TRAVELS NEAR AND FAR
When we begin to get back to travel, the boutique hospitality sector is due to boom. Travelers will want to stay at smaller, more intimate properties that can ensure safety, as well as offer unique experiences.
Find inspiration in the natural splendor of Olympic National Park
Diversity is the hallmark of Olympic National Park. Located in northwestern Washington State, on the Olympic Peninsula, the park protects a wilderness spanning nearly a million acres. It is often referred to as “three parks in one,” as it boasts three distinctly different ecosystems: rugged, glacier-capped peaks, old-growth and temperate …
Twinkle, twinkle, little glowworm!
The North Island of New Zealand has an abundance of natural treasures. Among them is the world-renowned Waitomo Glowworm Caves. The name “Waitomo” comes from the Māoris words wai and tomo, meaning hole or shaft.
Step into Middle Earth with a visit to Hobbition
I’m a petite, or if you must say, short woman. At 5 feet two (on a good day!), I’m height-challenged. If I don’t have a stepstool, I’m at the mercy of asking others to help me reach those unattainable objects. In crowds, I’m constantly jumping up and down to see …
Discover a hiker's paradise on New Zealand's South Island
Travel has always been an active pursuit for me. I typically shy away from coach tours, as I feel they relegate me to being an armchair traveler, who mostly watches the scenery go by outside a window. They restrict me to primarily being a passive observer, having little interaction with …
Journey through the depths of Mordor
"It's the last push," shouts our guide Connor, with annoyingly, over-the-top enthusiasm. I don't believe him. And neither does anyone else in our group of six hikers. We've all learned by now that Connor's using what I refer to as "guide speak" - the rah-rah efforts that guides employ to …
Choosing an environmentally friendly cruise line for your next vacation
Here is your one-stop shop for deciding which cruise lines to avoid at all costs and which you could board for your next vacation.
Discover a mystical lunar landscape at Craters of the Moon
I'm in an otherworldly place that looks like somewhere the lunar lander would have been roaming around on a research mission. Pitch-black lava fragments are scattered amid a sea of cinders, mini volcanoes rise up from the barren terrain and dark, forbidding craters combine to create an eerie and starkly …
Prepare to be mesmerized by Monument Valley
John Wayne was right on the mark when he described Monument Valley as, "God's Treasure." The iconic actor was taken with the stark beauty of this majestic place when he first laid eyes on it while filming the movie, "Stagecoach," back in the late 1930s.
Trust me, you're going to love Albuquerque!
From my perch in the sky, the view is sublime. The iconic Sandia Mountains appear as sentinels of the high desert and the rugged lava escarpments provide a Mars-like topography. Below, the Rio Grande snakes through the expansive landscape, while matchbox size houses and buildings look like Lego constructions.
Amp up the adventure in Hells Canyon!
“Let’s paddle,” says our guide Barry in a calm, relaxed tone. We obey, albeit a bit distractedly, as we’re busy chatting with one another. Then we hear that telltale roar – the one that signals some mighty big rapids are ahead. Soon, we see them in all their frenzied glory. …
One island, many adventures
Soaring high above Oʻahu, from my comfy perch in a Blue Hawaiian helicopter, I marveled at the diversity of the island. From craggy cliffs and mountains to dramatic coastlines, verdant valleys and lush rainforests, this special slice of paradise has it all.
A trip to Chelan
Eastern Washington is full of a variety of small, captivating and friendly towns to explore and learn about. No matter the time of year, the length of your stay or your budget, there is plenty to see and do in Chelan and Manson.
Embark on a wellness journey at Hilton Head Health
They come for a variety of reasons. Many hope to get in better physical shape; others want to learn how to eat more nutritiously. Then there are those who wish to destress and recharge their batteries. They are women and men, mothers and fathers, who over the years have put …
