Articles
Our winter welcome to Bolivia wasn't exactly warm. For Americans, the visa requirements are extensive. In addition to paying $160 each in unblemished, unfolded US currency, we were required to provide passport-style photos, evidence of yellow fever vaccinations, financial documents proving access to $10,000, confirmed reservations for our entire stay, and tickets out of the country.
If you were to hear that by 2050 there will be more plastic in our oceans (by weight) than there will be fish, would you be alarmed? I definitely was alarmed when I read white paper about the plastic economy projected by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.
There’s something about Martha’s Vineyard in August that feels like a reunion — not just of families, but of ideas, artistry, and culture. Tucked inside this summer tradition is one of the most important cultural gatherings happening anywhere: the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival (MVAAFF).
Some of my earliest memories are of trips to Indiana. Fields of corn bedecked the seven-hour drive. When we arrived in the small town of Portland, we camped and spent our days exploring rows upon rows of antique steam engines and flea market stalls or eating sausage burgers while watching racehorses and their handlers during early-morning training sessions.
Sidhpur is deeply rooted in both history and Hindu mythology. Since ancient times, the sleepy little town in North Gujarat, India, has been a sacred pilgrimage site among Hindu devotees who honor their maternal ancestors. The town rose to prominence during the rule of the Solanki Dynasty when it became the capital of the state and was named after the famous king Siddhraj Jaisingh.
When I was a kid, I thought everyone popped into quirky little antique shops when they traveled. After all, my family did. We built entire day trips around it. We’d spend hours drifting from shop to shop in Cadiz and Paducah, Kentucky, or Watertown, Pigeon Forge, and Lebanon, Tennessee. Those shops can be as informative as museum visits, especially with a knowledgeable companion. They can help you get to know the area in a distinct way. I still make it a habit to visit antique shops when I travel, and I think you should, too. Here’s why.
The ubiquitous street art, depicting portraits of Ho Chi Minh, flying pigeons, and people waving the national flag, reminded me that this year marks the 50th anniversary of Vietnam’s reunification in 1975.
This week, “The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth” returns to Calgary in the Canadian province of Alberta. Better known as the Calgary Stampede, this annual 10-day event features an opening parade, a rodeo, a festival filled with rides and indulgent treats, as well as pancake breakfasts throughout the community. But, perhaps one of the Calgary Stampede’s most intriguing events is the Elbow River Camp, formerly known as Indian Village.
During the Gilded Age, wealthy Northerners came to Aiken, South Carolina for the warm weather, spring water, and pine-scented air. The railroad arrived here in 1830, and the Northerners followed. They established what became known as their Winter Colony. Stories of these well-heeled guests add to the charm of this Southern gem.
The natural beauty of the mountains of North Carolina has beckoned travelers for decades. When autumn arrives and vibrant shades of gold, orange, yellow, and red paint the landscape, even more visitors arrive. Residents and business owners eagerly anticipate the fall season and welcome travelers with a smile. But in September 2024, in the midst of the colorful season an unwelcome guest arrived…Hurricane Helene. The horrific storm caused significant damage to many mountain towns in the North Carolina mountains, and some have still not recovered. Lives, businesses, and property were lost to the storm.
