Seattle is a prime spot for Pacific Northwest and Alaska cruises. Many voyages begin and end in one of the city’s two cruise ports. Norwegian and Oceania cruise lines use Bell Street Terminal at Pier 66. Smith Cove Terminal at Pier 91 houses Princess, Carnival, Celebrity, Holland America, and Royal Caribbean cruise lines.
I’ve visited Seattle on its own and gone on cruises through there too. I’ve somehow managed to miss the major attractions each …
The story of Glass Beach begins in the early 20th century when, even more so than now, environmental consciousness was far from the forefront of public concern. Located in Fort Bragg, approximately 170 miles north of San Francisco, Glass Beach is a unique spot along the coast. In 1906, following a devastating earthquake in San Francisco, Fort Bragg residents began using the coastline as an unofficial dump site. For decades, the local community discarded household …
Chiricahua National Monument spans over 12,000 acres and is home to a vast array of towering rock spires, precariously balanced boulders, and intricate hoodoos. Located approximately 120 miles southeast of Tucson, Arizona, near the town of Willcox, the monument sits at the intersection of the Chiricahua Mountains, Sulphur Springs Valley, and the expansive Sonoran Desert.
The unique geological formations that define the landscape are the result of a violent volcanic eruption that occurred around 27 …
Just barely 30 minutes outside the hustle and crowds of Puerta Vallarta lies charming Bucerías, a beach town offering the best of two experiences: Traditional Mexican beach town with lots of over-ocean restaurants, a town square and cobblestone streets and a more modern, upscale district offering trendy boutiques, rental condos and a variety of cuisine options.
Long a popular getaway and destination spot for Puerta Vallarta residents and seasonal snowbirds, Bucerías has been growing with …
The minute I step onto the red soil of Prince Edward Island, I relax. I can’t help it – the environment demands it. It must be the sea water. No matter where you are on the island, the ebb and flow of tide creates a meditative Zen-like atmosphere that slows your mind, body and soul.
I’m here with several other literature lovers, including one from Japan interested in a certain red-headed heroine. We are here …
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 …
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. …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
