Morocco is an overwhelming place. Walking through one of the Medinas in Fes or Marrakech, or even a smaller city, can feel intimidating at best, and downright sensory overload at worst. It is amazing, but sometimes, one just needs a break. So waking up here at Riad Atlas Panorama in the village of Imlil is…
I can’t even imagine the relief Sahara caravan drivers must have felt upon reaching this place, or another like it. After months crossing the planet’s largest “real” desert (there are larger in the Arctic and Antarctica based on the definition of desert as limited rainfall, but really, do you count those?), to arrive at one…
Editor’s note: Iceland is a place that has long been near the top of my travel wish list. And now, after a gap, TRT writer Sam Spector finally fills in his experience in this awesome country with this piece about the capital. He had previously written about the Golden Circle, and about southern Iceland. For…
Editor’s note: While I’ve spent time in the amazing natural areas of Colorado, Denver is a city I’ve really only been through. Writer Sam Spector makes a nice case here for spending a long weekend - or more - in the metro area, and not just heading out to the mountains. For more of Sam’s…
For most of human history, the concept of “value” was immediate. My goat has value because it can be traded for x amount of money now, or because it will feed my family for x amount of time now. And for most of human history, that was the way we assigned value to nature. An…
So you’re going to Costa Rica. That means you’re probably planning on seeing some cool plant and animal life. At least that’s the way it was for me. I spent a bit over two weeks roaming the country - on a tour with a guide - and basically all of my highlights are being in…
To say that my two night, three day, add-on for my Costa Rica tour was off to a rough start would be an understatement. I had just arrived in Tortuguero National Park after a several hour trip by bus and then boat, and the weather, which had cooperated for the entire trip to this point,…
Editor’s note: as a lifetime Californian, I’ve been to Big Sur, but I’m ashamed to say I haven’t driven it in well over a decade. Monterey, however, I’ve visited more often, and loved every moment. Here, Sam shares his thoughts on a first trip to these amazing places, and some stunning photos from the experience.…
I enter through the gates of Manuel Antonio National Park around 730am. It is already crowded; although the park only admits 1200 visitors per day it is small and doesn’t allow for a large dispersal. It is also already hot here on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, probably 80 degrees Fahrenheit and an equal amount of…
On a beautiful March morning, the Monteverde Cloud Forest would seem to be misnamed. Bright blue skies are visible through the thick rain forest canopy, sunlight illuminating the many layers of foliage, amplifying the vibrant greens. A brisk wind keeps the temperature on the chilly side, especially in the shade of the trees, vines, and…