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Picturesque pathways: The world’s most scenic road trip routes

Top 10 exciting all-girls' trip destinations around the world

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Europe's hottest summer on record didn't stop tourists from visiting en masse.</li><li>Some luxury travel agents say more vacationers are seeking summer trips to cooler climates.</li></ul><p>Few summertime Instagram posts are as FOMO-inducing as the perfectly posed candid in front of the Eiffel Tower or Sagrada Familia, complete with a perfectly dewy makeup look.</p><p>But as global temperatures continue to rise, that glowy finish could more likely be from sweat than a shimmery highlight.</p><p>The summer of 2024 was the <a target="_blank" href="https://climate.copernicus.eu/c3s-seasonal-lookback-summer-2024">hottest on record</a> in Europe. Heat waves soared beyond 100 degrees in countries like Italy, Greece, Portugal, and Spain — all while the tourist-beloved destinations contended with <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/06/01/italy-braces-for-record-wave-of-tourists-but-is-having-trouble-handling-them.html">record levels of travelers</a>.</p><div type="image" title="crowds of tourists in Greece" height="3327" width="4436" msid="114705585" hostid="261" sizebytes="963708"></div><p>Likely, no vacationer wants to spend their precious summer break wading through sweltering heat waves and throngs of sweaty crowds.</p><p>Thus, the growing preference for "coolcations" — a portmanteau of "cool" and "vacations" — is born. And with it, a 44% increase in bookings to the milder-weathered destinations of northern Europe and Canada from the summer of 2023 to 2024, according to luxury travel agency Virtuoso.</p><p>Move aside, wet, hot American summer. Now, it's all about cold Finnish summers.</p><h2 id="daf5314f-2892-4288-b044-2afc61cd5241">Wealthy travelers are seeking out chill summers</h2><div type="image" title="Blue lagoon geothermal bath near Reykjavik, Iceland." height="1306" width="1741" msid="114705584" hostid="261" sizebytes="181436"></div><p>"The stifling hot places you don't think of as being really hot and muggy have become that way," Jackie Roth, a travel manager for Scott Dunn Private, told BI, calling out examples like Rome, Paris, and the UK.</p><p>Roth has planned summer trips to the latter. But if the timing coincides with a heat wave and her client's hotel doesn't have air conditioning, they "absolutely panic," she said. "Americans are used to a bit more pampering."</p><p>A growing number of travelers are pushing their <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/summer-travel-vacation-now-fall-autumn-instead-2024-10">"Euro summer" trips to the fall</a> to beat peak summer crowds and temperatures.</p><p>Others are opting for cooler-weather getaways to destinations like Scandinavia.</p><div type="image" title="Stock photo shows Helsinki, Finland." height="1414" width="1885" msid="114705587" hostid="261" sizebytes="449000"></div><p>Misty Belles, Virtuoso's vice president of global public relations, attributed the trend to two global warming-related factors: the increasing intensity of heat waves and recent wildfires in Maui, Hawaii, Greece, and Spain.</p><p>The latter "really rattled" people," she told BI.</p><p>Europe, as a whole, endured a sweltering summer. However, some western European countries — specifically Iceland, Ireland, and parts of the UK and Norway — experienced cooler-than-average summers.</p><div type="image" title="Oslo, Norway at night" height="3800" width="5700" msid="114705583" hostid="261" sizebytes="2595740"></div><p>Previously beloved for wintertime <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/holland-america-line-longest-133-day-pole-to-pole-cruise-2023-6">aurora borealis hunting</a>, more travelers (especially those who've already done classics like Italy and France) are realizing these destinations' midnight sun, crisper weather, and smaller crowds could make for a fun summer getaway, too.</p><p>"You get a lot of people saying, 'I went to Italy or Greece in the height of summer, and it was too hot, so where can I go now that's not so hot?'" Julie Durso, a Scott Dunn Private travel manager, told BI. "It's one thing to be in a place with that heat, but to have it with a lot of crowds as well."</p><h2 id="0fa2af76-edf1-44fd-8f5a-46ba30212781">Where coolcationers are headed</h2><div type="image" title="ice cream in front of colorful houses in copenhagen" height="1414" width="1885" msid="114705586" hostid="261" sizebytes="193006"></div><p>The "<a target="_blank" href="https://www.voguebusiness.com/story/fashion/what-is-scandi-style-today">Scandi style</a>" fashion aesthetic, inspired by Copenhagen and Stockholm's minimalist street style, has retained its grip on #FashionTok.</p><p>Now, the public's love of Scandinavia is bleeding into travel, too.</p><p>Melissa Biggs Bradley, CEO of luxury travel agency and media company Indagare, told BI in an email that more of the company's clients have been "gravitating north" to major Nordic cities.