I pride myself on being a deep thinking traveler, focusing on major issues and what truly makes each place I visit unique. I wade into politics and history, religion and culture. But I still need to eat. Food is, as any devotee of Anthony Bourdain will tell you, one of the great uniting forces in…
On September 28, 1542, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo landed in what is now San Diego Harbor at Point Loma. Today, more than 450 years later, the place is a bit different than he would have seen it. However, the strategic importance of this point overlooking the harbor and the deep blue Pacific Ocean remains the same,…
Canada's third largest city and the jewel of British Columbia is one of the most diverse metropolitan areas in the world. Home to incredible green spaces, natural beauty, a huge commercial harbor and a wonderful walking downtown, Vancouver attracts tourists from all over the globe for its mild weather, outdoor adventures, and spectacular food scene.…
Each year, the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network measures world happiness. It takes data from 158 countries, and combines that with surveys, in order to index happiness. It's a fascinating endeavor, and one that undoubtedly leads to a good deal of subjectivity, even if the results are tabulated scientifically. For instance, let's examine the…
I've said it before and I'll say it again: I love driving trips! I especially love driving trips when they combine seeing close friends, eating amazing food, experiencing exciting culture, and basking in natural beauty. Tomorrow I head east for a week spent driving through Arizona and New Mexico. Here is my itinerary, and of…
Carefully manicured trees, intricate lattice work, fascinatingly shaped rocks reminiscent of mythical creatures, and the sound of a waterfall greet me at every turn in the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden in Vancouver's large and bustling Chinatown. Armed with a free cup of jasmine tea from a dispenser near the entrance, I slowly walk through the…
Downtown Vancouver is a truly beautiful place, built on a peninsula jutting between the natural harbor and Burrard Inlet, which leads to the calm waters of the Inner Passage, the channel separating mainland Canada from Vancouver Island. The tip of this peninsula is a 1000 acre green space: Stanley Park. So this begs the question,…
Ever since I was a teenager, I have struggled with depression. While my actual diagnosis is Bipolar II Disorder with severe anxiety, it largely manifests as depression. Sometimes it is just there in the background as a small voice in my head saying that things aren't ok; other times it is crippling, making small things…
My eyes closed in the sun Arms spread to the eager winds I float Though my feet remain firm to the ground. This is a flight of the soul A soaring of the spirit A journey of the mind And I am forever changed. Rocky crags rise above valleys that seem never to have felt…
Spokane is Washington's second largest city, and the only noticeable metropolitan area for hundreds of miles around. However, its location on the far eastern edge of the state makes it the ideal home base to explore not only Eastern Washington, but the Idaho Panhandle and Western Montana as well. Many people, though, make the mistake…