I love Manhattan, but when I need a break from the concrete canyons I head to the Bronx and the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG). One of the country’s most beautiful historic landmarks, the garden is filled with lush flora, intriguing exhibits, and exciting family-friendly programs and activities. The botanical garden is an ideal escape […]
Adventure Cruises, Alaska, Destinations, Top Posts, United States
Holland America’s Alaska Land and Sea Adventure
01
Mar
Mar
I was embarking on the second half of my Holland America Alaska Land and Sea adventure—the “sea” portion of my journey––and I couldn’t help but gape at the 10-deck Westerdam rising above the Seward pier. In the cruise industry, the Westerdam is considered a mid-sized vessel and carries a maximum of 2100 passengers. For me […]
Adventure Cruises, Destinations, Mexico, North America, Slider, Travel Stories
Swimming with Whale Sharks in La Paz, Mexico (Video)
08
Feb
Feb
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 back haunted me, and I was afraid I’d humiliate myself yet again. I’d been completely and utterly irrational. I was in the water near […]
Adventure Cruises, Destinations, Maine, North America, Travel Stories, United States
Finding Comfort and Camaraderie on a Maine Windjammer Cruise
11
Dec
Dec
Except for the gentle lapping of water against the hull, all is quiet and I am as content as I could ever hope to be. I’ve spent the afternoon dining on lobster with new friends, on a deserted beach no less, and now we’re being treated to a beautiful sunset. Susan Land, another guest — […]
Adventure Cruises, Alaska, Destinations, North America, United States
Dive Into The Unexpected – A Snorkel Ketchikan Excursion in Alaska
01
Jul
Jul
I’m trying desperately to pull on a 7mm wetsuit but it’s clinging to me like a surgical glove. We’d been warned it would take some effort but it’s so absurdly difficult that the other women in the dressing room and I can’t stop laughing. I’m convinced there’s a hidden camera and we’re being filmed for […]
Canada, Destinations, North America, Yukon
Dog Sledding in Canada’s Whitehorse, Yukon – A Husky Adventure
16
Jan
Jan
It was mid-morning when we arrived at Sky High Mountain Ranch, a 30-minute drive from Whitehorse, Yukon, and a beautiful place to have a husky adventure dog-sledding in Canada. A sea of magnificent pines bordered a large that shown silver in the sunlight. Everything glistened liked sugar under four inches of freshly fallen snow as […]
Canada, Destinations, Manitoba, North America, Travel Stories
The Thrill of Canada’s only Walking Polar Bear Safari
02
Jan
Jan
She’s walking straight at us. Her long, powerful strides putting her well within the 50 meters (164-foot) safety range. Even if I could run, what’s the point? She could outpace me in seconds. I look down the line of fellow photographers to where Andy McPhearson and Rob Watson, two of our three Churchill Wild guides, […]
02
Dec
Dec
On a recent trip to Manitoba and the Yukon in Canada, I saw the Aurora borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, from two very different vantage points: On the ground at a remote fly in lodge on Hudson Bay (home of many a polar bear), and from the air with the inaugural flight of […]
Canada, Destinations, North America, Travel Tips
10 of the Most Beautiful Places in Canada for Spectacular Views
11
Oct
Oct
For me, a fantastic view isn’t necessarily a landscape, though it can be. It’s any scene that stops you in your tracks, puts a smile on your face or simply makes you gasp with wonder. I recently put together a list for U.S. News & World Report of some of the most beautiful places in Canada with spectacular […]
09
Oct
Oct
I’ve always loved exploring ruins. Something about the tattered remains of a bygone era that fascinates me. I’ve explored lost civilizations such as Machu Picchu, Tikal and Angkor Wat, and smaller, more modern gems such as the infamous Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia. Most recently, it was the eerie pile of disintegrating boats in the […]