San Diego is known for its zoo, wide sandy beaches, Coronado Island, del Coronado Hotel and rich history dating back to 1769 when the first Europeans arrived. Its Old World charm and contemporary amenities make San Diego the perfect getaway destination. Day 1 – San Diego Zoo Although 3.3 million residents call this southern California city home, it is very
The art of carry-on travel
The positive part of checking luggage is you can take more to your vacation destination and bring back more souvenirs. The negative side is the addition fees for domestic flights and some international flights, collecting luggage for customs on internationals flights when connection times are tight, and the possibility of your luggage being lost or delayed. So what’s the solution?
Photo Essay: The Flower Fields of Carlsbad Ranch, California
Whether you stay a half hour or half day at The Flower Fields of Carlsbad Ranch, there is something magical about the acres of colorful blossoms overlooking the Pacific Ocean. More than 50 acres feature Giant Tecolote Ranunculus flowers with smaller flower beds of snapdragons, roses and other colorful blooms. The Southern California fields are a direct result of more
North Carolina Gem Mining 101
I jotted down the names of gems and minerals that can be found at Mason Mountain Mine near Franklin, North Carolina, as Tom Johnson steered his pickup truck up a steep incline toward their source. “Rhodolite garnet, pyrope garnet, smoky quartz, moonstone, kyanite, cordierite, surface copper ore, ruby, sapphire and small traces of emerald,” he ticked off as he pulled
Discovering Petrified Forest National Park
I love a road trip and this one had all the components to be great: wonderful friend, Cacinda Malony; awesome car, 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Limited; and fantastic scenery along I-40 as we drove through Arizona on our way east to New Mexico including the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest National Park. The car, courtesy of Drive Shop, was perfect
Photo Essay: Sedona in December
Just after sunrise it started to snow. Big fat flakes floated down making the holiday surroundings of Sedona even more festive. During the morning I took a Pink Jeep Tour up on the red rocks along the Broken Arrow trail. Expertly, our driver Doug drove up and down steep inclines bringing our group to the tops of otherworldly formations and
Grapevine, the Christmas Capital of Texas!
Grapevine, Texas, is just north of the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport; a gem in an otherwise rush-rush world. Along Main Street, charming shops and family-owned restaurants welcome visitors like family. Christmas carols are dancing on a winter breeze and old-fashioned decorations are stretched over the street. At one end of the street is Grapevine Vintage Railroad that is transformed during the
Photo essay – A Santa Fe Christmas
Hotels, churches, museums, the plaza and downtown streets are decked out for the holidays in Santa Fe, New Mexico. As the oldest capital city in North America and the oldest European city west of the Mississippi, Santa Fe is steeped in tradition and respect for the Christian faith which is reflected in its Christmastime charm. Originally occupied by Pueblo Indians,
Discovering Greenville, SC, West End Historic District
A new visitor to Greenville, South Carolina, I hear of Falls Park on the Reedy, but have no idea where it is located. Walking along Main Street, I stop and ask a young woman for directions. She smiles and says it is right across the street. Indeed, Falls Park, a 32-acre crescent-shaped greenway, is nestled up against the historic West
Book Review: “Abandoned America: The Age of Consequences” by Matthew Christopher
It may seem unusual for a travel writer to be interested in the abandoned, derelict and forgotten. I am usually telling my readers where to travel and what to visit when they get there. But Abandoned America: The Age of Consequences is such a fascinating book about deserted buildings of every description; I want to tell you about it. According