The one and only time I passed through Ruby Canyon was on my way west aboard Amtrak's California Zephyr. It was on my trip to start a new life in California in May 2013. Located on the Colorado River on the Colorado-Utah border, the only access to the canyon, other than the passing through on the Union Pacific Railroad lines that Amtrak uses for the Zephyr, is the river(i.e.rafting). It is a marvelous site to behold. The canyon is roughly … [Read more...]
Amelia Rose Earhart Poised to set Record as Youngest Woman Ever to Circumnavigate the Globe in a Single Engine Plane
OAKLAND, Calif. (July 11, 2014) – In just a few hours, Amelia Rose Earhart will set the record as the youngest woman ever to fly around-the-world in a single-engine plane. Upon the 31-year-old aviatrix’s historic landing in Oakland, Calif., she will symbolically complete the unfinished 1937 flight of her namesake, Amelia Mary Earhart. Amelia Rose, with her copilot Shane Jordan, has logged nearly 100 hours of flight time on this journey, stopping … [Read more...]
Eagle Creek 4-Wheeled Upright
Eagle Creek recently reached out with some products to review - and also donated several prizes for our annual travel writing contest. I've been familiar with a number of their products for many years - one of my go to Eagle Creek products that I always take with me on International travels is my trusted money belt. I've had this for years and have worn it on all my International travels. I'm always on the lookout for durable luggage - … [Read more...]
Dreaming of a One Week Road trip in Nova Scotia
I have been to Western Canada several times, exploring the inspirational Canadian Rockies of Alberta and British Columbia. Yet on my next visit to our neighbor to the north, I plan to stay east. I’ve got my eye on a visit to Nova Scotia. When I travel, I love to visit a mix of both urban and natural settings. I love the adrenaline rush of cities, with their variety of attractions, museums and restaurants, but I also relish the inspiration the … [Read more...]
The New American Road Trip MixTape
The New American Road Trip Mixtape by Brendan Leonard Brendan Leonard lives in a van. Even though Brendan has never left the United States, the brave native Iowan has climbed most of the big peaks in the Western United States, including those at the Rockies, Yosemite, Grand Tetons, Canyonlands, Sawtooths, and elsewhere, and has written about his adventures for Climbing, Backpacker, Men’s Journal, Adventure Journal, Dirtbag Diaries, and … [Read more...]
Guide to Breckenridge, Colorado – There is Plenty to Do!
Breckenridge, Colorado is known for it’s quaint historic downtown and it’s epic 2,358 acres of skiing. Tucked away in the Rocky Mountains, it’s a small town that offers a lot. My husband’s family owns a small condo in Breckenridge, so we find ourselves up there quite often. It’s the perfect place to get away from the city life of Denver and relax. Over the years of visiting, we’ve discovered the best Breckenridge has to offer during both … [Read more...]
Enjoying the quaint towns along the Italian and Southern French Riviera
We are driving a large Land Rover that my brother's friend let him borrow indefinitely. While this car is great for off roading - I've heard Land Rovers seem especially prone to break downs. This vehicle is less then 10 years old - not that many kilometers on it and already its showing problems. The power randomly stops when you are driving down the highway - we are having problems with the brakes - the maintenance parking brake light is on ... … [Read more...]
Seeing the World with New Eyes
The blast from the whistle of the locomotive quickened my pulse. “Make way...Make way!.. I’m coming through,” it seemed to say. A huge plume of black smoke rose from the stack as the train made its rock-a-billy way along the mountain ledge. I leaned out of the open-air Gondola car to get a better view of the Animus River churning through boulders as big as boxcars. It is one of the few rivers in America that flows unrestricted by dams from … [Read more...]
Accidentally falling in love with the California Zephyr
I haven’t always been enamored with trains. In my past travels, I had been on several rails both in the United States on the east coast and also through small parts of Europe. Those times however, I was too young and naive to appreciate the significance and beauty of a well-placed rail. Now, more than three months into my newly nomadic lifestyle and about 10 years since my last rail adventure overseas, trains have become a larger and more … [Read more...]
From Jasper’s Icefields To Maligne Lake: A Panorama of majestic Colours
"You want to see the Jewels of Jasper National Park!? I suggest you take two tours: one to the Columbia Icefields; and the other to Maligne Lake. They are two gems set in one of the most beautiful spots on earth," a resident of the town of Jasper advised when I asked him what were the most important sites to see during our four day stay in one of Canada's most charming parks. Photo credit: Jasper Tourism I thought of these renowned … [Read more...]