find a good one,
An Architect's California: From LA's Secret Garden to the Magic of Joshua Tree
This is a very special episode of Unpacked by Afar. This week, we hosted Unpacked Live — a live version of the podcast — in partnership with Visit California in Dallas, Texas. The event celebrated California's extraordinary creative landscape, and today's guest has been shaping the way Californians live, work, and gather for three decades.
Barbara Bestor is the founder of Bestor Architecture, a L
He's Been Designing California's Outdoors for Decades. Here's What He's Learned.
This is a very special episode of Unpacked by Afar. This week, we hosted Unpacked Live — a live version of the podcast — in partnership with Visit California in Dallas, Texas. The event celebrated California's extraordinary creative landscape, and today's guest has literally shaped the ground beneath many Californian's feet.
Roderick Wyllie is an award-winning landscape architect and founding par
The Naturalist Who's Been Decoding—and Painting—California's Wild Spaces for 30 Years
This is a very special episode of Unpacked by Afar. This week, we hosted Unpacked Live — a live version of the podcast — in partnership with Visit California in Dallas, Texas. The event celebrated California's extraordinary creative landscape, and today's guest is one of its most original voices.
Obi Kaufmann is a naturalist, writer, and illustrator whose California Field Atlas series has redefin
Drama, Geopolitics, and Glory: Inside the World Cup
Show Notes
The World Cup is more than a soccer tournament — it's a mirror for geopolitics, national identity, and the power of global fandom. In this episode of Unpacked, host Aislyn Greene sits down with British journalist Jonathan Wilson, author of The Power and the Glory: The History of the World Cup, to explore the drama, corruption, and beauty that have defined the tournament across a centu
This Theater Was a Refuge for Queer Americans. Now It's Been Reborn.
She’s 104 years old, newly renovated, and she’s ready for her close-up.
On this episode of Unpacked: America 250, host Aislyn Greene talks about the newly renovated Castro Theatre in San Francisco, a $41 million transformation of one of America’s most beloved LGBTQ+ landmarks.
Aislyn sits down with Mary Conde, SVP at Another Planet Entertainment, the independent concert promoter behind the r
The Hidden History of the World's Most Powerful Travel Document
Before you board an international flight, before you cross a border, you need a passport. But how much do you really know about the little book that controls where you can and cannot go in this world?
On this episode of Unpacked, host Aislyn Greene sits down with Patrick Bixby, an English professor at Arizona State University and author of the book License to Travel: A Cultural History of the Pas
The Military Secret That Could End Your Jet Lag Suffering
Jet lag doesn't have to ruin your trip. On this episode of Unpacked, host Aislyn Greene shares her game-changing experience using a jet lag protocol originally developed for Navy SEALs—and digs into the fascinating science of why it works. She speaks with Dr. Jamie Zeitzer, one of Stanford's leading circadian rhythm researchers, and Andrew Herr, the founder of Flykitt, who transformed military sle
Beyond the Canals: An Insider’s Guide to Amsterdam’s Real Neighborhoods
Amsterdam is one of Europe’s most overtouristed cities—but it’s also so much more than the crowds in the city center suggest. On this episode of Unpacked—part of Afar’s ongoing Off the Tourist Trail series—host Aislyn Greene is joined by journalist Blane Bachelor, who moved to Amsterdam during the pandemic and has spent years navigating life as a resident. She shares how to experience the real Ams
The Lowdown on 2026: Everything You Need to Make It Your Best Travel Year Yet
Is it okay to watch a violent movie next to a stranger's kid on a plane? Should you abandon your airline loyalty card? And wait—is March actually the real start of the new year?
On this episode of Unpacked, host Aislyn Greene is joined by Afar editorial director Billy Cohen and deputy editor Michelle Baron for a wide-ranging conversation tied to Afar's annual Plan Your Travel Year package on afar
Why Spain’s Star Chefs Are Setting Up Michelin-Starred Restaurants in Tiny Towns
Welcome to Unpacked, Five Questions, a podcast that takes you behind the scenes of one great travel story.
In this episode, host and Afar executive editor Katherine LaGrave sits down with contributing writer Lisa Abend, a Copenhagen‑based journalist known for her deep reporting on food, culture, and the ways travel shapes communities. For her latest Afar feature, Lisa embarked on an ambitious roa
Where to Go in 2026: The Five-Square-Mile Caribbean Island That's Nothing Like Its Neighbors
It's a shiny new year, so this month on Unpacked, we're diving into Afar's Where to Go list: 24 emerging regions and overlooked locales to explore this year.