</p><p>For those who prefer less urban trips, she called out the "great restaurants and beautiful beaches" of the Stockholm archipelago and the "dramatic landscapes" of the Faroe Islands and Norway's fjords.</p><div type="image" title="Streymoy Island of Faroe Islands" height="3420" width="4560" msid="114705589" hostid="261" sizebytes="2156128"></div><p>In the summer of 2024, Virtuoso saw an up to 17% uptick in vacations to Sweden and Denmark compared to the prior summer, it said. Looking westward, Belles said the company was "blown away" by the 62% and 89% growth in trips to Iceland and Norway, respectively.</p><p>Like Virtuoso, luxury tour operator Abercombie and Kent told BI in an email that Norway has become a "top choice" for its customers.</p><p>The company saw "immediate interest" when it launched its first summertime small-group tour of Norway and Denmark in 2023. Amid sustained demand, the itinerary is now annual. (The 10-day tour starts at $16,900 per person in 2025.)</p><div type="image" title="The village of Reine on the water of the fjord in the Lofoten Islands, Norway." height="853" width="1137" msid="114705588" hostid="261" sizebytes="114420"></div><p>Norway's upstairs neighbor, Finland, also piqued the interest of Virtuoso's clients this summer — to the tune of a 150% balloon in bookings. "That's not someplace we were typically sending clients," Belles said.</p><p>The <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/moved-finland-happiest-place-on-earth-what-its-like-2024-1">world's happiest country</a> accommodated about 89,700 US travelers from June through August, a 7.7% increase from 2023.</p><p>Even <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/united-airlines-new-international-routes-2025-list-fifth-freedom-2024-10">United Airlines</a> is riding the coolcations trend, too. In October, the company announced it would launch its first summer route from New Jersey's Newark Liberty International to Nuuk, Greenland's soon-to-be-completed international airport, in June 2025.</p><p>"The savvy traveler has been to Paris, Rome, and Madrid so many times that they're looking for something different," Patrick Quayle, United Airlines' SVP of global network planning and alliances, told reporters at the time. "Our nonstop flights to Greenland will provide new access to the world's most northern capital and gateway to Arctic adventures and midnight sun."</p>

Some wealthy travelers are replacing their hot summer trips with 'coolcations'

10 amazing international trips from India at the price of an iPhone

Former president Donald Trump has said Prime Minister <keyword id="19895781" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="narendra-modi" source="keywords">Narendra Modi</keyword> will meet him next week during his upcoming three-day visit to the US. While the Republican presidential candidate slammed India as an "abuser" on the issue of import tariffs, he described Modi as a "fantastic man". <br /><br /> PM Modi will be visiting the US from September 21 to 23. <br /><br /> Speaking on Tuesday at his first public appearance following the recent apparent assassination attempt, Trump said Modi will meet him next week when he is in the US. <br /><br /> "So when India, which is a very big abuser. He (Modi) happens to be coming to meet me next week, and Modi, he's fantastic. I mean, fantastic man. A lot of these leaders are fantastic," Trump said, reiterating that India imposes heavy tariffs on imports. <br /><br /> The former president revealed the information as he spoke about trade and tariffs while responding to a question at a town hall meeting in Flint, Michigan. <br /><br /> He went on to say, "These people are the sharpest people. They're not a little bit backwards...You know the expression, they're at the top of their game, and they use it against us. But India is very tough. Brazil is very tough....China is the toughest of all, but we were taking care of China with the tariffs."  <br /><br /> "So we're going to do a reciprocal trade. If anybody charges us 10 cents, if they charge us USD 2, if they charge us a hundred per cent, 250, we charge them the same thing. And what's going to happen? Everything's going to disappear, and we're going to end up having free trade again. And if it doesn't disappear, we're going to take in a lot of money," he said. <br /><br /> Modi will begin his trip with the <keyword id="23214075" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Quad-Leaders-Summit" source="keywords">Quad Leaders' Summit</keyword> being hosted by President Joe Biden in Wilmington, Delaware. The summit will be attended by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia and Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan. <br /><br /> Modi will then travel to New York and address a mega community event in Long Island on September 22. He will address world leaders at the landmark Summit of the Future event at the UN headquarters the next day. <br /><br /> Modi's visit comes less than two months before the US heads into presidential elections with Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris in the race for the top job. <br /><br /> The US general elections will take place on November 5.

