Browsing: North America

Baja California’s raw beauty and stunning contrasts draw visitors year-round. Most common is the entry point at Tijuana, just south of San Diego. While convenient to accessing the area’s coastal towns of Puerto Nuevo, Roasarito and Ensenada, the border crossing is large and somewhat confusing, and drivers need to be quick on their toes to catch the right road out of town. Coming back into the United States, this crossing can be a nightmare, with …

Read More

Just 95 miles north of L.A., but a world away from the home of hype, understated but cosmopolitan Santa Barbara is home to its own eclectic community of surfers, socialites, Hollywood escapees and transplants from around the globe. Somehow, it all coexists well in this city strung along a gorgeous strip of coastline, bordered by pristine beaches and the nearby Santa Ynez Mountains.  This variety is reflected in the diverse activity that Santa Barbarans enjoy. 

Read More

The best way to see the National Parks during the busy summer tourist season is simply not to do it. Stay home. Come back in the fall, when there are fewer visitors and lower temperatures. But if summer travel is your only option, as it was for my husband and me, follow these tips to beat the crowds— and the heat.

Start Early: Many National Parks actually close their parking lots during the day, either …

Read More

Guadalajara, located in the state of Jalisco, is Mexico’s second-largest city. Unfortunately, it’s often overlooked in favor of the world-famous metropolis of Mexico City. Although Mexican tourists flock to the city, most foreigners have yet to discover the many delights of Guadalajara. Not only was the city the birthplace of mariachi, but it brims with culture and history. You could easily spend a week in the city and still not have time to take in …

Read More

Wyatt Earp still lives, and he is leading a group of visitors through historic Tombstone, Arizona. In the original Boot Hill cemetery, he points out a particular gravestone. The epitaph reads, “Here lies Lester Moore Four slugs from a 44 No Les No more.”

Oft-quoted and credited to gravestone makers throughout the West, this funny epitaph was originally written for the tombstone right in front of us. Another gravestone reads, “Joseph Ziegler Mitered 1882.” Many …

Read More

Recently, both the Bahamas and Jamaica have been the target of “travel advisories” issued by the U.S. State Department. Such travel advisories are an essential resource for Americans planning to travel abroad, offering guidance on the safety and security of countries around the world. While not legally binding restrictions,  these travel advisories serve as crucial advice for many travelers, affecting everything from travel insurance policies to personal travel decisions.

State Departments’ travel advisories, while not …

Read More

One of the most iconic attractions of Canada is the CN Tower. The closer you get to Downtown Toronto the more impressive it looks. But what does “CN Tower” stand for? It’s simple, really – Canada’s National Tower. It initially started as a hub for telecommunications and resembles a huge antennae/needle structure amongst the skyscrapers. The entrance and ticket office are located on Bremner Boulevard on the side of the Rogers Centre and before Ripley’s …

Read More

A shaded forest with dappled sunlight dancing between the trees; a clear stream that cascades over a severe, silver rock face; a certain hush, save the occasional bird and the crunching of leaves underfoot, and there, in the middle of it, a house like a no other, rising from a waterfall.

There’s a reason why Frank Lloyd Wright remains one of America’s most beloved architects. Falling Water, the stunning summer home that Wright designed for …

Read More

Sayulita, Mexico isn’t Cancun or Cabo San Lucas — The coast is not dotted with all-inclusive resorts, and it’s not a Spring Break mecca — And that suits those just fine that that choose to visit this sleepy hamlet about an hour north of Puerta Vallarta on Mexico’s Pacific Coast in the region known as “Riviera Nayarit.”

Built around the protected Bahia (Bay) de Banderas, the Sierra Madre mountains ring Sayulita and provide immediate elevation …

Read More

In North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville stands out, known for its scenic beauty, rich history, and a culture that the residents proudly proclaim as weird. Artists, musicians, brewmasters nature enthusiasts and everyday folk make Asheville the unique destination it is.

Asheville’s population is diverse, with a community that embraces creativity, individuality, and a laid-back lifestyle. The city is known for its progressive mindset and liberal nature, attracting a wide array of individuals from artists …

Read More

The National Park Service designated New River Gorge in the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia as the United State’s newest national park in December 2020. This addition to the National Park System marks a significant recognition of the area’s natural beauty and recreational opportunities. Spanning over 70,000 acres, the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve is home to a diverse range of flora and fauna, along with a playground for outdoor enthusiasts.

The New …

Read More

Just a stone’s throw north of Tampa on Florida’s Gulf Coast is Tarpon Springs—an enclave that, with a hint of imagination, mirrors the charm of distant Mykonos. The town’s fortunes started in 1887 with the arrival of railroad service north all the way to New York, but sprang to life at the dawn of the 20th century by the discovery of rich sponge beds just offshore. The arrival of Greek sponge divers in 1905 from …

Read More

Any trip to San Diego is likely filled with visits to the beach, perhaps the World-Famous San Diego Zoo, maybe even Sea World, or the museums of Balboa Park. Once you’ve checked off the ‘must-do’ tourist items on any San Diego sightseeing list, how about some off-the-radar stops popular with locals to grab a little peace and quiet and re-center?

#1 Self Realization Temple and Gardens — Encinitas

Located 20 miles north of Downtown San …

Read More

The first thing you’ll notice as you get closer to the Northern Idaho town of Coeur D’Alene is the ethereal beauty of the mountains, lakes, and forests surrounding it.

And the first thing you’ll notice as you enter the town is that this place is different.

Coeur D’Alene (pronounced kor duh·layn), in fact, seems delightfully stuck in another era. As you enter town, for example, you’ll find plenty of authentically restored, early-1900s Craftsman and Queen …

Read More