When castles and California are mentioned in conversation, Hearst Castle, which dominates a stretch of Central Coast skyline, usually comes to mind. You might be surprised to learn that a less opulent but even more …
December 7, 2013
Travel Stories
California's castle in the sand
Chillin' in El Chaltén
In South America, religious icons are as common as sunrise, and shrines are ubiquitous. But a shrine studded with cigarette packs, bottles of beer and decks of playing cards? Welcome to El Chaltén, Argentina – …
December 6, 2013
Love in the Kingdom of Jordan
It doesn’t seem possible, but my Jordanian friend insists that he is now married. I look carefully into Awad’s dark eyes, magnified by the thick lenses of his black framed glasses, to see if he’s …
December 3, 2013
Small-town Italy: a Tuscan welcome, Greve in Chianti
While visiting Florence, I took the opportunity to spend a few nights in a little town about 30 kilometers to the south called Greve in Chianti. The Chianti region, well known for its Chianti Classico …
December 2, 2013
Palomar Mountain: 3 tips to happy camping
Who can resist the great outdoors in Southern California? There’s fun for all here, and California’s state parks are no exception. Witness breathtaking vistas, try new activities like fishing, hiking, biking and horseback riding, or …
November 29, 2013
Explore the Columbia River Gorge
When you think of the Pacific Northwest, Seattle is most often the first city that's called to mind. After all, it's the Emerald City, and it's home to the famous fish market, a Starbucks on …
Slumming in Budapest's ruin pubs
Hungary is unlike any other country in Europe, and the enchanting city of Budapest is a center of language, culture and history. Backpackers head to Budapest to party and to party on the cheap; most …
November 21, 2013
Cuc Phuong, Vietnam: a typhoon experience
It was October 27th, 2012, and the sun was shining down on North Vietnam. My friends and I had planned a motorbike trip to the national park of Cuc Phuong, some 120 kilometers south. Due …
November 17, 2013
Better than Hawaii?
Puerto Rico offers a better travel experience than Hawaii - it is more accessible to visitors, more wildly beautiful, friendlier, less expensive, and has a rhythmic undercurrent that is infectious, lively, delicious and mindbending. San …
November 14, 2013
Small-town Italy: Orvieto and Civita
For hundreds of years, Orvieto was a major stopping point along the road from Florence to Rome. It was so highly regarded through the centuries that it is only one of two cities outside of …
November 12, 2013
(The real) Tijuana!
The gringos are back! And in large quantities! …but please stop going to every single tourist trap in downtown Tijuana. The American paranoia seems to be coming to an end. San Diegans are starting to …
November 9, 2013