Trump says PM Modi will meet him during US visit, calls him 'fantastic'

<ul class="summary-list"><li>In October, I spent 10 days in Croatia. It was my first time in the country.</li><li>I noticed certain perks and drawbacks of visiting at the end of its peak season.</li></ul><p>In October, I traveled to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/american-living-in-croatia-move-from-us-surprise-2023-11">Croatia</a> for a 10-day getaway. I was craving the beach, sun, and a change of scenery from monotonous city life — and Croatia seemed like the solution.</p><p>Croatia has become a popular destination in Europe — especially following the popularity of HBO's "<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/things-to-do-in-dubrovnik-croatia">Game of Thrones</a>," which was partly filmed in its scenic old towns.</p><p>More tourists are arriving, too: The <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://dzs.gov.hr/news/two-digit-increase-in-tourist-arrivals-and-nights-in-may-2024-compared-to-may-2023/1949">Croatian Bureau of Statistics</a> said that 1.7 million tourists arrived in May this year — a 21% increase compared to 2023. Croatia also joined the Schengen Area in 2023, a zone in Europe with no internal border controls, making travel more accessible.</p><p>During my trip, I stayed in <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/dubrovnik-croatia-jeff-bezos-vacation-yacht-lauren-sanchez-katy-perry-2023-8">Dubrovnik</a>, Hvar, and Split and took multiple day trips to other cities along the Adriatic Coast.</p><p>While the trip was worth the long flight, I realized along the way that I hadn't done enough research before the trip. Here are six things I wish I had known before.</p><h2 id="e52d1e63-da34-47d2-97c7-6d7d430f2b14">1. Choose accommodations wisely</h2><div type="image" title="A flight of stairs in Croatia" height="1288" width="1611" msid="114961824" hostid="261" sizebytes="424908"></div><p>Coastal cities like <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-traveling-to-dubrovnik-croatia">Dubrovnik</a> have hilly terrains and countless flights of stairs to conquer. An Airbnb that I assumed would be a short walk from the main bus station turned out to be at the top of a hill. Consequently, we engaged in a full-body workout to lug our bags up what felt like endless flights of stairs to reach our accommodation.</p><p>It was more peaceful to stay in a less touristy area. But since most attractions are near the Old Town, staying closer to the city center (and closer to ground level) would have been more convenient and comfortable.</p><h2 id="96bdfd86-faf9-4328-9d96-07f79898bcb1">2. Increase travel budget</h2><div type="image" title="Croatian food" height="2267" width="3022" msid="114961825" hostid="261" sizebytes="302864"></div><p>I booked my trip to Croatia assuming that daily expenses would be similar to countries like Italy or Hungary. I was wrong.</p><p>Croatia adopted the Euro in January last year, abandoning its previous currency, the Kuna. The country also has the second-highest VAT in the EU — 25%, the same as in Denmark and Sweden. On average, my meals added up to<strong> </strong>around 15 euros per person.</p><p>And although I wasn't surprised that people have to<strong> </strong>pay to enter public toilets, I was surprised that most entries cost 1 euro — or half the price of a cup of coffee in any nearby café.</p><p>Still, there are ways to see the city on a budget. We signed up for pay-as-you-wish walking tours, bought day passes to take the public bus and see attractions at a lower cost, and stayed in <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/legrad-croatia-homes-for-sale-pennies-2024-1">affordable guest houses</a> that cost around $50 a night. We also explored outside tourist hot spots to try food targeted at locals, which I found to be more authentic and wallet-friendly.</p><h2 id="e1099c91-7f11-47b2-be67-7141702a788f">3. The beaches are beautiful — but water shoes are crucial</h2><div type="image" title="A beach in Croatia" height="1575" width="2100" msid="114961818" hostid="261" sizebytes="463776"></div><p>The temperature in early October ranged from 63°F to 72°F, so it was mild enough to chill on the beach and bask in the sun.</p><p>Croatia has some of the most beautiful beaches I've seen. The waters were crystal clear, and I was excited to dive right in. But I soon learned the hard way that Croatian beaches are not sandy. Most shores were rocky and pebbly, and I had not packed water shoes.</p><p>It was too painful to go barefoot, so I wore my sandals every time we went to the beach. It worked just as well, although I did end up with funny tan lines on my feet.