Benjamin Lilly
Benjamin Lilly

Ben entered Backroads via its delicious backstage, as a Camp Chef. Despite having studied in Switzerland and North Carolina, volunteered in the Amazon and acted in Mexico, he’s never found a place that beats his homeland of Northern California. But the search continues—as does the search for the perfect taco (the best one so far is Tacos El Guero on Jose Moran street in Mexico City, in case you were wondering). He left full-time trip leading in 2018 to pursue a career as a speech-language pathologist, but couldn't stay away and now moonlights as a staff writer.

Articles Written

Man and woman looking down a hill to a river

Best Trips for 40-Somethings

Your 40s are a great time of your life to travel, but they’re an even better time to travel with Backroads. We take care of the logistics so that in your busy life, you can be sure that every precious day you spend on vacation will count to the fullest. Besides, group travel is a built-in way to meet new friends.

Read more
The Old City from above with-the-Forest of Marjan in the distance

24 Hours in Split, Croatia

Welcome to Split, capital of Dalmatia and the second-largest town in all of Croatia. Thanks to the unstoppable style of its natives, this bustling city-by-the-sea is a fantastic place to visit and one of Eastern Europe’s best-kept secrets.

Read more
shutterstock fondue matterhorn - Courtesy Shutterstock

Fondue like Swiss do

If I learned one thing while studying in Switzerland, it’s that fondue brings people together. Fondue in winter warms you up from the inside. Summer fondue is a naughty pleasure, like a morning mimosa. Should you find yourself high in the mountains after a day of hiking or cycling, starting to shiver beneath the green-cheese moon—maybe it’s time to ditch the diet and dip in.

Read more
Prague Castle - licensed through shutterstock

24 Hours in Prague

"Praha" is Czech for "threshold": a reference to medieval trade taxes, but in many ways still an apt name today. My favorite city in Europe sits on the threshold between East and West, past and future.

Read more