Editor’s note: with changing rules, I have not found time to make it to Cuba, although I intend to at some point. I am envious of Sam’s trip, hanging on each word he writes as I mentally plan mine. For more of Sam Spector’s adventures, click here to visit his index page. My wife, also…
With the fall of South Vietnam in 1975, a wave of Vietnamese came to the United States. First political and military allies, then refugees, nearly a million souls came to the US, and were settled in various communities. Slowly, as the late 1970s and early 80s picked up steam and many former refugees became a…
Chicago. The Windy City. One of my personal favorite cities in the country, if not the world. For a little over a year, my former life in the nonprofit world had me in Chicago for a week every month, and I never dreaded those trips. It is a beautiful city of largely wonderful people, and…
A plate of pad Thai and a bowl of pineapple curry. Pandan custard chasing down a heaping platter of spicy larb. A fascinating assortment of groceries in a language I don’t even pretend to understand. A relaxing foot massage. If this sounds like a good way to spend a day, you might want to explore…
The Angels Camp Museum is no ordinary small town historical collection, a fact apparent from my first step inside. A fantastically curated exhibit on Mark Twain, the region’s most famous resident, gives way to a hall full of old cars and carriages, which in turn leads to a replica of an old medical office (complete…
I found Simon Wheeler dozing comfortably by the bar-room stove of the old, dilapidated tavern in the ancient mining camp of Angel's…Mark Twain, The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County The Angels Hotel facade looks much as it would have in 1864-65, when a young Samuel Clemens would have been a guest here in Angels…
Visitors to Oakhurst, California, just outside the south entrance of Yosemite, find a town of 15,000 or so ready to cater to tourists and the lovers of the outdoors. Hotels, restaurants, shops, and supply stores line the streets, all frequented by people eager to see the area. In 1849, at the start of California’s gold…
Editor’s note: the US national parks system is truly diverse, ranging from awe-inspiring beauty to a more subtle wonder, like in this view of Amistad National Recreation Area by Christian, our resident national parks expert. For more of his experiences, click here to visit his index page. The Amistad National Recreation Area lies along the…
Editor’s note: sometimes it is the most unexpected places that end up meaning the most. In this wonderful story, Sam shares a spontaneous visit to a destination that he truly loved. For more of Sam’s adventures, click here to visit his index. When I planned my grand backpacking trip around the Balkans, my game plan…
From up here, this could easily be Napa. It could easily be Italy, or France. The sentiment is echoed by the other twelve people sharing a hot air balloon basket with me as we float lazily on the early morning breeze. Vineyards, orchards, and elegant chateaux beneath us, blue skies above broken up by the…