“Houston, all systems are GO. We are ready for takeoff! Final countdown. 4, 3, 2, 1 Liftoff!” America’s Space Coast with its telltale 321 area code extends for 75 miles along the Atlantic, south of …
February 24, 2015
North America
Florida's Space Coast
Grand Canyon in the winter – best time to visit?
The Grand Canyon is such a magnificent piece of real estate that the awesome impact of its natural beauty can't be totally absorbed in one visit. That's why a trip to the Grand Canyon in …
February 19, 2015
GroundFrog Day
The mayor assured us it had happened, the great frognosticator let out a croak, thus proclaiming an early Spring for the friendly, frog-worshiping citizens of Snohomish, Washington.
February 11, 2015
Savannah's got flavor
Savannah was established as Georgia’s first city – a working port – in 1733. It’s been welcoming people and trade for over 280 years, adding a global, cosmopolitan flavor to its Deep South traditions. Really, …
February 5, 2015
Papa Doug is hiring — in Texas
The meaning of last week's shake-up at Douglas Manchester's U-T San Diego, in which honcho Mike Hodges departed to head an internet design and marketing outfit, leaving editor Jeff Light to become president and chief …
January 23, 2015
Down south in Estero La Bocana, Baja Sur
Dolphins play near the shore at sunrise, whiplashing their tails to form a sand circle to entrap their breakfast. The panicked fish jump up directly into the dolphins' mouths – a nature event I'd only …
January 16, 2015
An Amtrak-Airbnb American (and Canadian) adventure
Weary of going through another airport security line? Enchanted by an early morning train whistle hurtling to points unknown? With airline costs continuing to rise, I set out to try a new, more economical cross-country …
Some of that Mexican drug-dealer money
For five years, a San Diego–area confidential informant worked for Don Rodmel, a San Diego–based federal agent conducting money-laundering investigations. As part of the job, Rodmel confiscated hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash that …
January 9, 2015
White Labs expanding to Asheville
San Diego is considered the epicenter for American craft beer, so it makes sense the city is also home to the country’s leading yeast production company. White Labs has experienced phenomenal growth in tandem with …
January 9, 2015
Touching the money fur in Prince Edward Island
Grass and girls. That was what life was all about, at least viewed through the black, bulby eyes of Keswick, a seven-year-old alpaca. His muppet-like neck bobbing in front of my wife and me, Keswick …
December 26, 2014
Manchester borrows $295 million for Texas hotel
With construction of U-T San Diego publisher Douglas Manchester's convention hotel in Austin, Texas finally underway, some details of its unusual non-bank financing have become public. As previously reported here, the hotel project broke ground …
December 15, 2014
Saginaw, MI: first American home of my ancestors
Most people only know the town of Saginaw, Michigan, from the song made popular in the 1960s by country singer Lefty Frizzel. Some hipsters might know another song, “If I Ever Get to Saginaw” by …
December 12, 2014
Could that have been Padres money?
Rebecca Moores, ex-wife of former Padres owner John Moores, has purchased a Manhattan condo for $55.5 million, according to New York real estate publications 6sqft.com and the realdeal.com. She will have a full floor unit …
December 9, 2014
Montréal's past and future
Despite being a large city, a worthwhile sampling of Montreal can be explored in one day. A clean and efficient metro system makes the city easy to navigate. Some advanced planning is recommended, however; not …
Harrowing dances with drones
A passenger plane has yet to be taken down by a drone, but insiders at the San Diego–based Southern California Terminal Radar Approach Control center — reportedly the busiest air-traffic facility in the world — …
December 2, 2014