Avid older skiers stick with their passion
If you’ve walked into a ski lodge the past few years, likely as not you’ve seen tables filled with gray-haired skiers wearing sweaters so old they’re back in style.That’s because the number of skiers on the far side of 50 — some on the very far side — has been creeping up each year, according to the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA).Credit advances... READ MORE
Tracing an ancient pilgrim route in France
Participants in the eight-day "walking through history" tour led by New England Hiking Holidays walk several hours each morning and afternoon at a slow but steady pace along paved roadways through scenic, rural France. Photo by Victor Block Until recently, I would have said that St. Francis of Assisi, Shirley MacLaine and I had little in common. That was before my wife... READ MORE
Warm(er) winter destinations beckon
South Padre IslandFor those willing to travel a bit further, South Padre Island, perched on the Gulf Coast of Texas, is a favorite wintering destination for visitors from both northern areas of the Lone Star State and sun-seekers from elsewhere.There are a number of reasons why the 34-mile-long barrier reef, which has only about 5,000 permanent inhabitants, attracts as many as 1 million... READ MORE
Warm(er) winter destinations beckon
A horse-drawn carriage tours Savannah, Ga.’s historic district, which boasts more than 1,000 restored mansions and row houses. The new year has begun with an outlook for weather that’s cold and peppered with that dreaded wintry mix. Basking in the sun on a Caribbean island is alluring.But in case your time for a getaway and your travel budget are limited, here are some... READ MORE
Quartzsite rocks with upcoming events
Rock hounds, mineral mavens, swap-meeters: It’s show time in the little Arizona border town of Quartzsite.Tyson Wells Enterprises throws its Sell-A-Rama from Jan. 17-26. The QIA (Quartzsite Improvement Association) stages its 48th annual Pow Wow from Jan. 22-26. There’s also an Arts & Crafts Fair presented by Tyson from Jan. 31-Feb. 9. The second annual QIA gold show is Feb. ... READ MORE
Botswana’s Okavango Delta’s got game
I’m jolted from sleep by a deep and rolling roar and what sounds like the slithering paws of a large cat trawling through my cabin. “Oh my God, I think something’s in our room,” I whisper, waking up my friend and roommate, Patricia Lawton. “I know,” she whispers back, adding a few expletives. It might sound like the start of a Maurice Sendak story, but as we lay in our dreamy ... READ MORE
Take a cue from these billiards experts
You can usually find Charles Boyer at the billiard tables near Charlestown’s Fireside Restaurant. That’s where Boyer, whose enthusiasm for the game is catching on at the Catonsville retirement community, has been teaching the art of the sport to his fellow residents for the past decade. So many of his neighbors have caught the billiards bug that there are now two resident-run Cue... READ MORE
The Del marks 125 years of holiday magic
Thinking of a trip back in time for a holiday celebration, but with world-class, modern amenities? Located on a spit of land joined by a high-arch distinctive bridge to San Diego, the Hotel Del Coronado more than fills the bill.The Del has been celebrating the holidays in grand tradition since it opened in 1888. In 1904, it introduced the first electrically lighted outdoor Christmas treeOne ... READ MORE
Escape to nearby Blue Ridge mountains
Trees turn crimson and gold in Shenandoah National Park’s autumnal show of color. The 300-square-mile park is one of the few large national parks on the East Coast and only a 90-minute drive from the Washington area.© Cecouchman | Dreamstime.comWe crouched down on our knees to study a thumbnail-sized, shiny green pendant dangling precariously by a silky thread from a... READ MORE
Portland’s small-town yet urban waterfront
Boats dock in Casco Bay along Portland’s waterfront. Portland, the largest city in Maine, dates back to 1632, when it became a British fishing and trading settlement named Casco.The Greater Portland + Convention CenterFrom my sixth floor hotel room in the middle of Portland, Maine, I stared at the waters of Casco Bay gently lapping the harbor and was 99 percent convinced I had a... READ MORE
