The Traveler's Journal: Recent Episodes
The Traveler's Journal
A series of audio postcards from the wide world of travel, The Traveler's Journal (www.travelersjournal.com) has aired on public radio stations across the country and the Armed Forces Radio Network around the world.
Centuries of development have given us wonderful ways of finding our place on the planet, but to really know where you are it still helps to have a good sense of direction.
The Okavango Delta in the African nation of Botswana is one of the best places on the planet for a walk on the wild side. But always remember, while it's possible to stare down a lion, never, ever look a leopard in the eye.
In the decades since apartheid's end, many millions of foreign travelers have arrived to explore the vast realm of South Africa. Relatively few find their way to the Dragon Mountains, where the Lord of the Rings was Conceived.
Relatively few Americans find their way to Tunisia, but Europeans come in droves, attracted to its Mediterranean climate, sparkling beach resorts, and fine dining.
Elusive and haunting, Fado is the musical expression of Portuguese "saudade," the soul, heart's break and heart's longing. And Lisbon's old city is the place to find it.
Situated in the Wasatch Mountains 30 miles southeast of Salt Lake, Park City, Utah has certainly seen its ups and downs. It'll be really up in two weeks, when the 2019 Sundance Film Festival gets started.
Just south of where the Moselle River meets the Rhine at Koblenz is the mouth of another beautiful, but lesser known German river, the Lahn.
One capital of kingdom of Lao, the city of Chiang Mai has become a destination of choice for travelers to Thailand. But getting out into the mountainous countryside that surrounds it also has its own rewards.
Montreal is often compared to Paris, sort of all things French but with not quite as much attitude. There are similarities, but Montreal has an ambiance that is all its own.
Though it has been part of Italy for a century, the once international city of Trieste has both a confused past and an idyllic setting.
The Adriatic Sea's northeast coast is among Europe's most beguilingly complex and historically bewildering corners. Consider the peninsula of Istria.
The Internet can provide access to a myriad of websites offering information about places around the globe. Here's one way to focus on a useful, reliable few. Check the newspapers.
Modern equipment makes taking photos easier than ever, but great images that capture the essence of a place in a single image still require something that sparks the viewer's imagination.
In the fall of 1810, a massive royal wedding party was held on a swath of fields on Munich's southwest corner, and the whole city was invited. The annual tradition continues, but now the whole world comes.
Maastrict, the venerable Dutch city on the banks of the river Meuse, is a hearty dollop of Holland squeezed between Belgium and Germany.
Rather than broad, sweeping vistas, Amsterdam unveils its charms on a more intimate, human scale. Its easy, down-to-earth ambiance has a way of making complete strangers feel at home.
Few travelers really know their rights when scheduled flights are delayed, diverted, or canceled. The sad truth is that in most cases, the airline is free to do what it wants.
In the waning days of the Middle-Ages, a tiny piece of Portugal took root on the shores of the Indian Ocean, several hundred miles south of the city of Mumbai. Goa remains an Indian place unto itself.
British Columbia's central coast ranks among earth's most spectacular landscapes. Cetaceans cruise its ocean inlets, and ghostly ursines paw deep woodland streams for salmon.
When congress set it aside in 1906, Mesa Verde was America's first national park established to preserve the relics of prehistoric peoples. That was a wise and fortuitous decision.
Founded in 1872, America's first national park is still wild and untamed at heart, offering a palette of unique and striking landscapes.
The US Park Service offers a range of inexpensive passes that provide unlimited access to American's national natural treasure houses. All even offer a chance to stamp your passport.
The three miles long and half a mile wide, this tiny private island in the British Grenadines is the essence of understated Caribbean elegance.
For travelers in foreign places, more disconcerting than exotic entrees ordered inadvertently is the case of dysentery served on the side.
Automatic Teller Machines are the currency source of choice for people on the go, both in the US and overseas, but smart travelers know it's always wise to have other cash resources as a back-up.
Too often Africa is mis-perceived as a single, vaguely ominous entity. The reality is that the continent is vast and varied, with more than 50 countries and hundreds of distinct cultures.
As life's pace quickens and the demands of daily schedules get too hectic, a new kind of leisure travel has emerged. Call them fast-forward getaways.
This time of year, the lines are long at San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf for the ferry rides to Alcatraz and Angel Island.
Though great strides have been made in the decades since the Americans With Disabilities Act was passed, the notion of barrier free travel is still problematic.
"Leave it as you found it," is the basic tenet for the rules of the off-road. Here are some particulars.
Just south of where the Moselle River meets the Rhine at Koblenz is the mouth of another beautiful but less famous river, the Lahn.
When visiting the tropics. a traveler can do everything right and still get sick, or everything wrong and stay well. Still, we offer these thoughts on improving your odds.
News headlines always imply that foreign travel has become particularly dangerous. State Department statistics suggest a more benign world view.
Be Aware of Hotel Theft Liabilities. Too many travelers are shocked when they discover how little responsibility the accommodations industry assume for theft of guests' valuables.
North Carolina's Piedmont country lies halfway between DC and Atlanta as well as the Atlantic and the Applaichians. It's also home to three great universities.
Whether you're shooting with pixels or film, a flash can greatly improves the quality of your images, indoors or out, and in any kind of light.
The Fall is usually a great season to find real bargains on Caribbean cruises, but this year, there's a bumper crop of possibilities.
US Highway 55, which carefully winds its way through southwestern Colorado's San Juan Mountains, is a drive to be savored, a gear-shifter's glory.
Moscow has had a major make-over in the decades since Soviet Rule ended, but many modern visitors come to appreciate the remaining and magnificent relics of the old order.
The Easy Rider image and lure of the open road are attractive, but motorcycle touring is much more than a youthful rite of passage
The villages along the Moselle River are among Germany's most ancient. Viticulture has been a primary activity for 2000 years.
Switzerland's Bernese Oberland is a staggering destination year round, yet the main towns can get very crowded. Here's one place to find a slice of Swiss simplicity.
For fat-tire bikers, Moab Utah ids Mecca. With training, even novice riders can pedal perpendicularly across smooth and precipitous stony slopes.
The southern coast of Guernsey is lined by steep bluffs that rise from the open Atlantic. Renoir walked this way and painted.
Though just 12 miles long by 7 wide, Jersey is the largest and most developed of the charming Channel Islands.
Though these five tiny islands that poke up from the English Channel lie closer to France, they've been linked to England since 1066.
Indiana Highway 135 meanders among the colorful hills of Brown County and passes through a panorama of rural Midwest images.
Over the last 12,000 years, the Illinois River and its tributaries have carved 18 surprisingly gorgeous gorges.
Don't Be a No-show. Whenever you make a reservation for a restaurant and your plans change, call and let them know. It's no more than common courtesy, and might spare you a midnight call from an angry restranteur.
Value-added taxes remain a foreign idea to many Americans. They are taxes added in during the production process rather than at the point of sale. But in many cases, what has been added in can, for travelers, be taken away.
"Give Me a Home Where the White Rhino Roams, and the Eland Plays in the Hay."
The Wilds is a unique animal preserve a few miles south of I-70, halfway between Wheeling and Columbus. (For an article on the Wilds and 4-minute video tour, visit: www.travelersjournal.com/articles2.php?ID=520)
Before you climb up on that bungee platform or stop on those scuba tanks, ask yourself whether you're covered by insurance should something go wrong. Unfortunately, the answer is probably "no."
Seekers of the sun have gravitated to this village on the French Riviera. A century ago, an American couple invested the "summer" season.
