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
United States
Side Trip
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
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, Arizona
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument is located in Coolidge, Arizona, about an hour’s drive from either Phoenix or Tuscon. It’s believed that this ancient structure was occupied by one large family of the Hohokam society. …
April 26, 2010
Groovy Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is probably the grooviest city in the Northwest, if, for no other reason, because of the Ken Kesey statue on town square. The Chief was dead when the statue was cast, a security guard …
April 22, 2010
On the Way to Pt. Reyes
If you’re driving north on I-5 and make the left turn onto I-580 heading toward the Bay Area, you may notice, just before you climb the last slight grade into Hayward, a prosperous suburb by …
April 21, 2010
Glacier National Park: Untouched Beauty
There are few national parks that can compare to Glacier in the northwest corner of Montana. With 13 campgrounds and over 700 miles of hiking trails, there’s no shortage of natural beauty at your fingertips. …
April 18, 2010
The Winchester Mystery House, San Jose
Do you long for an excursion into a world rich with mystery and a healthy dose of the supernatural? On a nondescript street in San Jose stands one of the most fascinating homes in the …
April 15, 2010
Savannah, Georgia
I was pressed for time. Only one afternoon to enjoy historic Savannah. So no museums. No carriage rides. No pints at the local pubs. Only one option: Walk around. But somehow this was enough. I …
Avenue of the Giants, California
The bus spit me out in the small lumber town of Rio Dell. It was nearly 3 p.m., but the weather was fair and my demeanor expansive. I called my mom and ate a few …
April 7, 2010
Springfield, Illinois: the Hidden State Capital
Presented with a two-hour delay for my Springfield flight, I made the best decision that any rational person of age would: I paid a friendly visit to the airport pub. “Where are you from?” I …
April 1, 2010
San Diego Texas, April
What’s Going on Here? Accusations of election improprieties abound after recent elections in Jim Wells County. San Diego residents Tracy Lopez and her husband, Mark Anthony Lopez, accuse Mark’s stepmother, Cindy Lopez, of forging a …
March 31, 2010
I Messed With Texas
South by Southwest is a ten-day arts/music conference and festival started in 1987. The music festival hosts upwards of 1400 bands over four days. The official slogan dubs Austin “the Live Music Capitol of the …
Wolf down that pie in Julian
If you think the only way to see a wolf is to watch Dances with Wolves, think again. Two top-tier North American predators, the Alaskan and Mexican wolves, have dens at the California Wolf Center. …
March 30, 2010
Polar Bear Plunge, Pittsburgh
When Bill invited me to jump in the Monongahela River, it was New Year's Eve, and I had knocked back half a bottle of champagne. "It's tomorrow morning," Bill said. "Just bring a swimsuit and …
March 28, 2010