Early morning in a grove of giant sequoias is magical. Just a short distance off of California Highway 4, the sounds of the modern world fade rapidly as I meander down the North Grove trail, leaving me with the chirping of birds and the trickling of water. When I stop, that’s all I can hear,…
Being a writer has changed my life, and not only for the way it has allowed me to travel instead of “work.” It has inspired me to stop and look around more. Today is a good example. I have driven past this place more times than I can count, as far back as my regular…
“Beautiful.” “Majestic.” “Stunning.” Feedback from those enjoying a spectacular Saturday on the mountain is incredibly positive. “Great runs.” “Family friendly.” “No waits for lifts.” Smiles on the faces of patrons glowing pink in the cold tell the rest of the story. “There’s just something different about Bear Valley.” These are actual quotations from random people…
Editor’s note: I’ve been to Croatia twice, but never managed to visit Plitvice Lakes, although like Sam, I find it hauntingly beautiful from photos. For more of Sam Spector’s adventures, click here to visit his index page. Have you ever seen a picture and it inspired you to travel somewhere new? Back in 2011, I…
Germany is awesome! This past fall, I was lucky enough to spend close to three months exploring the country. I stayed in six different cities spread all over both east and west, north and south, and took several day trips to yet other places. After all this time, it is safe to say I learned…
Munich is one of the largest cities in Germany, and the de facto capital of the southern part of the country. It sits along the Isar River, near the foothills of the Alps. It also has one of the largest airports in Germany, making it a reasonably likely entry point for visitors to both Germany…
Editor’s note: shockingly, given how many articles I’ve written about wine tastings in California, I’ve never been to Napa. Now, thanks to Reina’s beautiful story, I have another reason to make that trip. For more of Reina’s writing, click here to visit her index page. When people think Napa Valley, they obviously think of wine.…
While most of the country is under snow from the recent cold snap, it is a beautiful day in the low 60s here in Los Angeles, sandwiched between a couple of (unfortunately rare) late season rain storms. In other words, it is a perfect day to find a neighborhood to explore, getting to know my…
It is a beautiful fall afternoon in Munich’s English Garden, and the city has come out to enjoy it. An area larger than New York’s Central Park, the English Garden is a vast urban green space of wide lawns, man-made streams created by diverted water from the Isar River, monuments, tall trees, and beer gardens.…
Editor’s note: back before I was a writer, I worked in the Jewish community doing major gifts fundraising. One organization I worked for hosted a community trip to Tbilisi - about two months before I started there. So I missed out. Sam’s article about the city - and all the things he saw in a…