The citizens of San Marino look down on their neighbors. Situated on Mount Titano single peak surrounded entirely by Italy, the country is so steep, it is literally possible to fall off.
For centuries, the vast woodlands of Maine have attracted visitors craving the experience of being in an expansive wilderness, among them Henry David Thoreau.
Entrance to the world's great museums can be costly on a per person basis. Fortunately, many cities have programs to help ease the expense for tourists.
St 19,335 feet, Uhruhu Peak is Africa's acme, the summit of a great volcanic massif that the world knows as Kilimanjaro.
There's a saying in Japan: " Who climbs Mt. Fuji once is wise; who climbs it twice is a fool.
Sweeping panoramas always capture a traveler's attention. Here's a selection of natural highs.
Most places boast at least one great panorama. Though generally well populated by tourists, these views are almost always worth a visit.
The Andes boast a slew of fine ski resorts, and air service to South America has improved.
Whether scaling mountain altitudes or exploring watery depths, it's crucial to take the time to adjust to your environment.
Serious photographers know the half hour either side of sunrise and sunset is when the light is best for taking pictures outdoors.
Along a 70-mile loop flanking the Spey River's run through the lowlands of Scotland, the roofs of myriad old malting chimneys bloom above dozens of weathered granite distillery buildings.
Exploration is more than a matter of miles. It's one part locomotion and three parts the personal desire for new discoveries.
For 300 years before Ernest Hemingway and James Michener popularized this raucous ritual, the bulls have run each morning through the town's streets during the annual, week-long festival of San Fermin.
Mallorca is the largest of the three Balearic Islands that jut from the Mediterranean 120 miles off Spain's coast
This week in 1863, an epic, three-day battle changed the course of the Civil War and the course of U.S. history.
The world's best rowers are gathering this week at a small town 40 miles up the Thames River from London, as the 179th Henley Royal Regatta begins tomorrow.
Here's an interesting summer accommodations option for budget conscious travelers. Stay at a college or university that opens its dorms to visitors.
For centuries now, newlyweds from around the world have flocked to Niagara Falls, the self-proclaimed honeymoon capital.
Every week, numerous airline passengers suffer in-flight medical emergencies. How prepared are carriers to dispense medical assistance at 35,000 feet?
Born on this day in 1865, the poet William Butler Yeats developed an early attachment to County Sligo on Ireland's Atlantic coast and often returned throughout his life. Especially the great brow of Ben Bulbin and a tiny island in reedy Lake Innesfree.
Wyoming's Red Desert Basin is a vast open range where the deer and antelope do run free, along with herds of wild horses.
There are myriad opportunities around the world where one can go to learn the fine arts of food preparation, with day, weekend, and weeklong workshops in some very palatable places.
For a century, this 65-room mansion overlooking the Hudson River was a private residence of the Rockefeller family. But now visitors are invited in to enjoy its treasures and vistas.
One of the planet's oldest, driest, and least explored deserts lines Africa's southeast Atlantic coast. A unique outpost offers the chance to explore this harsh, but starkly beautiful realm firsthand.
Honest billing error do happen, as well as cases of outright fraud. That's why you should always check the statement carefully. Here's a simple trick to spot math mistakes and phony charges.
The decades since Alex Haley's "Roots" saga was first televised have seen an explosion in genealogical interest and "heritage" travel. The internet has been a huge boon.
Small-scale Lionel and HO gauge layouts have circled Christmas trees for a century, but recently another form of model trains have been picking up speed.
Millions of people are flocking to Boston for its annual July 4th Harborfest. Only a lucky few will find their way out to George's Island and Fort Warren.
The U.S. has no end of superb places to day hike. From east to west, here are some notable regional favorites.
An old proverb says, to forget your troubles, wear tight shoes. Whether walking city streets or mountain trails, make sure your footwear is fit for the task.
The Sod House on the Prairie B&B in southwest Minnesota offers guests an experience straight out of "The Little House on the Prairie."
In the early 16th century, a band of 175 Spaniards left this thin, dry, rocky soil of west central Spain to seek their fortunes in the then very new world.
The Frisian Islands are northern Europe's equivalent of Cape Cod. Most remain laid-back retreats, but one in particular has become the summer place to be and be seen.
Early this morning, a 3000-year-old ritual took place on a grassy plain 70 miles west of London. Summer has once again arrived at Stonehenge.
For two years before founding Quebec in 1608, Samuel de Champlain lived in this wilderness outpost on the eastern edge of North America.
Founded in 1729 along the Patapsco River estuary of the Chesapeake Bay, Baltimore has re-gained its reputation as Charm City.
Summer's annual vacation migration is upon its. This checklist will be helpful to protect the home front while you're away.
Scotland may lay claim to be the cradle of golf, but four Irish links courses rank among the world's best: Ballybunion, Portrush, Portmarnock, and Royal County Down.
Scotland's Royal and Ancient Club of St Andrews is Mecca for golfers, the place the game is most revered, where its venerable links have seen five centuries.
Fed up with the hectic pace and jack rabbit rush of modern travel? Consider the Green Tortoise, when the getting there is more than half the fun.
Amusement parks across America are debuting attractions, but the emphasis is as much dream and scream as it is theme. Consider these West Coast amusements.
Shravanabelagola, India is a center of Jainism, whose adherents believe in detachment from earthly matters. It is generally more serene than much of the rest of the vast country.
Since Roman times, the mountains of Tuscany have produced the world's purest marble. One less visited town is better known for artfully shaping the stone.
The massive red-brick walls that still surround the Tuscan city of Lucca were built to repel medieval invaders, but they have also withstood centuries of tourism.
Defined by the river Arno, the center of Florence remains an "inseme," a collection of individual structures that merge into a seamless whole.
Situated in Italy's central highlands, Siena is a modern city, but the roots of its charms are centuries deep.
Italy's Toscana is a state of Mediterranean bliss, a combination of natural beauties and cultural bounties that lures travelers from around the world.
An hour's drive south of Anchorage, the Kenai Peninsula is an abridged, user-friendly version of Alaska, accessible yet packed with postcard panoramas.
The Ungava Peninsula defines the easter edge of Canada's Hudson Bay. Despite teeming with giant brook trout, some Ungava rivers are seldom fished. It's difficult, but not impossible.
Once, dropping a line in exotic waters was a pastime limited to the wealthy. In many of the world's best fishing spots, that is still true.
"Esmerelda, rosada, y azul." Green for the trees, pink for the rocks, blue for the sea. That minimalist description certainly describes Spain's 137-mile Costa Brava, the fierce coast.
While experiencing foreign cultures can be disorienting, the best journeys also have a way of altering entrenched perspectives and introducing new ways of thinking about life.
Our offspring don't have to have all the fun. More adults are finding a vacation at camp can be more rewarding than a week at the beach.
All across the U.S., millions of kids are eagerly anticipating the prospect of going to an overnight camp this summer. We offer some considerations for making a selection.
This sea island situated at South Carolina's southwest tip has been transformed from a sleepy, secluded summer beach resort into a vibrant year round destination.
The Appalachians are among America's most ecologically diverse areas. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the best places to experience them.
Some voyagers are venturing further off the beaten path. Instead of renting a car, they rent a recreational vehicle.
On this day in 1891, Sherlock Holmes plunged over Reichenbach Falls in the scenic heart of Switzerland's Bernese Oberland, locked in the embrace of his evil nemesis.
Sometimes a quick getaway is exactly what the travel doctor ordered. Here are seven select destinations for delightful mini-vacations, including Niagara on the Lake, Ontario.