Places like Saba, a tiny Dutch Caribbean island with no beaches, no cruise ports, and the world's shortest commercial runway—just 400 meters long. What it does have: lush volcanic landscapes, 20 hand-built hiking trails, and a popu
Where to Go in 2026: East London's Olympic Park Has Transformed Into a Cultural Powerhouse
It's a shiny new year, so this month on Unpacked, we're diving into Afar's Where to Go list: 24 emerging regions and overlooked locales to explore this year.
Like East London, where a billion-pound investment has transformed the 2012 Olympic Park into a creative powerhouse.
In this episode, host Aislyn Greene talks with Nick DeRenzo, Afar's editorial director of newsletters (sign up he
Where to Go in 2026: The South Australian City That Punches Above Its Weight
It's a shiny new year, so this month on Unpacked, we're diving into Afar's Where to Go list. And in 2026, we want to lessen the burden on overtouristed destinations and expand visitation to other parts of the world. So our editors carefully selected 24 emerging regions and overlooked locales that will inspire your next great adventure.
Places like Adelaide, Australia, a city within a park
Where to Go in 2026: The Texas City Getting a Juneteenth Museum, FIFA World Cup Matches, and a Cowgirl Museum Expansion
It's a shiny new year, so this month on Unpacked, we're diving into Afar's Where to Go list—24 emerging regions and overlooked locales to explore this year.
Like Fort Worth, Texas, a city that blends its cowboy heritage with world-class museums, a thriving food scene, and major developments on the horizon.
In this episode, host Aislyn Greene talks with Nora Walsh, a travel writer and p
Where to Go in 2026: Malaysia's Most Overlooked Island Is a Feast for Every Sense
It's a shiny new year, so this month on Unpacked, we're diving into Afar's Where to Go list. In 2026, we want to lessen the burden on overtouristed destinations and expand visitation to other parts of the world. So our editors carefully selected 24 emerging regions and overlooked locales that will inspire your next great adventure.
Places like Penang, Malaysia, a small island with one o
Where to Go in 2026: The White Lotus Architect Designed a Hotel in This Vietnamese City—Now the World Is Noticing
It's a fresh new year and this month on Unpacked, we're diving into Afar's Where to Go in 2026 list—but this year's picks are different. In 2026, we want to lessen the burden on overtouristed destinations and expand visitation to other parts of the world. Our editors carefully selected 24 emerging regions and overlooked locales that will inspire your next great adventure.
Places like Da Nang, Vie
Where to Go in 2026: The Pacific Northwest's 80-Mile Playground Just Got Even Better
It's a shiny new year, so this month on Unpacked, we're diving into Afar's Where to Go list. And this year's list is a little different. Because in 2026, we want to lessen the burden on overtouristed destinations and expand visitation to other parts of the world. Our editors carefully selected 24 emerging regions and overlooked locales that will inspire your next great adventure.
Like the Col
Where to Go in 2026: Trade the Serengeti Traffic for This Under-the-Radar Kenyan Safari
This month on Unpacked, we're diving into Afar's just-released Where to Go list—but this year's picks are different. In 2026, we want to lessen the burden on overtouristed destinations and expand visitation to other parts of the world. Our editors carefully selected 24 emerging regions and overlooked locales that will inspire your next great adventure.
For Laikipia, that means looking beyond th
Where to Go in 2026: The French Riviera's Last Stop Before Italy—and Its Best-Kept Secret
This month on Unpacked, we're diving into Afar's just-released Where to Go list—but this year's picks are different. In 2026, we want to lessen the burden on overtouristed destinations and expand visitation to other parts of the world. Our editors carefully selected 24 emerging regions and overlooked locales that will inspire your next great adventure.
For Menton, that means looking beyond Cann
Where to Go in 2026: Three Hours From Nashville, the South's Next Great Food Capital Is Waiting
This month on Unpacked, we're diving into Afar's just-released Where to Go list—but this year's picks are different. In 2026, we want to lessen the burden on overtouristed destinations and expand visitation to other parts of the world. Our editors carefully selected 24 emerging regions and overlooked locales that will inspire your next great adventure.
For Birmingham, that means discovering what
Where to Go in 2026: Why Morocco's Chill Capital Deserves Your Attention
This month on Unpacked, we're diving into Afar's just-released Where to Go list—but this year's picks are different. In 2026, we want to lessen the burden on overtouristed destinations and expand visitation to other parts of the world. Our editors carefully selected 24 emerging regions and overlooked locales that will inspire your next great adventure.
