I’ve done this trip twice, once on each of my journeys to Japan. And both times, it has been among the highlights of my entire time in the country. After all, combining one of the coolest temples in a country full of cool temples with a chance to feed the sacred deer is a day…
Some people don’t like zoos. Some people think zoos are exploitative, inhumane, or just boring. I am not one of those people, at least not here at this zoo, one I’ve been coming to since childhood. I’ve attended Zoo Camp, even spent my high school years as an accredited student docent. I’ve seen it change,…
Editor’s note: of all the places in the world, Antarctica is the one I’d most love to see, although the crossing as described by Hedy seems rough. I hope you enjoy this amazing look into a place so few have been. For more of Hedy’s writing, click here to visit her index page. This might…
Editor’s note: Iceland might be the very top of my travel wish list, although before reading Sam’s journey I didn’t know much of the south. Now I am dying to see these waterfalls and beaches! For more of Sam’s adventures, click here to visit his index page. As I write this article, we are in…
Note: another version of this story appeared in City Lifestyle Laguna Niguel magazine. Otto is only a few months old, but he is already bigger than many human adults. And yet, by elephant seal standards, Otto is still quite small. And that’s why he’s here, in an enclosure at the Pacific Marine Mammal Center in…
This might be the most recognizable market in the world. Seattle’s venerable Pike Place Market opened in 1907, and has been continuously operating ever since. A mix of fruit stands, crafts, specialty treats, restaurants, and the famous seafood vendors who will throw a fish over your head, it is one of the most visited attractions…
Editor’s note: like Sam, I find myself wanting to choose destinations where my dollars make the most impact, hence my being in Puerto Rico currently. Unlike Sam, I have never been to Bali, so I am excited to be able to share his experience with all of you! For more of Sam’s adventures - and…
Willemstad, the capitol - and only true city - on the island of Curacao, is lovely. It is full of beautiful colonial architecture, cultural gems, great food, and wonderful people. But if you have more than just a couple of days in Curacao, leaving the city behind to see other parts of the island is…
Typical for a summer morning, the fog is thick - pea soup thick, London thick - as I drive down Sir Francis Drake Boulevard through Point Reyes National Seashore. The coastline isn’t visible, though small gaps in the fog give away where it should be. The only things I am truly able to see are…
Editor’s note: Thank you to Sam for another amazing story from his Utah home. For more tales of Sam’s travels, near and far, click here to visit his index page. The Great Salt Lake is the largest lake in the United States outside of the Great Lakes and it is from this lake that Utah’s…