</p><h2 id="60c30812-44d9-48bc-8be0-8620e361e40f">4. Visiting in off-peak season has its pros and cons</h2><div type="image" title="The Old Town of Stari Grad, Hvar." height="2267" width="3022" msid="114961826" hostid="261" sizebytes="1027474"></div><p>Croatia sees most of its tourists during the summer months, between June and August. When I visited in October, its old towns were still brimming with tourists. But some locals told me that the crowds were still smaller than in the summer.</p><p>I noticed that some attractions were also cheaper. The entrance ticket for <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/krka-national-park-waterfalls-2016-8">Krka National Park</a>, for example, costs 40 euros in the summer and 20 euros in the shoulder months. In winter, the ticket prices drop to 7 euros.</p><p>However, visiting during the off-peak season also meant many services were on a break. On a day trip to the UNESCO Old Town Stari Grad, we were surprised to see most shops closed, with the sign "See you in June 2025!" posted on their doors.</p><p>Visiting during this time of the year also meant that chartered bus or ferry services were less frequent. As it turns out, the charm of walking around a near-empty town can only last so long when the next bus back is at 10 p.m.</p><p>Hiring a car would have been better. However, neither of us had our driver's<strong> </strong>licenses.</p><h2 id="ae044cdc-ee03-40a9-9c8b-57f7e1eb6a57">5. Spend more time in Split instead of Dubrovnik</h2><div type="image" title="The waterfalls of Krka National Park" height="2267" width="3022" msid="114961823" hostid="261" sizebytes="1543926"></div><p>If you plan to split your time between the popular coastal cities of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cheapest-cities-in-the-world-to-live-expats-europe-asia-2023-12#split-croatia-19">Split</a> and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/dubrovnik-croatia-safety-covid-packing-advisories">Dubrovnik</a>, spend more time in the former.</p><p>We spent three days in Dubrovnik and five days in Split. This balance felt right. Dubrovnik has beautiful beaches and architecture, but I could see the effects of its over-tourism: Prices were slightly higher, and its iconic Old Town thronged with tourists and rubber duck shops.</p><p>In comparison, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/digital-nomad-croatia-remote-working-expense-spend-money-split-cnbc-2021-8">Split</a> is a great springboard for day trips. While there, we took public transport to nearby towns like Omiš and Trogir. We also spent a day exploring Skradin and Krka National Park, just an hour and a half away by bus.</p><p>Split is also a bigger city, so it was easier to find budget-friendly food options.</p><h2 id="9e465924-438c-430c-9d1b-f79301578d13">6. Watch "Game of Thrones"</h2><div type="image" title="Girl posing at Dubrovnik Old Town" height="2267" width="3022" msid="114961822" hostid="261" sizebytes="848554"></div><p>Lastly, I regret not watching HBO's "<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/game-of-thrones-movie-help-warner-bros-discovery-underperform-2024-11">Game of Thrones</a>." During walking tours, the guides would point out where iconic scenes were filmed. For example, Cersei's walk of shame scene was filmed at the Jesuit Staircase in Dubrovnik's Old Town.</p><p>As other visitors marveled at its medieval architecture and fortresses, I wished I had watched the show before to see the city in a new light.</p>

I loved my 10-day trip to Croatia, but knowing these 6 things could have made it better

<ul class="summary-list"><li>I've taken lots of trips with my family and my mother-in-law during my 20-year marriage.</li><li>However, she and I have never traveled alone together until recently.</li></ul><p><span>As someone who grew up in a family that wasn't super close, I've always found the "in-law" aspect of marriage to be a bit of a shock. My husband comes from a close-knit clan made up of siblings, aunts and uncles, grandparents, and cousins, and when we </span><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/met-my-husband-when-fourteen-together-over-decade-2024-1"><span>first started dating</span></a><span> in the early 2000s, I struggled to make room for so many new people in my life. An only child raised by parents I can only describe as reclusive, I even struggled to let his mom in, though she has always been lovely and the complete opposite of the meddling mother-in-law stereotype. </span></p><p><span>Now in my mid-40s with two teenagers, I've grown up a lot since meeting my husband. I'm continuing to work to improve myself through things like weight loss surgery, nearly a </span><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/all-inclusive-resort-vacation-sobriety-as-couple-2024-6"><span>year of sobriety</span></a><span>, and lots of therapy sessions, and getting older has only made me appreciate my mother-in-law's quiet strength and unconditional love even more.