Since well before the Hippie Trail of the 1970s, Bohemian twenty-somethings have wandered continents in search of low-budget lodging, scintillating conversation and the adrenaline rush that only exploring the unknown induces. But in addition to extra pairs of socks and the requisite Lonely Planet travel aid, today’s backpackers are devoting significant space in their packs to technological goodies. Meet the contemporary flashpacker: the technologically savvy Generation Y traveler who takes to the road seeking adventure, new friends—and Internet cafes.

The social networking boom and “Web 2.0” fostered an unprecedented relationship between people and computers as on- and off-line worlds blur into one. Ubiquitous social networking sites like Facebook are not merely virtual reality; they reflect and are intertwined with the concrete world around us.

Wanderlust is an online social networking space for backpackers that provides tools to plan and document trips and connect online with other travelers, as well as friends and family back home. With an aesthetic that reflects the authentic, kinetic, romanticized tenor of the culture in order to create a seamless integration of the site with real life, Wanderlust seeks to enrich the backpacker’s travel by encouraging both introspection and the social sharing of experiences.