Once an exclusive getaway for America’s elite, Jekyll Island was purchased for public use in 1947 by the state of Georgia. Sixty-five percent of the island will never be developed. Jekyll is the smallest of …
Travel Stories
Jekyll Island, Georgia
Arches National Park, Utah
Arches National Park rises out of the vast Utah desert almost without warning. Comprising 120 square miles of red sandstone cliffs, spires and canyons, the park feels like the ruins of an ancient city. Its …
September 17, 2009
The Town of Books: Hay-On-Wye, Wales
Hay-On-Wye, a small village in Wales, is an unlikely bibliophile’s paradise. Nestled along the river Wye just across the Welsh border from Herefordshire, England, Hay-On-Wye boasts nearly 40 secondhand bookstores. There are no Borders or …
September 16, 2009
Wine Route: Cafayate, Argentina
Wine-flavored ice cream? It’s possible at Helados Miranda in Cafayate, Argentina (just off the main square). Since this was just one of many stops on the wine tasting tour, I opted for a double-scoop spacer: …
September 15, 2009
Space, Death, and Memory: My Summer Vacation in Quartzsite
Past the Coachella Valley, where the desert floor pushes the mountains out of sight, my grandfather levitates above a steamy I-10, alternately stiff-arming the grill and checking the coolant level of my eastbound station wagon. …
September 10, 2009
Spectacular Sognefjord, Norway
A trip to Norway is incomplete without getting out on the water to experience the fjords. The sea plays an essential role in the history of Norway, exemplified by some of its most notable museums: …
Colonial Mexico: Zacatecas
Our plane flew into Zacatecas in the midst of rainfall. The airport had one runway surrounded by red unpaved dirt, the smallest baggage claim I’d ever seen, and the most charming people I’d ever met. …
September 10, 2009
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Known for its year-round festivals, Lake Charles is located in the heart of Cajun Country, a few miles north of the Gulf of Mexico. Amidst swamps, rivers, bayous and marshes, Lake Charles boasts a number …
September 10, 2009
East Meets West: Istanbul, Turkey
The gateway between Asia and Europe, Turkey is a cultural bridge between East and West. This transcontinental country has a dual cultural ambiance, and offers those who visit a chance to step into both Eastern …
September 8, 2009
"Death Road," Camino de las Yungas, Bolivia
One of Bolivia’s most popular tourist activities is mountain-biking “Death Road.” There are many tourist agencies that make this day tour from La Paz; they’ll charge you about $75 for bike, helmet, food and transport. …
September 8, 2009
Stunning Zion National Park
Zion National Park doesn’t get its name from one of its Mormon settlers of the late 1850s, but rather from the Old Testament, which refers to Zion as “a place of refuge.” This Mormon community …
September 4, 2009