Off the Map: 25 True Stories to Inspire Your Next Adventure

by Chelsea Fagan, Cayman Jack (Editor)

When was the last time you saw something truly extraordinary? If you have to think about it, it’s probably been too long. But it’s never too late to write your next story, and to go on your next adventure. In partnership with Cayman Jack, Thought Catalog presents a collection of 25 travel stories to inspire you to leave behind the predictable and take to the open road in search of the unforgettable. Your next great memory is waiting for you, whether you realize it or not. And these exceptional stories will help you find it.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction

144 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 9, 2014

About the author

Chelsea Fagan is the co-founder and CEO of The Financial Diet. She is the author of many books, including THE HIGH DIVE, coming May 27, 2025.

Chelsea is an avid home cook, and lives in Manhattan with her husband and dog.

Reviews

[Lauren Zonnefeld · Rating 4 out of 5]

These stories really do inspire a new adventure. But some were slow moving and/or repetitive.

[Tim clifft]

Totally the nail on the head!

I just finished reading this book in a tree house with my beautiful wife asleep in a colorful hammock on the deck, overlooking the jungle outside Quepos,Costa Rica, listening to howler monkeys in the distance. I without a doubt think this is the best way to finish such an amazing read. I am on the cusp of turning 40, and love nothing more than to travel and explore our beautiful world, from backpacking ( and asking my fiancè to marry me ) the Appalachian trail, to having a pint in one of the oldest pubs in Dublin. this book totally added way more fuel to my already raging travel fire! I love nothing more than to hear the fire and passion in travelers stories.
I will have to hurry up and plan my wife and I's next adventure, after she too enjoys this amazing read
Namaste

[Christine Malang · Rating 4 out of 5]

You fall into this world and it's like no other. Once the travel bug gets you, there's no going back.

"I saw views most people will only dream of, and that I may never see again."

"Tourist go to the see the major sites, but travel for the experience of moving from one place to another."

"Getting up and leaving is an option you can make work if you want it enough. I think it's good to remember this when you're nearing the end of your travel experience. You'll be back. You'll travel again. It's your choice."

"Looking back years later and knowing that, while the journey may have ended, it will always live within you. And that the place will always be there waiting, if you happen to find yourself missing it too much."

[Charity · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious + Heartfelt encounters from worldwide travelers. Easy read, but also entertaining for quick snippets and reminders of why travel changes our life so deeply.

[Eva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting stories and some great photos.

[Anne Lawrence · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good read and nice selection of stories. Some are more interesting than others. Some are more polished than others. I did find several made me laugh at the choice of terminology used to describe experiences. I think Alyse Allain said it best in How Belgium Taught Me to Believe in the Kindness of Strangers, "Finding your independence, experiencing the world, meeting new people and opening your eyes and your mind are just a few of the completely invaluable things that traveling brings you." The same can be said for this book. With the different writing styles it is as if you are meeting twenty-five new people - some you will like, some you will tolerate, but all you will learn from.

[Greg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun reading about some of the adventures and experiences of the contributors. Some of the sections were better written than others, and all were relatively amateur in tone - they are mostly not accomplished authors, I think, but something else first and writers second (or third or fourth). Still, I enjoyed some of their experiences, and they led me to think about other places I would like to visit some day, and even more, about how I would like to travel in those places.

Enthusiastic travelers may appreciate this book, most others probably not.

[Star Shining Forever · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was just lovely reading these stories of others' adventures all throughout the world. Besides the relation of an adventure, each story contained an eye opener, a truth discovered, a funny story, an important principle, etc. The authors are good writers too. This book made me want to travel!

TRAVEL. You won't regret it.

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book filled with varied stories

This book is a great book to read for the traveler in you. You can live vicariously through many of the authors and get a peak inside their minds to discover their philosophies on travel. If you're lucky, like me, you may even learn about some new places and add to your travel bucket list.

[Noel Capra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Traveling Too

This was an easy, quick, and fun ebook to read. Some essays made you feel like you were right with the authors. Some made you glad you weren't there, but still able to share their adventures.

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. A fun, interesting, and vast array of stories.

[Sarah Inwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

possibly not a great book to read when I'm already itching to travel

[Bill Lively · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love to travel and thus I enjoy travel books.

[Ken O'Krent · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not worth the time

This book is for 20-something's. Only 1 or 2 chapters seemed worth it. Best to look elsewhere for thoughts on traveling.

[Cherlynn | cherreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

So inspiring! In fact I took my first solo trip just days after reading this book.