Author: Diana Southern

In March 2014, Diana called it quits on her traditional American working life and set out to explore the world with her partner in crime (and love of her life) Ian Norman. They now live a sustainable life of full time travel, working for themselves and seeking adventure at the same time. Here on North to South, Diana documents their journey in achieving and maintaining this "road less traveled" way of life.
Posted on

Escape Campervans Review: Los Angeles to Death Valley (and why we don’t recommend Escape Campervans)

Escape Campervans Review and Our Trip to Death Valley

Escape Campervans Review and Our Trip to Death Valley

Let’s visit a popular U.S. National Park in peak season at the last minute! Yeah, that sounds like our travel style. And that’s how our conversation started two weeks back when we decided we had to see the Death Valley Superbloom.

All advance reservations for park accommodations were full. We could try our luck at a first-come first-served campsite, but we didn’t really feel up to tent camping this trip. So we decided to try something new: the rental campervan.

Despite paying more than we should have (no thanks to Escape), we had a good time on our trip. Want to know what the campervan life is like? Keep reading to find out! (More on why we don’t recommend Escape Campervans, too.) Continue reading “Escape Campervans Review: Los Angeles to Death Valley (and why we don’t recommend Escape Campervans)”

Posted on

[VIDEO] Our Road Less Traveled Life

Our Road Less Traveled Life

Exciting news! Last month in Seattle, we dedicated a lot of time to putting together this short promo video for North to South. Click the play button above to watch our video about our journey to a “road less traveled life,” and let us know what you think!

If you find our video inspiring, help spread the word! (Our video is on Facebook, too.)

Thanks for watching, sharing, and following. Happy travels!

Posted on

U.S. Road Trip Re-Cap: Weeks Sixteen & Seventeen (Maine to the Adirondacks)

North to South U.S. road trip recap week sixteen-seventeen

North to South U.S. road trip recap week sixteen-seventeen

Ahhh, the Adirondacks. These two weeks were probably the most peaceful of our whole 50-state trip. Completely unplanned — as are most of our favorite trip highlights — we enjoyed a two-week stay in a private cabin at Adirondack Woodcraft Camps. We’d received the invitation from a new friend we met in Acadia National Park the previous week, and I’m glad we took him up on the offer!

Read on for the serene lake settings and wooded wanderings from our stay in the Adirondacks this summer, plus snapshots from our journey there.

Note: I’m still catching up on our weekly road trip re-caps! This one covers August 23 – September 5.  Continue reading “U.S. Road Trip Re-Cap: Weeks Sixteen & Seventeen (Maine to the Adirondacks)”

Posted on

U.S. Road Trip Re-Cap: Week Fifteen (Exploring the Northeastern Coast)

North to South U.S. road trip recap week fifteen

North to South U.S. road trip recap week fifteen

In contrast to our urban existence in NYC last week, week fifteen was filled with shorelines and seafood. Mystic Seaport, Cape Cod, Boston, and Bar Harbor were on the itinerary this week. We hit the easternmost point of the U.S. in Lubec, Maine, and since the Canadian border was so close by, we pulled out our passports to explore Campobello Island, too.

Read on for photos and details of our eastern coastal road trip experience, from Connecticut to Campobello Island and (almost) everywhere in between!

Note: I’m still catching up on our weekly road trip re-caps! This one covers August 16-22.  Continue reading “U.S. Road Trip Re-Cap: Week Fifteen (Exploring the Northeastern Coast)”

Posted on

U.S. Road Trip Re-Cap: Week Fourteen (Hershey to New York City) — HALFWAY TO 50 STATES!

North to South U.S. road trip recap week fourteen

North to South U.S. road trip recap week fourteen

At week fourteen, we officially reached the halfway mark of our 50-state quest. We departed Pittsburgh and set out for New York City, with a one-day stop in Hershey, Pennsylvania in between.

