1. Airbnb is the best way to meet strangers

Whether it be an elderly man supervising your stay from a trailer, a Utah pre-med student running a self-made hostel, a family sub-letting a DIY mansion with Mario and Luigi decor and a canon in the backyard, or a 24 year old self-proclaimed “savage”, leasing out rooms in his Grandmothers house in Las Vegas with a kitten that won’t stop meowing, AirBnB is an experience. There is no better way to experience a local culture than to inhabit yourself within the homes of some of its most questionable residents…

2. Never Watch The Sunset From The Top Of A Mountain.

To be fair, there are many perks. Stunning views, golden hour, emotional climax, whatever. Not trying to hold you back, but if you choose to make this mistake... I recommend sprinting down the mountain as soon as the light begins to dim. If not, you will be stuck in the dark, navigating your way down rocks, cornered in by barbed wire fences, regretting every choice you’ve ever made.

3. 'Nike Free’s' Are Not Suitable For Rugged Terrain

I know they look better, like a lot better. But please, don’t do it. You’ll wake up with aggressive shin splints, pulled hamstrings, and 3-4 numb toes. Merells will love you if you attempt to love them back. Give them a chance.

4. Always Make Sure The Trunk Is Closed

Cars scream when you leave a side door open, but most cars, or at least ours at the time, failed to inform us that our luggage was flopping onto the Utah Highway 89 for 15 minutes. Luckily, a nice local informed us that 75% of our belongings had fallen out of the vehicle. But just to be safe, double check.

5. 7/11 Sells A Solution To Most Problems

Thirsty? Water. Hungry? Fast-food. Kinda Hungry? Doritos. Dirty? Toiletries. Too “woke”? NyQuil. Just go and if you cant find a solution, one of the lovely employees will.

6. Podcasts Ease Travel Anxiety

The playlist can only shuffle so many times. Listen to a story, it’ll keep you present and engaged. I recommend Serial, Guys We Fucked, The Habitat. Figure out your mood and pick a channel.

7. iOS Chrome Filter Is Designed For Landscape Photography

It will make you and your friends look like jaundice camels on a Friday night, but it won’t corrupt nature’s finest aesthetics. Try it.

8. The Coolest Places Are Adjacent To Major Attractions.

The Hyatt Village of Sedona with pink jeep tours and mystical psychic reading options is tempting, but the paramount vortex hikes are much better. Dreaming of the Grand Canyon? It’s foggy and depressing. Talk to locals, explore Pinterest. See antelope canyon and the wave. Enticed by The Vegas Strip? Bad idea. Stay on the highway. Get off at Exit 21. Visit the Seven Magic Mountains. But hustle, because they’re gone on May 27th.

9. The Internet Lies.

ALWAYS question the authenticity of the images you’re presented. ESPECIALLY, when booking your stay. More often than not, there is something far less spectacular than a $20/night majestic treehouse you just so happened to orient your entire itinerary around.

10. You Are Only The Sum of The Stories You Can Tell

Great things never came from comfort zones, and good health is not a derivative of Cabo. Figure it out and get after it.