February 23, 2014
At the conclusion of a recent business trip to Portland, Oregon, I decided to extend my visit to the Pacific Northwest with a trip to Bend, in the central part of the state. I was intrigued by all the research I had done which seemed to support the claim that Bend is the “outdoor playground […]
February 23, 2014
Bend Oregon activities have given it the nickname of the “outdoor playground of the West,” is the perfect destination for women traveling solo. With outdoor pursuits like dogsledding and snowshoeing, to touring microbreweries, and boutique hotels with staff that cannot do enough for you, the friendliness of the residents is second to none. When, Where, […]
February 16, 2014
Are the unique dishes in Japan delicious….or horrible? Will the food have you clamoring for more…or send scampering to find one of Japan’s unique and weird toilets? Remember this jump rope song (okay, I know I’m dating myself!): “Apple on a stick. Makes me sick.” I have a better one: Squid on a skewer. Put […]
February 13, 2014
The city of Bend, in central Oregon, often called “the outdoor playground of the west,” is renowned for its summer pursuits like camping, hiking the mountains and buttes, kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding on the lakes, and the myriad dog parks. But Bend also offers a full palette of adventures and pastimes for winter fun. […]
January 28, 2014
I just read a really great article about “travel snobs” by William Chalmers in the Huffington Press. Travel snobs top my list of pet peeves. If I hear the term “authentic travel” one more time, I swear I will scream! “Travel [is] a highly subjective personal experience and diversity [is] a good thing!” Spot on, […]
January 28, 2014
The best view of Oahu came right at the moment I leaned forward and tumbled out of the plane. Finished with an Aikido conference in which Marie and Rebecca participated (I was there to photograph the event) we had decided a short girls’ getaway as in order. After all, the conference was in Waikiki, so […]
January 28, 2014
Not only were the Curacao “Chichi” dolls my favorite souvenirs from Curaçao, a Caribbean island off the coast of Venezuela, it’s one of my favorite artifacts from all of my world travels. Each one a hand-painted original, these voluptuous clay sculptures open their arms as if to draw you into a loving embrace. “Chichi,” in […]
January 28, 2014
With just 48 hours to spend in Rapid City, I had already scheduled a visit to Mt. Rushmore, a drive on the Needles Highway, a Buffalo Jeep Safari at Custer State Park, and a pit stop to eat the famous Wall Drug donuts. From my hotel the first night, I spontaneously Googled “things to do” […]
January 28, 2014
I laughed. I cried. I ate too much. If you’re looking for an authentically fun way to spend a few hours in the sometimes overly touristy Branson, Missouri, the Showboat Branson Belle is the place. As a travel writer who visits a lot of vacation destinations, I tend to shy away from the ones that […]
January 28, 2014
As someone who frequently travels alone, I’d never considered taking a cruise. For one thing, I’m prone to motion sickness and the thought of being out in the middle of the ocean with no escape for stabilization was not appealing. In addition, spending just one day at an exotic location didn’t seem like it would […]