Lonely Planet is a pretty well known (and trusted) brand in the world of travel writing. If you've ever traveled or been with someone who is about to travel, perhaps then you've seen their print editions, which pretty much cover the whole world. But there's also a great story behind Lonely Planet, which I'd never known about. Boy meets girl sitting on a park bench in London. A year later they're married. Soon after that, they're off with "a beat-up old car, a few dollars in the pocket, and a sense of adventure." Driving overland across Europe and Asia, they sought to share their experiences with other nomads. And that, weary travelers, is how Lonely Planet was hatched.

Now they're more than just travel guides. There's also their very cool blog. Today on the site, they have a great post on how NOT to behave on an airplane, the disappointment of travel (or "Great Meh-xpectations"), as well as 40 free things to do in New York City. These are all great, but my dating life/bank account both thank you for that last one!

Truthfully, I just discovered the Lonely Planet blog recently, and find it to be a great compliment to the books.  I've always been a fan of Lonely Planet, even when I only knew of the books. Something in the name that evokes the wonderment of being somewhere for the first time. The idea of traveling the same routes as others, though not necessarily with others. After all, it's a big bad world out there, folks. Best to bring a guide.