After a frustrating summer of awkward kayak rolling lessons in a pool, I found myself in my truck driving back to Atlanta from the north Georgia mountains. I endured and suffered through a humbling day of achieving basically no balance in my kayak. “How do you feel about […]
After Covid-19, many of us are taking stock of what’s important to us in life. Like many of you, I have awakened to the unsettling reality that I have taken a lot of things for granted each day. We don’t know the number of days we have in […]
Here in the Valley of the Sun, I may be a bit biased, but we have some of the most fiery and jaw-dropping sunsets anywhere in the world. One thing that has been a constant in my life as a landscape photographer has been chasing sunsets. This […]
I took a bit of a break in 2019 from my blogging in between jobs. In the fall, my life took an exciting westward turn. This is how my new chapter began in the great Southwest. Before setting off on my long journey to Arizona in the truck […]
Today marks the 100th anniversary of the end of World War One, and it’s an appropriate time to not only pay our respects, but reflect on what happened a century ago. The Great War doesn’t receive nearly as much attention in the United States compared to the Commonwealth nations […]
One of the best opportunities of the year to see shooting stars is during the annual Perseid meteor shower that is expected to put on a phenomenal show over the Great Lakes region of the United States and Canada. This meteor show is always one of the best […]
Under the glow of red, white and blue lights under a frigid February evening, it looked a bit like something out of “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory” as I stared at a semi-frozen American Falls from the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. Massive congealed ice mountains looked […]
Traveling to Canada’s largest city anytime soon? Watch my Top 10 summer and fall things to do in Toronto and Niagara Falls, part of the Golden Horseshoe.
While Hurricane Irma lashes the Florida Keys this weekend, it’s worth remembering an incredible history of hurricanes that have decimated the Keys over the centuries. Believe it or not, almost exactly 395 years ago, a monstrous hurricane battered the Tierra Firme flota (mainland fleet) of the Spanish Empire […]
Many years ago before my very first trip to Detroit, I asked a friend from the Motor City about what was her favorite attraction in the city. Surprisingly, it wasn’t the Detroit Institute of Arts, Belle Isle Park, the Detroit RiverWalk, Comerica Park, Ford Field, Joe Lewis […]
For several years, I considered the world’s best burger to be a closed case. I have tried a burger on every continent except Antarctica and I would argue that In-N-Out Burger serves up the best hamburgers of any franchise chain in the world, and perhaps even the best […]
My phone displayed the time as 11:35 p.m. on January 15 as I counted down the final miles and I gingerly steered my rental Jeep down a snowy I-95 in southern Massachusetts. Just as the highway entered the town of Pawtucket, I suddenly saw a small blue sign […]
I am a huge fan of the cinema and motion pictures, but until this September, a significant wish remained unfulfilled on my travel bucket list: traveling to see a movie premiere at a major film festival. For those fans of cinema who are in the same boat, I can […]
In the wide open spaces of the American West, sometimes you will not see the most spectacular scenery from the interstate highways. The real surprises begin off smaller highways and local roads that roll through the plains, twist though the canyons or climb the ridges of timeless landscapes. That’s […]
As my car rounded each turn of Badlands Loop Road in America’s Badlands National Park, my jaw dropped and so did my driving. I couldn’t help myself for stopping at countless overlooks to take photos of the timeless landscapes of eroding canyons, crumbling spires and distinctive buttes around […]
If you live in Seattle, you have several fantastic ski resorts nearby at Stevens Pass, Crystal Mountain and Snoqualmie. But if you want a truly world-class ski weekend, you must go north of the border to the biggest ski resort in the world: Whistler Blackcomb. For years I […]
There is another storm brewing on Lake Michigan, and though it’s frigid, it sure is stunning and gorgeous. I was disappointed that I left my Canon DSLR at home, but my HTC Desire Eye did a pretty good job out there in the elements. Days like this make you […]
