Many have been to Pea Island National Refuge when they drive down Hwy 12 in North Carolina’s Outer Banks (OBX) on the way to somewhere else. But, they may not know it. It’s a lonely stretch of road, often driven in silence as you take in what could be the country’s largest sandcastle held together by a strip of asphalt and a delicate truce with Mother Nature. Usually, vacationers are eager to get to their destination. They see this stretch of … [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...]
A Trip Through Bigfoot’s Back Yard
Every kid knows about the legend of Bigfoot. Cartoons have been filling children's minds with hairy-man-beasts for decades! Growing up in the northeast I always thought that bigfoot was a myth that nobody took seriously; a mystery wrapped in a joke, if you will, much like the Jackalope. Harry and the Hendersons was one of my favorite childhood films, but I never questioned whether it could possibly be based on science. It wasn’t until I moved to … [Read more...]
Outback Beyond: 6 Months in Australia
PART I: QUEENSLAND I landed with a thump on a Quantus long-haul flight, back when smoking was allowed and drinking encouraged, like a character out of a Bruce Chatwin novel. I was ineffably in error while reading my Lonely Planet guidebook on the plane--thinking that “Cairns” was pronounced with an “r” in it, when to local “Aussie” cobbers (not “Ozzies,” a common mistake both of Septic Tank Yanks [Americans] and Bloody Pomes [Britishs]), it … [Read more...]
Palau Celebrates the Globe’s Ten Best Places to Swim
(Palau, Micronesia --- July 8, 2014) There are many idyllic swimming destinations in the world, but Palau’s Jellyfish Lake ranks high as one of the most unusual. According to social media manager Jessie Cahill, “Because of the overwhelming intrigue in Jellyfish Lake and the many positive comments we receive from visitors, we decided to post a survey on the Visit Palau Facebook page to formulate a list of what our fans believe to be the Top … [Read more...]
Dispatch: Atom Ant Japanese Houseguest
John M. Edwards receives a strange visitor from the Nipponese “Land of the Rising Sun,” who is, of course, despite a strong yen, ultimately a freeloader. In Westfield, New Jersey, United States, North American Continent, at my apt upstairs from the now-long-gone Tullio’s Hair Salon (which daily pumped up the odoriferous air of Free Heat, Aqua Velva, and Brill Cream), I received a visitor from not another planet exactly but instead from a way … [Read more...]
In Step With The Wind
It’s calm here. The breeze is strong as it passes from Pacific Ocean waters, onto the shore, across the land, and without end back to where the wind did not begin. I am standing on the sandy beach somewhere along the northern coast of Oregon. I feel encased within a vacuum where on my left, the mysterious depths of the ocean, on my right, the business of western civilization. Yet I am caught in a place that seems both in between these two worlds … [Read more...]
Green Travel Tips
Travel can be enjoyable - certainly one way to refresh your spirit and experience other cultures and ways of life. But travel involves transportation - often one of the most "un green" concepts on the planet. However, there are a few tips and tricks that will help you to minimize your carbon footprint during your trip. Before You Leave Ticketless travel is one of the best innovations in recent years. You can use your smartphone not only to … [Read more...]
Patrick Smith: Airline Pilot and Author
For those who travel often for business or pleasure - airports and planes are an integral part of our lives. Entire online communities have been formed around the airplane - FlyerTalk is the perfect example of this. When I was offered a chance to review a new book about air travel, "Cockpit Confidential" I jumped at the opportunity. For the better part of the past few weeks this book has been a constant companion in a number of airports during my … [Read more...]
Starting Early with the Philly Cheesteak: The Delicious Icon of Philadelphia
"Philly cheesesteak! Philly cheesesteak! You're always telling me that you can't wait until your son is old enough to enjoy a Philly cheesesteak!" Many times my grandson, Laith, would repeat these words to me about initiating his son to the delights of Philadelphia's famous sandwich. This day I thought that I would bring his wish to a happy conclusion. I invited my grandson and his family - his wife Maria and their almost two-year old son … [Read more...]