About Me
Welcome! I’m Sarah (aka Mukikapup’s Travels), a traveler, part-time digital nomad, photographer, writer, and past archaeologist.
On this blog, I share travel stories, photography tips and more to help you plan meaningful adventures!
About Me (Sarah)
My family moved around quite a bit as I grew up, and we were always traveling in the US to visit family in various places. We would stop at historical sites, museums and more along the way.
As an adult, I have lived in multiple places and love traveling to new places in the US and abroad on my own (sometimes with friends) to learn and meet people, gain new experiences and hopefully inspire others to do the same to learn about the world and get outside of their comfort zones!
Highlights of My Journey So Far:
- Photographer/videographer work in the US & abroad
- Media for archaeological excavations in Israel (starting in 2016)
- Internship photographing National Park sites in Israel (2018)
- Two Master’s degrees (Biblical Studies + Archaeology)
- Experience working in a Tel Aviv hostel
- Dual citizenship in Israel and the US
- Freelance SEO, copywriting, video and web design for startups and blogs
- Solo travels in 15+ countries & 30+ US states
Places I’ve Visited & Lived
Travel has been a huge part of my life, from living in Israel and the US to long solo trips across Europe, the Middle East, and the Pacific. I’ve explored 15+ countries and 30+ states, with extended stays in places like Cyprus and French Polynesia. Click below to see the full lists.
About Mukikapup
👉 (Pronounced Muck-ee-kuh-pup)
When I was growing up, my grandfather would tell my sister and me bedtime stories about a character named Mukikapup. A vagabond, Mukikapup would travel around and look for places to offer him room and board in exchange for work. Muki would always try to get out of work and move on quickly; many times, though, he would get stuck doing some of the work.
Somehow, Mukikapup’s adventures always corresponded with what we had done that day. My grandparents lived in Hampton, VA and we would explore Jamestown, Yorktown, and Williamsburg, picnic along the shoreline, eat seafood, go swimming, and play make-believe at my grandparents house. Somehow, Muki was always hanging out at the same places we were.
The name “Mukikapup” sounds like “making it up”, which is how my grandfather coined this original name!
I thought for years about building a blog to honor my grandfather through this beloved character. I decided that the best way to do that is to tell my travel stories here.
About YOU
I want Mukikapup’s Travels to be a place where travelers, and aspiring travelers, can come to find information on:
📸 How to take better travel photos through information on places to photograph, photography gear tips and information, and inspiration
✈️ Sharing travel tips to help in any way I can so you can have smoother and easier planning + trips
📒 Sharing resources and information from my personal experiences to help others learn more about the world
👉 My goal is to help people take better travel photos while having the confidence to travel and sharing top tips and information on photography, gear, places and more. If you want to know more or have questions, send me a message!
Places I’ve been featured
- SHOUTOUT MIAMI: Meet Sarah Simon | Travel Blogger & Photographer
- GoBankingRates: How To Make Every Trip You Take the Greatest, Even on a Budget
- Yahoo.com: The 12 Most Beautiful Libraries in the U.S.
- Super Simple Salty Life: Family-Friendly Things To Do In New Orleans
- Mike and Laura Travel: Does It Snow In Israel? (Weather, Destinations, + More!)
- BestLifeOnline.com: The 8 Most Charming Towns in the U.S. for a Fall Getaway
- BestLifeOnline.com: 5 Clothing Items You Should Never Wear on a Flight, Experts Say
- The Parks Expert: 23 Best National Parks to Visit in Fall
- Forbes: What Your Jewish And Palestinian Friends And Co-Workers Want You To Know
- Bobo & ChiChi: 25 Most Underrated Cities In The US (Picked By Travel Experts)
- The Discovery Nut: Million Dollar Highway Colorado – A Perfect Road Trip Guide
- PlaidShirtYogaPants.com: Where to Spend a Long Weekend in the USA
- Gastro Travelogue: Europe’s Best Castles And Fairytale Places
- Wandering Welsh Girl: The Best Cities In Turkey To Visit
- My Path In The World: Best Hidden Gems In Northern Italy: 20 Non-Touristy Places To Visit
- May Cause Wanderlust: 22 Unusual & Unique Things To Do In NYC
- Thought Catalog: Childfree, Single Women Are Among the Happiest: Therapists, Psychiatrists and Childfree Millennials Explain Why
- Wanderlog: How long is the drive from Chicago to Charleston? (+ more posts)
- Alwaysontheshore.com: 9 Must-Visit Beaches For Spring Break In Florida!
- GlobeTrove: October In Europe – 17 Great Locations For 2023
- Bachcare: Photography Tips to Make Your Holiday Home Rental Property Stand Out Above the Competition
- No Hurry To Get Home: NYC Instagram Spots as Told by Top Travel Bloggers
- Travel by Brit: 29 Best Places to Visit in May in the USA
- Explore With Alec: 20 Tips for When You Travel with Camera Gear
- Julie Around The Globe: 15 Best Lake Vacation Spots on the East Coast
- World By Weekend: 39 Famous Landmarks in Turkey to Inspire Your Travels
- Travel Photo Discovery: Best places to visit for Halloween around the USA from small towns, spooky areas to cool venues
- Daytripnomad.com: Day Trip To Colorado Springs: Epic One Day Itinerary
- Voicesoftravel.com: What To Pack For 12 Days In Italy: Complete Guide
- The Traveling Moore: 19 Best Places To Travel In January In The US (Warm & Cold)
- Homeroom Travel: 9+ of the Best Day Trips from Cairo: Ancient Wonders of the World
- Homeroom Travel: 18+ Best Places to Visit in California in May: Fun Pre-Summer Locations
- Rachelsruminations.com
- Newsbreak.com
- msn.com
- aol.com
- Myeczemateam.com
🧳 Travel Resources
I’ve compiled my favorite travel resources from years of traveling, from photo gear to packing essentials, travel credit card that gets me free flights, resources for meeting people, finding flights and more!
Here are all my favorite travel resources in one place
Follow my Viator Shop for my recommended tours and activities here
✈️ Flying Hacks & Step-by-Step Checklist
Whether you’re a first-time or seasoned traveler, having a checklist of everything you need to think of, and hacks to help you travel lighter and smarter, is always helpful when you’re preparing for a trip!
Here’s my checklist with travel hacks for flying overseas
⛏️ 📸 Archaeology + Videography/Photography
Before I started this blog, I volunteered on multiple archaeological excavations in Israel (you can, too – learn how and where here)! Before getting a Masters in Archeology from Tel Aviv University, I made videos and took photos on digs. I even did an internship with the Israel Nature & Parks Authority where I took pictures of archaeological sites in Northern Israel for conservation!
👉 Here’s a video of Tel Gezer, one of my favorite sites because of the amazing 180-foot water tunnel we excavated:
👉 For more information and posts about photography, gear, what cameras to buy and more, see my photography page here!
Follow Me on Social Media
Contact Me
For general inquiries or partnerships, you can:
💻 Email me at mukikapupstravels@gmail.com
📱DM me on Instagram @mukikapupstravels
For guest posting guidelines and more information, see my work with me page here.
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