</span></p><p><span>While we've gone on plenty of vacations, like a </span><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/multigenerational-family-cruise-vacation-kids-grandmother-2024-4"><span>recent cruise</span></a><span>, together as a family, she and I had never traveled alone on a "girl's weekend-style" trip until this fall. I had visited Branson, Missouri, once before with some girlfriends, and even then, I remember thinking how much my mother-in-law would love the area. A solid weekend of one-on-one time there with my husband's mom made our relationship even closer, and I can't wait to take more trips with her in the future.</span></p><h2 id="3d0e3ac6-4b4e-4c6f-8ce1-56c0130f5bb5"><strong><span>Our itinerary was the perfect mix of things we both enjoy</span></strong></h2><div type="image" title="Image of two plates on a table, one with hash browns and bacon, the other with biscuits and gravy. The table also has iced coffee and salt and pepper shakers on it, and a muffin." height="3024" width="4032" msid="115226399" hostid="261" sizebytes="420042"></div><p><span>My mother-in-law and I have different interests: </span><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-i-like-my-kindle-for-reading-and-travel-2023-7"><span>I love reading</span></a><span> and Taylor Swift, and she loves watching British detective shows, for example. Instead of fretting over how to include these things in our trip, I focused on things we both like, like delicious restaurants and live theater.</span></p><p><span>Branson was a great spot for these things, and we spent our time seeing dinner shows, dining at celebrity chef-owned restaurants, and enjoying theme park snacks, crafting demonstrations, and entertainment at Silver Dollar City. Focusing on things I knew we could bond over made the trip all the more easygoing.</span></p><h2 id="97b77b6c-5406-438d-b440-1d38fb81a1fd"><strong><span>We had great conversations and made lasting memories</span></strong></h2><div type="image" title="Terri Peters and her mother standing outside in front of trees in Silver Dollar City and wearing sunglasses, Terri is on the left and wearing black yoga pants and a white shirt and her mother in law is wearing a long denim dress." height="3024" width="4032" msid="115226407" hostid="261" sizebytes="1872550"></div><p><span>I rarely get alone time with </span><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/i-love-my-mother-in-law-more-than-my-husband-2024-9"><span>my mother-in-law</span></a><span> when she visits us since my husband and teenagers want to spend time with her, too. On our trip, I experienced a new side of her, and we had some pretty incredible conversations about serious topics we'd never discuss in front of my husband or our kids.</span></p><p><span>Learning more about her life experiences was a gift, and along the way, we also shared lots of laughs and made memories we'll both hold onto forever.</span></p><h2 id="16e1088e-61ad-46ac-a7c8-46bff8c8efa1"><strong><span>The trip felt like a much-needed break from recent struggles</span></strong></h2><div type="image" title="Image of a bonfire and two sticks holding marshmallows roasting over the fire." height="3024" width="4032" msid="115226404" hostid="261" sizebytes="494630"></div><p><span>My mother-in-law </span><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-helped-children-through-grief-losing-father-parenthood-2023-3"><span>lost her husband</span></a><span> in March 2022, and in March 2023, one of her three adult sons also died. I've often commented that she's experienced more loss in the last two years than seems fair for one person to have to endure, and going away on this trip with her felt like a great way to take a break from grief and spend time having fun.</span></p><p><span>When we parted ways at the airport at the end of the weekend, she hugged me and said she didn't realize how much she needed a weekend away. Knowing I could lessen her load in this season of her life left me incredibly thankful I invited her to go away with me.