Heading to a Greek Island With No Reservations

A sure way to make a two-week vacation more exciting? Bring a backpack but no plans. On a Greek island trek, Senior Content Editor Rachel Zurer learns the best adventures are the ones you don’t expect.

- Rachel Zurer

EVEN MY TOES ARE TENSE AS I SIT ON A ROCK AT THE EDGE OF OUR CAMPSITE, WAITING FOR MY HUSBAND DANNY TO FINISH LOADING HIS PACK SO WE CAN FINALLY START WALKING.

Our fourth day of backpacking around the Greek island of Crete will be our longest yet with at least 11 miles and 4,000 feet of elevation gain, I have no idea where we’ll be able to sleep tonight, we have only enough food for lunch, we’re running out of money, and the few other people heading our direction left an hour ago, like sensible hikers.