While regular and decaf are widely understood, ordering a cup of coffee can get complicated. Getting what you want means knowing what it's called.
The centuries have certainly brought dramatic changes to the ancient fishing village situated on the delta where the great Yangtze River finally filters into the East China Sea.
The truth is that when it comes to accommodations, first class isn't always the best. In fact, often first class is decidedly mid-range.
Villages such as Grindelwald, Thun, Brienz and Meiringen in Switzerland's Bernese Oberland have been hosting active visitors for centuries.
Though Americas are not presently required to get vaccinations for most foreign travel, it's still wise to make sure your basic shots are up to date and to investigate any health precautions particular to where you're headed.
In 1513, London's first Globe theater burned to the ground. Over the centuries, numerous attempts were made to recreate its ambiance. The best opened 20 years ago on the south bank of the Thames.
When business takes one abroad, demonstrating good intentions to clients and foreign colleagues means taking the time to learn some customs and curtsies of their country.
When the 49th state was admitted into the union, it introduced a whole new scale of proportions. Consider Wrangell - St Elias National Park and Preserve.
The Greek island of Crete has accumulated over 4000 years of recorded history. The village of Vamos is trying to preserve a piece of its past by inviting guests to participate in its present.
Been there, done that. On too many trips these days, the going and the doing often gets in the way of the actual experience.
"Done that" becomes more meaningful if you really have "been there."
It's difficult to say whether the strategic location of this tiny nation on the corner of the Baltic Sea has been a blessing, a curse, or simply a test of patience.
From mad cows to mad bombers, caution is always a key consideration to having a safe, satisfying international journey.
The Mexican colonial capital city of Guanajuato owes its existence to gold and silver, but the enduring creativity of its citizenry have given it a unique character.
Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument is the kind of vast wilderness that makes a good guide essential and pack animals a plus. But in this nothingness, it is possible to discover eternity.
All travel is educational, but each year, several hundred thousand American high school and college students actually attend classes. Here are thoughts to keep in mind when considering programs and destinations.
The six states of New England total barely one quarter the area of Texas, but it feels vast, partly because of its cities, towns, and and villages, and partly endless mountains and a thousand miles of Atlantic coastline.
Dreamboat yachts, both motor and wind-powered, can be chartered at ports around the world. Some are bare-boats, with no crew, while others offer more amenities than one might normally imagine.
In many cities in China it is boom times in the restaurant business. The range of culinary options is enormous and exotic, both in traditional cuisine and ingredients.
Again the capital of the modern German nation, Berlin has re-invented itself infused with the enthusiasm of energetic, often irreverent youth.
A heart problem once kept people close to home, but advances in both medical care and transportation mean those with cardiac histories can have travel in their future. Sometimes, it's just what the doctor ordered.
Situated along Spain's Costa del Azahar, the city of Valencia's long history has been defined by the river Turia and the Mediterranean Sea.
In these weeks of Easter, a quarter million pilgrims have been trekking across northern Spain in a quest for the truth, the light, the way.
As magnificent as a place can be on a beautiful day, it can also be disappointing on a bad one. Timing your travel is important, but so is appreciating what actually happens when you're there.
Venice can be an expensive city, but travelers can cut costs by taking advantage of what is free and finding affordable options for the rest.
For many travelers, renting a house or cottage somewhere special is a great alternative to a week or two in a hotel.
At 15,771 above sea level, the peak of Mount Blanc is literally the high point of Western Europe
In southern China's Yunnan Province, there's an eerie landscape, a 200-acre maze of sharp limestone pinnacles, some more than 100 feet high.
Ethnic communities are surviving and prospering in cities all across the country, adding extra dimensions to the American urban experience.
A series of five dams along the Palmetto State's northwest border have created another, much less salty, shoreline.
Airport customs inspectors are watching for amateur smugglers. Is it the guilt in travelers' eyes that gives them away, or the heft in their handbags?
Basketball history is being made on high school, college, and professional courts around the county, but it's being preserved in Springfield, Mass, 90 miles west of Boston.
For crafty travelers the strength of the US dollar around the world can generate some significant savings in airline tickets.
Though the actual dates are sketchy, the Patrick whose birth the Irish celebrate tomorrow, was born in Roman Britain in 389 A. D. As a youth, he spent six years herding sheep in western Ireland near a pinnacle that has become a place of pilgrimage known as Croagh Patrick.
Though dwarfed by mighty Niagara 60 miles to the northwest, the three falls of the Genesee River through NY's Letchworth State Park are magnificent cataracts.
Unfortunately, any journey these days can be fraught with potential stresses and delays. Even as we have reduced the physical risks, new concerns have cropped up. Here are some tips to help ease your anxieties.
Paris can be a city of costly accommodations, but there are also myriad places and ways to get both charm and savings.
Capturing the essence of a city in a photograph or even a panorama can be a daunting challenge. Here are a few tips to help you bring that mission into focus.
A navigator born on this day in 1454 in the Italian city-state of Florence certainly left his mark on the New World.
Last time, we looked at the air inside planes. Sitting in cramped spaces for hours on end is also uncomfortable, and possibly even dangerous. Here's an exercise routine you can do without leaving your seat.
The cabin atmosphere in airliners is pressurized, warmed and filtered to make you feel at home, assuming your home is someplace high and dry, say Flagstaff, Arizona.
This grand chasm that slashes across northern Arizona is both a National Park and World Heritage site visited by millions of travelers each year.
This time each year, the Japanese celebrate "Ume," the beautiful plums, whose blossoms are a reassurance of the arrival of Spring.
When traveling, no one enjoys being ripped-off. These four tips may seem like basic common sense, but it pays to always keep them in mind.
For two weeks each summer, Mooseburger Clown Camp in the woods of Minnesota becomes ground zero for the serious work of zaniness.
While many travelers are fascinated by the inner workings of a factory, for car buffs, no tour is better than an auto assembly plant. Consider the Mercedes-Benz plant in Vance, Alabama.
This remote hamlet in the story foothills of southwestern France has become a rustic resort.
Members of Les Clef d'Or are highly trained to provide the expertise and attention that make a guest feel special
Although it is presently suffering a severe water crisis, Cape Town remains a trendy, relatively inexpensive destination for adventurous travelers.
Set in a quiet mountain canyon south of Carmel, Ca, Tassajara, the first Zen monastery outside of Asia, welcomes meditative visitors each summer.
The largest of four islands scattered off Italy's Bay of Naples, Ischia long ago earned a reputation as the Isle of Well-being.
It's now mid-summer in New Zealand, and the citizens of its largest city certainly know how to enjoy the weather.
The first official "blank spot" on US Survey maps, the Gila National Forest in New Mexico now encompasses 3.3 million acres.
For centuries, people have been prospecting for treasure in the Pinos Altos mountains of SW New Mexico. Rather than gold, they found silver.
While taking a trip together these days can be a stiff test of love, it appears that many couples are passing that test.
The Magdalene Islands are a remote Canadia Atlantic archipelago, which each year becomes a nursery for whiteout harp seals.
Iceland is a fascinating place to visit for any traveler who enjoys outdoor adventures. And now WOW air flies cheaply from many US Gateways.
On her maiden voyage in 1935, the French passenger liner Normandie was considered the grandest ocean-going vessel ever. But she came to an early and tragic end.
The Big Island of Hawaii is big and still growing, fed from molten lava which oozes up from deep inside the earth.
Most people know about Mardi Gras celebrations in warm places like Rio or New Orleans, but here's one place where the temperature's is below freezing.
