I’m lucky enough to have lived in Tuscany for several years. During my time in the Chianti region, I consumed hundreds of biscotti made by professional bakers and family members alike. If you’re not familiar with these baked goods, you’re missing a delectable treat. In Italian, biscotti means twice-baked and they literally are twice-baked cookies. This biscuit originated in the Tuscan city of Prato but they are now popular all over Italy and far … [Read more...]
3 Cruise Excursions Highlights in the Caribbean
Scattered across the cerulean ocean is the Caribbean Islands, and the best time to visit these wonderful islands is from December to April when it’s slightly cooler and less humid. The average temperature is between 24-29°C, which makes these islands the perfect place to spend a few hours when traveling through the Caribbean Sea. Cruise excursions are one of the best ways to admire local destinations when you get off the ship. You could go for … [Read more...]
A Piece of Hollywood in the Eastern Sierra
Quentin Tarantino shot there. So did Clint Eastwood, Steve McQueen, Kevin Costner and John Wayne. Robert Downey Jr. went on location there as the Iron Man. Whenever Hollywood is looking for a distant planet, or the long-gone Old West, or a rugged outdoors landscape for a Dodge Ram Tough truck commercial, there is one go-to location: Alabama Hills. The Alabama Hills are not, as you might think, in Birmingham or Mobile. Rather, they are in … [Read more...]
Why You Should Visit Death Valley in Summer
If the mere thought of visiting the hottest place on earth in summer freaks you out, think again. There are some great reasons to visit Death Valley in July or August. For one thing, there is the dearth of crowds. Unlike in winter, there are virtually no people anywhere. The few visitors you do encounter are most likely intrepid Europeans who have come to indulge in the desert at its most extreme. Also, unlike winter, days are significantly … [Read more...]
Making the most out of your Minneapolis layover
So you have a long layover at Minneapolis-St. Paul airport? You can do what most people do - take the train over to nearby Mall of America and join the packed masses jamming through the second largest mall in North America. Or you can get off a couple of stops sooner on that same train and find yourself all alone in nature, hiking among the beautiful marshes of the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. I'll take option 2 anytime. Get … [Read more...]
Fjords of Iceland
Of my 13 trips to Iceland so far, my most memorable one was my first time there, in 2002, when I happened to meet my future wife. At a distant second was our trip in the summer of 2011, when we took a week-long road trip through the West Fjords region, the far northwestern peninsula that juts out into the cold North Atlantic Ocean like a dragon's head on a Viking longboat. It's not necessarily an inaccessible nor difficult drive to get … [Read more...]
A Little Bit of Malta on my Mind
I proceeded to a tiny room at my hotel in central Valletta, oddly enough having to pass through the restaurant first. Many elderly ladies were absorbed in a riveting game of Bridge and I had to slink past their tables without bumping into them. Finding a balcony I stood overlooking the scenic water and Fort Saint Angelo in the distance while absorbing the smells of the salty water, the warmth of the Mediterranean sunshine and the tantalizing … [Read more...]
History, Mystery, Art and More in Boonsboro and Beyond
Last year, during the holidays, I spent some time in Sharpsburg, Maryland, where I enjoyed a lovely stay at the Jacob Rohrbach Inn. During that time, my travels took me through the small town of Boonsboro, where I noticed a cozy, cute little Inn all lit up for the Christmas season. I was pulled to it like a magnet and vowed to return to explore the area when the weather warmed. That opportunity occurred just this month, when I was able to … [Read more...]
8 Great Mountain Towns in the Great State of Georgia
A most convivial convergence exists in the northeastern corner of Georgia; the Blue Ridge Mountains meet the Chattahoochee National Forest and the southern tip of the Appalachian Trail. In this region, mountains meet lakes, ruggedness meets charm, and quaintness meets culture. I have picked eight favorite amazing towns (here in alphabetical order), which I hope to be visiting again and again. BLAIRSVILLE is an easily affordable place to … [Read more...]
Crashing and Burning at Randy’s Rock Rapid on the Wild Colorado
On a rafting trip down the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon, there are passages of high drama and excitement around every bend: House Rock Rapid, the Roaring Twenties, Little Colorado River, Crystal, Upset Rapid, Lava Falls. These are all very famous. Every guide on the river knows about them. Another rapid on the booming Colorado is not nearly as well known. You may float serenely past it without your guide even uttering a word about it, so … [Read more...]
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