The Munro Trail is a scenic, moderately challenging and sometimes wet hike through the Koele uplands on the island of Lana'i. On a recent visit, we hiked part of the Munro Trail to Koloiki Ridge, …
June 16, 2010
North America
Lanai, Hawaii – Hiking the Munro Trail to Koloiki Ridge
Walkable San Francisco
On a recent trip to San Francisco, I rediscovered what a great town it is for walking. The weather was miserable on the day of my arrival, reminding me of Mark Twain's quote that "the …
June 9, 2010
Climb Cochise Stronghold, Arizona
Built on legend and myth of a world gone by, Tombstone is a town of Hollywood fame. But just across the desert from its dusty wooden walks lies a lesser-known area of lore.... I'm thankful …
Hurricanes and Gators in New Orleans
Thankfully, I’m not referring to a severe tropical cyclone unleashing raging reptiles, but rather to drink and food. I arrived in the “birthplace of jazz” with a few goals outside of relishing music: to find …
June 3, 2010
Eastern Market, Washington, D.C.
It felt like an Ottoman bazaar: Tables and tents formed a maze of narrow walkways, and everywhere I looked, I saw jewelry and CD's and hand-spun garments. Middle-aged woman sat in lawn chairs, wearing floppy …
June 1, 2010
Raising the Bar
Why don’t you slip out of those wet clothes and into a dry martini? — Robert Benchley "M and H. This must be it,” I said, stopping before an unlit gray door on which the …
May 26, 2010
San Diego, Texas, in May
Good Nephew, Bad Nephew. Marco Garcia resigned from his position as San Diego Animal Control officer two weeks after he was arrested for assaulting his 66-year-old aunt in an incident regarding a dog he brought …
May 19, 2010
New Orleans Jazz Fest: A Fest of Smiles
“New Orleans is my spot,” declares Pershall the cabbie en route to my second day at Jazz Fest. Ten minutes away from the famed French Quarter at the Fair Grounds Race Course, the 41st annual …
May 19, 2010
Whales up Close in San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja
Every winter, gray whales migrate from Alaska and Siberia to the rich waters of Laguna San Ignacio in Baja California to breed and give birth to their 14-foot, 2-ton babies. Unlike whale-watching tours in the …
May 13, 2010
Five Memorable Day Trips in Puerto Rico
1. Old San Juan. With its well preserved Spanish colonial-style architecture, Old San Juan continues to charm locals and visitors alike. Lively nightlife can be found in and around the city, and if you like …
May 13, 2010
Arcosanti: Architecture Meets Ecology in Arizona
I headed down an isolated desert dirt road in Arizona to the experimental community of Arcosanti, not knowing quite what to expect. Arcosanti is a creative laboratory for innovative design strategies to combat urban sprawl. …
May 12, 2010
Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.
I arrived in D.C. at 8 a.m., after a long night hunched in the seat of a Greyhound bus. Morning sunlight beamed, and as I hiked to Union Station, then to the Capitol, I realized …
May 6, 2010
Side Trip
Coming back from Point Reyes, in no hurry, and decide to turn left toward the Sacramento River delta. As river meets greater San Francisco Bay at Carquinez Strait, there lies the unincorporated town of Crockett, …
May 5, 2010
Cross Church
It is not uncommon for critics of Christian moralism to note that the Bible is chock-full of deeply immoral behavior. And that was what made Sunday’s service at Cross Church so remarkable. There, in a …
April 28, 2010
Stay There
I mentioned last week that I was on my way to Point Reyes. There’s a birding festival headquartered in Point Reyes Station, a small, unincorporated town set next to the park. Bird festivals are everywhere, …
April 28, 2010