Cabin Fever

If you find yourself yearning for a life of simplicity, beauty and deeper harmony with nature, you might already be a fan of the popular website Cabin Porn. This curated collection of cabin images features everything from modern, minimalist abodes to dilapidated—but no less beautiful—shacks.

It's fitting that a website celebrating cabins built by hand, away from lives lived in the digital world, would transition to the physical world and birth a coffee table book filled with stories and images of cabins across the globe. These aren't your all-the-comforts-of-home-and-two-jet-skis vacation properties; these are simple, Scandinavian-style shelters for modern, would-be homesteaders.

"The story behind the book is worth repeating because it captures the essence of the movement, which mingles a hunger for the primitive with fashionable, Silicon-era savvy." — The New York Times

After purchasing 50 acres of forested land in upstate New York, tech entrepreneur Zach Klein {DIY.org, Vimeo, College Humor} began collecting images of cabins in a Tumblr blog while building on his property, Beaver Brook. That blog, Cabin Porn, caught on with like-minded dreamers. In the book's introduction, he writes: "I’d spent six years in the city building online communities, and now I wanted to build one offline. Specifically, a place for a bunch of friends to be outdoors, somewhere we could be less preoccupied by our professions and more reliant on each other.’"

Like a beautiful cookbook or $12 magazine, Cabin Porn begs to be browsed repeatedly on rainy afternoons, and may inspire mild flirtations with realtor websites, weekend drives down lakeside roads and an Airbnb wish list a mile long. Because if you can't build it yourself, you can still find beauty and simplicity on a weekend retreat in what others have created.

Cabin Porn: Tumblr / Book

Germany

British Columbia

Switzerland & Sweden

Idaho

Finland

Norway

New York

New Zealand & Sweden

Iceland

This post is written by Trip Styler's Assistant Wayfarer/Editor Heather.

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[images via cabin porn]

Video: Italy's Morning Ritual

[trip style = food]

When I was in Italy this summer I discovered the creamy goodness of espresso con panna. Turns out, the elixir is easy to make. All you need is five minutes, a Bialetti Moka Express, espresso, water, cream, and a willingness to transport yourself to a bar in Rome. 

High on caffeine and the simplicity of the morning ritual, I purchased the iconic, 1933-developed espresso maker while there so I could re-live la dolce vita at home. 

A good caffé is just a gurgle away. Here's how:

{Can't view this video?}

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Video: Roaming Rome VIP-Style
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[photo and video by @tripstyler]

Jetset Style :: Crop It Like It's Hot

We know fall is around the corner when daylight hours dim, leaves crunch underfoot and sweaters come out of hiding. But when the temperature is too warm for wool and too cool for sandals, how should we dress? This year’s answer may shock you: Culottes.

No, this isn’t an 80s #tbt post—this cropped style is the trend of the year. Not quite pants and not quite shorts, culottes are often described by what they’re not. They also have several ridiculous names like gaucho, flood and palazzo pants. No matter what you call them, they’re comfortable and versatile, and they’ll be the perfect packing item for any fall escape.

Guys: While culottes are a major player in avant-garde men's fashion, they haven't hit the high street. GQ writes that men should wear trousers, jeans and chinos that fit slim through the leg and stop before hitting the top of their shoes. Ease into this shorter style with no-break pants or roll/cuff your longer pants. Feeling adventurous? Try jogger-cuff pants or culotte-style trousers.

Styling tips

• To lengthen the leg, pair with heels. A pointed or exposed toe will even further elongate your silhouette.
• This style also works well with sneakers, loafers and sandals for a more casual look.
• Seek out a high waistline to give the impression of even longer legs.
• Wear one color head to toe or try a jumpsuit paired with a leather or denim jacket for a sleek culottes-in-disguise look.
• Layer a sweater or graphic sweatshirt over a tank or tuck in a denim shirt or turtleneck in cooler climates.
• Throw a boyfriend-style or double-breasted blazer over a cropped shirt or tank.

Did you know? During the Victorian Era, women wore wide, skirt-like trousers for activities like horseback riding, cycling and tennis.

Clockwise from top left: Zara cropped flowing trousers, Topshop moto straight indigo culottes, Topshop halterneck culotte jumpsuit, Jesse Kamm sailor pant, Everlane , Aritzia eckhardt pant

This post is written by Trip Styler's Assistant Wayfarer/Editor Heather.