For Rabat, that means looking beyond the wel
Where to Go in 2026: Route 66 Turns 100—and Albuquerque Is Ready to Celebrate
This month on Unpacked, we're diving into Afar's just-released Where to Go list—but this year's picks are different. In 2026, we want to lessen the burden on overtouristed destinations and expand visitation to other parts of the world. Our editors carefully selected 24 emerging regions and overlooked locales that will inspire your next great adventure.
For Albuquerque, that means looking beyond
Where to Go in 2026: The New 170-Mile Hiking Network Connecting Stockholm's Dreamy Archipelago
This month on Unpacked, we're diving into Afar's just-released Where to Go list—but this year's picks are different. In 2026, we want to lessen the burden on overtouristed destinations and expand visitation to other parts of the world. Our editors carefully selected 24 emerging regions and overlooked locales that will inspire your next great adventure.
For Sweden, that means skipping Stockholm an
Where to Go in 2026: Why Peru's Second City Might Be Its Best-Kept Secret
This month on Unpacked, we're diving into Afar's just-released Where to Go list—but this year's picks are different. In 2026, we want to lessen the burden on overtouristed destinations and expand visitation to other parts of the world. Our editors carefully selected 24 emerging regions and overlooked locales that will inspire your next great adventure.
For Peru, that means looking beyond Machu Pi
The City Where You'll Find Ghost Stories, Gullah Rhythms, and the "Carnegie Hall of the South"
In this special four-part series, join Unpacked host Aislyn Greene as she travels to Charleston, South Carolina, to unpack the city's deeper currents.
For the series finale: Charleston's performing arts scene is nothing short of extraordinary. Aislyn explores the city's world-class venues—from America's first dedicated theater to a stunning apricot-colored concert hall—and meets the people bringi
Where to Go in 2026: This Island in the Bahamas Promises Pink Sand, Historic Hideaways, and Perfect Solitude
This month on Unpacked, we're diving into Afar's just-released Where to Go list—but this year's picks are different. In 2026, we want to lessen the burden on overtouristed destinations and expand visitation to other parts of the world. Our editors carefully selected 24 emerging regions and overlooked locales that will inspire your next great adventure.
For the Bahamas, that means looking beyond
Where to Go in 2026: The Most Underrated Destinations for the Year Ahead
In 2026, it's time to travel differently. This year's Where to Go list from Afar isn't about the usual suspects—it's about lessening the burden on over-touristed destinations while discovering places that are equally extraordinary.
Today, we released our list of 24 emerging regions and overlooked locales that deliver all the magic with none of the crowds. From Bucharest's Belle Époque architectu
The Artisans Keeping the Soul of Charleston's King Street Alive
In this special four-part series, join Unpacked host Aislyn Greene as she travels to Charleston, South Carolina, to unpack the city's deeper currents.
This week: Step onto King Street, Charleston's iconic retail corridor, where three centuries of commerce come alive. From century-old family businesses to contemporary local makers, discover how Charleston's shopping scene preserves history while e
Charleston Serves Up More Than 300 Years of Flavor—and Every Bite Tells a Story
In this special four-part series, join Unpacked host Aislyn Greene as she travels to Charleston, South Carolina, to unpack the city's deeper currents.
This week: Dive fork-first into Charleston's legendary food scene, where history and flavor collide. From the resurrection of she-crab soup to the recreation of a groundbreaking 1865 dinner that celebrated equality, discover how Charleston's culin
The Wampanoag Story: 10,000 Years of Food, Land, and Survival in Massachusetts
This is a very special episode of Unpacked by Afar. This week we hosted Unpacked Live, a—you guessed it—live version of the podcast in partnership with Visit California in Boston, Massachusetts. (You can watch the full conversation on YouTube.)
The event celebrated California's diverse Native communities, and host Aislyn Greene was joined on stage by John Acuna, a Hoopa Valley tribal member an
What California’s Klamath River Revival Means for Travelers
This is a very special episode of Unpacked by Afar. Because this week we hosted Unpacked Live, a—you guessed it—live version of the podcast in partnership with Visit California in Boston, Massachusetts. (You can watch the full conversation on YouTube.)
In 2022, Visit California launched Visit Native California, and the goal with the Boston live event was to celebrate California's diverse tribal
How Ancient Food Traditions Shape California Cuisine Today
This is a very special episode of Unpacked by Afar. Because this week we hosted Unpacked Live, a—you guessed it—live version of the podcast in partnership with Visit California in Boston, Massachusetts. (You can watch the full conversation on YouTube.)
