I have a mix of fear and respect for volcanoes. They are imposing, difficult to climb, and can erupt with little warning. However, when my husband and I visited New Zealand, our friends strongly recommended …
December 11, 2014
Travel Stories
New Zealand’s otherworldly Tongariro Crossing
Late-season climb on Mount San Jacinto
The 360° vista from Mount San Jacinto's 10,834-foot summit is breathtaking: Southern California’s parched land hopscotches sprawling metropolis in every direction. Palm Springs spreads like a patchwork quilt in the east. Riverside and San Bernardino …
December 7, 2014
Montréal's past and future
Despite being a large city, a worthwhile sampling of Montreal can be explored in one day. A clean and efficient metro system makes the city easy to navigate. Some advanced planning is recommended, however; not …
A day with the Gipper: Reagan Presidential Library
Air Force One is a lot cozier than I imagined. The comfortable leather chairs, soft blue carpeting and large jars of jelly beans remind me of my aunt’s living room. From the inside it’s almost …
November 28, 2014
Ringing of the bells: St. Petersburg, Russia
Cemeteries have always fascinated me, and I have visited them all over the world. On a recent trip to Saint Petersburg, Russia, I visited the Alexander Nevsky Monastery. Founded in 1710, it contains some of …
Luck and fate in Mexico's Tepotzotlán
Hidden in Mexico City's northern outskirts is the town of Tepotzotlán. Despite how close they are to one another, Tepotzotlán is about a two-hour drive from Mexico City due to havoc traffic. When I arrived, …
November 22, 2014
Norway on the cheap (it's possible)
I’ll be honest. We visited 131 countries before finally summoning the courage to travel to Norway. No, we weren’t worried about crime, political instability, or unhealthy conditions. In fact, there's almost a complete absence of …
November 18, 2014
Day trip to Santa Ysabel
It’s the time of year when fellow motorcyclists back east and up north are storing their bikes for the winter. The fall rains and coming winter snows, accompanied by frigid temperatures, will leave them reading …
November 13, 2014
Finding the roots of American music in North Louisiana
As a former musician myself, I shake my head sadly at musicians who think they’re getting the folk zeitgeist of a given genre just by listening to records. You learn folk music by listening to …
November 11, 2014
Huế down yonder in Vietnam
Stretching before me is an archaeological site straight out of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. But this is no studio set; Y Khiêm Viện and Trì Khiêm Viện are the real McCoy. The …
Two-inch penalty for each fish kept
On Saturday, November 8, a “green-fishing” No Motor Tournament will draw Southern California’s surf-fishing enthusiasts, float-tubers, paddleboarders, and kayak anglers into the waters off Carpinteria State Beach. The goal is the most total inches of …
November 5, 2014
Featured Videos
Just a typical night on Nola's Frenchmen Street.
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Balcony view of a festival in Madrid's Plaza de Santa Ana.