Location
Byron Bay, Australia
School
Chapman University
Expertise
Vacation trends, Sustainable travel, Work-from-home friendly destinations
- Rachel is the founder of Rachel Off Duty, a travel website that empowers women to explore the world, encouraging readers to find remote work that allows for the flexibility to travel the world without compromising their careers.
- She got rid of her apartment to spend 3 years traveling while working full-time, and now fully champions the idea of taking a "workation" while spending time abroad.
- She is on track to become a Certified Destination Management Executive (CDME), a credential that demonstrates her ongoing expertise in and commitment to shaping a more sustainable future for tourism storytelling.
Experience
Rachel brings more than a decade of travel storytelling expertise to Islands, with experience in both advertising and travel-related content creation. In addition to founding her own travel website, she has also contributed to reputable brands like Tripadvisor, Intrepid Travel, and various other destination marketing organizations. Her efforts at changing the narrative for how women prioritize work and travel has earned her a Bessie Award nomination as a 2026 Trailblazer. Rachel has visited a total of 39 countries so far and has lived in three. When she's not connected to WiFi, you can probably find her at the beach, freediving, or exploring yet another local coffee shop somewhere in the world.
Education
Rachel has a two bachelor's degrees in communication studies and public relations/advertising from Chapman University.
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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California
By Rachel-Jean Firchau
This California mountain recreation area, between San Jose and Bakersfield and near an underrated national park, is perfect for camping and hiking.
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Montana
By Rachel-Jean Firchau
This Montana city, located between Bozeman and Billings, is an under-the-radar mountain destination that's also a scenic basecamp to outdoor adventure.
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Travel Gear
By Rachel-Jean Firchau
Packing for a Caribbean vacation means thinking more about what swimsuit to wear -- your choice of suitcase can play a major role in how smoothly things go.
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California
By Rachel-Jean Firchau
As one of the least-visited protected wilderness areas in California, this destination boasts remote trails and mountain climbing, plus dispersed camping.
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California
By Rachel-Jean Firchau
Near Los Angeles' busy international airport, you'll find a hidden oasis of wetlands and bird habitats with trails and guided tours for wildlife lovers.
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Florida
By Rachel-Jean Firchau
Dating back to the 1960s, this state park filled with hiking trails, diverse bird species, and other wildlife was Florida's first aquatic preserve.
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Canada
By Rachel-Jean Firchau
If you're looking for a base near Cape Breton Highlands National Park, this Cape Breton Island town is a comfortable choice with hotels, restaurants, and more.
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Missouri
By Rachel-Jean Firchau
For an iconic shopping center, top-rated eats, antiques and charming boutiques, and nearby museums, spend some time in this walkable Kansas City neighborhood.
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Colorado
By Rachel-Jean Firchau
This master-planned neighborhood in Aurora, Colorado, features a stunning installation art trail, many hiking and camping opportunities, as well as local eats.
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Mexico
By Rachel-Jean Firchau
Ranked as the world's best beach in 2026 according to Tripadvisor, this Mexico hidden gem off the coast of Cozumel belongs on your dream destination list.
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