Wrangell, Alaska – Curiously, you can now rent electric bikes all over Southeast Alaska. They seem to be much more widely available than regular non-electric bikes. At first I thought this was an accommodation for lazy cruise ship travelers (I…
Ketchikan for Cruisers
Ketchikan, Alaska – When we were in Ketchikan three years ago, we were doing research for Last Stand of the Raven Clan. We visited every totem park and totem museum in the city (which is a lot), learning much about…
Prince of Wales Island
Klawock, Alaska – Prince of Wales Island is a truly gorgeous corner of the planet–a rugged place of tiny villages, indigenous culture, fishing lodges, hiking trails, and cave networks. It’s only 36 miles southwest from Ketchikan, but it feels like…
The Land of the Raven
Sitka, Alaska – I am thrilled to be back in the Land of the Raven, aka Southeast Alaska. I am covering this region for the next edition of Lonely Planet Alaska. Southeast is also the home of the Tlingit people…
Guidebook Updates
Somerville, Mass – I arrived home from Mexico to find these updated Lonely Planet guidebooks on my doorstep. These three titles – Boston, Pocket Boston and New England guidebook updates – occupied most of the first half of last year,…
Bash Pickleball Club
Warren, Michigan – We canceled a family trip to Mexico so that we could spend Christmas in Detroit. It seems like it would be an unpopular move, but the twin-agers were agreeable. In addition to seeing the grandparents, they looked…
A Tale of Two Theaters
You would think – after 14 years – I would know what works and what doesn’t work. But the joy and frustration of traveling with kids is that it is unpredictable! I have always said that every new destination presents…
Current Mood
Boston vs Philadelphia
I go head to head with my Philly-based colleague to help you decide which city is best to visit: Boston vs Philadelphia. When I first moved to Boston, I thought I had landed in the smartest place on the planet.…
Weekend in Wilmington
Wilmington, North Carolina – Wilmington is the grooviest little city that you never heard of – an eclectic blend of historic charm and contemporary cool. Who knew? I had a blast in this dynamic and diverse city. Here’s how you…