New York City’s bohemian Hotel Chelsea
When Colin Miller and Ray Mock set out to document the remaining inhabitants of Hotel Chelsea, the bohemian haven where Jackson Pollock, Andy Warhol, Patti Smith, William S. Burroughs and others once lived and worked, they imagined it as a sort of requiem. After all, much of the 12-story Gilded Age building, once New York City’s tallest, has been gutted and is being converted into... READ MORE
WWII history via biking in the Netherlands
Bucolic. Picturesque. Charming. Clichés, perhaps, but in my 50 years of world travel, I’ve visited few places where those words are more appropriate. The Netherlands is one. Last summer, I pedaled for several days through the beautiful countryside in southeastern Netherlands, near the border with Germany. It’s hard to believe that such a peaceful place was the site of some of the... READ MORE
What to expect in this year’s travel sphere
In terms of what’s ahead for travelers in 2020, I see very little change. But 2019 was not a bad year for travelers, so we’ll be lucky if 2020 isn’t any worse. Here are my fearless predictions: 1. The 737 saga ends. All indications are that the beleaguered 737MAX will be back in the air by sometime this summer. And airlines will get them into service quickly: Boeing has around... READ MORE
If you need a Real ID, visit your DMV soon
If you’ve been to the airport recently, you may have noticed signs asking, “Does your ID have a star?” If it doesn’t, you may want to schedule a visit to your local Department of Motor Vehicles. Beginning in October 2020, many travelers will need what’s known as a Real ID-compliant license to fly domestically. After the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Congress passed... READ MORE
Preserving local black history
The little half-acre cemetery with 75 graves, in the shadow of a five-story office building with shiny turquoise windows, is barely visible to drivers whizzing by on Fairfax County’s six-lane Beulah Street. Cement tombstones with hand-lettered inscriptions have been worn down by time. On one, the name “Moses Harris” is barely legible. Another, bearing a cross, notes the passing of... READ MORE
Insuring your trip and your health, too
Packing your bags for a trip? Don’t forget travel insurance. It can protect you if unforeseen circumstances force you to cancel or interrupt a trip — or if you get sick while on the road. Retiree John Murtagh said health coverage was a key reason he purchased travel insurance last year. He knew Medicare wouldn’t provide coverage outside the U.S. So, before embarking on a two-week... READ MORE
For baseball fans and foodies: Ft. Myers
Short phrases help jog the mind’s recall for trips. On my first trip to Fort Myers, Florida with my husband and two elementary-age children, in the 1980s, the key phrase was “banyan tree.” For our most recent trip there, after my husband and I had been retired for a decade, the key phrase was “baseball plus food” — beyond Cracker Jacks and hot dogs, that is. While we all... READ MORE
Festivals to enjoy in Virginia during 2020
Sugary maple syrup, juicy red tomatoes, dainty pink apple blossoms, high-octane bluegrass — it’s all classic Virginia. From oysters to sand to fiddling, Virginia’s festivals showcase the singular assets of the state’s diversity and riches. Mark your 2020 calendar to attend these events: Maple Festival, Highland County, Mar. 14-22 Highland County, 3,000 feet above sea level, ... READ MORE
Don’t miss these festivals in D.C. and Maryland in 2020
D.C.’s festivals here reflect the city’s international population. While we all know about the National Cherry Blossom Festival in the spring and the Smithsonian’s Folk Life Festival in the summertime, here are some lesser known celebrations to check out in 2020: Blossom Kite Festival, Mar. 28 Professional kite flyers impress amateurs at this annual festival, formerly the... READ MORE
Off the beaten track in Northern Ireland
The story of Northern Ireland is a tale of natural beauty and convivial people bound up in a singularly dark and bloody history. For a week and a half last summer, my wife Katherine and I traveled through Ireland — from Dublin, through Game of Thrones country along the windy coast of Northern Ireland, to the Wild Atlantic Way on the west coast and back to Dublin. The trip — my... READ MORE
Travel 2024
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