Brush with Greatness: Whale-watching Along the Dominican Republic
I had already gotten a full dose of the natural beauty and adventure along the North Coast of the Dominican Republic. But if I had to choose my favorite moment,…
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Travelers Roundtable
35 posts
Wonder All Around: Unexpected Grace in Turkey
Often the best travel experiences are the ones that take us completely by surprise.
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Sailing the Heart of Myanmar
An hour after coming ashore, I am climbing brick stairs that are warped with wear from the elements and the bare feet of the faithful over several hundred years.
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Magico: Deeper into the Yucatan
The overwhelming number of U.S. visitors to the Yucatan stick to the coasts. And that’s a shame. Unless all you really care about is working on your tan, resolve…
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Beyond Istanbul: Exploring Anatolia
While one could spend an eternity exploring the rich layers of culture and history in Istanbul, what lies deeper into Anatolia is equally wondrous. If you have the time, perhaps just…
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Starstruck at Yosemite
I’m standing on an outcropping of rock at Glacier Point looking out over Yosemite National Park when the sun finally disappears over the horizon. I’ve brought my wife and eight-year-old son here,…
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Splurging and Skimping at Disney West
Disney raised admission prices this month for all of their theme parks. While this comes as no surprise—regular increases have become the norm over the years—it’s a good reminder for…
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On the Road to Stratford
Ontario’s Stratford Festival is one of the great live theater attractions in North America, and they’re celebrating the 60th anniversary this year with yet another splendid season of theatrical excellence. The question…
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The Docent of the Travel Section
Hear the original WUWM 89.7 NPR broadcast by clicking on the player below. I rounded the corner to the little eddy where the travel books lived at the very back…
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Escape from Family Thanksgiving!
SHHHHHHH! Don’t be afraid, I’m a friend. Listen to me: They’re coming, they’re hungry, but we won’t be here when they crash the place. Don’t worry, you’re not trapped, we’re…
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A Thanksgiving in Istanbul
Hear the original WUWM 89.7 NPR broadcast by clicking on the player below. Around Thanksgiving, I always recall the time my wife and I were in Istanbul near the end…
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Cordoba: Green Again
It’s well over 100 degrees and the Spanish sun feels like a physical weight on my skin as I descend dusty stone steps to the skeletal ruins of Madinat…
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Letter to Walt: The 40th Anniversary of Walt Disney World
This year is the 40th anniversary of Walt Disney World. And 40 years ago, I was a nine-year-old boy visiting the brand-new Disney World with my family. We could not…
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Heavenly Moments at The Abbey
My six-year-old boy just caught a fish. We’re standing where the edge of the green lawn meets the boat docks on Lake Geneva at The Abbey Resort and, after only a…
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Toledo: Finding the Fourth Church
It’s getting late and I’m lost in the winding lanes of medieval Toledo. Normally I wouldn’t mind — it’s one of my favorite cities in the world to be lost…
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Fire and Renewal in Grand Teton
It’s mid-September, and the Grand Teton National Park is on fire. Slender tendrils of smoke rise into the sky like the flags of an invading army laying claim to enemy…
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Feria Tale: The Rice Festival in Arles
I’m standing on the sidewalk on a bright, sunny September afternoon in the south of France. A lovely young woman dressed in late 19th century clothes walks past me, her eyes modestly…
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Roanoke: Virginia’s Country Cool
I hope the city fathers of Roanoke, Virginia know what they have here. But I’m not certain they do. They’re building buildings, flaunting their God-given resources, and dreaming up events…
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The Galapagos Islands
I am the last human being on the island. Dusk is slipping down over the menagerie behind me like a velvet curtain full of sparkling pinholes. The sea lions, the…
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The Nomad Carabiner USB Charger ($34.95)
While I do love toys –who doesn’t? — I have a confession to make: I try very hard to NOT be a gadget guy. For me, a big part of…
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The Simple Pleasures of Geneva, Illinois
Among the greatest satisfactions of small town life is the savoring of simple pleasures. Sure, sometimes you want to travel to destinations that will set your pulse pounding. But often…
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Door County: The Jewel in our own Backyard
On a trip to London in 1998, my wife and I stayed at the home of a dear friend who had lived in London for half a century. While I…
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Falling into the Map: Sky Knights
Click for audio on this topic from a WUWM broadcast below: Friday night, 7:30 p.m.: It’s time for my young son to go to bed, and we’re lying together and…
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A Return to Frinton
It’s not in the trendy tourist brochures, it’s not in a Royal County, and there are no castles, stately homes or dead rock stars buried here. If you want the…
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Building Up to Angkor
Tip and I stood in line to get our three-day passes for Angkor National Park. Once the clock struck five, we purchased the tickets for the following day, yet we…
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NomadCard ($29)
I was recently on a ship to Russia and many miles from the nearest Apple Store when I discovered to my horror that I’d left my iPhone charging cord in…
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Father’s Day: A Pilgrimage to Oregon’s Tillamook Museum
I don’t know where I’m going. My driver won’t reveal our destination. But he promises me I’m going to like it. The driver is one of my oldest friends, Portland…
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Kenya’s Wild Kingdom
The radio is a constant hiss of static and occasional comments in Swahili and Steve, our driver, keeps it on but seems to ignore it as we bump along a…
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Redefining Detroit
Detroit, Michigan has filed for bankruptcy. The city’s emergency manager made the decision last Thursday. So that’s that. Detroit is finished. Again.
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What I Ate on My Summer Vacation
Some of us believe that to travel is to become a temporary local and that it is essential when traveling to immerse yourself in the local culture as completely as…
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ShaveTech ($39)
Now this is traveling light. The svelte ShaveTech electric razor is absolutely ideal for the road. You can shave dry, recharge it through the USB port on your computer or…
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VinniBag ($28)
On a trip to Spain last year, a friend gifted me with a fantastic bottle of locally grown olive oil. I would’ve loved to bring it home, but I refused…
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CitySlips ($28)
My wife and I travel light. No more than one bag each, no matter the length of the trip. Having one carry-on bag each means that we’re fast and mobile,…
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BugZip ($22)
For decades, it was rare for travelers to encounter bedbugs, but they have reemerged in recent years, and have even been showing up at the finest destinations. While they are…
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Scottish Soul Food
On the drive between Oban and Kilmelford on the west coast of Scotland there is a sign pointing you to the Isle of Seil and the Bridge Over the Atlantic.…
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