Much has been written about the modern scourge of tourists with their camera phones, roaming galleries more intent on taking photos of (or more precisely, having someone take their photo in front of) famous works of art than actually looking at the art itself. And call me a curmudgeon, but when I see this myself I give a little shiver of condemnation. It just doesn’t seem right when people are more interested in the artefact of their travels—the photograph, the trinket, the t-shirt—than they are in the actual experience.
Now the Easter Bunny has moved back into his hole until next year, mothers all over the world are anxiously looking forward to 'their' holiday: Mother's Day. This day is celebrated in many countries, but it is particularly meaningful in cultures where mothers are considered the most important person in the family, including the Italian culture.
This is a blog about why I cancelled my subscription to Lonely Planet Magazine - I was tired of reading about air travel being the only option. The post became a bit of a meditation/rant about air travel, and making ethical choices around travel options.
What are the places that speak to your heart and draw on your soul? Where was it you travelled to when you felt like you were coming home even though you had never been there before? What places have inspired you and how?
Share your photography, art, poetry and prose that has been inspired by the places that speak to your heart and draw on your soul.
A passenger on my flight from Chicago O'Hare to Springfield blatantly disregarded safety protocol with regards to use of her mobile phone while in the aircraft: this is my open letter to her.
Have you witnessed similar behaviour? What did you do about it?
Or are you perhaps one of those who mirrors this lady's behaviour? Perhaps you could explain why?
6 hours and 37 minutes. That was how long my GPS was telling me our trip would take, but I knew it would more likely be 8 or 9 hours after stops and traffic and who knows what else. We were heading home last week, at the tail end of a weekend visit to my wife’s parents in Virginia – our minivan loaded down with enough stuff to undoubtedly fill at least 3 school cafeterias to the ceiling. I’ve resigned myself to the unfortunate reality that there is no easy way to manage a long northward trek with a van full of 3 kids.
Lonely Planet recently posed a question to their fans, "If you could travel to any city or country in the world for the food, where would you go?"
I discussed my favorite cities, including my hometown, Chicago, and how I have eaten my way through them, both while living there and traveling through. I would love to hear and read about other spots that folks would love to travel to and read.
With all the chaos around the Mediterranean, from financial problems in Greece to revolutions in Libya, I thought it was time we look past the individual nations and look at the region as a whole. This article is (will be) a multi-day "voyage" around the Med looking at all of the players and what the future may hold for relations between the nations and the United States.
As a mom who travels with young children, I pay close attention to the accomodations that I choose for my family, taking into consideration amenities and other details of a hotel. One of the things that I never used to consider was a hotel's policy on pets.
As someone who doesn't own a pet, the thought of traveling with one never crossed my mind. Having allergies and a young toddler who constantly rolls around on the floor, staying somewhere that allows pets presents a problem for me.
As an artist and a crafter, color is very important to me. Even in my everyday life. I recently started thinking about the colors of my neighborhood, and of my favorite vacation spot, and how they made me feel.
Determine the colors of your home, and play along!
The sweetest things in life cannot never be purchased, they're created;-)
Everyday we are blessed with the sweet gift of living another day so embrace this opportunity and indulge yourself; give, love, serve, make a difference.
It is literally true that you can succeed best and quickest by helping others to succeed; Napoleon Hill
Camping is always an adventure. However, on our first camping journey of the summer, we weren't expecting to get lost for four and a half hours in "Mystery Valley", almost roll our 4x4 over, get a flat tire, and not get a single day of sun or night of stars. Yet we still managed to have some amazing moments, and amongst the bickering, my partner and I grew much closer to our wonderful friends and co-adventurers. No matter what happens, getting out of the big city and sitting by a fire in silence while digging your hands into the Earth is incredibly healing.
My memories have smells- the differentiated effusions of coffee. As a child it was the smell of all things right with the world. Apparently, researchers have found that it is also the smell of all things healthy with the world.
What you give is what you get.
In this post I share about my experience on how I'm trying to help others and how it has actually turned to help me in return as well.
Why don't you share a similar experience you've had?
There's a big debate running on a travel industry blog about whether trade publications express their opinions enough, rather than report news.
It's a good question. Do people bought up in a classic business environment express their opinions sufficiently - be that trade journalist or company blogger?
As many of you know, Disneyland's 56th Birthday was yesterday. I kept on trying to think of stories that related to this important day in Disney history. I thought I could tell you about meeting Marty Sklar or cast members that were there opening day, but I kept coming back to the idea of freedom. I listened to Walt's speech and it hit me, "Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals and the hard facts that have created America".
Life is full of adventures and life is short. Sometimes it passes by in what seems like a blink of an eye. Many times at Disney I had a front row seat to life. Disneyland was the starting point of a new adventure, a celebration, or sometimes the end of a long journey. I often spent many days learning about people's lives and what brought them to this place. I remember this day unlike any other, mostly because it really changed and inspired me.
A continuation of “Good Fences Make Good Neighbors” …It was a year and a half before we finally got around to having an official housewarming party to celebrate the acquisition of our new home on the range.Fifteen months of country living had simply flown by in
Southern comfort food has never been more popular. And pimento cheese sandwhiches are the quintisential southern snack. Learn the history of this nostalgic favorite and try an old fashioned pimento cheese recipee.
We all make mistakes, and sooner or later you'll back a few while travelling. What's your worst - or funniest, or most 'character-building' - travel mistake experience?
So many travellers consider a camera an essential accessory. Would it be better to just experience new places and cultures without looking at that little screen?
Chef was on the hunt for the perfect fishing hole, and had invited us to join him for the day as he explored all of the rivers that run through it. The late afternoon drive home saw me staring absentmindedly out of the car’s passenger window as our tires sped as fast as safety would allow over the dirt road shortcut he’d decided to take through the Bitterroot Valley...
There hadn’t been a cow for miles. Where were all of the cows anyway?
Within six months of NAFTA‘s New Year’s 1994 implementation, my father finally decided to make his first trip to Montana. Chef and I had left the Unabomber bungalow behind fifteen months earlier, and were now living in a large ranch house on 10 acres located three miles southeast of downtown Whitefish.
