May 2, 2017
I had few expectations before visiting the Exumas in the Bahamas. I was more concerned about safe flights and staying healthy. Even the prospect of rain did not trouble me. I actually love the rain, especially on a tropical island. Anything from a gentle shower, heady with the fragrance of rich vegetation and the salty ...
February 22, 2017
Hearst Castle was once a vacation home belonging to newspaper mogul William Randolph Hearst. It sits high atop a hill in San Simeon, California, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Its location is certainly beautiful, and was aptly named “La Cuesta Encantada,” The Enchanted Hill, for the views are simply enchanting. It was first opened to the ...
January 16, 2017
John Muir once said, “The mountains are calling and I must go.” He was right. Who can resist the call of the great outdoors? Nature pulls at the soul, floods the senses, and rejoices the heart. Telluride, Colorado is such a place. The steep forested mountains of the Rocky Mountain high country do something to ...
December 19, 2016
Nestled in a glade near the Columbia River Gorge in the beautiful state of Washington, Skamania Lodge makes for a lovely escape to the Pacific Northwest. While the Lodge itself is charming and handsomely appointed with luxurious guestrooms, spa, indoor pool, delicious dining and more, the lush wooded grounds are what captivated me most. ...
October 5, 2016
Legend has it that a beautiful Multnomah princess gave her life to save her people by jumping off the high cliff overlooking the water of the Big River, now known as the Columbia River Gorge. It was done in order to appease the Great Spirit’s anger by offering an innocent maiden in sacrifice. The ...
August 23, 2016
One of the best things about the Dolphin Bay Resort & Spa is its location. It sits atop a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The surf pounds the rocky shore below, while sea gulls wheel or hang upon the wind, seeming not to move at all. Their shrill cries carry on the ocean breeze which ...
May 19, 2016
Sarmizegetusa was the capital of Dacia (present-day Romania) before its conquest by the Roman Empire in the early second century AD. Built right into the mountains of the Carpathians, the main fortress was the citadel of King Decebalus of Dacia, and the site where the final siege took place before the Romans captured the ...
April 5, 2016
My favorite attraction at Knott’s Berry Farm in Southern California has always been Ghost Town. Perhaps it’s my fondness for history and all things historical that draws me there, but whatever the reason, it is definitely a fun place to visit. With a little imagination, it’s easy to believe that you have stepped back in ...
February 1, 2016
Western Texas is a grand place. Big sky, big stone monuments, big mesas, even the cattle are big. And of course, Big Bend National Park. It’s also a place of big pleasure. From short hikes along the Rio Grande – that’s Mexico right across the muddy water – to longer hikes on well-marked trails with ...
January 1, 2016
Even in summer, there’s more than one reason to visit Tucson. Yes, it’s hot, but some like it hot, and my family does. We’ve stayed in Death Valley in July, and as long as there’s shade, a pool, and some air conditioning to escape to, we can still enjoy the scenery, early morning hikes and ...
