When people think of a holiday in Africa, chances are Zimbabwe hasn’t been top of mind for most. But my recent return trip to this beautiful southern African nation refreshed my perspective.  I was last here twenty years ago as a backpacker, and I often think back fondly of that adventurous trip. And while the country has come a long way, it’s also kept many of the things that make it such a neat experience. There’s far too much to see for me to list out in this one article, […]

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Tired of the massive cruise ships packed to the brim with thousands of tourists? Not interested in that kind of generic, high-density vacation but still want the unparalleled sightseeing and relaxation of a scenic cruise? Then maybe an Uncruise is the right cruise for you. UnCruise Adventures is unlike any cruise I’ve done in the past. And I quickly found myself warming up to the concept. After spending a day on a special “behind the scenes” excursion, I realized that UnCruise reinvents the idea of what a cruise can be. […]

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If you’ve never been to Belfast, Northern Ireland, you are in for a treat. Set aside any preconceived notions of a dull and dirty industrial city besieged by the dark legacy of “The Troubles.” Instead, prepare to discover a lively culture that charms and welcomes visitors. Belfast is chock full of fun activities for both adults and kids alike, and the city is a genuine treat to explore. I hope to infuse my travel bug and world curiosity into my two kids (11 and 13 years old), so spending a […]

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When my son finished 6th grade, I promised to reward him with a trip to anywhere he wants, as long as it was centered on American history. I am a firm believer that true learning happens through classroom theory is paired with experiential learning. So we set out on a long weekend to bring his history lessons, past and future, to life. After a week of research and contemplation, he selected Washington, D.C. as his destination. Off we went on a father-son trip to see the nation’s young but storied […]

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My trip to Aswan, Egypt to see the ancient Temple of Isis at Philae was a good reminder to always look on the positive side, even when you feel like you are being taken advantage of by locals. The temple itself is magnificent and dramatically situated on an island in the middle of a lake. Because the vast majority of visitors to Aswan go as part of an organized and guided tour, there is scant information available for the independent, go-it-alone traveler. I could only find some outdated discussion forums […]

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If the mere thought of visiting the hottest place on earth in summer freaks you out, think again. There are some great reasons to visit Death Valley in July or August. For one thing, there is the dearth of crowds. Unlike in winter, there are virtually no people anywhere. The few visitors you do encounter are most likely intrepid Europeans who have come to indulge in the desert at its most extreme. Also, unlike winter, days are significantly longer, allowing you to see and experience more of this massive and […]

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So you have a long layover at Minneapolis-St. Paul airport? You can do what most people do – take the train over to nearby Mall of America and join the packed masses jamming through the second largest mall in North America. Or you can get off a couple of stops sooner on that same train and find yourself all alone in nature, hiking among the beautiful marshes of the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. I’ll take option 2 anytime. Get off at the American Boulevard train station and walk about […]

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Of my 13 trips to Iceland so far, my most memorable one was my first time there, in 2002, when I happened to meet my future wife. At a distant second was our trip in the summer of 2011, when we took a week-long road trip through the West Fjords region, the far northwestern peninsula that juts out into the cold North Atlantic Ocean like a dragon’s head on a Viking longboat. It’s not necessarily an inaccessible nor difficult drive to get there (though parts of the way through the highlands […]

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“Every season is beautiful but autumn is my favorite. Everyone is out and about but more bundled up. It’s a fun time,” says Summer Barron, Spa Director at Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa. Born and raised in Lake Arrowhead, California, Summer is the perfect person to inform me about the area, the resort and what makes it such a popular choice by those in the know. Lake Arrowhead is a private lake and community nestled at 5200 ft. (1500 m) in the San Bernardino Mountains, just a short drive from […]

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The black jaguar strides agitatedly back and forth in a small corner of her otherwise large enclosure, occasionally stopping to sniff the air, then quickly resuming her search. Something has piqued her interest. She stoops down to take a view from a different angle, brushing her snout through the tall green grass. Her deep emerald eyes flare like Saint Elmo’s fire as she continues to hunt for the elusive source of her interest. This is Mystique, the female black jaguar at the San Diego Zoo, lovingly referred to as either “the skull […]

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I’m about to be licked by a giraffe. It sounds silly but it’s happening. She leans forward to get closer to me, her massive head moving to within a few centimeters of my face. I can feel her heavy breath on my cheek as she extends her enormous 45-cm (18 in) long tongue straight at me. I cringe and smile in delight at the same time. The anticipation is too much and, against every impulse, I shut my eyes. Wow, is this really happening?! Where am I and how did I […]

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Pity Angelinos, the unhappy residents of the City of Angels Automobiles. Few cities in the world are as car-centric as theirs. From the world’s first freeway (Pasadena Freeway) to the world’s busiest interchange (I-105 and I-110), Los Angeles was developed in the early decades of the 20th century as a marvel of modern transportation, the ultimate exemplar of mobility in a spectacular new era. Street cars, subways and light rails of east coast cities were eschewed for ever-wider asphalt roads. America’s progress revolved around the car and the freeways of […]

The post CicLAvia – When LA Ditches the Car appeared first on Dave's Travel Corner.

“You should also go see Cappadocia while you’re here. It is very beautiful and unique too,” recommends Yucel Ikiler. As a life long local, he would know. And if there is one thing I’ve learned in my travels, it’s to listen to advice from locals. Cappadocia is only an hour drive from the Ercyies ski resort, where we have been skiing for the last few days. And it turns out to be even more beautiful in winter, when the orange-red rocks are covered by magical blankets of white snow. If […]

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“One-third of the world’s population lives within a 4-hour flight from here. That’s why we call it the nearest ski resort in the world.” The winds of change are finally drifting across Turkey. The country is not exactly the first place that comes to mind when we think of skiing. Less than 1% of the country participates, and its international reputation for the winter sport is non-existent. But that may change if Yucel Ikiler has his way. He is the general manager of the Ercyies ski resort (pronounced “air-chee-es”) and […]

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“It’s everywhere,” he whispers to himself as he finally puts down his tablet and looks out the car window. For once, nature has won over my son’s attention. He puts the electronics aside and sweeps his gaze across the rolling hills surrounding Lake Elsinore. Expansive blankets of orange and yellow paint the otherwise green hills and canyons, with blotches of purple and white laced in between. After months of drenching winter rains, southern California is experiencing its most intense spring superbloom in years, providing an unmatched visual spectacle. Breathtaking. Amazing. […]

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