There are plenty of great art cities in the world, and a number here in the US. For instance, as you may recall, Philadelphia is home to more impressionist masterpieces than any city outside Paris. But nothing prepared me for my experience in Santa Fe, where the city itself is really one big art gallery.…
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…
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…
I have been fascinated with the idea of the World's Fair ever since my parents read a children's book to me long ago about the invention of the ice cream cone at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair. This excitement only increased when I recently read Devil in the White City about the 1893 Chicago…
In 1914, Spokane, Washington was booming. The city was the jewel of the northwest, a center for timber and the rich mining of northern Idaho. A devastating fire a couple decades earlier, in 1889, had nearly destroyed the city, but in so doing, had opened the door for new entrepreneurs and businessmen to find themselves…
In 1974, a small city in eastern Washington, in the midst of an identity crisis, decided to do the unthinkable: become the smallest city ever to host a World's Fair. In so doing, the city forever changed itself. This is the story of that event, and of the incredible community that emerged from it. This…
Opening night of Love's Labours Lost is packed. It's a chilly night here at the Allen Elizabethan Theatre - the first of its kind - here in Ashland, Oregon, but I am wearing a thick jacket. Other spectators are wrapped in blankets; the theatre is, after all, outside. A trumpet sounds and a figure appears…
When most people think of Malaysia, they think of Kuala Lumpur, its vibrant modern capital. But drive a couple hours south (or, as in my case, a couple hours north from Singapore), and you'll find yourself in the city of Melaka (sometimes spelled Malacca), home to some of the richest history in the region. Kuala…
A country. A city. Paradise. Whatever you want to call it, Singapore is one of the most incredible places on the planet. Food, culture, beauty... this place has it all. I hope this guide helps you plan your unforgettable trip to the Lion City. The Supertree Grove at Gardens by the Bay is one of…
Let me say it again: Singapore is my favorite city on the planet. It is clean, safe, and friendly. It also has one of the best mix of cultures anywhere in the world. Colonial buildings stand beside beautiful modern architectural gems. Religious sites abound. And museums celebrating some of the most impressive civilizations in the…