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[collages by @heatherlovesit, images via the cut, instagram @c.phraph, clay austin photography, gq, jesse kamm, a portable package, the fashion eaters]

First Look: Cruising with Disney

[trip style = sun + beach + spa + luxury]

Baby Styler's legs started pumping the minute we boarded the motorcoach en-route to Port Canaveral, Orlando for our Bahamas-bound cruise on the Disney Dream. In his 11 months on Earth, with experiences such as his first bite of pizza in Rome and his first-ever swim off the island of Lanai—I know, I know, he's a lucky little guy—nothing dazzled him like the Disney bus. I shouldn't have been surprised. Disney has a way of sprinkling fairy dust on everything it touches.  

Seeing his eyes open to the size of cantaloupes based on the bus' videos and character-painted windows alone, Mr. Trip Styler and I turned to each other and smiled, knowing he would go berserk when we actually boarded the boat. 

At the end of the gangway a corridor of white-suited staff lined up, announced our arrival by name and greeted us like long-lost friends as we stepped onto the 1,115-foot ship. Wondering if this VIP treatment was only reserved for Trip Stylers, seconds later I heard a string of other names exclaimed as more broods walked aboard. 

While I have clips and clips of video to showcase everything from our stateroom to the adult-only spa, I wanted to start my coverage with photos from the four-day cruise to give you a sense of how Disney navigates the high seas. 

Hint Hint: They do so with the throwback class of cruising and the wonder of Walt. Trip Styler approved.

[photos by @tripstyler, taken as a guest of disney cruise lines, a voyage i selected due to its blend of baby- and adult-centric entertainment] 

Video: Roaming Rome VIP-Style

[trip style = urban]

When more than 30 million people visit Rome per year—aka, the entire population of Canada—you don't mess around with tourist attractions in the Eternal City. 

Knowing this, for math and sanity reasons, I focused on two travel- and time-saving tricks when I worked in partnership with Expedia Local Expert to tour Italy's capital this summer. The result rendered a VIP experience ranging from trip style = luxe line-skipping to a trip style = foodie pasta soirée {all for the price of a few pints of gelato}.

Beyond the two essential tips I gleaned from sightseeing in the heat of high season {con't below}, don't miss this VIDEO Mr. Trip Styler shot of me roaming Rome!

Pre-book activities
From this point forward, I will always pre-book activities. In the past, I thought you could only get special access to sights in the "Wonders of the World" category if you booked a pre-packaged tour, or knew a guy who knows a gal, or spent the equivalent of a yacht on travel. I didn't think you could access a Rolodex of quality tours or jump-the-line activities for the cost of a few gelatos. Until Rome. Until I skipped three-hour lines. Until I figured out that my doctoral-candidate guide could paint a picture so vivid it was like I was a fly on the wall in Rome's gladiator days. Until I made pasta in an alfresco kitchen five storeys above the city. 

Trip Styler Tip: Whether you're traveling to Rome or another major coordinate, save the headache of standing in line and pre-book your sightseeing activities {including your airport transfer} before you travel.
 
Focus on Skip the line | VIP | Small group tours
If and when you pre-book tours—even from your hotel room the night before—focus on descriptors such as VIP, skip the line, or small group, which will separate you from the masses, save time and instantly upgrade your experience. 

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Links to the specific tours I reference in the video above. 

Open-air bus tour {$12 usd} 
Why: As a first-impression means of connecting the ancient city's historical dots.

Walks of Italy VIP Caesar’s Palace and Colosseum tour {$87 usd}
Why: Who wouldn't want a tour from a doctoral candidate whose main focus is Ancient Rome?

Walks of Italy Small-Group Pasta-Making Class {$71 usd}
Why: Learn the art of al dente from a rooftop overlooking Rome {with prosecco!}. This was such a highlight, expect more deets in the coming weeks. 

Skip-the-Line St. Peter’s Basilica tour with Hotel Pickup {$36 usd}
Why: Skip the three-hour line and learn about Italy's largest church from Vatican-approved guide.

PS - In case you want more specifics on each tour, see my latest article for the Expedia Viewfinder Travel Blog.

[photos via @tripstyler, video in partnership with Expedia Local Expert]