A few articles ago, we spoke at length about the world-changing Panama Canal. However, a mere three million years earlier, Panama played host to an event that changed the world even more: it was born. From volcanos beneath the seas, land rose up, first as islands, and then as an isthmus, joining what would come…
Few tourist attractions can be said to be things that have truly, objectively, changed the world. This is one of them. From the moment the Panama Canal opened on August 15, 1914, the world was forever changed. It was made smaller, more accessible, easier to traverse. Goods could reach new markets, or the same markets…
The rain feels cool on my face, a refreshing break from the December heat even while upping the relative humidity. It trickles down my neck, mixing with the spray from the waterfall cascading in front of me. The rains here are intense but short, and once this one passes I will return to the beach,…
Sitting just across the Santa Barbara Channel (for which they get their name) from the coast of Southern California, the Channel Islands are tantalizingly close - and yet a world away from Los Angeles life. Eight in total, only one seems to be a target for visitors. Catalina (made famous by the song, "Twenty-six miles…
What if I told you there was a place where green met blue, with forests extending all the way to beautiful shores? What if I told you that this place of immense natural beauty also had a fascinating history? Finally, what if I told you that this place was right here in the United States,…
The isolation here is palpable. Walking on a narrow path, I hear only the birds, insects, Lake Superior's minor waves, and my own footsteps. Plants block my path occasionally - this is, after all, designated wilderness and I am intruding on their space. I gaze around, amazed at just how many shades of green can…
Some national parks immediately impress you with their sheer grandeur. Yosemite and Glacier come immediately to mind. Others are more subtle, like the old growth floodplain forest of Congaree or the rocks and unique foliage of Joshua Tree. Saguaro National Park, just outside Tucson, Arizona, falls into the second category. The beauty of the desert…
It is time for my annual father-son driving trip and, since my dad will be moving back to California this fall, our last one based in the Midwest. This year's destination is a new one for me: the upper peninsula of Michigan! A couple years ago, in the early days of The Royal Tour, I…
A cloudy California coastal morning gives way to blue skies and sunshine as the marine layer retreats into the vastness of the Pacific. The deck of the Monterey Bay Aquarium begins to fill with eager visitors searching for life in the Bay: otters, seals and sea lions, and, for the very lucky, dolphins or whales…
Most people were pretty shocked - and a little scared - when I announced I was going to visit Nicaragua. I was asked why, what was there, was it really worth what was perceived as a safety risk. Well, after two weeks exploring much of the Pacific region of the country (more than 60% of…