The Auto Train is part of your vacation
Last winter my wife, Fyllis, and I, along with our 2015 Honda, headed for warmer weather. Rather than navigating the car, though, we watched a movie and then enjoyed an excellent dinner with a fine wine. We were able to savor this pleasant journey to Florida because we were passengers on the Amtrak Auto Train. While we relaxed in our comfortable sleeper compartment, our car was riding... READ MORE
See Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Many people visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park hoping to spot mega-fauna — such as one of the park’s 1,500 black bears or an impressively-antlered elk. Seeing such large animals can surely elevate one’s heart rate. But this national park offers much more than big animals. Every June, thousands of flickering fireflies fill the night skies with a magical light show. One... READ MORE
Top sites in Reykjavik and its environs
In the compact, friendly city of Reykjavik, Iceland, locals take an afternoon timeout to soak and socialize in steamy, geothermal pools. After all, this is a country with a bathing culture. Beyond nature’s hot tubs, there’s much more to explore indoors and outdoors in this walkable city of 139,000 people. For an overview of the country, start at the National Museum of Iceland. ... READ MORE
A road trip throughout dramatic Iceland
Swirling iridescent lights danced slowly across the pitch-black sky. It was only my second night in Iceland, and I was experiencing a light show unmatched since my psychedelic 60s. I was in Stykkisholmur in West Iceland on a two-week road trip around Iceland in September. For the first week, I traveled with my friend and colleague Michael Bennett, the founder of Seattle-based travel... READ MORE
Warm up in the British Virgin Islands
When I last visited the British Virgin Islands 20 years ago, I checked out its inviting beaches, visited historic and natural sites, and oohed and aahed at the magnificent scenery. During a return trip there last fall, I relived those experiences and discovered some new ones. The British Virgin Islands, or BVI, transcend a typical sun, surf and sand vacation with opportunities ... READ MORE
Explore the Gulf Coast, America’s Mediterranean
Sugar-sand beaches, gentle breezes, warm winters, shrimp and grits and quirky fun — that’s what’s in store on a trip along the coastline from Pensacola, Florida, to Mobile, Alabama, known as “the Mediterranean of the Americas.” Exploring this part of the Gulf Coast can be a one-or-more-week meander — a mix of relaxing on beaches, fishing for red snappers, paddling marshes ... READ MORE
Yellowstone’s natural wonders & wildlife
Stunning panoramic vistas and copious wildlife are the showstopping hallmarks of Yellowstone National Park. The world’s first National Park, established in 1872, Yellowstone is home to the iconic Old Faithful geyser and so much more. My husband, Chris, and I recently embarked on a two-week National Parks bus adventure with Globus tours. We wanted to see it all while avoiding hours... READ MORE
Japan and South Korea by cruise ship
Some overseas trips are not like others. Although I’ve vacationed in Europe and places as diverse as Tunisia and Colombia, I never felt so “other” as I did in Japan. And as I discovered, that was not a bad thing. My husband, Chuck, and I chose to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary in Japan. We wanted to go somewhere neither of us had ever been, and we were both curious... READ MORE
Why and how to access an airport lounge
Spending time in airports is one of the worst parts of travel. They’re uncomfortable, loud and crowded. And even a measly bottle of water will cost two or three times as much when purchased at an airport. However, there is a more enjoyable way to pass time in an airport, whether you’re awaiting your first leg or killing time during a layover: an airport lounge. A lot of... READ MORE
Remnants of Civil War forts surround us
When out-of-town guests stay over, you may want to plan an outing more unusual than to the Lincoln Memorial, the U.S. Capitol or the Smithsonian’s museums. Instead, the Washington area’s Civil War forts can make for interesting and less crowded destinations. Around the city is a “ring of forts” — the remnants of a system of Civil War fortifications that, by 1865, totaled 68... READ MORE
