Though I spent a week in New Brunswick, I could see that I just touched the surface of all the different places and cultures of the Canadian Atlantic province. But two aspects stood out as …
October 16, 2022
Travel off the Beaten Path
Travel off the Beaten Path
Mi’kmaq and FDR in New Brunswick, Canada
A Mexicali Chinese New Year
Before washing up in San Diego, I lived as an expatriate “gweilo” (foreign devil) in Hong Kong for 20 years. In Hong Kong, I had cultivated a taste for exotic South China cuisine like blood …
January 11, 2021
The essence of Montevideo in 48 hours
The capital and only major city of Uruguay doesn't get the acclaim of some neighbors – notably Buenos Aires and Punta del Este – but it's a vibrant and fascinating place, and if time is …
August 24, 2020
Manaus, Brazil: quick and cheap across the Meeting of Waters
June 2020 UPDATE: The Brazilian state of Amazonas has been hit particularly hard by the COVID-19 pandemic – with the capital, Manaus, having the only intensive care beds in the state. Read more about how …
June 21, 2020
Discovery and serenity in Cambria, CA
When I think of Cambria, I often think of my Grandpa Bristol – outfitted in a pair of brown waders – prying large red abalones from tidepool rocks. The Bristol home was close to the …
June 2, 2019
Cabo Polonio, bona fide best of Uruguay
There may well be other places like this, a scruffy village of dwellings on a cape which seems like it’s from another time, but I haven’t seen any. Most locations remind you of some other …
February 4, 2019
Love for H-Town
Ahh, Houston! As soon as I landed, my shirt got stuck to my body as I breathed in that humid thick air. Siri told me that my week visiting Texas for my cousin’s wedding was …
October 27, 2018
Fascinating Kinmen, Taiwan
A convenient weekend break from the noise and bustle of Taipei is a one-hour flight to the island of Kinmen. Although Kinmen is controlled by Taiwan, it lies only eight kilometers from the Chinese mainland …
October 14, 2018
Escape to Minca, Colombia
It’s not the kind of place that comes to mind when thinking about Colombia, but a little mountain village called Minca gets my vote for best of honors. A slow 17 kilometers up and out …
September 9, 2018
Loveland Reservoir: backcountry in San Diego's backyard
Loveland Lake and Dam is a true hidden gem in the backcountry about 40 minutes drive from downtown San Diego off I-8 East. The trailhead can be easily missed if you blink once while driving …
August 27, 2018
The Mitchell Caverns: California's sacred caves
The Mitchell Caverns are not as large as those at Carlsbad, New Mexico, or as well known — but are local, every bit as dramatic, and come complete with a history made for movies. I …
April 22, 2018