After three weeks of exploring Austin, I’m still not used to the car-centric Texan lifestyle.
In my imagination, I’d pictured Austin as an artsy place of bars and restaurants, cinemas, museums and theatres, all within casual strolling distance. Instead, I met sprawling highways that divide the suburbs into isolated clusters of activity. If I set off for a walk here, I suspect the police would arrest me for suspicious behavior. Who knew that visiting the …
I cruised a lot with my parents from an early age. They always said it was the easiest way to travel in a wheelchair. I found out for myself when I began using a wheelchair. Aside from the obvious ability to go to different places and unpack once, a cruise ship can allow you to see things that would be difficult, if not impossible, to do on land.
This was at the front of my …
The journey to Key West is almost as memorable as the destination itself. Driving the Overseas Highway (US Route 1) from mainland Florida feels like gliding across the ocean, with the Atlantic on one side and the Gulf of Mexico on the other. The 113-mile route from Miami crosses 42 bridges, including the magnificent Seven Mile Bridge, where turquoise waters stretch endlessly on. The drive typically takes about four hours, though many visitors choose to …
Florida always rises to the top when putting together a list of travel favorites due to its ecological variety and year-round perfect weather. Now, I tend to stay away from Orlando and Miami when trekking through the Sunshine State these days because I’ve discovered many more spots that offer some richer experiences and unexpected attractions. I still think everyone should see spots like Orlando, Miami, Tampa and Jacksonville. I also want to encourage people to …
Nashville may get all the attention, but it’s not the only place you want to go to for the history of southern music and family fun. Memphis offers a look into the birthplace of the Blues, civil rights, and major attractions.
1. Graceland
You don’t have to be an expert on Memphis to know that Graceland is the top attraction in this city. The former home of Elvis Presley is open to the public. It’s …
Visitors in the Seattle area looking for a quick getaway might want to check out Whidbey Island, one of the most scenic and accessible destinations in the Pacific Northwest. Within an hour of leaving North Seattle, travelers can arrive on this island via a 20-minute ride from the Mukilteo ferry landing.
Upon debarking in Clinton, visitors should start their travels at the town of Langley. Pick up a cup of coffee and stroll around the …
Located directly on the Pacific Ocean and surrounded by mountains, at the end of Route 66, Santa Monica enjoys an average of more than 280 days of sunshine each year. With average temperatures in the mid to upper seventies year-round, this beachside city’s weather is one of its most attractive assets and being outside is a part of the city’s lifestyle. But there is so much more to discover in Santa Monica than great weather, …
Napa Valley in California; Tuscany in Italy; The Rioja region in Spain; and….Michigan? While the aforementioned destinations are top of mind as a wine lovers paradise, don’t overlook this lesser known but beautiful hidden gem just 90 minutes out of Chicago.
All up and down the southern shore of Lake Michigan are more than a dozen individual wineries often set on lush grounds offering a number of varietals. Some tasting rooms are private and require …
I was a child going on my very first flight when I stepped into the TWA Airlines terminal at JFK Airport. I remember being mesmerized by the modern curves of the building as I prepared to enter a plane with my family. Those feelings came back to me as I entered that same building, which has been reimagined into a hotel. While at first glimpse the hotel looks exactly as the terminal of the now-defunct …
To most, the name “Philadelphia” is synonymous with Rocky Balboa, the Liberty Bell, and soft pretzels. But the cradle of American democracy boasts more than its well-known slew of historic landmarks and pop culture references – it is also home to a large number of world class art museums, complete with its very own Avenue des Champs-Élysées leading from City Hall to what is, arguably, the crown jewel in the city’s collection: The Philadelphia Museum …
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. …