</span></p><h2 id="23353d41-63d2-4235-a1f3-2105e066ab71"><strong><span>I was reminded me she's more than my husband's mom — she's also my friend</span></strong></h2><div type="image" title="Image of performers on stage at the Anthems of Rock show, two are standing on a platform singing and holding a guitar, and others are dancing around a platform, wearing colorful and printed clothing." height="3024" width="4032" msid="115226401" hostid="261" sizebytes="852952"></div><p><span>As the mom of two kids, I often think about </span><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/didnt-want-to-be-the-evil-mother-in-law-2024-10"><span>what kind of mother-in-law I'll be</span></a><span> one day to my kids' partners and hope I'll make whoever they choose to settle down with feel welcome without adding stress to their lives. My mother-in-law has always done just that, even when I've been an anxious new mom or a stressed-out bride-to-be and given her a harder time than she deserved. I've always hoped I approach my kids and their partners with the same grace she has treated me, and I'm so glad I've had her as a role model.</span></p><p><span>I didn't realize I </span><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mom-solo-travel-freedom-no-kids-2024-1"><span>needed a getaway</span></a><span> with just my mother-in-law, either. At my age and stage in life, I value her wisdom and life experience more than ever, and I loved taking a trip with her where we could focus solely on building our friendship. My only regret is that I didn't start traveling one-on-one with my mother-in-law sooner, as I think it would have been a great practice to add to our relationship early on.</span></p>

My mother-in-law and I went on our first trip together. We needed it more than we realized.

I went on an 8-night Caribbean cruise with my mom, grandma, and extended family. It was the ideal multigenerational trip.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Lindsay Roselle transformed her view on motherhood after an ayahuasca retreat in the Amazon.</li><li>Before the retreat, she believed motherhood required suffering and sacrifice of her career.</li></ul><p><em>This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with </em><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="c-link" href="https://www.lindsayroselle.com/"><em>Lindsay Roselle</em></a><em>, a 42-year-old entrepreneur and mom from Colorado who attended an ayahuasca retreat and started microdosing psilocybin. It's been edited for length and clarity. There's no medical consensus about whether these plant medicines have benefits, and these </em><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/are-magic-mushrooms-dangerous-2019-1"><em>drugs can come with risks</em></a><em>.</em></p><p>In 2019, I was preparing for my second baby, and I remember having a conversation with a group of women. I said having one baby was OK because I could take them around with me, but having two kids meant I had two options: being a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/stay-at-home-mom-struggling-resent-partner-daycare-2024-9">stay-at-home mom</a> or getting a full-time nanny, so I could keep working.</p><p>We all laughed it off, but five years later, I recall that moment, and it hurts. I truly felt those were my only options. I had a deeply rooted, subconscious belief that motherhood meant suffering and sacrifice.</p><p>Then in 2022, I was flying to a remote part of the Amazon for a three-day <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-ayahuasca-went-from-healing-ritual-to-global-wellness-trend-2020-8">ayahuasca retreat</a>, where I ingested a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/psychedelic-tea-ayahuasca-effects-founders-experiment-better-leaders-1heart-2023-12">plant-based psychedelic</a> used for medicinal, spiritual, and ceremonial purposes.</p><p>When I returned, my home life and ideas about motherhood completely changed.</p><h2 id="b33feda5-88bc-418c-bc5e-43ae59da20c8">My mom contributed to my negative idea of motherhood</h2><p>Giving up my <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/millenniall-quit-job-start-business-shares-advice-entrepreneurship-networking-mentor-2024-9">entrepreneurial career</a> was never an option for me. In 2019, I was my family's breadwinner, running two brick-and-mortar businesses while my partner worked from home. We hired a nanny to care for our newborn and 2-year-old. I thought it was great because I could work like I did before we had kids. </p><p>I never even considered what impact that decision would have on my kids.</p><p>My youngest son would stay awake at night until he was almost two years old because he knew that was the only time he'd have my undivided attention.</p><p>I was repeating the behavior that was modeled for me. My mom worked from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day and was disconnected from my sister and me. She did what was expected of her from her Catholic upbringing by marrying young, having kids, and working hard, but I never felt like she loved motherhood. This contributed to my deep-rooted beliefs about it.