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Auckland, New Zealand: Ferry to Devonport (4/2/2019) - After exploring most of the highlights of Auckland's downtown area and suburbs, I decided to take a ferry over to Mount Victoria. My hotel was located a few blocks away from the harbor, so getting to the ferry was pretty… read more
Auckland, New Zealand: City Highlights (2/17/2019) - Jetting over from humid and overcast Tahiti, Auckland was a breath of fresh air! The sun was shining and in comparison to where I had arrived from, it was—dare I say it—chilly. A quick wardrobe change at my hotel and… read more
Tahiti, French Polynesia: Vacation on a Budget (11/30/2018) - Crystal clear water, warm weather, tropical fruit: all the things that come to mind when thinking of Tahiti. And the same could be said for the huge pricetag attached to such a vacation. A trip earmarked for extra special occasions… read more
Bangkok, Thailand: Wats and Grand Palace (5/15/2018) - Wat Pho, Wat Phra Kaew, and the Grand Palace are some of the most visited locations in Bangkok. So it is worth getting to the Wats early - if not to beat the crowds, at least to beat the heat!… read more
Terlingua, Texas: Southwestern Ghost Town (12/13/2017) - Big Bend National Park is pretty far from any major cities and still a good distance from any large towns. But considering that national parks are established for the purpose of diving in to nature, this is what you… read more
Big Bend National Park, Texas (12/5/2017) - The Big Bend National Park, located along the Texas-Mexico border, encompasses the beauty of rivers, deserts, and mountains all in one location. And the drive to the park is pretty spectacular as well -- a two lane highway winding… read more
San Antonio, Texas: Riverwalk and the Alamo (11/15/2017) - While in balmy San Antonio, I stayed along the famed Riverwalk -- a section of the Rio Grande that is canaled off into a loop. The river continues to run through the city, but within this built up loop… read more
Essaouira, Morocco: Beachfront and Gnaoua Music (9/26/2017) - The port town of Essaouira, originally Mogador, is well worth a visit, if only to get a break from the big cities and persistent vendors. One of the main roads towards the center of town travels along the coastline… read more
Reykjavik, Iceland: Flight & City Center (9/1/2017) - Iceland holds a special place in my heart, because it was the first international trip I planned completely on my own. No travel agent, no tour guide. I remember sitting in the airport terminal, waiting for the IcelandAir flight… read more
Iceland: Best Enjoyed Chilled (8/6/2017) - Why should you brave the cold and visit Iceland in the winter? For those of you who hate cold weather, I'm sure the very thought of traveling to a cold destination in the winter is unthinkable. But Iceland in the… read more
Mergouza, Morocco: Sahara Camping in Morocco (7/9/2017) - In what I can only imagine is a well-rehearsed speech addressing the most frequent question, the Sahara camp camel guides insisted to the would-be riders that their camels did not spit. Further elaborating, they said their camels, the one-hump dromedary,… read more
Mergouza, Morocco: Offroading through the Sahara (7/9/2017) - The opportunity to camp in the Sahara Desert was one of my top reasons for traveling to Morocco. The silver screen's depiction of a seemingly endless expanse of sunburnt sand dunes captured my imagination, and I would not be… read more
Fez, Morocco: 5 Must See Medina Highlights (6/22/2017) - Fez has a great deal to offer a first time visitor; almost a sensory-overload of things to see and do. So, if you are short on time, I would recommend these medina highlights, all located within the old medina of… read more
What to Expect on a RAM, Electronics Free Flight (5/26/2017) - If you are like me, and find yourself booked on a flight that is now banned from allowing passengers to carry non-phone electronics on board, you are probably thinking "Great, 7 hours of staring at the reclined seat 5… read more
Volubilis, Morocco: The Mosaics of Volubilis (5/24/2017) - Volubilis is an easy stop on the road from Rabat to Fez, passing through the town of Meknes, and a short distance from Moulay Idriss. Descending the stone stairs into the archaeological complex, the UNESCO seal is affixed on… read more
Rabat, Morocco: Highlights of Rabat (5/14/2017) - Most of the sights in Rabat are pretty easy to get to by taxi, tram, or walking. Chellah, an old Roman outpost, is perched on the hillside, just above the river, Bou Regreg. The ruins are mostly made up… read more
Costa del Sol: Sunny, Sandy Torremolinos (4/6/2017) - Torremolinos, on the Costa del Sol and a 20 minute car ride away from Malaga, is another great resort town. With the average high temperature ranging from high-50s to upper-80s, Torremolinos has a continual stream of visitors. The combination of snow… read more
Costa del Sol: Malaga’s Palms and Picasso (3/29/2017) - The Costa del Sol, the southern coast of Spain's Malaga province, is made up of beach resort towns dotting the coastline, and bits of unspoiled natural beauty in between. In the U.S., the Costa del Sol would be comparable… read more
New Orleans: French Quarter (3/8/2017) - Welcome to New Orleans's French Quarter; infamous for its ruckus parties, haunted buildings, and Creole and Cajun cuisine. The French Quarter is a 7 x 13 block neighborhood, with the streets of Canal, Rampart, and Esplanade making up the defining… read more
New Orleans: The Garden District (2/23/2017) - In honor of Mardi Gras next week, I've decided to segue from my Spain trip, to talk about my recent trip to New Orleans' Garden District! Southwest of the French Quarter, I spent a Saturday morning walking around the Garden… read more
Cordoba, Spain: La Mezquita (2/8/2017) - Two hours from Seville, Cordoba makes for a great day trip. Upon arrival, I met up with a local guide, for a tour of Cordoba's popular attraction, La Mezquita. While making our way along the riverside, up to the mosque-cathedral,… read more