Being my first time in NYC, we played the tourist game and saw all the popular sites — most of which were easy to see for free! Read on to find out more about our week in The Big Apple, plus our “sweet” stop in the Chocolate Capital of the U.S.

Note: I’m still catching up on our weekly road trip re-caps! This one covers August 9-15.  Continue reading “U.S. Road Trip Re-Cap: Week Fourteen (Hershey to New York City) — HALFWAY TO 50 STATES!”

Posted on

Big Island Diving with Kona Diving Company (Kona, Hawaii, USA)

Diving on Hawaii's Big Island with Kona Diving Company

Diving on Hawaii's Big Island with Kona Diving Company

If you’re a diver or if you’ve ever looked into getting certified, then you’re well aware that diving is an expensive hobby.

And since we’d been on a strict budget for a year after quitting our jobs to travel, we hadn’t been diving in two whole years! This being my first visit to Hawaii’s Big Island, I was absolutely dying to do the manta ray night dive. But first, it was time for a refresher.  Continue reading “Big Island Diving with Kona Diving Company (Kona, Hawaii, USA)”

Posted on

Cliff Jumping at South Point (Big Island, Hawaii, USA)

Cliff jumping at the southernmost point in the U.S. -- South Point, Hawaii's Big Island

Cliff jumping at the southernmost point in the U.S. -- South Point, Hawaii's Big Island

I’m afraid of heights, so when we started talking about visiting South Point, I didn’t think I’d be jumping off any cliffs. I just wanted to see the southernmost point of the U.S.

But one thing led to another, and the next thing I knew I was splashing into the water. It was absolutely terrifying. But also exhilarating. And I don’t regret it one bit!

Thinking of trying cliff jumping yourself? Find out what you’re in for here!

Continue reading “Cliff Jumping at South Point (Big Island, Hawaii, USA)”

Posted on

Snorkeling at “Two Steps” in Honaunau Bay (Big Island, Hawaii, USA)

Snorkeling at 'Two Steps' in Honaunau Bay, Hawaii's Big Island

Snorkeling at 'Two Steps' in Honaunau Bay, Hawaii's Big Island

Fancy a snorkel in one of the Hawaii’s best snorkeling locales? If you’re staying on the Big Island, you don’t want to miss “Two Steps.” It’s a laid-back beach snorkel destination with abundant sea life less than 40 minutes south of Kailua-Kona. And it’s free!

Continue reading for more info on snorkeling at Two Steps, plus a video from our visit.
Continue reading “Snorkeling at “Two Steps” in Honaunau Bay (Big Island, Hawaii, USA)”

Posted on

North to South’s Best of the Blog: 2015

North to South's Best of the Blog (2015)

North to South's Best of the Blog (2015)

Happy New Year, blog followers and fellow adventurers!

I’m happy to report that at less then 2 years old, North to South is building a super strong following. We saw 390,000 new visitors in 2015. (Holy cow!) Whether you’re a new reader or have been following our adventures from the very beginning when we quit our jobs to travel the world, THANK YOU! You’re a huge part of what makes blogging so rewarding.

Interested in what our readers like best here on North to South? Countdown our 10 most popular blog posts of 2015 with us below!  Continue reading “North to South’s Best of the Blog: 2015”

Posted on

U.S. Road Trip Re-Cap: Week Thirteen (Chicago to Pittsburgh)

North to South U.S. road trip recap week thirteen

North to South U.S. road trip recap week thirteen

After our much needed road trip break in Chicago, we set our sights on exploring the Northeast. Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania were all checked off this week of our road trip, as we made our way to New England. And we saw a good amount of ultra-green midwestern farmland along our route. Take a look at our journey from Chicago to Pittsburgh on week thirteen of our trip!

Note: I’m still catching up on our weekly road trip re-caps! This one covers August 2-8.  Continue reading “U.S. Road Trip Re-Cap: Week Thirteen (Chicago to Pittsburgh)”