When telling my friends that my wife and I were planning to spend New Year’s Eve in Dublin before setting off on a road trip of the Irish and Northern Irish coast the response was pretty unanimous, “but isn’t Ireland’s winter weather pretty well-known for being cloudy, windy, and rainy?”. To which my usual response was, “Yes, but...
Everyone knows Japan is a foodie paradise, but most visitors rarely stray from Tokyo or Kyoto. On a recent trip to Japan, I had the unique opportunity to spend nearly three weeks exploring the different regions of Japan’s second-largest and least-populated island, Hokkaido. This mountainous island is also home to a rich indigenous history as well as an...
Vietnam has been one of the top countries on my “want to travel to” list for years. Whether it’s the food, the scenery, the rich traditions, or in this case, to have a custom suit (or three) made. In the spirit of proper research, I had three very different suits made in three different cities in Vietnam: Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi, and Hoi An. Vietnam has a long and storied...
Cuba, a land of old cars, cigars, and a vibrant culture found nowhere else on Earth. If you’re like me, Cuba has always felt off-limits as an American, but as I found out recently, is surprisingly easy to visit (albeit a little bit complicated). This entire trip, flights included, cost me less than $700. In this blog, I will tell you everything you need to go...
Kalispell has long been a gateway to Glacier National Park, but all too often visitors miss the gems that exist right in the heart of the Flathead Valley. From incredible food and breweries to hidden hikes just minutes from downtown, there is a lot to see and do. Discover Kalispell brought me out for a weekend to share with you all what an ideal weekend in and around...
Growing up in Billings I took for granted that the dining scene in Billings was on par with the offerings of much larger cities, but in the last five years, the scene downtown has exploded and made for a very happy Andy. Now as a former division 1 offensive lineman I’m no stranger to food, and while I’m not trying to eat 10,000 calories a day anymore, I still love...
#Vanlife, a trend that has swept the nation (and the world), involves giving up one’s prized possessions to live in a cramped van. It’s a simple life fueled by social media and often appears far more glamorous as it actually is. But I wouldn’t have it any other way! Freedom is the ultimate luxury in van life, it is the story of not knowing what or...
This article was originally written for Wilderness Culture: The lure of Montana is undeniable. Dreams of mountain peaks and glacial lakes fill the heads of adventurers when someone even utters the word Montana. And how could it not? With the iconic mountains and lakes of Glacier National Park making up the northwest, and legendary skiing of Big Sky’s Lone Peak...
In today’s society we have the ability to share every aspect of our day whether it’s through twitter and sharing every thought or through our cell phone cameras to document everything. It’s the same thing with photographers, and I was as guilty of it as anybody. In the past year, I have seen dramatic increases in my photography ability and I attribute some of it to...
Article is from 2013, and while a lot has changed since then it is important to celebrate my roots as an artist. The last five years of my life have been the greatest of my life, because for the last five years I have been living the dream as Montana State University football player. My name is Andy Austin, and I have been living a double life. NCAA rules do not...