Kimberly Kephart Travels

17/06/2026

Super excited to announce that I’m apart of the Summer 2026 Ambassador team with Bookatrekking.com !

Cannot wait to showcase my awesome hike this August. Take a peek to see which one it is!

Isaac and I will also be walking the Côte d’ Opale this July ( I was planning this before I was asked to step on board)

Come along with me, can’t wait to show you all the things to pack, how I’m prepping, and where I go!

17/06/2026

These are the 8 places I’d send my best friend to tomorrow if she asked. I know someone on here will question my choices….

Mostly walkable, easy to navigate. All places I’ve personally felt “safe” in as a solo female traveler. And most importantly, great enough that you won’t feel swallowed alive on day one.

A few rules I’d give her no matter which one she picks:

✦ Book a flight that lands in daylight. No first-time night arrivals.
✦ Pre-book your first night accommodation — splurge a little, this isn’t the trip to gamble.
✦ Set up your eSIM before you board (Holafly is my pick).
✦ Tell ONE trusted person your full itinerary — hotel names, train times, addresses.
✦ Pack lighter than you think. Carry-on only for trip one.
✦ The first 48 hours will feel weird. By day three, it clicks.

Also, if I could have done more: Vietnam, and Jordan!

A quick note on what I mean by “safe”:

I’m a white 40 something, cisgender, heterosexual woman, and that shapes how I experience the world and how others perceive me when I travel. Safety is deeply personal and influenced by race, sexuality, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, and countless other factors.

The destinations on this list felt safe to me based on my own experiences, but travel is not one-size-fits-all. What feels safe and comfortable for one person may not feel the same for someone else, and I think that context matters.

If going completely solo feels like too much for trip one, group trips are an underrated way to start. I’m hosting a women’s group trip to Iceland in January if you want company on your first one (link in bio).I also have friends in group travel and would totally refer you to them!

Hey experienced solo travelers: what would you add? Drop your first solo destination below for the woman trying to work up the courage to book hers. We were all in her shoes once⬇️👏

15/06/2026

Every Monday, I try to send out my Newsletter. It's a practice in putting myself out there.

This week, I am talking about the art of storytelling and what a privilege it was to hear people's stories while in Italy. Things you learn while living abroad, and what it means to be immersed in the place you live.

You can check it out in the link in the comments. Let me know what you think!

10/06/2026

THIS IS EXACTLY WHY YOU SHOULD COME PREPARED.

If you’re planning long distance hiking in the Dolomites or trekking in the Alps this summer, listen to me when I say: come prepared, even if you’re an experienced hiker. Mountain hiking can change fast and things can go wrong quickly.

I’m incredibly thankful I packed properly because I still ended up having one of the most terrifying experiences on a hike I’d dreamed about for years.

The Palaronda Trek in the Italian Alps is absolutely stunning, but it is NO joke. Between the exposed sections, changing weather, and demanding terrain, this is not a casual Dolomites hike.

If you’re hiking in Italy this summer, research your trail, check conditions, carry the right gear, and respect the mountains.

08/06/2026

People always ask me "what's THE hike to do in the Dolomites?" — and the honest answer is: it depends on what you want from the day.

So here are the four I keep recommending, each for a completely different kind of traveler. See if you spot yourself:

🟢 The beautiful-day-without-suffering hike: Val Venegia. Easy, gorgeous, and the Pale di San Martino reveal at the end of the meadow stops people mid-sentence. Bring a picnic.

🔵 The turquoise-lake-photo hike: Lago di Sorapis. The milky blue everyone posts. Real, and worth it — but there are exposed ledges Instagram conveniently leaves out.

🔴 The bucket-list hike: Tre Cime di Lavaredo. The three iconic peaks. The reason most people book the trip in the first place. (Just sort out the 2026 parking reservation early — trust me.)

🍂 The plan-ahead-for-fall hike: Lago Federa. For two short weeks in late September/October, the larches turn gold and the basin glows. One of the most magical autumn hikes in Europe, full stop.

The full breakdown — timing, parking, what I wish someone had told me — is in this week's newsletter. Link's in the first comment. 👇

Which one's calling your name? I'm genuinely curious what everyone picks.

07/06/2026

EXPERIENCED TRAVELERS: what would you tell your best friend before her first solo trip abroad?

There’s so much decision fatigue and anxiety that comes with planning international solo travel, especially for solo female travelers.

Looking up the safest countries for solo female travel.
Trying to figure out public transportation in Europe.
Wondering where to stay, what to pack, how to plan a travel itinerary, and whether solo travel is actually worth it.

As someone who’s traveled to quite a few places as a solo female traveler, these are just some of the things I’d tell my best friend before her first international trip.

Solo travel does not have to be extreme to be meaningful.
Some of the best travel experiences happen slowly — in walkable cities, on train rides, in mountain towns, and during the quiet moments where you realize you’re capable of more than you thought.

What advice would you give someone planning their first solo travel experience?

05/06/2026

Looking for a beautiful small city in Northern Italy to add to your itinerary?

After living in Italy and spending years exploring the Veneto region, Bassano del Grappa remains one of my favorite small cities in Northern Italy.

This is Bassano del Grappa, a historic riverside city in the Veneto region just 1 hour from Venice and under 1 hour from Vicenza. Known for its WWII and WWI history, mountain views, grappa, and iconic Ponte Vecchio bridge, it’s one of the most underrated destinations in Northern Italy.

While many people visit Bassano del Grappa as a day trip from Venice, I actually recommend staying overnight. The city completely slows down in the evening and feels far more local once the day trippers leave.

WHERE TO STAY IN BASSANO DEL GRAPPA:
• Bonotto Hotel Belvedere — located just minutes from the historic center with one of my favorite breakfast spreads in Italy.

THINGS TO DO IN BASSANO DEL GRAPPA:
• Visit the Civic Museum
• Explore Palazzo Sturm
• Browse Libreria Palazzo Roberti
• Stop by the Tempio Ossario
• Walk across Ponte Vecchio at sunset
• Try local grappa
• Use Bassano as a base for hiking in the Veneto region

If you’re planning a Northern Italy itinerary and want somewhere less crowded than Venice but still full of history, culture, and incredible scenery, add Bassano del Grappa to your list.

Save this for your Italy trip planning.

02/06/2026

I think one thing I’m really excited for when it comes to my women’s only group trip to Iceland is the fact that I get to take a group of women who might not otherwise plan a trip for themselves like this.

There is something completely magical about saying yeas to a trip that puts you out there into the world.

The world is a little different now, but I can remember in 2019 when I planned my solo trip to Iceland I was incredibly nervous but I knew that if i didn’t do do this that I might not ever do it. But not everyone is like me!

I remember standing in line to check my bag in Gdansk and I was so nervous and anxious. Was I wearing enough layers, I remember thinking “omg people can tell I’m such a newbie to this, I should know better” & “ s**t, what if I can’t pick up my rental car cause my documents are insufficient?”

All the regular anxiety laden thoughts. I was so used to traveling solo in the USA and in Poland and Germany, why was Iceland so different to me? But I did it and I had a blast.

Other people might not have that same confidence, and that’s why I’m hosting this group trip.

Would love to have you there!

Go beyond tropical beaches and jam-packed cities, and embark on an adventure fit for a Viking. The dramatic beauty of Iceland will be on full display as you trek across glaciers, explore lava fields, soak in hot springs, and bask in the glow of the Northern Lights. You may even learn to pronounce a....