I drove quickly to make sunset on the Oregon coast not far from the beautiful resort town of Seaside. As I took a turn off the Pacific Coast Scenic Byway, I discovered a hidden west coast jewel: Oregon’s Ecola State Park. After cruising through a lush Sitka spruce forest, the road opened […]
I had the chance this year to explore Canada’s largest and most cosmopolitan city. I have traveled all over Canada and Ontario, but strangely, I hadn’t visited Toronto before this year. Being from a border state, what a mistake on my part! Toronto is the financial, entertainment and […]
Detroit, I love you. Did I just say that? When I moved to the Midwest a few years ago, I never thought I would say these words. Despite its massive financial, crime and PR problems, I believe Detroit is going to be America’s great comeback city. Good things are […]
Florida’s Dry Tortugas National Park is a long way from nowhere in the Florida Keys. In fact, it’s the most remote U.S. national park in the continental states. It’s the last place piece of land before Cuba and it’s actually closer to Havana than Miami. After a 45-minute […]
America may not be perfect, but we have some great wonders and some of the best road trips in the world. Not only is the countryside extremely diverse, but we have extensive interstate freeways and scenic highways. The distances are vast and we are blessed with wide-open spaces. […]
You may have a compelling reason to cross the Atlantic more often in the next few years. Ryanair, Europe’s largest budget airline, says it is developing a plan for transatlantic service between Europe and North America for as little as US$15 each way! The Ireland-based budget airline plans […]
While I am not Irish (at least that I know of), I think there is truth to the saying that everyone wishes to be Irish on St. Patrick’s Day. Especially in Chicago, which has some of the largest St. Patrick’s Day parades in the world. Yes, you read […]
If you are an automobile aficionado, an international auto show is pretty close to nirvana. The Detroit International Auto Show took place this past weekend, and this show has always been on my bucket list. First of all, it’s the largest in the world. But most importantly, it […]
If you love history, 2015 promises to be an unforgettable year for travel in the United States. Several cities and smaller towns across the nation will mark significant milestones with living history and exhibits. Throughout 2015, take a moment to connect with American history by traveling to a […]
Tuesday – May 29, 2002 – Today was our last day in Miami, so Jeff and I went upstairs after breakfast to admire the sweeping views from the rooftop terrace. South Beach is amazing beautiful! We also went to the beach briefly and hit our patio pool afterwards. […]
Monday – May 28, 2012 – Today it was goodbye to Key West, but my brother and I had another adventure in store for us. We decided to stop on Big Pine Key for some kayaking at Florida Keys Kayak Tours. Jeff and I had been kayaking before, […]
Sunday – May 27, 2012 – We decided this morning to visit the most remote National Park in the lower 48 states. Jeff and I had booked a flight to Fort Jefferson in Dry Tortugas National Park. The Tortugas – Spanish for turtles – are the most distant […]
Saturday – May 26, 2012 – Yesterday after work, I flew from to Fort Lauderdale from Birmingham via Atlanta. My brother Jeff had come down a day earlier to visit the Everglades and go to a Marlins game tonight, so he picked me up at the airport in […]
Friday – February 17, 2012 – Today was going to be my first visit to New Mexico, the land of enchantment. In fact, New Mexico is the last western state I have never visited. Today around 17:00 p.m., I flew to Houston Hobby airport. After arriving in Houston, I grabbed […]
Saturday – January 9, 2010 – This morning we decided to head to Hollywood to visit Universal Studios. It was definitely a touristy thing to do, but it was actually a lot of fun. We saw the Shrek 4-D film, rode the Lost World rafting adventure and enjoyed […]
Friday – January 8, 2010 – Following a long night after the Rose Bowl victory, Dad and I decided to sleep as late as we wanted. After stopping at an In-N-Out burger in Long Beach for lunch, we drove through Hollywood to the valley on our way to […]
