No one would ever mistake Manhattan for being a touchy-feely city. People mostly keep to themselves and the pace can make even the most type – A personality long for a breath. But now and then a holiday comes along and the city softens. Crowds brim with laughter […]
Updated March 2019 If you’re like me, fascinated by the criminal mind, fading ruins, and history in its most infamous, Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia will make your day. It’s an icon of the world’s early penal system turned tourist attraction. You may recognize its cavernous cell blocks […]
On a trip to Africa, my mission was two-fold: I needed to escape my A.D.D., a necessary evil if you want a career in Manhattan (Africa, I found, is one of the few places on earth I can truly relax and be present), and to improve my wildlife […]
As the baby sea lions zoom past, banking, rolling, diving, swimming in loop de loops like Hotwheels on a track, I am sure of one thing, even if this UnCruise sucked (which it doesn’t), the trip would be worth it for this one hour. Los Islotes We are […]
If I could only visit New York’s famous urban respite once a year, I would visit Central Park in Fall. (Updated March 7, 2019) In winter it’s a snow-capped wonderland. In spring and summer, a flower lover’s delight. But in the Fall, it’s utterly magical. There’s nothing like […]
It was he, Scarface the lion (Scar), curled up like a housecat in the grass, his thick dew-covered mane sparkling in the sun. His brothers Hunter, Sikio, and Morani were nearby; they also slept. The Four Musketeers, known for their prowess and savagery, instead looked precious where they lay. […]
It’s mid-morning and I’m crossing the long, raised boardwalk leading to the island, my excitement building with each plank left behind. I’ve come to Duba Explorers Camp,part of the Great Plains Conservation portfolio, in the first half of an eight-day Okavago Delta safari and though I’ve been to […]
I love Manhattan, but when I need a break from the concrete canyons, I head to the Bronx and the New York Botanical Garden. Updated: March 2019 One of the country’s most beautiful historic landmarks, the garden is filled with lush flora, intriguing exhibits, and exciting family-friendly programs […]
I was embarking on the second half of my Holland America Alaska adventure—the “sea” portion of my “Land & Sea” journey. I couldn’t help but gape at The Westerdam’s 10-deck profile rising above the Seward pier. In the cruise industry, the Westerdam is considered a mid-sized vessel and […]
The idea of swimming with whale sharks made me nervous. I wanted to desperately but the memory of my bizarre reaction to a spinner dolphin in Costa Rica a few years ago haunted me, and I was afraid I’d humiliate myself, yet again. I’d been completely and utterly […]
