North America
Totem Poles of the First Nations in Vancouver Canada. Photo: Tonya Fitzpatrick
“Through travel I first became aware of the outside world; it was through travel that I found my own introspective way into becoming a part of it.”
– Eudora Welty
Explore the history, diverse cultures and traditions of the North American countries of Canada, Mexico and the United States. North American culture reflects both the cultures of its indigenous people- the Native Americans as well as the culture that is influenced by European Colonization.
The United States is the third largest country in the world and one of the most culturally diverse countries of the world. Described as the ‘melting pot‘ of North America , amalgamation of different cultures has given shape to the unique U.S. culture.
Mexico is the most populous state of North America and one of the largest city in the world.
Canada is the largest country of North American region and covering more than half of the continent’s area.
Having lived in New York City for the past 13 years, I’ve fallen in love with my new city. The bright lights of Broadway, innumerable restaurants, museums of every variety, my favorite Irish pub, and the gym where I work off my indulgences are all just a subway ride away.
When we think of Williamsburg, Virginia, usually we think of the fight for American independence and freedom from England. However, there's an important element that hasn't been acknowledged until recently: enslaved African Americans built most of Williamsburg. When I visited Williamsburg, I viewed some sites that tell a story about their journey.
Legends grew around some like Wyatt Earp. Television’s longest running Western show, Gunsmoke, showcased that culture. There’s a place you can visit to understand that lifestyle, Dodge City, Kansas, known as the Wickedest Little City in the West.
The city of Galveston, Texas is a Gulf Coast barrier island that holds a rich and historic connection to the end of slavery and the celebration of Juneteenth.
he Black Star Canyon Falls almost always rank the number one waterfall to visit on the bucket list of nature seekers. Located deep inside the Santa Ana Mountains in Orange County, the picturesque waterfall drops at a maximum elevation of 1,638 feet (500 meters) and can be reached by means of a very adventurous and demanding seven-mile return hike.
“Are you sure this is the right way?” My husband, Ben, stopped me and took a critical look at the map.
The Enchanted Mountains of Cattaraugus County, New York are the homeland of The Seneca Nation, one of six Native American tribes that formed a confederacy in the region. The largest of the six tribes, The Seneca, who lived in the Western part of the Confederacy, called themselves the Onöndowa’ga,’ or “Keepers of the Western Door,” because they controlled the land foreigners had to cross to gain access to the Confederacy.
Suddenly, below several work emails and app notifications, a Whatsapp message from your mother catches your eye: “Well... I just had the longest shower...ate breakfast and drinking 3 cups of coffee... I just spent my first night ‘ever’ in jail."
A major highlight in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is a hot air balloon ride at daybreak.
Becoming an expat in Sint Maarten was hard, with culture shock taking the wind out of my sails for days at a time at the beginning. It
Although I usually have a hard time ranking landscape destinations, there is one specific beach I would easily consider the most beautiful in the Baja California area, if not even in all Mexico: Playa Balandra, a spectacular, crescent-shaped bay with crystal clear and shallow water.
May is Jewish American Heritage Month and that means it is a great time to learn while exploring. I describe my own background as “Jewish lite” because while both my parents are Jewish and all my ancestors hail from Eastern Europe, growing up my household was more spiritual than religious.
