Welcome to aroundtheworldwithme.com! I’m Chris and I’m glad you’re here. If you’re like me, you have an insatiable desire to explore the world and see everything this amazing planet has to offer. You want to get out and explore. You don’t take “vacations”, you travel. If that sounds like you, you’ve come to the right place.
I created this website to share my intricate knowledge about some of the most fascinating places in the world that I’ve lived and been to. Here on this webpage you’ll find highly detailed articles on not just adventurous destinations, but many off the beaten path destinations and places that typical travelers don’t often think about. You’ll also find articles on how to visit super popular destinations – like Santorini or Venice to avoid the crowds.
If you hold down a fulltime job and long to travel the world, this website is for you. I will show you how to get the most out of those precious vacation days.
Why am I suited to show you this? Well for one, unlike many of the digital nomad travel bloggers out there, I’m just like you. I have a full time job and I have nearly my entire adult life. I’ve mastered how to maximize vacation days and make the most out of a short trip somewhere.
My itineraries will show you how to see the most of your destination, while avoiding the crowds and still finding time to relax on the beach. I’m sure you’ll find the information you find on this webpage useful and I’d love to hear from you if you don’t!
Who I Am
In short, I’m Chris, a structural engineer from Washington DC. Along with my wife Nimarta I’ve traveled the world in search of adventure since 2008. I design US embassies – mainly in Africa and Asia – for a living. It’s a niche of structural engineering and I enjoy it. Plus flying around the world for site visits is a perk!
I’ve been to over 65 countries, 48 of the 50 US states, and all 7 continents. I’ve lived in The US, New Zealand and The Netherlands. My travel style is somewhere in between budget and luxury. I’ve designed this site thinking of people like you and me who have some money to spend on travel, but still want a good deal!
When I’m not traveling I enjoy working on this website, shredding on my guitar, and playing and watching tennis.
Where I’ve Lived
I’ve lived in three different countries in six different cities. I move around a lot, which allows me to get intimate with different regions of the world (while still working full time!)
- Washington DC – My hometown, where I lived till I was 18 and again since 2020
- Austin, Texas – I spent two years in Austin, but you won’t find any travel info on the capital of Texas here. I was too focused on my studies!
- Las Vegas, NV – My time in Sin City allowed me in depth exploration of the desert Southwest of the United States, and you’ll find helpful articles for visiting the Southwest USA in my US Archives. And in case you were wondering, people do actually live in Las Vegas and it can be an awesome place to call home.
- Wellington, New Zealand – I spent two years living in the capital of New Zealand and used that time to extensively travel around the beautiful country of New Zealand. I’ve seen more of New Zealand than any Kiwi, and I say that with confidence. In my New Zealand archives you’ll find a lot of helpful information for planning your trip to New Zealand.
- Amsterdam, The Netherlands – I spent four years living in The Netherlands, most of it in the picturesque city of Amsterdam. This not only allowed me to become a Netherlands travel expert, but also to explore the entire continent of Europe from top to bottom (literally!). You will find many articles about The Netherlands on this page as well detailed guides to many other amazing European destinations.
- Groningen, The Netherlands – Before moving to Amsterdam, I spent almost a year in Groningen in the northern Netherlands. This allowed me to get out of town exploring almost every weekend since there is only so much you can do in Groningen!
My Travel Story
Growing up I never really ventured far from home. My parents took me to resorts in the Caribbean throughout childhood, but that was as adventurous as we got. Even through my university days I had still never been out of Eastern Standard Time.
It wasn’t until I was living in Austin and drove with a friend to Seattle, WA that I discovered that I was missing out on what the US had to offer, let alone the rest of the world. I had never even seen a mountain before, and now I was staring at the Grand Canyon and driving through Monument Valley, Utah. From that moment I knew that I was destined to travel the world and see everything that I could in the limited time that I have.
In the years since I’ve hiked across the Himalayas, cruised to Antarctica, road tripped across the Australian Outback, reindeer sledded in Arctic Norway, and discovered ancient treasures in Jordan, to name a few. I am here to show you that work doesn’t have to hold you back and you can go on epic adventures too. Even with kids! So come along with me and let’s explore the world together!
Be sure to follow me on Instagram for live updates of all my adventures and more travel inspiration. Or if you’re into Pinterest, I’ve got that too. I also love hearing from you and am happy to answer any questions you might have to help you plan an amazing trip!