Seville, Spain: Cathedral by Day, Flamenco by Night (2/1/2017) - Continuing through the Santa Cruz neighborhood, I made my way towards the Seville Cathedral and Giralda Tower. Seville Cathedral, also known as St Mary of the See, is a UNESCO heritage site and the largest Gothic Cathedral in… read more
Seville, Spain: From Maria Luisa Park to Santa Cruz (1/25/2017) - The Maria Luisa Park area is a great place to start exploring Seville. Easily accessible by bus, the park is centrally located and within walking distance of other attractions in the area. As you are taking in the serenity of… read more
Algarve, Portugal: Scenic Coastal Drive (1/18/2017) - On my way out of Lisbon, en route to Seville, Spain, I decided to take the opportunity to see more of Portugal. Roughly 4.5 hours from Lisbon to Seville by car, I figured I could afford to meander a… read more
Sintra, Portugal: Lunch and Dining Tips (1/11/2017) - The square immediately in front of the Palace of Sintra has quite a few easily accessible restaurants. If you do not feel up to exercising your Portuguese, most of the restaurants have menus, with pictures, at the host/hostess station. Though,… read more
Lisbon, Portugal: Alfama and the Age of Discovery (12/28/2016) - Hoping to avoid some of the crowds, I arrived in the Alfama neighborhood in the early morning. Chairs at open air cafes were still stacked. Local grocery shops were just opening their doors and setting up sidewalk displays along… read more
London, England: Feet Meet Pavement (11/23/2016) - When picking a hotel, Airbnb, or other rental, you may want to ensure your location is close to a tube station or bus route if you plan on skipping the car rental. Don't forget, cars drive on the left… read more
London, England: Arriving at London Heathrow (11/15/2016) - My two week vacation began with my flight into London Heathrow. One of the great things about Heathrow is how well connected it is to various public transportation options that will get you to the city center (Underground, taxi… read more
The Golden Triangle, Thailand: Scorpion Temple and the House of Opium (10/15/2018) - The Golden Triangle encompasses the northern portion of Thailand and the land surrounding its borders with Laos and Myanmar. The name was a reference to the opium cultivation and trade that took place there. Tourism is the main focus… read more
Ayutthaya, Thailand: Summer Palace and Ruins (6/30/2018) - Bang Pa In Palace (summer palace) is within easy reach of Bangkok by car -- less than an hour's drive -- and makes for a great day trip. If you don't have a car, you can also take the… read more
Bangkok, Thailand: Essentials for the City and Beyond (1/30/2018) - Bangkok has so much to see and do, it is difficult to know where to start. So, let's kick it off with essentials. First and foremost, Bangkok (and Thailand in general) can be stiflingly hot year round. Except in… read more
Fez, Morocco: Delving into the Labyrinths of the Fez Medina (6/16/2017) - Fez, the original capital of Morocco prior to the French moving it to Rabat, is a bustling city, full of history and artisanal crafts. And no trip to Fez would be complete without wandering through the thousands of alleyways that… read more
Rabat, Morocco: Skip the Hotel and Book a Riad (5/6/2017) - After arriving in Rabat, I caught a petit taxi to the medina area. Be sure to negotiate the fare before getting in the taxi, or have your taxi driver turn on the meter. Rather than getting a hotel room,… read more
Rabat, Morocco: Transferring from Casablanca to Rabat? Try the Train! (4/26/2017) - If you want to ease into Moroccan culture, rather than diving straight in, one of the best cities to start exploring is Rabat. The capital of Morocco, and deemed by many travel enthusiasts as one of the more tourist… read more
Gibraltar: 5 Things To Do In Gibraltar (After Visiting The Caves) (3/20/2017) - So, you've already found your way to St Michael's caves and explored the tunnels burrowed deep into the Rock of Gibraltar. Now what? There are still a wide range of sights and activities in Gibraltar! 1. Ascend/Descend the Rock… read more
Gibraltar: Pillar of Hercules and St Michael’s Cave (2/15/2017) - Before you even enter Gibraltar, you can see its trademark landmark; the Rock of Gibraltar. Also referred to as one of the pillars of Hercules, its mate is across the Strait of Gibraltar. Both the Jebel Musa in Morocco and… read more
Sintra, Portugal: Hilltop Palaces and Pillow Pastries (1/4/2017) - The allures of Sintra's palaces, castles, mountain trails and vistas, and brightly painted towns are only about 30 minutes outside of Lisbon. So, on my final day in Lisbon, I booked a day trip out to Sintra. The booking… read more
Lisbon, Portugal: Mosaic Sidewalks, Architecture, and Cod (12/21/2016) - My trip from airport to hotel was helmed by a very friendly Lisbon native, who took great pride in pointing out attractions and noteworthy locations. I couldn't help up notice how much Lisbon reminded me of another popular destination.… read more
London, England: Buckingham Palace and the Horse Guards (12/14/2016) - The Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace was on my list of must-see sights during my short time in London. Upon arriving, I learned that during the summer months, the Changing of the Guards takes place daily. But,… read more
London, England: River Bus to Greenwich for an Afternoon (12/7/2016) - During one of my free afternoons, I decided to take a trip to Greenwich. I hopped on the river bus at the Tower Pier, along the riverside of the Tower of London, and took it east to Greenwich (Greenwich… read more
London, England: St Paul’s to the Tower to the Eye (11/30/2016) - The City of London has a lot of great attractions to explore. I opted to spend my day visiting three of the top attractions in the city: St Paul's Cathedral, the Tower of London, and the London Eye. First… read more