Young scholars are encountering enticing offers for spring-break escapes and summer study tours. Here are some questions to ask before signing up.
It's not enough to be impossibly precipitous, heavily moguled, or just plain terrifying. To attain legendary status, a ski run must have a lot of history behind it.
Too many travelers are entirely unaware of Andorra, a tiny, independent principality tucked into the folds of the Pyrenees Mountains between France and Spain.
A little known right of way stretches more than 6800 miles across 15 states. It's the only US public footpath that extends from sea to shining sea.
On time is not good enough. These days, it's important to get to the departure gate half an hour before your flight's scheduled departure.
London, Rome, Vienna, these national capitals are familiar to most veteran travelers. But how did Strong, Maine become the world's toothpick capital? Or Gulfport, Mississippi the world's root beer capital?
Few places evoke mystery and adventure like this 40-mile-long tropical island in the Indian Ocean 25 miles off of Tanzania on Africa's east coast.
Despite alarming headlines, the odds of any traveler being caught up a terrorist incident are statistically minute. That being said, here are some basic security precautions to keep in mind no matter where you go.
Twice each year, some 30,000 gray whales migrate along the west coast from Alaska to Baja, Mexico. California has numerous great places to see them.
Imagine a shimmering curtain of iridescent light towering 60 to 100 miles in the sky. Traveling to view the Aurora Borealis has become a popular option, especially for Japanese newlyweds, who consider witnessing them the greatest of good fortune.
This rain forest draped across an anvil-shaped mountain on Puerto Rico's eastern end is protected by the U.S. Forest Service.
The island has more than two dozen, moderately priced, privately owned inn and guest houses situated in historic buildings.
Named by Juan Ponce de Leon in 1508, the Caribbean's fourth largest island is a rich port indeed.
If you appreciate the joys of gliding across a spectacular, snow-deep valley, Yellowstone in winter is for you.
The establishment of Yellowstone Park in 1872 marked a milestone in mankind's relationship with nature.
Despite decades of creeping familiarity, metric measurements still mystify many Americans. Here are a few key formulas to simplify foreign conversions.
Set among the Leeward Islands, there's one tiny Caribbean haven that hasn't been overwhelmed by tourism.
Numerous Caribbean nations have set aside great swaths of their territory, both land and sea, as refuges where adventurous travelers can find unique experience.
The line-of-sight sailing along the Windward islands makes for some of the fines yachting in the world.
Old maps offer more than historical perspectives. For many collectors who love fine and rare things, they are art. Here's a great place to pursue that art.
As baby boomers enter their AARP years, smart travelers use their vacations to preview retirement prospects.
Whenever you leave home, it helps to have an idea of what roadblocks you may encounter along your route.
For beef-eaters, this South American national tucked in a coastal nook between Argentina and Brazil is prime cut.
This is a hot month in Rio de Janeiro, the 500-square mile city draped around and on a range of lush peaks along Brazil's southern coast.
On New Year's Day in 1892, Ellis Island Immigration Center opened for business in New York Harbor.
in 1930, Archer Huntington a Virginia rail and shipping magnate, founded a museum dedicated to preserving the culture of the sea. It was and remains an auspicious and ambitious vision.
Other mountain ranges may be taller than this string of peaks that tower over the Snake River in northwest Wyoming, but none are more perfectly proportioned.
Keeping comfortable while skiing is part art and part science. Some thoughts on layers.
Belgium's second largest city, Antwerp is the capital of Flanders, the Flemish speaking part in the the country's northwest. Once an important port, it very much retains its merchant sensibilities.
Although Christmas is celebrated all around the world, the traditional festive meal is different almost everywhere.
In 1904, seven extraordinary individuals met in New York City and founded a club dedicated to the notion scientific exploration. The Explorer's Club not on survives more than a century later, it prospers.
A little known Micronesian archipelago juts out of the Pacific 500 miles SW of Guam. The Western Carolines consists of four primary islands, the largest and most developed is Yap. Of course, development is a relative term.
Australia's Blue Mountains are latticed by a vast and intricate network of incredible caverns, suitable for explorations lasting from an hour to a month.
Although generally neat, orderly, and welcoming, Japan can also be a jarring place for first time travelers.
These will be the busiest travel weeks of the year. We offer a few thoughts to help make sure all your journeys are jolly.
247 years ago tomorrow, Ludwig van Beethoven was born in this building in Bonn, Germany. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western music, he still ranks among the most famous and influential of all composers.
The appreciation of chocolate has spread around the world, but nowhere is passion for the dark elixir more intense than where it originated.
Even in this holiday season, no place on earth is safe from rip-off artists. Where and when ever your travels take you, it pays to be alert for petty thievery.
Latin Americans tend to be be generous people who appreciate demonstrations of thoughtfulness. We conclude our Santa's tour of gift-giving around the world with this focus south of the border.
Continuing our look at gift giving habits around the world, we take a look several very different cultures.
While the gift is important, in China and Japan there's more focus on the giving itself.
This is the time of year when city squares around Germany are transformed into winter wonderlands.
The world's second largest French-speaking city, this Canadian metropolis is also a charming, relatively affordable opportunity for North Americans to enjoy a decidedly European ambiance.
Situated halfway between Kyoto and Hiroshima, this Japanese industrial city boasts a surprising string of unique museums.
Sometimes, having a long layover between flights can be a good thing, especially if you plan for the opportunity.
Draped across a broad valley in the upper Rhine River, this tiny nation is tucked between Austria and Switzerland, yet its 30,000 citizens enjoy one of the world's highest per capita incomes.
Although the ratios have changed, many cruise ships still sail with large contingents of single travelers, mostly female. That's why many lines till provide eligible gentlemen the opportunity to cruise for minimal fees.
One year after their long voyage across the Atlantic, a feast was given to celebrate the survival of the Pilgrims in the New World.
Straddling the Straits of Bosporus, Istanbul is a city of divides, capital of two of the world's great empires, and the bridge between Europe and Asia.
It these days of relatively quick intercontinental connections, we'd like to recall two milestones along the way.
On this day in 1949, Frank McNamara was embarrassed when he was unable to pay a restaurant bill because he'd forgotten his wallet. The idea that ensured changed the world.
Although the waterway across the isthmus that separates Africa and the Middle East opened on this day in 1869, people have been navigating between the Mediterranean and Arabian Seas for 4000 thousand years.
Situated in the Leeward Islands of the Eastern Caribbean, the island consists of a single volcanic peak ringed by lush low hills. Its recorded history dates from the voyages of Columbus, but, as Alexander Hamilton might have noted, there's much, much more.
Hawaii's 53 state parks spread across its chain of islands. Some preserve, honor, and perpetuate the ways and lore of its earliest inhabitants.
No longer on the endangered species list, these ungainly "sea cows" actually enjoy the attentions of respectful humans. Crystal River, Florida is the perfect place for such encounters.
What happens when that car you've rented leaves you stranded somewhere? A few thoughts to keep in mind before you drive off the lot.
Situated at the very southern end of South America, where the great Andes finally flatten into endless pampas, Torres del Paine certainly ranks among the world's most magnificent national parks.
Numerous edifices around the world reflect the quirky character of their creators, none more so than Fonthill. Situated on the outskirts of Doylestown, PA, this tiled castle is the quixotic vision of artist and craftsmaster, Henry Chapman Mercer.
Mention hostels, and most Americans picture groups of youthful pack-packers and dormitory style accommodations. While not inaccurate, many hostels around the world offer so much more.
The Hawaiian state fish with the very long name is just one of sights to see while snorkeling. But there are also tides of factors to be aware of.