</p><h2 id="89566fd1-d898-4b73-b6e4-3ee71a0c42ab">The pandemic shut down my businesses, and I lost my direction until I joined a mastermind</h2><p>When the pandemic hit, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/small-business-closures-pandemic-less-expected-past-year-fed-survey-2021-4">my businesses closed</a>, but I covered the bills by doing online consulting. I spent the rest of the year cocooned at home with my kids in full crisis mode.</p><p>In 2021, a friend <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/joining-a-mastermind-group-could-help-your-business-thrive-2020-1">recommended a mastermind</a> for successful women feeling stuck and wanting to expand their creativity. This mastermind was a yearlong program consisting of three <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/openai-sam-altman-psychedelics-helped-anxiety-happiness-2024-9">plant medicine experiences</a> and a self-selected creative project.</p><p>I was afraid of what might come up under an altered state of consciousness and worried about leaving my kids, but after speaking on the phone and building trust with the leaders, I felt it was the right choice.</p><p>The mastermind, a multi-five-figure investment that my consulting work allowed me to pay for, started in 2022 with nine other women. Each month, we had a three-hour virtual 1:1 with the leaders to go over creative projects and prepare for the plant medicine experiences. The first one would be the biggest: a three-day ayahuasca ceremony held during a two-week <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-rainforest-all-inclusive-trip-green-forest-ecolodge-worth-it-2024-6">trip to the Amazon</a>.</p><h2 id="a21935bb-3ee3-4d2f-8ab9-c0d19070e545">I flew to the Amazon for the ayahuasca ceremony</h2><p>My kids stayed home with their dad, and I took a flight to Peru, a connecting flight to Iquitos, and a boat <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-amazon-rainforest-is-important-life-support-is-burning-2019-8">several hours into the Amazon</a>. It was uncomfortable to be in such a wild, vast landscape, but I felt safe and exhilarated.</p><p>In the case of an emergency, we were told the village elder could boat downriver to get a signal at another village. For the next three nights, shamans native to the region led us through three ayahuasca experiences.</p><p>On the first night, we <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ayahuasca-health-effects-brain-and-body-2018-10">sipped our ayahuasca tea</a> in a pitch-black room, listening to the sounds of the Amazon and the shamans saying blessings. As I slowly fell into the experience, I felt a dark energy that I now believe to be that of my late grandmother. It forced me to confront my belief that motherhood means suffering and sacrifice. </p><p>Though the psychedelic experience felt existentially threatening at the moment, I needed it to rid myself of that belief.</p><p>I took a lighter dose on the second night and felt as though a silhouette of my mother was greeting me, sitting in the window of a castle. I felt this indescribable forgiveness toward her and released the resentment I'd built toward her for not being present or affectionate.</p><p>On the third night, I had released darkness from within me. We spent the next week and a half exploring the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/machu-picchu-peru-tips-mistakes-2023-4#machu-picchu-peru-is-a-popular-destination-among-my-clients-and-ive-learned-the-dos-and-donts-of-visiting-2">Sacred Valley</a>, reflecting on our experience, and discussing how to integrate it into our lives.</p><h2 id="cb77a082-b851-4037-ba35-8e1f7eac8d60"><strong>I integrated my learnings by approaching work in a new way</strong></h2><p>When I returned home, I reflected on what I wanted and decided to continue<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/wfh-fears-impacting-kids-parenting-remote-work-2024-7"> working from home</a> to spend more time with my kids.</p><p>My kids have a part-time nanny, but I want to be home-based to see them grow up and to comfort, hug, and kiss them. That's not to say my kids get all of me, either. They have to respect my boundaries. I want them to<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/stay-at-home-mom-works-part-time-morning-routine-2024-4"> see their mom working</a>.</p><p>I attended two more plant-medicine retreats and now <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/psychedelic-magic-mushroom-decriminalization-denver-first-2019-1">microdose psilocybin regularly</a>, it has helped me immensely with my ADHD and general well-being.