Riley Gonzales

Riley's journey into travel blogging began as a practical solution to bring real-world experiences into his high school geography classroom, creating virtual field trips for students who couldn't afford to travel. After his photo essay comparing bike-sharing programs across North America went viral in urban planning circles, Riley realized his unique perspective as an educator-explorer could reach beyond his classroom. Now divorced but co-parenting amicably with his ex-wife, Riley uses school breaks and summers to pursue his passion for documenting the intersection of human systems and natural environments, finding profound meaning in showing how department stores reflect local culture, soccer fields bring communities together, and how urban design can either connect or separate people from nature.