The Mayan and Aztec ruins of Mexico are magnificent, but the US also has numerous and impressive preColumbian structures to explore. Consider the Earthworks in Newark, Ohio.
Shaped like a wolf's head, the province of Brittany juts into the Atlantic off France's northwest coast. It's population and terrain are like no where else.
Dia de los Muertos, the day of the dead, is observed throughout Mexico, but no where more fervently than in the state of Oaxaca.
The events that took place in Salem, Massachusetts in the fall of 1692 are well known. When two young girls began acting oddly, an old slave woman was accused of witchcraft.
Although Geochrons are stone-age in design and function compared with modern electronics, they still rank high among the world's most prestigious time pieces.
The Shannon Erne Waterway, a 200-mile swath across the heart of the Emerald Island, makes for a most wonderfully relaxing vacation.
America has undertaken many massive transportation projects that profoundly changed the course of the country's development. One of the first opened on this day in 1825.
Mention Nevada and most folks picture the dessert blossoms of Las Vegas or Reno. But there's another side to the Silver State that is more timeless and eternal.
According to the Book of Exodus, Moses led the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt 1200 years before the birth of Christ. They wandered in the desert for years before reaching this now long sacred peak.
The southern tip of Florida is one vast wetland, nearly 100 miles wide. Though a daunting place to enter, this wilderness has numerous charms for daring visitors.
Isla de Cocos lies 300 miles in the Pacific southeast of Costa Rica. The world's largest uninhabited island made an ideal setting for Michael Crichton's Jurassic imagination.
Over a million acres of sandy forestland laced by four lazy rivers lie between Philadelphia and Atlantic City. They are a shrouded expanse with both a unique history as well as many opportunities for modern recreation.
Once upon a time, vacations were measured in weeks, but modern schedules have made long trips more difficult. Yet most people can still get away for a long weekend now and then. Here are thoughts on making the most of those opportunities.
History has a long memory in this splendid city situated in the central highlands of Spain, 100 miles west of Madrid.
Travelers fond of the past will appreciate a pocket of the old south that has preserved in a singular museum situated near Baton Rouge, LA.
There are many magical and magnificent places around the planet, but any of them can be negatively impacted by tidal waves of travelers.
Currency exchanges can get a little complicated when travel takes you to Central or South America. Here are tips to keep in mind.
The capital of Sweden is a magnificent metropolis draped royally over 14 islands linked by bridges. But its most alluring asset in the summer time maybe an adjacent archipelago.
Situated where the Ashley and Cooper Rivers meet at the sea, Charleston, South Carolina was founded in 1670. Defined by its cobblestone streets, horse-drawn carriages and pastel antebellum houses, particularly in the elegant French Quarter and Battery districts, the modern city has much more to offer.
When flying in to most major cities, there is often a choice of airports. Sometimes the alternatives offer distinct advantages over the main choice.
Situated in the Ligurian Sea 70 miles off the west coast of Italy, this small island is known less for its beaches than for its rugged independence. But don't be fooled.
Through its system of embassies and consulates around the world, the US State Department can be a source of aid and comfort for Americans traveling abroad, even a place of refuge. But there are many things it can't do.
Over the coming weeks, a tidal wave of tartan color will flood southward across North America in Autumn's annual extravaganza.
From its historic village green to its modern city limits, Middlebury, Vermont is quintessential New England. It's also a great place to include in your leaf-peeping itinerary.
Although the world is increasingly cosmopolitan, dining customs and preferences can differ dramatically. A savvy traveler always pays attention and demonstrates respect.
Pittsburgh has transformed itself over recent decades, and not only in its transcendent Golden Triangle.
Historical roadside markers line America's blue highways, providing interesting nuggets about people and events that happened here, making this place someplace special.
The capital of Syria may be the world's oldest inhabited city. Though racked by vicious civil war for a decade, old neighborhoods are still retain their venerable roots that remind one that life endures despite the ravages of time and war.
When you drive overseas, that AAA Membership you have at home can still provide many benefits. Check before you go so you'll know.
Making sure you have the right insurance coverage is crucial BEFORE you drive your car out of the US, both north and south of the border.
In the late 19th century, Europe's elite flocked to the spa towns in the mountains of Bohemia, along what is now the border of Germany and the Czech Republic. Karlsbad, or Karlovy Vary in Czech, was, and still is, the most illustrious.
Although this island in the Indonesian archipelago has better beaches and tourism amenities than its much Bali-hooed neighbor, Lombok remains relatively unknown.
Stretching 2167 tortuous miles from Georgia to Maine, the Appalachian Trail is America's original long trek. Most hike short sections, but each year, more than a thousand hearty souls make the entire journey. For some, it will be the journey of a lifetime.
The chain of tiny islands draped off the shoulder of northeast Wisconsin that juts into Lake Superior make for excellent adventures on foot, kayak, or canoe.
Trans-oceanic cruises have become increasing rare, but there two short seasons each year for travelers who want to experience a crossing.
Whenever you travel abroad, remember that anything you bring back into the United States is subject to customs inspections and, if applicable, collection of duty. Here are a few thoughts on how to avoid unpleasant surprises.
For a century, the luxury of a private rail car defined the ultimate way to travel over land. A surprising number of "varnishes" have survived and been restored. Some are even available to hire.
Although Labor Day marks the end of the traditional summer travel season, many Americans are already dreaming about their next adventure. Here are a few of our favorite fantasies.
Cornwall is the county at the tip of the long finger of England that points into the open Atlantic. Walking its coastline is a most enjoyable excursion, and one that takes visitors back in time.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt was just a year old when his parents first brought him to this island in the Bay of Fundy just off Maine's most eastern point. It was the place of some of his favorite memories and most personal tragedy.
Generations of Ojibwa Indians carved shamanistic figures into the white rock faces of what is now Petroglyph Provincial Park in south central Ontario.
The name of Canada's largest city derives from a Huron Indian term for "meeting place." That's certainly an apt description for this marvelous metropolis.
Sometimes, the best vacation can be found right in your own backyard. Call it the "Stay-home Syndrome."
An airplane trip around the world is the stuff on which travel dreams are built. Round the World fares can also be most affordable way to go. in fact RTW fares can be the least expensive way to fly, no matter what class of seat you buy.
Looking for a most meaningful travel experience. Consider some of the options offered by Habitat for Humanity's Project Global Visit.
Nautical nuptuals certainly sound romantic, but considering how expensive land-based weddings can be, they may also be something of a bargain.
Last time, we visited Hawaii's least populated islands. Midway Atoll is its least visited place.
The sixth largest island in the Hawaiian archipelago, Lanai is also the least developed, but, in addition to two superb hotels, it has some very off-the-track attractions.
Smart phones and digital cameras have certainly made taking pictures easier than ever before, but bringing home great images still requires some well-established principles. We offer a few.
Last time, we took a look at the magnificent Rhone River. Lyon, France's second largest city, is the river's most cosmopolitan place.
While the Rhone River may lack the cachet Seine's cachet, the Rhine's twists and turns, and the Danube's sweep, it's safe to say that Europe wouldn't be the same without it. That's evident in places like the city of Avignon, the medieval capital of Christendom'.
Alsace, the narrow 120-mile long strip of fertility tucked between the Rhine River and the Vosges Mountains, has been disputed territory for centuries. French in recent decades, it has a character all its own, a blend of German and French, particularly in quaint villages such as Colmar.
Weighing 500 pounds or more, Panthera tigris tigris, is the world's most formidable feline. Chitwan National Park in the highlands of Nepal along the border with northern India is one of the few places on the planet they can still be found.
