Da Vinci decoded for travelers

Josh Roberts believes the best trips involve long hikes and muddy boots. His life goals haven't changed much since he was a kid: He still wants to be Indiana Jones when he grows up.

Follow him on Twitter (@joshwhowrites) and Instagram (@joshwhowrites), and visit his website (joshrobertsbooks.com) or Goodreads page to learn more about his forthcoming novel.

Josh joined SmarterTravel in 2001, and is an active member in both the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI).

In addition to SmarterTravel, he has written for USA Today, The Boston Globe, Yahoo! Travel, The Huffington Post, Airfarewatchdog, TripAdvisor, Jetsetter, ABC News, Oyster, and Business Insider. His travel photography can be seen in Britain and Ireland's Best Wild Places, published by Penguin UK.

The Handy Item I Always Pack: "A lacrosse ball. It's small, lightweight, and works wonders on loosening up tight muscles."

Ultimate Bucket List Experience: "Being the first to discover an ancient lost city. Failing that, visiting as many of the already-discovered ancient ruins as possible."

Travel Motto: "Not all those who wander are lost." -J.R.R. Tolkien

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: "Aisle."

See recent posts by Josh Roberts

Now you too can follow in the steps of Dan Brown’s symbologist hero Robert Langdon, star of The Da Vinci Code. And you don’t even have to grown your own mullet—a la Tom Hanks—to do so. That’s because guidebook publisher Fodor’s is set to release its own Guide to the Da Vinci Code later this month.

You may think this is a completely, utterly, totally ridiculous (though probably very profitable) publishing proposition. And you’d be right. Then again, at $15 the book is still about $460 cheaper than hiring your own Da Vinci Code guide to show you around Paris.

Whatever happened to traveling as a way to see, you know, real stuff?

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