Punta Banda is a narrow, mostly barren finger of land that pokes out into the Pacific Ocean at the southern end of Bahía Todos Santos near Ensenada. Near the very tip, busloads of bug-eyed tourists …
February 7, 2012
Literate
La Bufadora, Baja – Escape from SoCal Sprawl
Catching the Holiday Spirit: Newtown, Pennsylvania
By nature, Philadelphia is a hectic city. The people are tough. The suburbs extend forever. The highways are always congested. Plus it was Christmastime, and family obligations amplified every stressful second. Philly is not my …
December 17, 2011
Gramado, Brazil: A South American Anomaly
Below the heat and subtropical savannas that spread out across millions of acres of the sub-Amazonian Brazilian interior is the Serra Gaúcha. "Serra" is a Latin American subtropical forest. The Gaúcho is the Latin American …
Missoula, Montana
“Hey! It’s a red light!” I screamed as Sarah drove into the intersection. “Sorry, I really can’t drive and talk at the same time,” she said, “I’m on antidepressants.” At the next light I gestured …
November 22, 2011
Culinary Discovery in Terme di Castrocaro, Italy
When in France, my husband and I decided to squander beaucoup d' euros on a Michelin one-star restaurant. The experience was so satisfactory that, on a subsequent trip to Italy, we decided to make a …
November 13, 2011
Whitefish, Montana
The train screeched and jerked to a stop. I awoke in an unknown yard in pitch darkness. I hopped on this train back in Everett, Washington, where the day before I was napping in a …
November 10, 2011
Living Local in Paris
My husband, six-year-old and I spent a month in Paris. The best part was learning to live what the French call a "quotidien" life (just the day-to-day goodies) in the City of Lights. Since there …
Chihuahua Desert, Mexico: Dancing with El Diablo
A good friend of mine was doing her doctoral research in the middle of nowhere in the Mexican desert, and she invited me down for a visit. I couldn’t say no, because I love the …
October 20, 2011
Grand Canyon, Arizona: An RV Experience
Like all red-blooded Americans, our family decided to visit the Grand Canyon. In an RV. Big mistake. 1. The a/c didn’t work. It was 107 in Phoenix. 2. We hit a sign (or two) and …
October 11, 2011
Basilica of Sacre Coeur, Paris
After a few days in Paris, I was ready to explore something out of the ordinary with my family. We'd done the Eiffel Tower (so over it). Stared at the stern statues on the Notre …
Wall Drug: Wall, South Dakota
If you live in the United States, there’s most likely a Wal-Mart around the corner from your home: statistically, there are approximately 3,600 Wal-Mart stores in America. But there is only one Wall Drug, and …
September 8, 2011