Set in a scenic valley in the mountains of western Canada, Lake Okanagan is a real charmer, and monster-hunting is not the only reason to visit.
It's easy to understand why Austria's Hapsburg monarchs so loved summer. It allowed them to escape to their "modest" retreat on the edge of the Vienna Woods. www.schoenbrunn.at
For centuries, the monarchs of the Austrian Empire were entombed in gilded sepulchers around its capital, Vienna. Often, their body parts wound up in three separate places, which today make for fascinating, albeit macabre, visits.
Great strides have been made in the cities of Germany's eastern half in the nearly 27 years since reunification. No place is that more evident than in Leipzig.
Most places around the planet, prices can be negotiated. One trick is to know when to haggle and when you have a good deal, one that is both fair and respectful of local sellers. We offer several tips.
Though electronic maps can be handy, the printed maps from the US Geological Survey are still a more liable way of finding your way around the wilderness.
The world's largest island, Greenland is a unique place with some special charms, not all of which are icy.
Flowing north out of the mountains of SE Arizona, this waterway is a 140-mile-long oasis.
If you have the time but lack the wheels, a cross-country drive-away may be just right for you.
Air rage happens, as modern travel jams complete strangers into tight unfamiliar places often under stressful circumstances. That makes observing simple rules of travel etiquette more important than ever.
In some 20 countries around the world, especially those that were once part of the British Empire, drivers stick to the left side of the road. Apart from the obvious ones, this raises numerous issues for unfamiliar drivers, especially if they are jet-lagged.
All across the British Isles, numerous quaint and historic structures of the National Trust Rentals provide interesting accommodations, sometimes even palatial.
At the bottom of the Clive Steps in London's center is the entrance to the subterranean warren of rooms from which Winston Churchill directed England's defense during WWII. They are more than worth a visit.
If the Houses of Parliament are the political center of England, then the soaring Westminster Abbey nearby remains its spiritual heart.
Hedge mazes first became fashionable in 17th century Europe, and some notable examples have been maintained and new ones created. And the range of foliage has been greatly expanded. Consider the corn maze.
With smart-phones and other modern equipment, making videos of one's adventures is ever easier, but the main challenge remains create something interesting that people will really want to watch. Fortunately, many travelers are rising to the challenge in new and creative ways.
This rugged islands in this archipelago off of Scotland's West Coast offer myriad charms, not least of which is the superb single malt whiskey distilled there, like Ardbeg, Bruichladdich, and Bunnahabhain.
The town on the curling tip of Cape Cod is like no other, and it's been that way for centuries.
The ships of the Maine Windjammer fleet offer unique cruising experiences, especially the Schooner Heritage (schoonerheritage.com)
The dollar is relatively strong against Europe's primary currency, but there are still ways to make your greenbacks go even farther.
When Billy Wilder cast Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck in his 1953 romantic classic, he created a romantic image and itinerary for the Eternal City that still attracts travelers 64 years later.
If visiting almost any major tourism-friendly city, either across the country or around the world, there are likely inclusive discount programs than can save you a lot on admissions, meals, and even public transportation.
Starting today through July 16, Canada's most European city also becomes its most musical.
When the gold fever struck in the Canadian Yukon in 1897, there was only one way to get there. It's still a pretty incredible trek.
Want to share your favorite travels with others? Here are thoughts on how to become a tour leader.
With ATMs now ubiquitous nearly everywhere in the world, getting currency in distant places is nearly as easy as getting it at home. Unless of course, it isn't. We offer a few tips about how to anticipate and avoid unpleasant surprises.
Thessaloniki, the port city in northern Greece, was once the epicenter of an empire that extended to western India. Today, it's also known as a very hip place to be.
Although the 8.75 million acres of Brooks Range wilderness in north central Alaska that have been set aside as Gates of the Arctic make it America's second largest national park, they are inaccessible to all but determined travelers.
There are many other candidates, of course, but Alberta Provincial Route #93 may be North America's most beautiful highway.
Even in this somewhat cynical modern age, many travelers still put faith in personal talismans and lucky charms to give them confidence that the journey will go smoothly.
While it's not Dublin, the city of Limerick and its environs have plenty to offer visitors, not least of which is easier access to both Shannon Airport and Ireland's scenic west coast.
You don't have to scale Yosemite's El Capitan solo without ropes to enjoy rock-climbing. Excellent opportunities beckon across America. Here are a few faces of particular note.
Fremantle, the port in Western Australia that serves the Perth area, is known for its maritime history, Victorian architecture, and remnants from its days as a British penal colony. It's also earned a more modern reputation as a great place for a beach party.
This strategic hilltop in what is now SE France was first fortified around 600 BC, but the ramparts that remain today date only from the 12th century.
Unlike America, railroads can be a quick, comfortable, reliable way to travel from city to city. A rail pass can make it even more affordable.
All across the country, rehabilitated rail lines provide day-trippers with the experience of moving under steam power
Southern Utah has numerous dramatic vistas. For example, Canyonlands and Arches National Parks, near Provo.
The hilltop home of architect Frank Lloyd Wright, Taliesn remains a testament to his revolutionary vision
Most people know that Mt. Everest is the highest point of the planet. Technically speaking, most people are wrong. We correct several geophysical misconceptions.
Know before you go. Will the health insurance you have here provide coverage if something happens when you are there?
Although people have been crossing borders for thousands of years, passports are a relatively recent development.
The capital of Chile, Santiago is both South America's most European city and its most modern.
Renting a car? Is the deal you think you're getting accurately reflected in the final bill? Here are steps to avoid unpleasant surprises.
Far removed from the whirl of ski resorts, these mountains offer many places of quiet contemplation. We offer a few suggestions.
Shedding the stereotypical image of a refuge for city slickers, many dude ranches around the country are attracting a more sophisticated crowd.
Lancaster County in south central Pennsylvania is the setting for numerous Amish tradition farms. Some even accommodate paying guests, especially if they're willing to help with the chores.
On this morning in 1980, the top half of this majestic mountain in SW Washington disappeared in a cataclysmic blast. 37 years later, Mother Nature has already healed many of the surface scars.
Bonanzaville USA, just west of Fargo, the museum of the Cass County Historical Society, consists of 47 buildings on 12 acres, many historic and from the N.D. region. More than 400,000 eclectic objects are on display.
With America's air traffic systems so tightly wound, a delay anywhere can have a ripple effect that creates havoc elsewhere.
India's largest city, Mumbai is also its capital of finance, commerce, and entertainment.
The Minho, the province in Portugal's northwest corner, is a charming and less visited region with tastes all its own.
Tea, in its many blends and preparations, is the world's most widely consumer beverage.
Today is national tourism awareness day. Tourism, in all its various forms and manifestations, ranks among the world's most powerful economic engines.
Though Hanoi is the country's capital, much of its city life and business follow in traditional ways.
Still the beating commercial heart of Vietnam, the city once known as Saigon, is again the Pearl of the Orient.
Once a major river port, this gem of an East Texas town still has many beauties to flaunt at its annual Pilgrimage, which happens this week.
Among its myriad other charms, Tucson, Arizona may also be America's most observant city.
Amusement parks around the world are pushing the limits of higher, faster, steeper, and death-defying. Be thrilled but don't be blind to real risks and dangers.
Speckswald, a vast forested expanse east of Frankfurt, was home to the brothers Grimm of fairy tale fame. It is still of antique towns with plenty of half-timbered charm.