</p><h2 id="7e1e2f50-abd3-4f8e-9e37-1812503a3088"><strong>I have a newfound reverence for mothers and motherhood</strong></h2><p>I used to have rigid ideas of what it meant to be a successful mother, but now I feel the deepest respect for each mother, knowing they're doing their best to fight for their kids' survival.</p><p>I've been able to give that same grace to myself, and it feels liberating to finally not let work define my identity, success, and worth. I want to let the world know I'm a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/remote-job-allows-mom-be-present-while-breadwinner-2024-10">businesswoman and a mother</a>, and my success is the journey of navigating a harmonious relationship between the two.</p><p><em>If you have a unique experience balancing parenthood with your high-earning career and would like to share your story, email Tess Martinelli at </em><a target="_blank" href="mailto:tmartinelli@businessinsider.com"><em>tmartinelli@businessinsider.com.</em></a></p>

I struggled to feel like I could be a good mom and businesswoman. My ayahuasca trip changed everything.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A <keyword id="22198765" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="young-boy" source="keywords">young boy</keyword> <keyword id="23013017" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="accidentally-smashed" source="keywords">accidentally smashed</keyword> a 3,500-year-old jar at the <keyword id="22964255" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Hecht-Museum" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Hecht Museum" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Hecht Museum">Hecht Museum</keyword> in Israel.</li><li>The jar, dating back to the Bronze Age, was displayed without glass barriers.</li></ul>It's every <keyword id="23013018" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="parents-worst-nightmare" source="keywords">parent's worst nightmare</keyword>.<br /><br />During a visit to the Hecht Museum at the University of Haifa in Israel, a young boy's father was shocked to see his son next to the shattered<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bronze-age-lost-tomb-ireland-rediscovered-photogrammetry-2024-1" target="_blank"> Bronze Age</a> jar.<br /><br />The boy's father told the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckg2j2y20epo">BBC</a> that he first thought, "It wasn't my child that did it," but then told the museum guards what happened after his son had calmed down.<br /><br />The museum said it would not punish the child for the incident as it was a genuine accident.<br /><br />"There are instances where display items are intentionally damaged, and such cases are treated with great severity, including involving the police," said Lihi Laszlo, a spokesperson for the University of Haifa, which operates the museum.<br /><br />The jar has been at the museum for 35 years, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://news.sky.com/story/rare-bronze-age-jar-smashed-by-five-year-old-boy-in-museum-in-israel-13204349">Sky News </a>reported.<br /><br />The museum said it dates to the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bronze-age-cauldrons-show-evidence-what-ancient-feasts-looked-like-2023-8">Bronze Age between 2200 and 1500 BC</a>, predating the time of <keyword id="23013020" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="King-David" source="keywords">King David</keyword>, and was intended for the storage and transport of local supplies, mainly wine and olive oil.<br /><br />Similar jars have been found in archaeological excavations, but most were found broken or incomplete, making this jar especially rare because of its intact condition.<br /><br />The jar was displayed near the museum entrance without any glass barriers — an unusual practice for museums but one in keeping with the founder's vision to make archaeological items accessible to the public, said museum director Inbal Rivlin.<br /><br />"The museum believes that there is a special charm in experiencing an archaeological find without any obstructions, and despite the rare incident with the jar, the Hecht Museum will continue this tradition," Rivlin told BI in a statement.<br /><br />Rivlin publicly invited the boy and his family to an organized tour of the museum later this week, which they have agreed to attend.<br /><br />A specialist in conservation has also been asked to restore the jar, and it is expected to be returned to its former glory soon.<br /><br /><em>Editor's note: August 28, 2024 — An earlier version of this story may have misstated the age of the child who broke the vase. Business Insider has not independently confirmed his age, so references to it have been removed from the story.</em><br />

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