When I started my travel site in 1996, there were very few independent online travel focused websites. Like many others (especially those beginning blogs), my site began as a personal journal - a place to compile notes from various trips with tips and tricks to help other travels avoid mistakes that I made on my own travels. Over the years I've retained this focus - but the site has also morphed into more of a travel community with writers … [Read more...]
Giant Serpent and Scorpion Sculptures in Borrego Springs, CA
The Search is On The road trip from Palm Desert to Galleta Meadows is speckled with rolling hills, dramatic crevices, and a few ocotillos. We saw a couple four wheelers and an off road motocross trail, but the drive is rural, i.e. make sure to fill up on gas beforehand. This was my first trip into the desert and my interest was piqued -- I needed to see these massive desert sculptures for myself. We put 'Galleta Meadows' in the GPS and drove … [Read more...]
Road Trip Part 1: Branson to Bisbee
On April 1st, 2012 I set out on my first road trip from Northern Indiana to Southern California. By November 2014 I had added four more similar trips, each time taking a different route. It's easy to say that the journey is better than the destination, but the reality is, the longer the road trip, the greater the monotony. Fortunately, there is relief that comes from finding great places to stop, stretch your legs, take some pictures, get … [Read more...]
How I Twice Failed in Saint Augustine (and still won)
Nope, it's not Jamestown. Nor is it Plymouth. And neither is it the lost colony of Roanoke. Bet you didn't know, the oldest permanent European settlement in the US was founded in St. Augustine, Florida by Spanish conquistadors as early as 1565. It predates the next oldest European city (Santa Fe, New Mexico) by more than 4 decades. As of the time of this writing, the city has been continuously inhabited for 453 years. By North American standards, … [Read more...]
Enjoy an unforgettable weekend in magical Monte Carlo
You would need a magnifying glass to find it on a map of the world, but the tiny European principality of Monaco, and specifically its capital Monte Carlo is hugely evocative to people from all walks of life. Followers of celebrity gossip know it is the playground of the rich and famous – its marina contains scores of multi million dollar yachts, and from Grace Kelly in the 1950s to Kim Kardashian and Beyonce today, it has always been the … [Read more...]
Santa Fe, New Mexico: Explore The Arts
Santa Fe and art go together like Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. This northern New Mexico town has been attracting artists for decades. Like magnets, they are drawn to the magical light, turquoise sky and starkly stunning landscape. Galleries galore and top-notch museums attract art appreciators like bees to honey. Georgia O’Keeffe was deeply inspired by Santa Fe. At her namesake museum, you’ll find plenty of examples of her sensual, … [Read more...]
Road Trip: From Marble Colorado to Fort Worth Texas
We decided to take a road trip after our holiday from Marble, Colorado to Fort Worth, Texas to visit some friends. It was going to be long, tiring and dusty. But we were intrigued by a number of magical and odd sights along the way. First stop: Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. GPS tells us it will take 5 hours from Marble climbing over mountains. We ascend slowly up to 10,200 feet and reach the pinnacle of the Rockies on the 10th … [Read more...]
Traveling on a Budget in 2016
Traveling can be a pretty expensive venture. Expensive is, of course, a relative term. Each traveler has different financial capacities, preferences, and responsibilities. However, despite the wide-ranging financial dynamics, no one likes to spend more than they can afford or pay more for less value. Everyone wants to get the maximum value for every penny they spend. The year 2016 has been and will continue to be an exciting and affordable year … [Read more...]
These White Sand Dunes in New Mexico Will Blow Your Mind
Have you ever been sledding in the middle of winter and thought, jeez, this sure is great but I wish it was about 60 degrees warmer out so I wasn’t freezing my butt off and on the verge of losing my extremities to frostbite!!? Well, the dunes at the White Sand National Monument outside of Las Cruces, NM, are your dream come true! It’s a national park with literally 275 sq miles of warm, milky-white sand dunes that you can, and are encouraged … [Read more...]
Philadelphia State of Mind
For an L.A. girl, Philadelphia beckons with the charms of time – stratums of culture, history, beauty – that result in a city pulsating with energy. Sure, sunshine, palm trees and sandy beaches sparkle on the surface, but the City of Brotherly Love, enriched by centuries, fascinates in a way newer American cities cannot compete with. With the Democratic National Convention coming in July, this 17th century town is about to explode. With 18 … [Read more...]