With the advent of smart phones and high-quality camcorders, capturing travel video has become much, much easier. Capturing video that people actually want to watch is another matter.
Modern urban transportation options notwithstanding, sometimes the best way to explore a new city is the oldest form of conveyance.
Tennis players know that spending a week with a pro can bring one's game into focus. Fortunately, there are many wonderful places to make that both possible and pleasurable.
There's a glittering necklace of deep, water-cut caverns string along the Blue Ridge of Virginia's Shenandoah Valley. If you're in the area, drop in on one or two.
Situated south of Charlottesville, Virginia, the hills and dales of Nelson County are particularly beautiful in the Spring.
Major museums around the world have put images of their finest works on-line. While not the same as actually being there, these virtual collections do offer some real advantages.
Sometimes, when trying to connect with yourself, it's best to retreat to a place of spiritual contemplation. Fortunately, plenty of places across the country offer that possibility.
This time of year, the 8000-acre estate George Vanderbilt built in the mountains of North Carolina near Asheville become a blooming miracle.
Over the next few weeks, students from across the country will head somewhere warm to party down. Here are some thoughts on making sure it's a happy time.
This remote South Pacific island lies 2300 miles west of Chile. The Rapu Nui people who inhabited it a millennium ago, created a unique culture.
The border that separates North and South Korea is one of the most fortified stretches on the planet. Yet surprisingly, it also can be a place of natural tranquility.
No matter where you're heading or when you're going, weird weather is always an option.
Many seekers of the Sahara sands head out for short jaunts from Marrakesh, Morocco, but experiencing the real desert, means a visit to Merzouga.
All across the south, historic and stately city homes and country estates have become upscale B&Bs, like Foley House in Savannah.
This barren salt flats of northwestern Nevada have become the setting for some of the country's most creative annual displays.
The English city of Nottingham claims the 13th-century folk hero and his band of Merry Men, but the grave of who is believed to be the real Earl of Huntington lies elsewhere.
Not just the name of our podcast, a Traveler's Journal is a great way to not only plan and organize a trip but also helps observe and preserve its most important moments.
Canada's capital city is a much more beguiling destination than many people give it credit.
At 3200 feet, Angel Falls in SE Venezuela, where the Rio Kerepucci spills over the edge of Ayun Tepui, is the world's tallest, free-falling waterfall. Getting to a place where you can stand in its cataract spray is no simple journey.
Egypt's Ramesses the Great built his favorite queen a palatial home for the afterlife. More than 3200 years later, it still memorializes her beauty and wisdom.
Croagh Patrick, the third highest peak in Ireland's County Mayo, was a place of pilgrimage long before the Patrick whose birthday we celebrate today arrived in the 5th century.
While this may be the image you have of a dog in flight, the reality is much different. Understand the costs and considerations before subjecting a pet to the experience.
The Portes du Soleil, a network of interconnected slopes across the Alps of France and Switzerland, is the world's largest international ski system.
The City of Lights is an illuminating place to explore, even more so when in the company of one's adult child.
Many people confuse the island of Dominica with the much larger Dominican Republic. But this gem of the Lesser Antilles is a unique paradise in the Caribbean Sea.
Sometimes, chance encounters with meet you meet while traveling can tun into enduring friendships.
The stations of the Armed Forces Radio Network still rank high among English-speaking audiences in many countries around the world.
Even in this age of internet connectivity, a shortwave radio can be a great way to keep in touch with the rest of the planet.
The 14,410-foot-high, snow-capped peak southeast of Seattle is rated among North America's most difficult climbs.
California's Anza-Borrego State Park is a dusty, arid desert for much of the year, but when the spring rains come, it is transformed into a blooming miracle.
Throughout the Appalachian, the Rocky, and the Sierra Mountain ranges are trail systems that offer cross country skiers some sublime overnight opportunities.
Many of life's journey's involve losing something of yourself along the way. But rather than regretting that loss, use it as a memory to fondly remind you of that place and time.
Jokes about the Three Little Pigs nowithstanding, building sublime and sustainable residences from bales of straw is a technique the Canelo Project has been perfecting since 1989. They'll even show how to do it yourself.
A sub-range of the Rocky Mountains, the Bitterroots run along the border between Idaho and Montana. The trail systems that lace through its rugged terrain offer many miles of open riding.
Now owned by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, this vast estate in the Santa Cruz Mountain south of San Fransico, Filoli was once home to one of California's richest men. Its mansion is most welcoming, and its 16 acres of formal gardens offer infinite interlude.
Weather conditions are iffy in Wisconsin this weekend for what will be the 44th running of America's largest, and one of its longest, cross country ski races. It debuted in 1973, and is part of Worldloppet, the world tour of cross-country skiing.
While not Poland's capital city nor its largest, this magnificent metropolis on the Vistula River is its most historic and most beautiful.
This independent nation consists of of two island groups in the Atlantic southeast of the Bahamas. Though British by background and allegiance, they've developed a culture all their own.
Herodotus, a Greek scholar who lived 2600 years ago, is known as "The Father of History." Arguably, he was also "Father of Travel Guides."
For unique accommodations, discerning visitors to Japan make sure to spend time in a Ryokan, one of its traditional inns.
Coming to Washington? Free White House tours are available on a first come, first served basis. Requests can be submitted up to three months in advance but no less than less than 21 days . Here's how to apply.
Earth's landmasses are fringed with beautiful beaches, which means that somewhere your perfect stretch of sand awaits. We offer several possibilities.
Almost anywhere you go these days, its easy to find charming inns and quaint Bed and Breakfasts that can be very accommodating indeed. But no matter how picturesque the pictures may be, here's what to look for and what to ask about.
Starting with Abel Tasman National Park on its northern tip, New Zealand's South Island is ringed by incredible natural settings. Its interior is even more amazing.
Both the north and the south island of New Zealand are places of stark scenic contrasts. We call out some stupendous national parks, starting with Ruapehu.
Today's episode is dedicated to the most regular of travelers, those who commute from home to work and back each day. For a sense of that journey's length, multiply the average time of your daily round-trip by 260.
Founded as a Viking settlement, Dalkey is an affluent Dublin seaside suburb and setting for much that is pleasurable about Ireland.
Whenever they visit foreign countries, American travelers should be aware that things there may not be like things here.
Unfortunately, modern history has not been kind to some previously serene places. Consider Kashmir.
Although it has been part of France since 1769 and has deep roots in Italy, this rugged island in the Mediterranean has a character all its own.
People have been using rodents to forecast winter weather since the Roman Empire, but in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, they've made it an annual celebrtation.
The hundreds of miles of cycling paths and bicycle routes that lace throughout England, Scotland, and Wales make for excellent vacation explorations.
Although a state of the country of Australia, the island of Tasmania is a place unto itself.
When they picture Hong Kong, most people imagine the incredible bustle around its great harbor. But the Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China has many quieter corners as well.
There are now all-inclusive resorts all around the globe. But the term all-inclusive doesn't mean the same thing everywhere. Know what you're getting before you decide to go.
On this day in 1848, a chance discovery at Sutter's Mill in the then territory of California changed the course of American history.
The proliferation of strategically sited webcams provide virtual visitors unique peeks into previously hidden places.
The three tiny Indian Ocean islands of Mauritius off the Madagascar coast are a fascinating, fragile nation unto their own.
A shallow, 438,000-acre, peat-filled wetland straddling the Georgia–Florida border, the Okefenokee is North America's largest "blackwater" swamp. Although there is hardly any solid land in the Okie, it's still a remarkable place to explore and even camp.
