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
North America
Catching the Holiday Spirit: Newtown, Pennsylvania
Checking Out Boston
Whether you want to learn about early American history, explore art museums, watch leaves change color or sip a pint, Boston does not disappoint. The easiest way for someone unfamiliar with Boston to get around …
December 11, 2011
Diving with Manta Rays in Kona, Hawaii
As a frequent visitor to Hawaii, I’m always looking for a new experience to expand my appreciation for the islands. A friend recommended I try the manta ray night snorkel in Kona, and at first …
Westport, Washington: Untamed Coast
I parked and walked into John’s River Lodge. It’s populated by the graying, the retired and plump. I’d just surfed Westport, and wanted a place to wet my whistle. I ordered a PBR and sat …
December 1, 2011
Looking for Bears in Juneau, Alaska
It had been a long, rainy week aboard our Celebrity cruise ship when we pulled into the port of Juneau on the morning of September 24, 2011. The weather was a brisk 48 degrees and …
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
Penn State Is a Plantation, and JoePa Was the Owner
There is a continental stench coming out of Penn State. Step back, consider yourself a neutral observer with no stake in the scandal. Let’s say you knew there was an eyewitness to the (alleged) rape …
November 22, 2011
New York City, 4 a.m. – 7 a.m.
I left Boston at midnight, bound for Pittsburgh, and I knew I'd face a layover. When I ordered my Megabus tickets, I knew the first leg would only last four hours. I knew I'd have …
November 17, 2011
Little Rock: The New Indie Music Mecca
Little Rock, Arkansas, has quietly become an indie music lover’s paradise. People who ponder going to SxSW, but worry about the expense, the hassle and its growing commercialism are discovering Arkansas’ indie musician– and audience-friendly …
November 17, 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
Manatees in Blue Spring State Park, Florida
Blue Spring State Park is located in Orange City, Florida – a one-hour drive from Orlando, so it's a perfect place to spend the day and get away from the theme parks. This is one …
November 10, 2011
Los Cabos gun battle breaks out
As gun battles go in Mexico, it was nothing special. At 11:00 p.m., Friday, October 28, Mexican military authorities and the local municipal police cornered a group of sicarios, or gunmen, in a house located …
November 9, 2011
Mount St. Helens, Washington: An American Volcano
Mount St. Helens is an active stratovolcano located near Washington State's southern border – 96 miles south of Seattle and 50 miles northeast of Portland. On May 18, 1980, the eruption changed more than 200 …
November 1, 2011
Discovering Phoenix, Arizona
Living in Southern California, I’ve always been interested in the dry desert climate of our neighbor to the east, Arizona. Last December, when we finally visited Phoenix, we got a much better idea of landscape …
October 25, 2011
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