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. […]
Destinations
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 […]
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 […]
T is for Turkey
With its rich history, notable architecture and unfamiliar Turkish language, Turkey has long captivated my imagination. Here’s why I’d love to pay a visit . . . 1) Hagia Sophia Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985, Hagia Sophia stands as a museum masterpiece of Byzantine architecture. Once a church, then a mosque, the […]
S is for Six Sunny Hours in Seattle
When the sun shines in Seattle, you want to be where the action is: anywhere near the water with a view of the mountains. One way to take in a panoramic view of the region is to head west on the 520 floating bridge towards downtown Seattle. From the bridge deck you’ll have a 180 […]
R is for Rome
Inspired by Audrey Hepburn’s award-winning role in Roman Holiday and her love affair with “The Eternal City,” I can think of 5 great reasons to add Rome to my travel bucket list: 1) Visit Castel Sant’ Angelo to pay my respects to Puccini’s heroine,Tosca, who threw herself off the parapet after discovering her lover Cavaradossi has […]
P is for Portland(ia)
Photo courtesy of LikeWhere – flickr How about a road trip to one of the most livable cities in the U.S. – Portland, Oregon? A short three hour drive from Seattle, the city offers the perfect weekend escape. Apart from the quirky discoveries revealed by the popular Portlandia series, let’s not forget the basic qualities that […]
O is for Orlando
Photo courtesy of Best of WDW – flickr In keeping with the spirit of yesterday’s post, N is for Never Never Land, today we move forward to O is for Orlando.While planning a business trip to Florida’s, “The City Beautiful,” I considered extending my stay for a visit to “Mickey’s House,” Walt Disney World. But I […]
L is for London
Photo courtesy of TJ Morris – flickr “What? You’ve never been to London?” my world traveler friend Margaret exclaimed. “That’s not right. We have to change that.” I like how she thinks. Photo courtesy of Gabriel Villena – flickr So how would I do London on a future visit? Apart from planning to visit the […]