Most and least dangerous places to visit
Reports about the most dangerous destinations are more useful than reports about the safest: After all, countries rated as safest generally fall under the “round up the usual suspects” meme and many of the most dangerous destinations are obvious to anyone who reads a newspaper or watches the evening news. But a few recent reports point out a few places you might be considering —... READ MORE
Three enchanting weeks in sultry Sumatra
The young orangutan swung on a vine like an Olympic gymnast. From the look on his face, it was clear that he was having a great time performing for the sweaty hikers who had trekked through the Sumatran jungle to catch his show. My wife and I were in the orangutan reserve on the edge of Bukit Lawang in Northern Sumatra on a trip hosted by Eldertreks — an adventure travel company... READ MORE
Exploring a classic Maine fishing village
To get to Stonington, Maine, from U.S. 1, wind down the Blue Hill Peninsula to Deer Isle on two-lane roads for 38 miles, past blueberry fields, rocky pastures and spruce forests, until the road stops at a snug working harbor on the peninsula’s end, a granite thumb lapped by salty ocean waves. Stonington, situated at the southern end of Deer Isle, is a quintessential coastal Maine... READ MORE
Find places to stay for next to nothing
Credit card rewards can be your ticket — literally your plane ticket — to a dream destination. But even if you’ve earned what you need to get to where you’re going, the accommodations could be a different story. What do you do if you don’t have enough points or miles left for lodging? You can slash those costs, too, if you’re willing to get out of your comfort zone. That... READ MORE
Changes to Eurail Pass boost flexibility
Eurail Pass just announced the biggest overhaul in its 60 years of existence. Among the key features: — Eurail Select Passes Discontinued: Most passes valid for travel in contiguous sets of two, three or four countries are gone. Most one-country passes remain, but if you want to travel in more than one country, your best option now is a 31-country Global pass. Fortunately, the... READ MORE
Area venue harbors entertainment galore
John and Betty Armstrong are mesmerized by a dramatic aluminum sculpture that depicts a giant emerging from the ground, his face contorted as he struggles to free himself. Barbara Brackett and Sam Bradford enjoy a movie projected on a giant screen set at the edge of the Potomac River. The appeals for Marilyn and Michael Meyers and their two grandchildren include riding a carousel,... READ MORE
Scenic Oregon, unpretentious Portland
Visitors to Oregon soon come to admire its varied landscapes, be fascinated by intriguing chapters of history, and enjoy its well-deserved reputation as a cornucopia of tasty fruits, vegetables and outstanding wine. No wonder the state has ranked high on many “best of” lists. At the same time, Oregon is as much a lifestyle as a destination. It’s among the most... READ MORE
All-day transit passes great for tourists
When I’m in Portland, I’m usually hopping around between points in or near the city center. Trips are often short enough that I can comfortably walk. But when it’s raining — which, in Portland, is quite a bit of the time — I’m happy to hop on the light rail or a bus for even a few blocks. And that’s easy, because I can buy an all-day pass for $5, which allows unlimited... READ MORE
Four presidents who retreated to Virginia
U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt was a gregarious, swashbuckling outdoorsman who hunted elephants in Africa and bears in Colorado. He came from wealth and owned a 23-room mansion, Sagamore Hill, on Long Island’s Oyster Bay. But when Teddy and wife, Edith, wanted to relax, they traveled four hours south of Washington to a plain little wood-frame cabin in Virginia’s woodlands called... READ MORE
Ride the rails through Canadian Rockies
In planning my “journey through the clouds” excursion last summer aboard Canada’s Rocky Mountaineer train, little did I realize the adventures ahead. After all, whizzing along on a train usually puts me to sleep. Not this train. By the end of my six-day excursion, I had walked on a glacier, helicoptered over the Rocky Mountains, and been dazzled by tumbling waterfalls, rushing... READ MORE
