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 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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
The worst thing one can do at Niagara Falls is to simply stop and look at the falls.
Niagara Falls might be an iconic North American destination, but there is so much to do here than stand and watch. The best way to experience Niagara Falls is to explore the scenery, to become part of it, to meet nature head-on. If you don’t get wet here, you haven’t gotten your time or money’s worth out …
