After visiting family, my daughter and I decided to take the Old Highway 1 that runs along the coast from the Bay Area south to L.A. It takes you along the edges of cliffs, twisting …
September 27, 2009
Travel Stories
Highway 1: San Francisco to L.A.
Grand Tetons/Yellowstone National Park
The national parks have been described by Ken Burns as America’s best idea. I doubt that many visitors to the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone National Park would argue with that. I journeyed there in late …
September 27, 2009
Ancient Ephesus, Turkey
If you’re a seeker of sacred sites and find yourself in the Greek Islands, hop a ferry from Samos to Kuşadası (or fly from Samos into Adnan Menderes Airport), then grab a bus to Ephesus, …
September 27, 2009
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) Do's and Don'ts
Vietnam’s largest city, Ho Chi Minh City, is full of traveler do’s (and a few don’ts). For instance, DO know that Ho Chi Minh City was called Saigon until it was renamed in 1975. DON’T …
September 24, 2009
Japan's Bustling Tokyo
Literally translating to “Eastern Capital,” Tokyo, Japan, is one of the three world finance ”command centers” alongside New York and London. But unlike the others, Tokyo has a serene feeling of safety along with pristine …
September 22, 2009
Forestiere Underground Gardens, Fresno
If I’d been living in Fresno in the early 1900s, I’d have visited Baldasare Forestiere often, especially in August. To beat the scorching heat, this Sicilan immigrant spent nearly forty years creating an underground dwelling. …
September 22, 2009
Muir Woods National Monument, California
Less than 15 miles from San Francisco is the beautiful Muir Woods National Monument. Walking among giant coast redwoods, you get a taste of what it must be like to be an ant crawling among …
September 22, 2009
Refined Edinburgh, Scotland
Edinburgh, capital city of Scotland, proves that there is much more to Scottish culture than kilts, clans and haggis. In fact, Edinburgh hosts a trendsetting modern culture while still embracing its Caledonian roots. From swanky …
September 22, 2009
Joan Wilder’s Destination City: Cartagena, Colombia
You remember her: that romance novelist in the classic film Romancing the Stone with Michael Douglas. Her sister had been kidnapped in Colombia and was awaiting rescue in Cartagena. Perhaps due to the real-life cocaine …
September 22, 2009
Pit Stop in Avenal, California
On a quest for a better alternative to fast food and gas station cafes, and armed with a curiosity for old California towns, I came across the small city of Avenal during a recent road …
September 17, 2009
Taj Majal, Agra, India
The Taj Mahal is often regarded as the most beautiful building in the world. So, of course I watched in horror as my digital camera slipped from my grasp and fell to the hard pavement …
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