Olympic National Park was the most impressive scenic spot during our recent trip to Seattle this June. From downtown Seattle, we took the ferry to Bainbridge Island first and drove all the way west to …
September 20, 2011
Travel Stories
Olympic National Park, Washington
Siem Reap, Cambodia: Beyond the Angkor Temples
If you’re in Siem Reap, Cambodia, you’re most likely there to see the magnificent Angkor temples. But if you get “templed out” or have additional time, Siem Reap has more to offer. Many of the …
September 20, 2011
Climbing Jbel Toubkal: Morocco
Toubkal’s name translates to “big” in Arabic, and at 4,167 meters (13,671 feet), it’s the highest peak in the Atlas Mountains and Northern Africa in general. Since the mountain is 70 kilometers from Marrakech, my …
September 15, 2011
Cody, Wyoming: Stoking My Inner Cowgirl
I must've been a cowgirl in a previous life, because nothing can quite explain the immediate attraction and connection I experienced on a recent trip to Cody, Wyoming. From immersing myself in Western culture at …
September 15, 2011
Camping in Big Sur, California
Last New Year’s Eve we patiently waited online at www.parks.ca.gov, ready to book a campsite for the summer of 2011. We didn’t want to miss our opportunity to reserve a spot in one of Big …
September 13, 2011
Busan: South Korea's Second City
It’s been seven years now since I staggered off the plane and stepped into the sticky summer air of Busan, the south’s largest seaport. I remember that first bus ride, white-knuckling it as we careened …
September 13, 2011
"Cheap-o Hawaii": Malapascua, Philippines
“Bad Easter”: that’s the Spanish translation of Malapascua, the Philippine island we visited recently. But I like to call it “Cheap-o Hawaii.” It has all the amenities Hawaii offers – including a multitude of water …
September 11, 2011
Wall Drug: Wall, South Dakota
If you live in the United States, there’s most likely a Wal-Mart around the corner from your home: statistically, there are approximately 3,600 Wal-Mart stores in America. But there is only one Wall Drug, and …
September 8, 2011
Glamorous Cannes, France
Cannes is a scenic resort town on France’s southeastern coast – a stretch of Mediterranean beach cities known collectively as the French Riviera. This busy destination features endless sunshine and gorgeous stretches of sand, so …
Balsamo Coast, El Salvador
The Balsamo Coast of El Salvador isn’t heaven – but if you surf, it may be the nearest thing here on earth. Plus it’s a whole lot easier to get in. A four-hour flight from …
September 6, 2011
Another Hong Kong Afternoon
A Chinese Gollum squatting on a concrete stool Savors a secondhand cigarette butt And searches the sacred text of his racing form For a path to redemption. In a nearby meat shop, a bloody-shirted man …
September 1, 2011