Tightwads on the Loose, Wendy Hinman’s engaging, fast-paced memoir, shares an important lesson: “The weather trumps all plans.” Breaking Away To quell their restless spirits, Hinman and her husband Garth embark on a seven year Pacific odyssey aboard their 31-foot sailboat, Velella, named for tiny jellyfish-like creatures propelled by prevailing winds. The author traces their […]
Activities
Lavender Festival at Pelindaba Farm
Butterfly Lavender Plant Lavender lovers rejoice! Only one more month until the annual Pelindaba Lavender Festival on beautiful San Juan Island. Pelindaba Farm “Pelindaba” comes from the Zulu word meaning “a place of great gatherings.” With a nod to his South African roots, owner/founder Stephen Robins also chose a name that captures his vision of the […]
The Dalles: Family-Friendly Vacation Destination
Here’s why The Dalles, a mere 84 miles east of Portland, Oregon, gets my vote for an ideal vacation destination: 1) Spectacular Scenery Want to explore a visually stunning byway? Meander along the magnificent Columbia River as it winds its way from Portland to The Dalles, Oregon to see what I mean. Go on a cruise or […]
Mother’s Day Hike to Swamp Monster Trail
Okay, time to dust off those hiking boots and poles and start taking to the trails! Adventurous wanderboomers in the Pacific Northwest will find plenty of hiking trails on Tiger Mountain to satisfy a variety of skill levels. But if you’re looking for an easy first hike to launch your hiking season and a popular […]
Z is for Zihuatanejo Bay!
Photo courtesy of Rory Finneren – flickr To wrap up my participation in the April A – Z Blogging Challenge – and coincidentally the last day of National Poetry Month – I’m ending with three distinct travel destinations: I. Photo courtesy of Rory Finneren – flickr Z zips us to Mexico’s tropical coast, Zihuatanejo Bay. Come […]
Y is for Yosemite Falls
Photo courtesy of Kevin Eldon – flickr “Only by going alone in silence, without baggage, can one truly get into the heart of the wilderness. All other travel is mere dust and hotels and baggage and chatter.” – John Muir, naturalist and preservationist Thanks to visionary, vocal advocates like John Muir and Theodore Roosevelt, the U.S. […]
X is for Xi’an
Photo courtesy of kevinpoh – flickr China holds a special place in my heart as the country where my daughter was born. But while my travels have taken me to Beijing, Nanchang, Guangzhou and Hong Kong, there’s still so much of the country I’d like to explore, including Shanghai, Guilin and Xi’an. In 1974 a […]
W is for Whale-Watching!
If you have ever had the opportunity to spot humpback whales off the tip of a ship’s prow, then you know how thrilling it is to watch these megaton mammals thrust themselves skyward, at times spiraling in an out-of-water ballet. While several theories abound about why whales breach, for those of us watching on the […]
V is for Vatican City
Photo courtesy of malouette – flickr Vatican City, a separate self-governed territory within Rome, claims fame as the world’s smallest autonomous state and is ruled by the Bishop of Rome, the Pope. Art lovers will cherish the beautiful museums within the enclave, as well as St. Peter’s Basilica, St. Peter’s Square and the crowning jewel, […]
U is for Uluru
Ulura. The aboriginal name for Ayers Rock, Australia . . . I recall when Oprah was planning her Australian adventure extravaganza a few years back. She hadn’t considered visiting Ayers Rock until her pal Paul Simon told her she needed to go. After her visit, she said he was right. Photo courtesy of jema smith […]