In 2022, Visit California launched Visit Native California, and the goal with the Boston live event was to celebrate California's diverse Nativ
To Understand the Soul of This Southern City, Head for the Water
In this special four-part series, join Unpacked host Aislyn Greene as she travels to Charleston, South Carolina, to unpack the city’s deeper currents.
Up first: To really get to know Charleston, you must spend time on its water ways. Aislyn heads out for a pre-dawn paddle, hunts for Ice Age fossils alongside Charleston’s Indiana Jones, and explores one of the most pristine marine parks on the Eas
The World's Best Cities List Is Out. Here's How They Actually Pick Winners
How do you determine what makes a great city? This week on Unpacked, Afar editor at large Laura Dannen Redman sits down with Chris Fair, president and CEO of Resonance Consultancy, to unpack the firm’s annual World's Best Cities ranking.
Chris explains how the list measures livability, lovability, and prosperity; the UK city that still tops the chart; the methodology changes that reshaped the to
"The Amazon at Night Is Dolby Sound"—What It’s Like to Visit Peru as a Blind Traveler
Welcome to Unpacked: Five Questions. In honor of our latest issue of Afar magazine, which focuses on epic trips—the kind of adventures that change your world—we're hearing from the writers and photographers who chronicled and captured those trips.
In the final episode of the series, host and Afar executive editor Katherine LaGrave speaks with Ryan Knighton, a memoirist, screenwriter, surfer, a
In Botswana, Tracking Lions and Elephants—By Bike
Welcome to Unpacked: Five Questions. In honor of our latest issue of Afar magazine, which focuses on epic trips—the kind of adventures that change your world—we're hearing from the writers and photographers who chronicled and captured those trips.
In the third episode of the series, host and Afar executive editor Katherine La Grave speaks with Afar contributor Chris Colin about his first safari
Unpacked, Five Questions: Finding Flow on Canada's Oldest River
Welcome to Unpacked: Five Questions. In honor of our latest issue of Afar magazine, which focuses on epic trips—the kind of adventures that change your world—we're hearing from the writers and photographers who chronicled and captured those trips.
In the second episode of the series, host and Afar executive editor Katherine La Grave sits down with journalist Chloe Berge. Chloe spent 13 days pa
Unpacked, Five Questions: A Ski Photographer's Love Letter to the Balkans
Welcome to Unpacked: Five Questions. In honor of our latest issue of Afar magazine, which focuses on epic trips—the kind of adventures that change your world—we're hearing from the writers and photographers who chronicled and captured those trips.
In the first episode of the series, host and Afar executive editor Katherine La Grave speaks with photographer Kari Medig. Kari has spent 15 years t
Replay: The Land of Hot Air Balloons, Heritage Grains, and 300 Days of Sunshine
Albuquerque isn't just a stopover—it's a destination where ancient land meets modern vision. On this replay episode of Unpacked, join host Aislyn Greene as she discovers why this Southwestern city has become a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, food innovators, and cultural preservation. From sunrise balloon rides to Indigenous-led breweries, explore the Albuquerque that's rooted in 10-million-year-ol
A Local's Guide to England's Best-Kept Secrets
This isn't just London—it's England, and there's so much more beyond the royal stereotypes. On this episode of Unpacked—part of Afar's ongoing Off the Tourist Trail series—join host Aislyn Greene as she explores hidden England with travel journalist Lottie Gross.
From rebellious Bristol to underground cave networks, discover the layers of England that even locals often miss. Lottie shares her in
Giants of the Highway: The Secret Story Behind Route 66's Most Unusual Museum
Welcome to Unpacked, America 250, a mini series celebrating the music, art, food, and more that makes America, America—in honor of our nation's upcoming 250th anniversary.
The mini series is part of Afar's "52 Places to Travel in the U.S. This Year" story, and in this fourth episode, host Aislyn Greene takes us to Illinois to explore the towering fiberglass giants that once ruled America's highwa
Beyond the Ring Road: An Iceland Insider’s Guide to Avoiding the Crowds
Iceland is so much more than the Golden Circle and Northern Lights—there's a vast country that exists beyond the tourist hotspots. On this episode of Unpacked, join host Aislyn Greene as she speaks with travel writer Ali Wunderman, who has been exploring the country for more than a decade.
Ali shares how to connect with authentic Icelandic culture, avoid the crowds, and discover the spots that m
Unpacked, Five Questions: The Secret Life of New York's Oldest Businesses
Welcome to Unpacked, Five Questions, a podcast that takes you behind the scenes of one great travel story. In this episode, host Katherine LaGrave sits down with feature writer Harrison Hill, who is working on his forthcoming book The Oracle's Daughter.
