Editor's note: what a cool excursion Sam got to take from Israel. Along with visiting Petra in Jordan, I will add Sinai to my list of side-trips next time I'm in Israel - which will hopefully be soon. To read more of Sam's adventures, click here to visit his index. To say the least, I…
Sometimes in travel, the best made plans with the best intention just don't work out. Whether it's showing up to the El Escorial Monastery outside of Madrid on a crisp winter morning to find it closed (true story) or a drive to catch the beautiful vistas of Shenandoah National Park in Virginia where the fog…
Editor's note: Great Basin is at the top of my national parks wishlist, and I'm grateful to our NPS expert Christian for his glimpse into it! For more of his amazing articles, click here. In his 1962 book Travels with Charley: In Search of America, John Steinbeck describes the then-fledgling interstate system as “a slash…
Editor's note: unlike Sam, I am a big fan of Caribbean cruises. Like Sam, though, I have come to the conclusion that St. Lucia is pure paradise, even writing that it was my favorite Caribbean island. Compare our visits, and then visit all of Sam's articles by clicking here. If you want to know my…
Editor's note: when I haven't left the state in about a year now, I am even more grateful than ever to have voices like Sam's here on The Royal Tour, adding his experiences and perspective to our community. If you like his writing - and I'm sure you will - click here to see an…
California's central coast - basically the entirety from Santa Barbara to Santa Cruz - is worth exploring. Beautiful rocky coastline nestles with sandy beaches, historic towns sit alongside stunning resorts, and mountains meet the blue of the Pacific in ways that are bound to capture both your heart and imagination. Sitting just north of San…
Editor's note: this is part one of a two-part series by Sam Spector on Peru. To read all of Sam's incredible pieces here on The Royal Tour, click here to visit his index. Peru has emerged as a leading travel destination in the world and there are plenty of reasons why. From stunning coastlines, to…
Editor's note: Like Christian, I also love White Sands National Park, both for its unique white gypsum sand and the ability to run as fast as one can down a dune. It is worth a visit, and Christian's page (click here) is as well, especially if you like national parks. I’ve always made an effort…
Editor's note: it gives me immense pleasure to introduce Tamara Parkhurst, our newest writer here at The Royal Tour. Tamara, as our first writer with children, will largely focus on travel with small kids, like this quick getaway to the gorgeous Sedona, Arizona. To read all of her articles here at TRT, click here to…
The desert air is dry and warm, even on this late fall day. The heat of the summer has faded, but winter rains - rare even during the later months - have yet to quench the thirst of the earth. Blue skies, white clouds, brown dirt, gray rocks: the colors combine on the canvas of…