School
University of Southern California
Expertise
Abandoned sites, Greek islands, LGBTQ+ travel
- A former documentary researcher, Olivia uses her well-honed research skills to deep dive into the histories of the ghost towns and nature destinations that she often writes about for Islands.
- Olivia is a frequent solo traveler, who hikes to abandoned and lesser-known sites all around Greece that even her local friends have never heard of or visited.
- When she was 22, Olivia walked 500 miles alone across Spain on the Camino de Santiago and kept a daily journal for the entire trip, which marked the start of her travel writing.
Experience
Olivia is a writer who lives in Athens, Greece, where she spends half of her time traveling. For four years, she worked as a Greece specialist for the travel site, Kimkim, where she published write-ups of over 100 hotels in Athens and Crete that she visited. She is the go-to travel expert in Greece for family, friends, and readers, thanks to her extensive travels around the country and her detailed, organized information about both alternative and mainstream destinations. Her specialty is Crete, where she spent nine months doing field research for her first novel, a queer historical ghost story about the Greek Civil War and intergenerational family trauma.
Education
Olivia has a bachelor's degree from the critical studies program at USC's School of Cinematic Arts.
Islands content is created by a team of veteran writers and editors passionate about travel. Outside experts with deep field knowledge sometimes inform our work with additional context and perspectives by way of exclusive commentary. Our goal is to offer readers well-rounded and diverse articles that inform, entertain, and inspire.
Our editors consistently review and update articles to ensure they're providing current, relevant, and useful information. Complete information on our editorial process is available here.
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North Carolina
By Olivia Typaldos
This lesser-known North Carolina destination offers vineyard tastings, foothill scenery, and historic sites within easy reach of major cities.
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North Carolina
By Olivia Typaldos
Experience panoramic views of one of the country’s most picturesque mountain ranges via a quick 20-minute hike less than an hour from Asheville.
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Michigan
By Olivia Typaldos
Michigan's Upper Peninsula contains a small, abandoned mining town that's like a time capsule from the 1800s, and you can see it all with a self-guided tour.
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South Dakota
By Olivia Typaldos
Situated in the Black Hills of South Dakota was once an up-and-coming mining town that quickly dissolved into a friendly ghost town oozing with Old West charm.
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Grand Canyon
By Olivia Typaldos
There's more behind the Grand Canyon's striped layers than meets the eye, and some of the best places to see them aren't from up from the top.
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Missouri
By Olivia Typaldos
Missouri is home to thousands of caves, but this one in the Ozarks stands out among the rest. It dates back to the Ice Age and includes mammoth bones.
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Virginia
By Olivia Typaldos
Take a short hike around this park to see evidence of quarry workers' tool marks, wildlife, and lovely vistas of the peaceful creek and surrounding area.
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Canada
By Olivia Typaldos
Experience iconic cowboy culture in this Western Canadian province that highlights dude ranches, huge rodeos, and badlands that are all reminiscent of Texas.
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New York City is famous for its pizza, and if you want to get a deal on it, you can head to this pizza joint that popularized the dollar slice.
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Destinations
By Olivia Typaldos
Hikers who brave the harsh winds and rocky terrain of this historic New Hampshire mountain trail are treated to epic views and a cozy place to watch the sunset.
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Destinations
By Olivia Typaldos
Head to this cozy ranch in the Bradshaw Mountains where horse trails and epic desert views are just the beginning of a memorable camping adventure.
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Pennsylvania
By Olivia Typaldos
Pennsylvania has some terrific lakes, of which several are not well known. You can take a great road trip around the state visiting these waterways.
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South Dakota
By Olivia Typaldos
South Dakota’s Black Hills are famed for their beauty, and this former mining town within its forests is no exception — despite being abandoned for decades.
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Pennsylvania
By Olivia Typaldos
The Poconos was once a haven for honeymooners, but times change, and the collection of spooky abandoned properties in the area proves it.
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Indiana
By Olivia Typaldos
Explore this Indiana town founded by German immigrants whose influence lives on in the town's architecture, religious institutions, foods, and more.
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If you're looking for an atmospheric pizzeria to grab a slice, enjoy some bowling, and play some arcade games, you won't want to pass by this Ohio spot.
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Beaches
By Olivia Typaldos
Looking for safer swimming spots across the country? These U.S. coastal destinations stand out for having some of the lowest shark attack records.
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North Carolina
By Olivia Typaldos
Head out to the southern coast of North Carolina to find an excellent stargazing spot, one with dark skies, cozy campgrounds, and stunning beaches.
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Michigan
By Olivia Typaldos
Michigan visitors can search for fluorescent rocks with a UV light as darkness falls along the shoreline of Lake Superior in the Upper Peninsula.
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Travel Guides
By Olivia Typaldos
Not every song is a hit, but that doesn't mean they're not great tunes. Here are five songs that flopped but deserve a spot on your road trip playlist.
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Arizona
By Olivia Typaldos
The Sonoran hot dog is a delicacy in Arizona, and if you're seeking the best the state has to offer, you'll want to visit these spots in Phoenix and Tucson.
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Abandoned colleges sit like time capsules of their formal glory. These once-great institutions were beacons of higher learning before falling to decay.
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Massachusetts
By Olivia Typaldos
This elegant hotel in Boston's Back Bay is a luxury getaway that was crowned one of the best hotels in America for 2026, with spacious rooms and an idyllic spa.
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Houston, Texas
By Olivia Typaldos
If you're feeling a wave of '80s nostalgia, you'll want to check out this restaurant in Houston that looks and feels right out of the decade.
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North Carolina
By Olivia Typaldos
Nashville, North Carolina, may not be as well-known as its twin in Tennessee, but it offers cozy streets, historic buildings, and makes for a quiet vacation.
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Arkansas
By Olivia Typaldos
For a truly unique getaway experience, this former nuclear missile silo in Arkansas is ground zero for a vacation you'll never forget.
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Arizona
By Olivia Typaldos
Tucson is Arizona’s hipster capital, and one of the most quirky neighborhoods is also the most walkable in the city, rich with history and vintage relics.
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