Joseph "Rich" Francis is a travel writer and full-time traveler of more than 10 years. He's lived on multiple continents and in a hodgepodge of different destinations, from the beach towns of the Mexican Pacific to the idyllic isles of southern Thailand, the ski centers of the Alps to the historic cities of Central Europe. He's a niche expert in surf-travel and adventure travel, and has published work in leading travel brands like Lonely Planet, The Culture Trip, and Seeker.
Today, you can find him blogging about the latest in surf destinations over on The Surf Atlas or about the latest bars in Krakow on KrakowBuzz. You can also find his portfolio site at JosephRichardFrancis.com.
Perhaps you’re pining for the misty jungles, acclaimed eco lodges and cloud forests of Monteverde? Maybe you’re eager to spy out rare three-toed sloths and howler monkeys in the silk tree canopies, moving as slow as the time ticks over amidst the Rasta shacks of Puerto Viejo? Or, is it the world-class surf swells that …
Standing tall on the prairie, Lincoln is one of the great capitols of the American plains. Just 200 years ago, this eastern fringe of what’s now considered the American Midwest was still a land of swaying buffalo grass, roaring buffalo herds and Pawnee Indian settlements, engulfed by the territories of the Great Sioux. Intrepidly came …
Pizza, pasta, the treasures of ancient Rome, the romantic towns of Naples’ Bay, the soaring heights of Vesuvius and Etna, the picture-perfect canals of Venice and some of the planet’s most fascinating museums and galleries are just some of the treats in store for travelers making their way to this veritable jewel of the Med. …
Complete with Budapest’s bubbling bathhouses and lively dive bars, the winding Danube and the legendary wine labels of Tokaj, Hungary is unquestionably one of the most immersive destinations in all of Europe. Here, we range from the Slovakian border to the Great Hungarian Plains, all in search of the finest spots to visit in old …
Ranging from the pearly beaches of the Aegean islands to the rugged hills of Crete, the mythical massifs of Olympus in the north to the time-forgotten monasteries of Athos and the pulsing streets of modern Athens, Greece is alive with a truly eclectic range of destinations. Here, we take a look at 15 of the …
The great heartland of Central Europe, Germany rolls from the icy waves of the North Sea to the foothills of the Alps and the lakes of Switzerland. Between its borders, travelers will discover throbbing cityscapes steeped in history, mythical forests, wineries, glorious Baroque districts and some of the world’s most breathtaking castles for sure. Just …
Unmatched in its mountain scenery, undeterred by its tumultuous past, the nation of Georgia is now seriously on the up, attracting travelers from both Europe and Asia (continents it straddles neatly on the Caucasus Mountains) and touting everything from the snow-tipped peaks of Svaneti to shimmering beaches on the Black Sea. Here, we take a …
Ah France: a land of sleepy country towns and pungent cheeses, romance and wine, the moneyed Riviera and the soaring snow fields of the Alps. It’s hard not to fall in love with this indelibly beautiful country, where Paris bursts with art and Nice is trodden by fashionistas. Here, we take a look at the …
The last truly European nation before the great swathe of Russia takes over in the east, Estonia offers travelers a fascinating mixture of Slavic, Russian, Scandinavian and altogether unique local cultures. It ranges from the beautiful, windswept coastlines of the Baltic Sea and the Finnish Gulf to the rolling forests around Tartu in the south, …
The long and icy backbone of Scandinavia, Finland rarely fails to enchant. It draws travelers with the promise of Lapland’s far-flung forests and fells, snow-packed ski fields, the Sami and Santa, the cutting-edge cities of Helsinki and Turku, uber-friendly locals, swish design studios and some of the most wonderful and rugged coastal stretches in the …