Sophie-Claire Hoeller

I used to take "micro-trips" — or short-term getaways — instead of real vacations. Now, I realize these mini trips weren't worth it. Post-pandemic, I'm planning fewer, longer trips. Traveling this way will be better for my mental health, wallet, and…

Over the last decade, Instagram has changed how people approach travel — and not always for the best. While many use the platform as a source of inspiration, people using Instagram to show off their vacations have made travel feel like a popularity…

Maine is famous for its extra meaty and succulent lobster. On a recent RV trip to Portland, Maine, I looked up the most popular lobster rolls in the city and tried them side-by-side. One was a unique version at a hip, diner-like restaurant, while the…

I rented an RV for the first time on a recent trip from NYC to Maine. While it was a lot easier to drive and more user-friendly than I initially assumed, the RV's size limits where you can drive and park. RV life was a lot more like camping than road…

My husband and I bought a somewhat dilapidated cabin in the Hamptons last year. We've always wanted to make something ourselves, and after spending most of our money buying the place, we decided to renovate it entirely. With no prior experience…

The Saved Places function in Google Maps has changed my life. Not only is it great for travel; it's also an amazing tool for planning future trips, and a huge part of my day-to-day life. As its name suggests, the Saved Places function allows you to…

Pre-pandemic, road trips were as simple as making a great playlist, hopping in the car, and seeing where the wind takes you. But, as I found on a recent road trip in an RV, the coronavirus has complicated things. Public restrooms are few and far…

My friend and I rented an RV for five days, driving almost 1,100 miles from New York to Maine and back. Setting up at a campsite and hooking the RV up to water and electricity was a lot simpler than I expected. RV-ing is basically camping, and…

Renting and staying in an RV was a whole new way of traveling for me. It also came with a host of decisions to make and things to consider that hadn't crossed my mind before. Not all roads are RV-friendly, you can't just park an RV anywhere, and the…

I rented an RV for the first time and found it was a lot more expensive than I thought it would be. I spent almost $2,000 for gas, tolls, and the RV rental, driving over 1,000 miles from New York to Maine and back. My friend and I spent an additional…

Cruise America's "compact RV" was the smallest motor home I could get my hands on for a recent road trip. The RV was comfortable but not too difficult to drive. I thought the RV was surprisingly spacious and comfortable. While there was a clever way…

Boise, Idaho, was named the fastest-growing city in the US in 2018, according to Forbes, and was ranked as the best place to live for millennials in 2019. Idaho's popularity hasn't let up during the pandemic: Moving marketplace HireAHelper reports…

I rented a truck bed camper for a night in February 2020. While it was cozy and the bed was comfortable, it was also very, very small. The tight quarters can get frustrating, and the sleeping situation was a little claustrophobic for me. I consider…

When I left New York City for Vienna, Austria, the coronavirus was not yet declared a pandemic. President Trump had not yet announced a halt on travelers to the US from European countries other than Britain. All that happened during my trip, however,…

Almost every menu in Bozeman, Montana, seemed to have bison on it. The wild game meat is said to be leaner and healthier than regular beef, with less fat and fewer calories. I tried bison beef for the first time and found it to be sweeter, and more…

Bozeman, Montana, was named the fastest-growing US city of its size in 2018, and often tops lists of the best places to live in the country. Spending three days there, I saw a bustling Main Street filled with trendy cafés and restaurants, and locals…

TripAdvisor named Downtown 8th Street in Boise, Idaho, one of the coolest hipster neighborhoods in the US in 2018. I spent a day wandering around the neighborhood to check out its trendy restaurants, stylish cafes, hip bars, and quirky…

Idaho's signature dish is finger steaks: battered and deep-fried strips of beef. Lindy's Steak House, a sort of roadside bar in a strip mall, is known to have some of the best in Boise. I really enjoyed the finger steaks at Lindy's, which I found…

Idaho is home to a thriving wine industry: The state has 60 wineries and produces almost 132,000 gallons of wine a year. The Snake River Valley, which is 40 minutes from Boise, is home to many award-winning wines. I went to five of its wineries and…

The potato is Idaho's state vegetable. Idaho is even home to a famous dessert version of the spud: the Ice Cream Potato. I went to the Westside Drive In, home of the original, and tried the local delicacy for myself. Personally, I loved the…