Thursday – January 7, 2010 – As college football and University of Alabama fans, it didn’t get any better than today. We were Alabama fans going to the national championship game in Pasadena where Alabama’s championship tradition began. Alabama ruled the Rose Bowl in the past and it’s […]
Wednesday – Jan. 6, 2010 – My Dad and I are lifelong, diehard fans of the Alabama Crimson Tide. I grew up going to University of Alabama football and basketball games and most of relatives are big fans. Coach Bear Bryant was like a saint in my family […]
Saturday – February 14, 2009 – Mom and I had decided to take a short trip to northern California to watch the Tour of California cycling race and go to Lake Tahoe. We flew from Birmingham to Sacramento arriving this afternoon. The prologue stage was a short time […]
Thursday, August 24, 2006 – We slept late today just because we could! Dad and I went to the pool one last time before we checked out of our hotel in Lahaina. We went shopping and had lunch at Whaler’s Village, before we stopped to buy some unique postcards to […]
Wednesday, August 23, 2006 – Today was our last full day in Hawaii. This morning, I had a reservations to learn something I have always wanted to try: surfing! And what better place to learn than Hawaii? From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., I took lessons at the […]
Tuesday, August 22, 2006 – We woke up at the ResortQuest Papakea and decided to do whatever we wanted during the morning. After all, we are on vacation at the beach in Maui! I went to the beach and snorkeled for a while. After lunch, Dad, Mom and […]
Monday, August 21, 2006 – After the long trip from eastern Maui on Sunday, we decided to have a relaxing day at the ResortQuest Papakea. Dad and I enjoyed the beach in the morning and snorkeled for a while. We came back to the condo for sandwiches. That […]
Sunday, August 20, 2006 – We checked out of our hotel this morning and decided to drive around the southeast tip of the island. In the past, this road was washed out and not paved in a few sections. Rental cars strongly discouraged tourists from taking it. This […]
Saturday, August 19, 2006 – This morning, we all had flights to catch from the airport at 12:30 p.m. Jeff had to take a flight to Honolulu, where he would leave for Atlanta on Sunday. Mom, Dad and I had a flight to Kahului, Maui on Aloha Airlines. […]
Friday, August 18, 2006 – Today was our last full day on the Big Island. We enjoyed another low-key day by heading to the Kings Shops in Waikoloa to look around. We ate the food court where I had some unusual Hawaiian pork barbecue sandwich at Subway. For […]
Thursday, August 17, 2006 – Today we decided to have a free day. I went out to our beach on the Kona Coast to lay in a hammock between two coconut trees for a while. Then, I lounged on the beach for a little tan. Afterwards, Jeff and […]
Wednesday, August 16, 2006 – This morning we decided to head up to the north side of the Big Island. We were about to do something really special: kayak through old irrigation ditches! It’s not really as bizarre as it sounds. Our adventure with Kohala Ditch Adventures was called […]
Tuesday, August 15, 2006 – This morning we began our first full day of this trip to Hawaii. We slept late before driving a little north to Kawaihae harbor for brunch at Café Pesto. Then we drove Highway 19 over to the other side of the Island. Along […]
Monday, August 14, 2006 – Sometimes there is nothing like a vacation to celebrate a key milestone and close out a transitional period in life. The previous Friday I finished my final exams and Dad came to the University of Alabama to help me move the big things […]
Friday, May 19, 2006 – Today was our last full day in northern California. We first visited the Monterey Bay Aquarium, which I have to say, is the best aquarium I have ever visited. Monterey was the capital of Alta California under both Spain and Mexico. Then we […]
Thursday, May 18, 2006 – We have had another fantastic trip to San Francisco. However, today it’s time to enjoy the beauty of the Pacific coast. Or to quote the song, “Californication” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers: “it’s the edge of the world and all of Western […]
Wednesday, May 17, 2006 – This morning Dad and I decided to rent some bikes from Blazing Saddles cycle shop. I brought my cycling clothes (except cycling shoes), so I decided to rent a proper road bike to go on a long tour. Dad rented a hybrid, but we […]
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