Experiencing how life is lived in other countries is always an education, but one that often entails considering the situation from different perspectives.
Last time, we went underground in Rome. But some of the city's oldest artifacts are in plain sight, and many predate the Roman Empire itself.
The Eternal City wasn't built in a day, but layer by layer over more than 3000 years. In some places, the deeper layers are still intact and accessible. A visit certainly provides an in-depth perspective.
This is the time of the when when the big waves come rolling in all along Oahu's north coast.
A world of on-line resources notwithstanding, sometimes a traveler's best friend is an old-fashioned guidebook.
For some mountaineers, the peak achievement is climbing to the highest point on each continent.
If you'd enjoy the thrill of riding through a pristine, snowy wilderness behind a team of sled dogs, mark the Boundary Waters on the very northern tip of Minnesota on your map.
Although its streets can gleam golden in the moonlight, the city fortunes of Zacatecas were built on silver.
Founded in 1964, the IESC is a non-profit that applies private sector solutions to improve standards of living around the world, to create and preserve jobs and help robust, sustainable enterprises grow.
After so much celebration, it's only natural to experience a letdown. Here are tips to help you get back up to pace.
As their clocks approach the midnight hour, people everywhere will be celebrating the end of 2016 and looking forward to a wonderful 2017. That's certainly our sentiment, as well as our best wishes to you.
A Global Entry pass is easy to obtain, and if you fly internationally, it will save you a lot of time standing in lines and even help you make that tight connection
Founded in 1565 on what is now Florida's NE coast, St. Augustine is the oldest continuously occupied settlement of European origin in the contiguous United States. It and the adjoining Anastasia Island are great places to visit.
Sometimes, the it's the misadventures that make for the best travel tales. Be bold when spinning the yarn.
For nearly 175 years, affiliates of the Traveler's Aid Society have been helping mobile Americans.
On Christmas eve 1776, General George Washington led a daring, surprise raid which changed the course of American history.
More than 200 million years ago, dense conifer forests grew on the part of the planet now known as south central Arizona.
If you want to get up close and personal with great gray cetaceans, Mexico's San Ignacio Lagoon is just the place you're looking for.
The Frontier Culture Museum in Staunton, Virginia is a living history museum that tells the story of the people who migrated from the Old World to America and the life they created in the Shenandoah Valley.
The coming weeks will be the busiest travel time of the year. Here are some thoughts on helping everything go smoothly.
In 1944, the US Navy decimated a Japanese armada in a shallow lagoon in the Caroline Islands. Today, scuba divers come from around the world to explore.
On this day in 1832, a Frenchman was born who would create two of the world's most recognizable landmarks.
Who gets your gratuities depends entirely on you, but here's a look at how much is expected where and by whom.
Occasional lessons are helpful, but to really advance your game, it helps to go to school. Fortunately, hotels and resorts around the world are making that easy to happen.
Jetlag is what you get by crossing too many time zones in a single bound. Here are tips to help you re-adjust your circadian rhythms.
Even experienced travelers have trouble getting a good night's sleep while away from home.
Even though these days it is possible to book all the components of a trip yourself, don't underestimate the value a knowledgeable travel agent can bring to the table.
While not the most visited of the Hawaiian Islands, Kauai has abundant and rugged natural beauties to explore.
While people often look for things to buy when traveling, it's important to keep certain maxims in mind.
Sometimes, it's as difficult to leave what you left behind as it is to reach what you seek. Here are tips to get away mentally, as well as physically.
Hosting friends or family over the coming holiday season? Here are thoughts on making that experience enjoyable for all concerned.
Last time, we offered suggestion on how to make your next trip more meaningful by meeting people who live there. Here's a good place to do that.
It's easy to go to distant places and come away with no real idea of what life is like there. One way to avoid that is to really interact with people on their own terms.
There are many sources of information for Americans about traveling abroad, but the site operated by the State Department remains the definitive one.
For over 1000 miles along the Rio Grande, Big Bend National Park defines the US/Mexico border. Do we really a need to build a wall in this majestic wilderness?
Though dated and rare, this venerable series of guidebooks, the world's first, still have insights to offer modern travelers. And they can also be valuable.
Indoor ski slopes were more popular in Japan than anywhere else. Their peak may have passed, but suburban Tokyo still has several places where shredding goes on 12 months a year,
All the apps, web sites, and guide books notwithstanding, the best hotel recommendations generally come from those who have recent, personal experience.
On this morning in 1975, the massive ore-carrier Edmund FitzGerald set out from Superior, Wisconsin on a fateful and fatal voyage across the lake of the same name. The Fitz's legend lives on in more than a song.
On November 14 in 1889, a pioneering reporter for the New York World set off from Hoboken on a historic journey. 24,899 miles and 72 days later, she had gone around the world faster than anyone ever had done.
The temperate and picturesque hills and lakes of southern Chile offer plenty of recreational opportunities, all under the stead of a chain of steaming volcanoes.
Every traveler should realize that finding fresh, clean water can be problematic in many places around the world. Here are some salubrious thoughts to keep in mind.
Situated at the heart of three of the world's great religions, the old city of Jerusalem has had a complicated, often contentious existence, from ancient times to today.
The first European visitor settled in the Kansas City area over 400 years ago. People are finding new treasures and pleasures there all the time.
200 miles north of San Francisco, this quirky county encompasses some of California's wildest coastline and most remote wilderness.
Just east of Bordeaux, France, the Dordogne River cuts through limestone escarpments, creating networks of caverns that have sheltered humans for many thousands of years.
Across the country and around the world, places the noted and notorious have been laid to rest are major attractions, even destinations of pilgrimage.
Some travelers seek out hotels where getting a good night sleep is not the objective. We offer several spirited suggestions.
With coral reefs collapsing around the world, the remote coves around this island may be the best place to take a dive.
Known now as West Papua, many people of this remote corner of the island of New Guinea retain their traditional ways.
Mal de mer is a common affliction suffered even by seasoned ocean-going travelers. Here are some suggestions and preventative measures.
Several cruise lines still offer ocean going travelers the luxury experience of sailing the bounding main.
Trans-Atlantic cruises are much rarer these days, but twice each year, many ships make the Sea-sonal transitions between the Mediterranean and the Caribbean.
This state on India's southwest coast is uncharacteristically tranquil compared to much of the vast sub-continent.
No it doesn't mean being anti travel, but timing your visit to avoid the crowds that can overwhelm almost any place.
Although this storied NY neighborhood has seen significant gentrification, there are still landmarks of its grittier past, if you know where to look.
The acres, avenues, monuments, and institutions along the National Mall are at the top of most first-time visitors, but the Capital is resplendent with myriad other colorful places to pass the time.
This bluffy island off the coast of Rhode Island buzzes during the summer. This time of year, it's another island altogether.
The hills and vales of this pastoral enclave south of Montreal are often compared to the Berkshires. This time of year, they are ablaze with color.
The 43rd annual National Storytelling Festival gets underway tomorrow in this charming town in central Tennessee.
All across the country and around the world, places of worship can also be inexpensive places of refuge for weary travelers.
The skies over this part of New Mexico will be filled over the next 10 days, as the 2016 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta takes flight. Photo by David Bear
Har Megiddo, this fortified hilltop in north central Israel, is prophisized to be the setting for the final battle between good and evil.
Hidden for a thousand years, this ancient city in what is now southern Jordan was once capital of the Nabataean Kingdom. Petra photo by Zach Bear
If you every find yourself in transit without a toothbrush, there are many ways to keep your breath from offending fellow travelers.