THE RAMBLER

Responsible Travel. Creating Community.

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Hi Reader!

I’ll be honest — I’ve been feeling a little guilty lately.

As the current administration continues to escalate tensions in communities across the country, I catch myself wondering: how do I dare plan a vacation? How do I talk about birding trips and rafting plans when people are exhausted, frustrated, and asking for help?

Last week on LinkedIn, a colleague in Minneapolis shared how ICE activity in her community remains intense, even though the national spotlight has moved on. She wrote about feeling like she’s “screaming into a brick wall.” About how their city has fallen off the mainstream news cycle while the strain hasn’t disappeared. About exhaustion. About anger. About fear for democracy itself.

One line that stuck with me was this:
​“Don’t let this fall off your radar.”

That’s the tension, isn’t it?

Each of us carries a responsibility to stay informed, to speak up in ways that matter, and to support communities under pressure. And at the same time, we are human. Burnout is real. Chronic outrage is not sustainable. Constant vigilance without rest helps no one.

It is possible to hold two things at once:
To care deeply.
And to rest.

It is okay to plan something joyful, grounding, even fun — not as an escape from responsibility, but as a way to sustain it. Travel, when done thoughtfully, can reconnect us to community, to nature, and to the reasons we keep showing up in the first place.

That’s the space I’m trying to inhabit right now — engaged, but not depleted. Concerned, but still building. Paying attention, while also allowing moments of beauty and breath.

And from that place, here’s what we’ve been working on lately at Not Your Average American.

Travel Like It Matters: Leymebamba, Peru

Our Responsible Travel Guide to Leymebamba focuses on how to visit thoughtfully—supporting local families, honoring history, and understanding why some places benefit more from fewer visitors, not more.

👉 Read it here: Leymebamba, Peru: What To Know Before You Go​

A Simple Start: Birdwatching for Beginners

Birdwatching doesn’t require expensive gear or expert knowledge. It starts with curiosity and slowing down.

In this article, we share our basic birdwatching kit for beginners—what’s genuinely useful, what’s optional, and what we wish we’d known earlier. If you’ve ever noticed birds from a window, trail, or café table, you’re already halfway there.

👉 Read it here: Our Basic Birdwatching Kit: For Beginners and Beyond​

When Thousands Take Flight: Snow Geese in California

Few things recalibrate your sense of scale like watching hundreds of snow geese lift off at once.

We spent time at Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge, reflecting on migration, habitat protection, and what it means to witness wildlife responsibly, all while roadtripping between Portland and Northern California.

👉 Read the article: Chasing Snow Geese: Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge​

Travel Deals We Spotted This Week

We recently spotted a very tempting travel deal from Portland to Panama City on Going—and yes, we hovered over the “book now” button for a moment. We're holding out for a good deal to Quito... United just announced increased flights for 2026 so we're hoping that might mean a few more travel deals.. For those of you on the East Coast, we're quickly learning that Baltimore is the place to live for the best flight deals.

​​​Washington DC → Quito for $356 – 47% off (normally $680+) Visit our favorite gateway city into Ecuador - incredible history, delicious food, and stunning hospitality. Oh... and its so close to so many great outdoors activites from hiking to birdwatching!

​Baltimore → Bogota for $287 – 59% off (normally $700+) An unexpected deal from many East Coast cities to Colombia's capital city.

​Portland → Liberia, Costa Rica for $376 – 49% off (normally $750+)​ Our most often asked question is if we like Costa Rica better than Ecuador. We don't know because we've never been! I started checking out lodges to see what we might want to do if we book this flight.

Have you seen any great Going deals lately from your city? We always love hearing what’s popping up elsewhere.

Let’s Connect:

There is a buzz in the air when we talk to our friends here in Portland about our in-person meetups coming in March, April, and May! Please join us if you can!​

Prefer virtual?​
We have a little bit of interest in hosting an online Ramble and creating a digital space for deeper conversation. If that sounds like your kind of thing, hit reply or join our interest list here.

Thanks for Rambling With Us,

Angie & Scott

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