This year, we celebrated my birthday in one of the most beautiful and historic places on earth—Jordan. We spent five unforgettable days exploring deserts, ancient cities, and the lowest place on the planet. It was the perfect mix of adventure, history, and family time.
Right after landing, we headed straight to the desert of Wadi Rum, where we stayed at the Desert Magic Camp & Resort, a Bedouin-style camp. We spent one night there, but it felt like stepping into another world. The highlight was our jeep tour—Lucas, Henry, and I rode on the very top of the jeep, wind in our faces, watching the red sand stretch endlessly in every direction. We woke up early that morning to catch the desert sunrise, and it was worth every lost minute of sleep (for me). The entire sky glowed pink and gold over the sandstone mountains. We even tried a bit of sandboarding, which was hilarious, hard and fun.
From Wadi Rum, we headed to Petra, where we spent two nights. On the first day, we took the classic entrance through the Siq and walked until just past the Treasury. Even though I’d seen photos a thousand times, rounding that last corner and seeing the Treasury rise out of the rock was magical.
On day two, my birthday, we entered Petra from the back side and began at the Monastery, which is every bit as impressive as the Treasury, just bigger and more remote. From there, we took the High Place of Sacrifice trail, winding through sandstone cliffs, ancient stairways, and breathtaking views. By the end of the day, we had walked over 22,000 steps—and honestly, it was the perfect birthday. Tiring, yes, but absolutely perfect.
One thing we made sure of during our visit was not riding the camels, horses, or donkeys offered around Petra. Unfortunately, many of the animals there are overworked and mistreated, and the best way to help is simply not to support that part of the tourist industry. We were happy to walk, even if it meant more steps, knowing we were making the kinder choice.
Next, we drove to the Dead Sea. Our resort was… fine. Not great, not terrible—just okay. But it had its own private beach, which made floating in the Dead Sea effortless. The water truly keeps you afloat like a cork, and of course, we covered ourselves head to toe in the famous black mud. Messy, weird, and fun.
We ended our trip with a day in Amman, exploring the city. The Citadel offered gorgeous views over Amman’s hills and a chance to walk through layers of history. For lunch, we ate at Bayt Sara, a small vegan restaurant that turned out to be one of our favorite meals of the entire trip. It felt warm and homey, almost like eating in someone’s living room. The food was fresh, flavorful, and made with real care—the owners also rescue cats. We love supporting businesses with altruistic missions.
Food-wise, I survived mostly on falafel because vegan options are limited—but honestly, Jordanian falafel is good, so five days of it wasn’t horrible.
Jordan was an amazing trip: adventurous, beautiful, peaceful, and full of memories we’ll keep forever. Spending my birthday hiking through ancient Petra made it unforgettable.
