After 20+ years of traveling, a question I am asked every now and then is, "I will be traveling to (fill in the destination here) - how should I pack?" And the answer that I always reply with is, "pack light"! I'm less concerned with how long you are going for and where you are going - as I have lightweight options that will work for general travel to most destinations on the planet regardless of whether your trip is a week or 2 months. One … [Read more...]
CACVB Announces the ‘Capture Charlottesville and Albemarle’ Photography Contest
Deadline to Submit Photos is September 16, 2016 Charlottesville - The Charlottesville Albemarle Convention and Visitors Bureau announced today a lucrative summer photography contest designed to identify the most captivating pictures of both Charlottesville and Albemarle County. The ‘Capture Charlottesville and Albemarle’ Photography Contest asks visitors and local photographers to share their most captivating snapshots of the area and compete … [Read more...]
Here Be Dragons: The “Sacred Terror” of the Alps of Switzerland
"Placed on this planet since yesterday, and only for a day, we can only hope to glimpse the knowledge that we will probably never attain." -Horace-Bénédict de Saussure, 1796 Dateline: Mount Pilates, Switzerland I've penned a few books that have been placed in the category of "wilderness travel." But perhaps the first to stock this shelf was the eighteenth-century mountaineer Horace-Bénédict de Saussure, who wrote in his opus, Voyages … [Read more...]
Pittsburgh: Land of Celebrities
I am a self-acknowledged history nerd with a film degree. I had no idea that Pittsburgh had an abundance of sites covering my two big interests - colonial and current celebrities. Mostly I am interested in the places celebrities were - so that I can stand in, sit on, or touch the same spot. I imagine I am forging a connection that transcends space and time, that the celebrity's genius energy can infiltrate my own and affect it in a positive … [Read more...]
Land Rover Launches Competition: Win Trip to Space
Four aspiring adventurers will win a trip to space with launch of Land Rover’s ‘Galactic Discovery’ competition Adventurers Sir Richard Branson, Bear Grylls, Sir Ranulph Fiennes and Virginia McKenna help launch Land Rover’s trip of a lifetime to celebrate debut of New Discovery Sport New compact SUV is premiered through online video, filmed at Spaceport America, the home of Virgin Galactic Global competition expected to … [Read more...]
2013 Travel Writing Contest Winners & Honorable Mentions
Of all the past travel writing contests, this was the most difficult year to narrow down the entries to the top three winners. We initially selected 11 from over 100 entries. One entry stood out from the others and was the unanimous choice for our top spot. After discussion among the three judges - the three top entries are: Bring Adventure Back to Europe, by Richard Bangs Without An Address, You Can’t Go Home, … [Read more...]
Virginia is for Foodies
Even if you arrive in Virginia knowing not a soul, don’t be surprised if you leave feeling as if you’ve broken bread and shared drink with good folk who are now friends. That’s the way Virginia strikes me. I come here to eat, drink and contemplate its natural beauty, but am most deeply affected by its people. It’s a truly welcoming place, even to a Northern stranger like me. I recently road- tripped my way through the Commonwealth in search … [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...]
Destination: Buenos Aires, Argentina
I could see myself, watching myself. An “out of body experience,” they call it. I was naked, wallowing hysterically in the crisp, clean, white sheets of the king-sized bed in my Marriott hotel room. I hadn’t eaten for many hours, too tired, emotional, and downright fearful to leave the room to forage for even a candy bar, of which there were plenty. Abundant bodegas were filled to the brim with candy brands foreign and domestic; chocolate … [Read more...]
2013 Dave’s Travel Corner Travel Essay Contest
Of all the past travel writing contests, this was the most difficult year to narrow down the entries to the top three winners. We initially selected 11 from over 100 entries. One entry stood out from the others and was the unanimous choice for our top spot. After discussion among the three judges - the three top entries are: Bring Adventure Back to Europe, by Richard Bangs Without An Address, You Can’t Go Home, … [Read more...]