For his latest Afar feature celebrating New York City's 400th birthday, Harrison embarked on a borough-hopping journey to visit the oldest famil
Unpacked, Five Questions: When a British Writer Meets the Cape Cod of the Midwest
Welcome to Unpacked, Five Questions, a podcast that takes you behind the scenes of one great travel story.
In this episode, host Katherine LaGrave sits down with London-based writer Emma John, author of three books and Afar contributing writer, who recently visited Door County, Wisconsin—her 43rd U.S. state. Nicknamed "the Cape Cod of the Midwest," this sleepy peninsula surprised Emma with its un
Paradise by Design: The Florida Story
Welcome to Unpacked, America 250, a mini series celebrating the music, art, food, and more that makes America, America—in honor of our nation's upcoming 250th anniversary.
The mini series is part of Afar's "52 Places to Travel in the U.S. This Year" package, and in this third episode, host Aislyn Greene takes us to Florida to explore the architectural fantasy that transformed swampland into Amer
A Slow Traveler's Guide to Korea's (Second) Busiest City
Welcome to Unpacked, Five Questions, a podcast that takes you behind the scenes of one great travel story.
In this episode, host Katherine LaGrave sits down with New York Times bestselling author and Afar contributing writer Peggy Orenstein, who recently traded her usual slow-travel style for the bustling energy of Busan, South Korea's second-largest city.
Known for her thoughtful explorations
This Beat Is the Real Heart of D.C.
Welcome to Unpacked, America 250, a mini series celebrating the music, art, food, and more that makes America, America—in honor of our nation's upcoming 250th anniversary. The mini series is part of Afar's "52 Places to Travel in the U.S. This Year" package, and in this second episode, host Aislyn Greene takes us to Washington, D.C. to explore go-go music—the uniquely American sound that's been
From Controversial Pizza to Comeback Stories: America's Most Compelling Cities Right Now
In this special Unpacked bonus episode, we're going behind the scenes of our newView From Afar podcast, which spotlights the people and the ideas shaping the future of travel. Afar editors traveled to the floor of IPW, the annual travel conference organized by the U.S. Travel Association to share the best of America with the rest of the world.
In this episode, we hear from Afar editorial directo
Newark's Comeback, L.A.'s Wildfire Recovery, and This Summer's Travel Reality
In this special Unpacked bonus episode, we're going behind the scenes of our newView From Afar podcast, which spotlights the people and the ideas shaping the future of travel. Afar editors traveled to the floor of IPW, the annual travel conference organized by the U.S. Travel Association to share the best of America with the rest of the world.
In this episode, we hear from Afar senior editor Mi
From Freezing to Steaming: A Minnesota Love Story
Welcome to Unpacked, America 250, a new mini series celebrating the music, art, food, and more that makes America, America—in honor of our nation's upcoming 250th anniversary. The mini series is part of Afar's "52 Places to Travel in the U.S. This Year" package, and in this inaugural episode, host Aislyn Greene takes us to Minnesota to explore how Finnish sauna culture has evolved into a uniquely
What Happens After You Buy That One-Euro Italian House?
Welcome to Unpacked, Five Questions, a new series where we go behind the scenes of one great travel story.
In this episode, host Katherine LaGrave sits down with Afar contributing writer Lisa Abend, who recently traveled to Sicily to investigate the viral phenomenon of European countries selling homes for one euro. Based in Copenhagen, Lisa explores what really happens after the headlines fade—bo
Unpacked Minis, Five Questions: For One Writer, This Ancient Chinese City Always Feels New
Welcome to Unpacked, Five Questions, a new series where we go behind the scenes of one great travel story.
In this episode, host Katherine LaGrave sits down with author and journalist Bonnie Tsui, whose father has lived in Guangzhou, China, for decades. In the 2025 Culture Issue of Afar she writes about how a recent trip to the city transformed three generations of relationships.
She shares tip
Unpacked Minis, Five Questions: For Some of the World’s Most Exciting Wines, Travel to Mexico
Welcome to Unpacked, Five Questions, a new series where we go behind the scenes of one great travel story.
In this inaugural episode, host Katherine LaGrave sits down with award-winning writer Anya von Bremzen to discuss her journey through Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico's exciting wine region just two hours from San Diego, which she wrote about in Afar's spring issue.
Von Bremzen, a James Beard A
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