08 Dec 2014

Giving Honolulu Its Due Respect

View of Honolulu from the summit of Diamond Head

Honolulu might be the capital of Hawaii, but it has never topped my list of island must-sees. Maybe because Oahu tops everyone else’s list with about 5 million tourists a year flocking to its shores.

About half as many go to Maui. Even fewer visit Kauai or the Big Island of Hawaii.

In my quest to be different, I have gravitated toward the less popular islands because fewer tourists made them seem more exotic. Volcanoes churning out red-hot lava, lush canyons, powerful waterfalls and black sand beaches – what’s not to like?

But who am I kidding? Hawaii is one of the most popular vacation spots for those willing to journey across some 2,500 miles of water. Sure, the flight commitment is enough to land you in Europe. But there’s something about knowing you are truly an island – or islands – unto yourself and far away from mainland civilization.

28 Oct 2014

Eight Things to Love About Cape Town

It’s human nature to compare foreign cities to those in your home country. Cape Town is different for this American.

While it has a similar feel to San Francisco, Cape Town’s look and vibe are all its own.

Hout Bay along the Atlantic side of the Cape Peninsula

29 Sep 2014

Safari-Ready: Expect the Unexpected

“Are you ready?”

I nodded with some hesitation in response to the pilot’s question just before taking off in the cramped, six-seater Cessna 206.

Surprisingly, the ultra manual-looking controls didn’t completely wig me out. Nor the fact we only had one pilot who looked about 14 steering our plane. At least he looked healthy, I reasoned.

06 Aug 2014

Sky-High Charm on Scotland’s Most Popular Island

After a nerve-racking, five-hour drive from Edinburgh to the Isle of Skye, the last thing we felt like doing the next day was spending more time in the car navigating the island's Trotternish Peninsula.

All I can say is muster up the energy to reignite your driving mojo. You will not regret it, especially if you are lucky enough to see it on a day with spurts of sunshine like we did.

To give you some perspective, our trip from Edinburgh had its challenges. It took us almost an hour to make it out of town thanks to some tricky roundabouts and an inept navigator (yes, that's me) cross-referencing multiple maps while using a GPS system. Not a good idea.

However, the views along the way made up for the struggle. What a surprise to find snow-capped mountains during our spring visit.

05 Jul 2014

Giverny: An easy place to draw inspiration

It might be hard to pull yourself away from a city as captivating as Paris for a day, but trust me. Colorful enchantment awaits you at Claude Monet’s home and gardens in Giverny.

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