June 21, 2011
Bandera, Texas looks like a Hollywood set. Billing itself as the Cowboy Capital of the World, Bandera has changed little since its founding in the 1850s. Just an hour outside San Antonio, Bandera was originally a migrant camp for workers at the local mill. Gradually the town built up around the mill, primarily populated by ...
June 21, 2011
In virtually every way, San Antonio, Texas is a modern big city. One of the most populous and fastest growing cities in the nation, San Antonio offers medical research facilities, Fortune 500 companies, dozens of schools and colleges, and a mind-boggling array of tourist spots. Looking out over San Antonio’s downtown skyline, it is amazing ...
June 20, 2011
Dad and I just love a good mystery. We always make it a point to seek out the odd and the unusual wherever we go. When we decided to head west this summer, Roswell, New Mexico was at the top of my list of places to see. We finally made it earlier this month. The ...
June 20, 2011
Austin, Texas prides itself on being unusual. In fact, the city’s slogan, proudly repeated by tourists and locals alike, is “Keep Austin Weird.” Despite its status as the state capital, Austin is much more reminiscent of the New Orleans’ French Quarter than a traditional government town. Perhaps the crown jewel in Austin’s “weird” title is ...
June 20, 2011
With the official slogan, “Keep Austin Weird,” Austin, Texas is filled with a strong, independent pride. The center of the live music scene and a popular location for street festivals, the 6th Street Historic District is a pedestrian-friendly strip filled with bars, restaurants and shops of every description. It is also a natural home for ...
June 11, 2011
The New Orleans Museum District has undergone extensive revitalization in recent years, after sinking into neglect toward the end of the 20th century. Well-connected to the rest of the city via the St. Charles streetcar line, the area now contains entirely refurbished loft apartments and interesting restaurants. But the museums remain the central attractions. Anchored ...
June 10, 2011
Dad and I are both enormous space history buffs. He grew up during the space program’s infancy, and the launches were easy to see from his Central Florida home. I was a small child during the early shuttle program and particularly loved night launches, despite the fact that they apparently couldn’t compare to Apollo night ...
June 10, 2011
It would be easy to spend an entire vacation in New Orleans’ French Quarter just shopping, eating and catching the street performers. Bigger attractions like the Audubon Aquarium and Insectarium might grab your attention, or you might wander to the outskirts of the Quarter to visit St. Louis Cemetery Number One. However, no trip to ...
June 9, 2011
Jackson Square is the heart of New Orleans’ French Quarter in Louisiana. Overlooking the Mississippi River, Jackson Square has been a free speech zone and hub of activity since the city’s earliest days. Today the Square is filled nearly 24 hours a day with a mix of tarot readers, visual artists, mimes, musicians, tourists and ...
June 9, 2011
When Dad and I took an Alaskan cruise two years ago, I had a bucket list of things to accomplish, from eating crab to seeing glaciers. But the one that I was most excited about was dog sledding. I love animals, and I love new forms of transportation. Despite the rumors, however, most of Alaska ...
