It doesn’t take much for an exotic destination to demand my attention, but seldom can I pinpoint the moment it starts to get under my skin enough to exacerbate my travel itch (an incurable chronic condition). Thanks to writer Jacqueline Detwiler, my bucket list has gotten even longer. The island of Palau started beckoning theRead more
Aurora Borealis in September? “Absolutely,” says Alaska-based photographer Ronn Murray. “Based on my experience and other pretty hard evidence, the equinoxes produce some of the strongest auroras. We get great shows in late September and its a great time to visit Alaska, because the weather hasn’t gotten really cold yet.” Murray began chasing the NorthernRead more
The town that served as the backdrop for “The Shawshank Redemption” will celebrate the 20th anniversary of its filming this Labor Day weekend. Mansfield, Ohio, and its iconic Ohio State Reformatory, hosted Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman, who starred in the 1994 film as convicted murderers. The reunion festivities include events and tours taking placeRead more
Swiss bank accounts, chocolate, timepieces and army knifes. I’m swooning at the quality goods and services that this small country produces. Somehow, within two hours of landing in Zürich, Switzerland, $100 (roughly 87 Swiss Francs) slips effortlessly out of my wallet, but it wasn’t because of a shopping spree. [dropshadowbox align=”left” effect=”lifted-both” width=”188px” height=”” background_color=”#ffffff”Read more
The normally bustling boat traffic on the Danube River has ground to a halt due to flooding throughout central Europe this week and it could be several more days before things return to normal. In the meantime, both public and private riverboat operations will remain on hold, causing big losses for cruise industry. The DanubeRead more
It was a typical Sunday morning. My husband, Chris, and I sat down to read the newspaper and one headline screamed at us: “U.S. Tourist Killed in Istanbul.” In January, Sarai Sierra, a blossoming photographer, was killed by a blow to the head while traveling alone in Turkey. Her body, tucked into a hidden cornerRead more
Gone forever are these 12th-century manuscripts from the Centre de Recherches Historiques Ahmed Baba in Timbuktu / Photo by Laura Watilo Blake These delicate pages of text survived for centuries in the dry desert air in Timbuktu, a remote outpost of the Sahara Desert in Mali, which was once a wealthy trading center. Today, theRead more
Photography tips for shooting the iconic tourist attraction Ever since I was a child, I’ve been fascinated by the mystery of Stonehenge, a circle of upright stones in a grassy field in the English countryside. When I finally saw it for myself, I was no less awestruck, although the mystique is marred by the intersectionRead more
The Intentional Traveler interview with Far-Flung Travels highlights work with Drink Local Drink Tap in Uganda Canadian Michael McCarthy has been covering the topic of philanthropic travel for nearly 20 years and is currently in the second season of his radio show “The Intentional Traveler.” He says, “we are all ambassadors for our own culturesRead more
. . . plus, tips for packing lighter and smarter Now that airlines are starting to charge for everything, including carry-on luggage, it’s even more essential to travel with less. You may not be able to take everything you want, but making the right choices ahead of time means you won’t hit the airlines’ maximumRead more