Visiting Liverpool (not to see the Beatles)
The last time I was in Liverpool, 40 years ago, the city was synonymous with the Beatles. But on a trip there last year, I decided to avoid the Fab Four commerce that has swelled since my last visit and helped the city shed some of its grittiness.For me, no Magical Mystery Tour, no walk through the Beatles Story museum, nor ticketed entry to the boyhood homes of John and Paul.With a week to ... READ MORE
West of Key West — Dry Tortugas Park
Seventy miles west of Key West is the “flip side” of that raucous isle — the slow-paced, undeveloped, near-quiet Dry Tortugas National Park, a seven-island cluster of coral reefs and sand.This 100-square-mile park gets its name from the sea turtles that greeted Ponce de Leon in 1513, and from the absence of fresh water, hence “dry.” Visitors go for a Civil War... READ MORE
Exploring Key West’s wildlife and wild life
A mother hen and her three chicks were hell-bent on crossing the street, so I stepped out and stopped the traffic on the main drag that slices down the middle of Key West, Fla. Roosters crowed nearby. No one seemed to notice. Chickens and roosters in the middle of town? Key West marches to its own drum. Chickens, roosters, six-toed cats, owl butterflies, conches, frigatebirds,... READ MORE
Where not to go — and when — this year
While you may be reading plenty of “where to go in 2016” stories elsewhere, I’ll be a contrarian and address the question of places and times you should seek to avoid.Spring breakYoung folks age 16 to 21 can be quite nice when they’re alone or in small groups. But hundreds or even thousands of them, each trying to see who can drink the most beer or smoke the most... READ MORE
How to bid for rooms at a choice of hotels
Bidding on the price of a hotel room doesn’t limit you to “opaque” bids where you don’t know the specific hotel you’ve “won” until after you’ve made a nonrefundable booking. That’s the Priceline model, and certainly the most popular.But, fortunately, it’s not the only bidding model. I know of four online agencies that allow... READ MORE
Weak ruble aids budget travel to Russia
The ruble’s weak. The warnings about a complicated visa process turned out to be wrong, at least after a travel agency’s help. And current geopolitical tensions make this a good time to temper headlines about Russia with experiences involving everyday Russians and places.Consider the prices, at least outside the summer tourist rush: A round-trip air ticket between Washington and ... READ MORE
Cozumel — part Mexico, part Caribbean
Tulum is one of the best-preserved coastal Mayan ruins sites. The walled city, built 800 years ago, served as a fortress against enemies approaching by sea and is perched on top of a cliff 40 feet above the Caribbean Sea. It’s a popular day trip from nearby Cozumel.Shutterstock/ScotteNMuch about the island of Cozumel says Mexico.Scattered archeological sites hint of the rich Mayan... READ MORE
Asheville, N.C. — more than the Biltmore
Asheville, N.C., is an old soul of a city renewed by a hipster vibe. Attractions range from new beer breweries and a honey bar (!) to the 120-year-old Biltmore mansion. You can see artists at work in the River Arts District, then go for a hike in the Blue Ridge Mountains.For some time, Asheville’s funky River Arts District has been home to artists, entrepreneurs and eateries in the... READ MORE
Monterey: natural and celebrity attractions
Carmel-by-the-Sea is home to more than 20 cottages that would look at home in a book of fairytales. Some are residences, and others house businesses, such as the Soiled Doves Bath House, which sells soap and other bath products.Photo courtesy of carmelcalifornia.comOn a crescent of rock-strewn coast that juts from central California, John Steinbeck set one of his most acclaimed novels,... READ MORE
Phone home from overseas affordably
Even if you don’t intend to call home regularly when you’re outside the country, you may well need to be available in case some problem arises, either where you are or at home.You probably already know that using your regular wireless phone can run up a huge bill: Even with an “international” package, you’ll pay close to $1 a minute each for both incoming and... READ MORE
