Off the Beaten Path

In October 2011, the EDRO III left the Cyprus port of Limassol to head to the Greek island of Rhodes when it got caught in a severe storm.

Southern California has many hiking trails, but only a few are as famous as the trail heading towards the “Bridge to Nowhere.” This arch bridge is 120 feet high and 180 feet long, a majestic throne over the San Gabriel River.

For many people around the world, the Bahamas are emblematic of the Caribbean’s charms. When we think of these islands we generally picture pristine beaches, crystal-clear waters, and lush green forests.

Ask any average Westerner, and they likely won’t be able to point out Burundi on the map. Although this tiny country is virtually ignored when it comes to East African tourism, that’s no reason why it shouldn’t be on your travel bucket list.

Travelling by train in China is not as difficult as you might first think, though buying tickets can be a fraught affair with the many booths and total lack of any language other than Chinese which can confront you.

From spirit circles to brothels and Sonny Bono, these are just a few of the backstories behind JoAnn Hill’s new book, Secret Washington DC.

Swat Valley (Swat) is known as the ‘Switzerland’ of Pakistan because of its snow-capped mountains and beautiful scenery.

Tucked in the rugged North Cascade Mountains near the Canadian border, is a town unreachable except by ferry, foot or flight. Remote as Stehekin is, the Washington town is a hub for nature lovers looking to hike, kayak, ride horses or fish in a national park whose glacier-tipped peaks are difficult to access.

Used by Indigenous tribes in the Amazon for medicinal purposes for centuries, it’s only in the last 50 years or so that Westerners have come to learn about ayahuasca

Famed for its artistic traditions in weaving, pottery and painted wooden animal carvings known as alebrijes, the Mexican city of Oaxaca is also brimming with contemporary art.

Portugal boasts some of the most beautiful coastlines, breathtaking sceneries, and unique architecture, making it one of the best travel destinations in Southern Europe.

    It’s evening in the small African nation of Burundi, and the waning sun throws shadows over the city of Bujumbura. In the old Land Rover, we bump and jostle our way through the crowded dirt roads of the capital. Before we left the mission station where my husband’s family lives, we picked up a few Burundian friends who were going the same direction. I struggle to make casual conversation in Swahili, the unfamiliar syllables falling heavily from my tongue. The boy next to me is patient, and he smiles broadly at each clumsy attempt to communicate. Something I have learned during my short time in Burundi is that the people are rarely judgmental. They appreciate your interest in their culture, although they don’t mind laughing good-naturedly at your fumbles. Children of Burundi We pull up to our destination: a modest two-room home built of mudbricks. Small children stare [...]