6 Winter Games Getaways to Unleash Your Inner Olympian
The Sochi Winter Games are nearly over, but fervor is at a fever pitch (let's just say I've been Googling "where to learn bobsleigh"). Keep the spirit alive and let the Games guide your travel plans...
View Article10 Reasons Women Need to Solo Travel
In August 2007, I sent myself to Edinburgh, Scotland as a graduation (I graduated with a Master of Science, Management degree) and birthday gift. This wasn't my first time to Edinburgh, but it was my...
View ArticleThe Lost Children of Alexander the Great: A Journey to the Pagan Kalash...
The New York Times recently published an article that had a fascinating description of the Kalash, an ancient ethnic group living high in the remote mountains of Pakistan's Hindu Kush. For centuries...
View Article5 Things to Eat During SXSW
If you're one of the tens of thousands flocking to Austin, TX for South by Southwest (SXSW) music and interactive festival March 7-16, you have likely started researching the city's hottest venues and...
View Article5 New Orleans Bars You Must Visit This Mardi Gras
As we roll up to Mardi Gras, which has arguably become one of the most widely celebrated festivals in the U.S., some of us are lucky enough to find ourselves heading to the heart of the party -- New...
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8 Nifty Little Items You Never Pack... But Should
Photo courtesy of Stephanie Adams. Article by Sean O'Neill, contributor to Budget Travel. No matter where you're traveling next, there are a few things you can add to your grab-and-go bag that will...
View ArticleA Storm of Images that Show how Great Work Makes Great Travel
Last week, all 90 of us at Rick Steves' Europe headquarters in Edmonds, Washington, gathered for our annual all-day, all-staff meeting. I kick the day off with a two-hour "state of the company"...
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Mexico City: Tales of an Aztec Emperor, a Spanish Conquistador and a Flying...
Next time you're on a jet landing at Mexico City, try to imagine what happened here five centuries ago when Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes and his 500 soldiers marched into the capital city of the...
View ArticleDubai Comes of Age
When I look out of the windows of my 25th-floor apartment in Dubai, I see the Persian Gulf shimmering a few blocks away. Cruise ships are parked at the dockyard, and in the blue waters beyond a steady...
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The Best Way to Travel is With Kids
Less and less people think of me as weird when I say this. Of course more and more of these people are parents like me. Because let's face facts -- if we loved exploring the big wide world before we...
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A Whale of a Shark Story: Swimming With Whale Sharks In the Philippines
By our third encounter, we had complete confidence in Randy Renado, our Butanding Interaction Officer, and his ability to see into both the immediate future and the turgid gray-green waters of the...
View ArticleAmtrak's Brilliant 'Residency' Program
Like (seemingly) every single writer and aspiring writer in the US, I was jumping up and down and scaring my pets when I heard about the idea of Amtrak offering "residencies" to writers. As both a...
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10 Great Retirement Locations In Maine
When many of us think of retirement locations, we think of warm balmy breezes and palm trees, or the hot craggy terrain of the Southwest. But some people, especially those who have spent their lives in...
View Article7 Reasons to Become an Expat Novelist
I was 19 when I decided to devote my life to fiction writing, and I was moved to this decision by reading James Joyce, an Irishman who exiled himself to continental Europe for the entirety of his adult...
View ArticleWorld's Hottest Museums for 2014
Planning to visit a few up-and-coming museums this year? In addition to the great ones you already know, these newcomers attract with striking architecture and thought-provoking exhibits. Moreover,...
View Article10 Crazy Driving Laws Around the World
Driving on the left side of the road or converting the speed limit from kilometers to miles per hour is challenging enough. But in some places, you have a whole host of weird traffic laws to contend...
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Cambodia's Angkor Vs. Burma's Bagan: Which Should You Visit?
The temple complexes of Angkor and Bagan are two Southeast Asia greats. Both boast a vast number of historic temples, oft-photographed sunrises and sunsets, and a magnitude of scale unimaginable to...
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Celebrating 25 Years of Marriage, One Bike Route at a Time
Al quit his job as a big equipment mechanic for Caterpillar in Calgary, Canada. Yoly managed a year's leave from her job teaching. Their 24-year-old son promised to look after things, including their...
View ArticleAmish Rite of Spring Is Just Plain Dirty (PHOTOS)
Punxsutawney Phil may be a cute guy, but let's face it -- he's not exactly Al Roker when it comes to spring predictions. (I worked with Al many weather forecasts ago. Lots of fun.) I like the odds...
View ArticleBeach Vacations With More Than Just Sand and Surf
Because sand and surf aren't always enough, here are a ton of beach resorts that offer no-fail, keep-everyone-happy activities for a perfect beach vacation -- and then some. Originally posted on...
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