Christina Nguyen and Birk Stefan Grudem are the proud creators and owners of Hola Arepa, the Minneapolis born food truck and brand new Latin American cuisine restaurant on 35th and Nicolette in South Minneapolis. Tara and I were lucky enough to enjoy a quick bite and drinks there a few weeks ago and, after having such a good experience, we’re excited to get to know Christina, Birk and Hola Arepa a little better!
Tara was featured in Design Mom’s Growing a Family column on July 23, 2014! The interview touches on work/life balance, working with your spouse and the joys of welcoming Tara and Jordan’s little bebito, Trey, into the world.
Meet our new South America trip planners – Renee Davies and Jackson Mann. We couldn’t be more excited to welcome these adventurous souls to the Knowmad team!
Created in 2013, Awasi Patagonia is the new kid in town and their unconventional approach to Patagonia lodges seems to be winning guests over 12 villas at a time with unique design, location and services. Following in the footsteps of its sister lodge, Awasi Atacama, it was given the stamp of approval by Relais & Chateaux, an association of the world’s finest hoteliers.
Book your Galapagos cruise vacation now and save up to $1,400 per person on some of the finest luxury yachts in Galapagos!
Joanie and Jeff wanted for their kids to have a great time in Patagonia, but it was equally as important to them that they have impactful cultural experiences adding to their expanding world view. Their Patagonia family trip had them horseback riding into the remote Cochamo Valley and learning of the homestead culture with our friends Tatiana and Horacio, along with time for whitewater rafting, hiking and more.
I’ve always felt that more important even than great memories, an amazing trip should leave you with a refreshed perspective and renewed spirit. Traveling to Peru earlier this month for a two-week adventure with a wild group of Texans (mostly) left me with all that and more. Seeing how our group – diverse in ages and many facets – grew closer together throughout the trip was revitalizing and inspiring.
A couple of years ago, at the end of my study abroad experience in Argentina, I traveled to Rio de Janeiro for 10 days of Brazil beaching bliss. Now, with the World Cup in full swing, I keep catching myself daydreaming about Caipirinhas (Brazil’s national drink), my toes in the sand and the warm ocean air. So, today we are sharing a fun and simple way to bring Brazil home with a simple Caipirinha recipe and World Cup party themed drink flags.
Get to know Amanda Bjorge, one of Knowmad’s Operations Specialists! She loves to experience new cultures and has a passion for South America. Find out which travel memories are Amanda’s favorite, her must-have travel item, and more.
Mark your calendars for the 67th Bi-Annual Outdoor Adventure Expo! Hosted by Midwest Mountaineering, “The Expo” has over 60 exhibitors and more than 100 presentations by experts in a multitude of fields: parks and trails, high-adrenaline adventure, nature conservation, and of course, travel. Chat with fellow adventure travel and outdoor enthusiasts, learn about new gear, and find great deals.
One of my favorite types of trips to plan is what we at Knowmad affectionately call a “combo trip”, where we pair two countries together so that our travelers can get the most out of their adventure to South America. I specialize in travel in both Peru and Ecuador, and pairing these countries together makes for such a wonderful combo trip, not just because they are neighbors, but because of how they compliment each other. In one trip you can walk along paths taken by Incans, dine with local community members as they teach you about their traditions, see the famed Machu Picchu, snorkel with sea lions, stand amongst the giant Galapagos tortoises, and so much more. Joining both the beautiful culture and majesty of the Incas of Peru with the stunning architecture of Quito and surreal closeness to the wildlife in the Galapagos Islands is most certainly a recipe for an awe-inspiring adventure to South America.
Journey through the rugged and otherworldly terrain of Southern Bolivia, exploring lagoons, volcanoes and Uyuni salt flats before ending in the capital of La Paz, perched atop the Andes Mountains, stopping at the historical rich communities of Potosi and Sucre along the way. Ideal connection with Chile’s Atacama Desert or start and finish in La Paz.
I have organized travel groups for over 25 years and Knowmad Adventures is one of the best trip operators I have worked with. They recently put together a trip to Chile and Argentina for me and the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum that was exciting, fun, and one that was appreciated by all of our 19 participants. I will be using them for all future trips to South America.
By traveling alongside Knowmad you will be taking part in culturally and environmentally sustainable travel. You will be spreading the love, and the wealth. You will be doing Good Works. Learn more about Knowmad’s eco-travel efforts.
The Knowmad team put together the trip of a life time for us. Everything was perfect, from the guides to the accommodations to the activities, and your extensive knowledge of the area and personal relationships with the people we met in Chile were invaluable. We can’t recommend Knowmad highly enough.
After traveling to Chile two years ago with Knowmad Adventures there was no question as to who was going to help plan my trip to Peru! Thank you so much to Knowmad Adventures. The places they recommended, connections, and knowledge of these regions were impeccable. I highly recommend using Knowmad Adventures to plan your next trip to Peru or Chile!
Our trip was everything we dreamed it would be and more. Your group did a great job everywhere we went. We especially loved our guide Paula, and Explora was top notch too. All perfect.
Please don’t ever change the way you operate. You fulfill lifelong dreams and provide people with the chance to live what they thought could only be read about.
You put together a one-of-a-kind vacation for my group that I’ll long remember and enthusiastically recommend. I thank you and look forward, with much anticipation, to my next adventure with you.
We got back last night and I must say that the organization of the entire trip was AMAZING. We all loved Peru and thanks to Knowmad we even enjoyed it a lot more. Thanks a lot Jordan for everything as we had sooooo much fun. I’ll definitely recommend you to anybody that wants to experience Peru.
Journey through the rugged and otherworldly terrain of Southern Bolivia, exploring lagoons, volcanoes and Uyuni salt flats before ending in the capital of La Paz, perched atop the Andes Mountains, stopping at the historical rich communities of Potosi and Sucre along the way. Ideal connection with Chile’s Atacama Desert or start and finish in La Paz.
