Puerto Rico will never forget September 20, 2017. Hurricane Maria ravaged the island with 155 mph winds, taking down 80 percent of the utility poles and leaving 100 percent of the 3.5 million residents without electricity. Over 70,000 homes...
Souvenirs: How to Preserve Your Travel Memories
Souvenirs…the stuff we lug back from trips to help us recall the happy feelings of our experience. Back home, we wear the t-shirt, put the magnet on the fridge, and place the little spoon in a slot. Trust me,...
Anthony Bourdain: He Inspired Travel
Anthony Bourdain was a big personality. Brazen and outspoken, he wasn’t for everyone. He liked it that way. On one hand, he could be painfully critical of both popular travel show hosts and fellow celebrity chefs. On the other...
Make a Life-Changing Decision During Vacation? Seems We Do!
Life-changing decision? That requires thinking. Bet you don’t want your vacation to involve more thinking than choosing the next tropical drink with a little umbrella. If so, you’d lose that bet. Everyone spends precious vacation time differently. Maybe it...
Talk to Strangers? Absolutely! Everywhere We Go!
“Never talk to strangers.” We all heard that from our mothers. Then we probably cautioned our own children to do the same. For many of us, it morphed into a lifelong habit. Sadly, our fear of Stranger Danger is keeping...
Volunteer Tourism: Is It for You? A Few Things to Consider…
Volunteer tourism: is it for you? Also called “voluntourism,” it’s a growing travel trend. About two million people a year–spending $2 billion–go abroad and donate their time to help a favorite cause. Given the world situation, volunteering certainly seems...
Amtrak: Is Train Travel Still Fun? Yay and Nay…
Amtrak. America’s very own passenger train system. Is it still a thrill to hop onboard a train and listen to the clickety-clack of the rails? To watch the towns and farms go by? To sleep in a private compartment...
Disadvantages of Cruises: Yes, There Are Some…
Wait! Disadvantages of cruises? Can cruising really have a downside? If you believe the glamorous ads—with slender couples wearing crisp white linen, clinking champagne glasses on the large balcony of their large stateroom as dolphins frolic nearby—then you may...
Holidays Elsewhere: The Pros & Cons
What happens when you think about spending the holidays elsewhere? Do you wish you could escape to someplace warm…or different? Or do you feel guilty, because you “should” stay home, drink cheap eggnog, and find a new spot for...
Gratitude from a Traveler: Thank You, World!
Gratitude: As Americans gather to celebrate Thanksgiving, most will be focused on being glad for family, food…and maybe football. A day of abundance and a pause before the frenzy of Christmas. For those of us who travel, there is...