Tell your friends you’re thinking about traveling to the Costa Rican rain forest in the middle of the rainy season, and you may be told you’re crazy. But the rainy season — roughly April through November, depending on the part of the country — has its advantages. My reason for visiting Costa Rica in August [more...]
You may have read that walking is the only way to see historic Siena. It’s true that nothing beats exploring it on foot, and also true that the hilly medieval city has banned most cars from the narrow, uneven streets in the city centre. There is an efficient taxi service though, so if you are [more...]
A sound and light show is a spectacular form of entertainment presented after dark in a place of historic or architectural interest. Lighting effects are projected onto the facades of these structures and synchronized with live or recorded music and narrative. The invention of the sound and light show is credited to Paul Robert-Houdin, who [more...]
Most of the people who visit Nauvoo, Ill., are there to see historical sites relating to the settlement from 1839 to 1846 led by American religious pioneer Joseph Smith Jr. Although most visitors are from the two largest churches that trace their origins to Smith — the Salt Lake City-based Church of Jesus Christ of [more...]
Independence, Missouri, is the city where U.S. President Harry S. Truman grew up, and the town is proud of that aspect of its history. Among the Truman related sites to visit are: The Harry S. Truman Library and Museum, has numerous exhibits related to Truman’s life. It also hosts community events such as symposia related [more...]
For those interested in American frontier religious history, the Kansas City, Missouri, suburb of Independence City is well worth a visit. One of the first things visitors to Independence are likely to notice is the 90-meter-tall (300 feet) Community of Christ temple, as it is by far the tallest structure in the city. The temple [more...]
If you want to climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge, you have a few options ranging from from pedestrian to adventurous, and from free to expensive. A public walkway runs along the eastern side of the bridge, 59 metres (194 feet) above the water, at the same level as the roadway. You can look down to [more...]
Everyone who visits Siena heads for the Piazza del Campo, the great medieval square where the famous Palio horse races are run in summer. Energetic types can climb the Torre del Mangia (14th century bell-tower in the photo); others admire the medieval architecture from an outdoor café table. Next stop is probably the even older [more...]
Whether you prefer busy metropolitan areas or remote wilderness, you’ll find plenty to do in Alberta, the Canadian province that borders the United States and is wedged between British Columbia and Saskatchewan. Here are a few of the highlights: Calgary: With about a million residents, Calgary is the province’s largest city and features the sort [more...]
Visitors are attracted to the Equality State by its National Parks and Wild West history. Wyoming is a state of ‘must sees.’ From the Devil’s Tower (of Close Encounters fame) to Old Faithful and Yellowstone National Park, the state is jam-packed with great natural attractions. Yellowstone became the first national park in 1872 when people [more...]
On 26 April 1986 there was an explosion at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine which released a plume of radioactive particles that caused fallout in many countries. Even in 2009 there are parts of England, Scotland and Wales where sheep cannot be raised for human consumption due to the high levels of caesium-137 [more...]
Fans of old embroidery will find plenty in Scotland. The suggestions here are a few favourites, all in reach of Edinburgh or Glasgow. Traquair is an ancient house with a unique collection of old needlework. The 16th century petit point fruit and flower “slip” motifs are well-preserved, still waiting to be sewn onto soft furnishings, [more...]
Wisconsin tourism focuses mainly on water and there is a lot of it. Wisconsin borders Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and Michigan. But why don’t we start with something that is not about water. Loyal fans, great games, and loads of fun, Green Bay and Lambeau Field is a mecca for NFL fans. Go behind the scenes [more...]
West Virginia truly is “Wild and Wonderful” as their slogan says. West Virginia offers spectacular mountains, swirling rivers, and scenic countryside, a welcome change of pace from the pressures of everyday life. You’ll find friendly cities full of fun and nightlife. From wild to tame, from fancy resorts to rustic retreats, West Virginia truly has [more...]
You will find rain forests, beaches and tide pools, fantascic scenery, volcanoes, wildlife, glaciers, mountains, deserts, wilderness, trout-filled lakes, and wild rivers. The outdoor recreational opportunities are nearly endless, from sportfishing and whale watching to whitewater rafting and mountain climbing. There is fun, adventure, and challenge out there for everybody. For the non-adventure traveler, cities [more...]
“Virginia Is For Lovers.” Ok, now that we have the official slogan out of the way, we can find what else Virginia is for. However, Virginia ‘is’ a history lover’s dream, once a part of the Cherokee lands and even played a role in the invention of iced tea. A visitor may walk in the [more...]
Vermont, the Green Mountain State, is not only a great place for a weekender, but an extended holiday as well. Visitors to Vermont receive a cozy, old-fashioned welcome at lodgings from small Bed & Breakfasts to major resorts with spas and other luxuries. Have a go at skiing or snowboarding on one of the many [more...]
Although Manuel Antonio National Park is the smallest national park in Costa Rica (less than 700 hectares or 1,700 acres), it is also one of the most visited. And it’s no wonder: The park is home to a rain forest, monkeys galore, parrots, toucans, iguanas, sloths and other wildlife and the type of beaches that [more...]
I remember going on a road trip during the 1960s from the Seattle, Washington, area to New York. Every few miles along the highway — and I’m talking about for hundreds of miles — there’d be a sign advertising the Wall Drug Store. Some of them were clever — if you’re old enough, you may [more...]
Rosslyn Chapel already had 30,000 visitors a year before Dan Brown used it in his mystical adventure novel the Da Vinci Code in 2003. Numbers rose, and then escalated massively after the 2006 movie version showed Tom Hanks and Audrey Tautou searching for secrets there. The church near Edinburgh, Scotland was overflowing with tourists in [more...]