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.…
The Best Places to Travel in your 20s
Lonely Planet writers compiled a list of the best places to travel in your 20s. Not surprisingly, Costa Rica is on the list! (At least I am not surprised, because I nominated it and I wrote the entry.) Indeed, I…
The Best Lakes for a Vacation
Lonely Planet writers compiled a list of the best lakes for a vacation in the USA, and of course it includes Lake Michigan! (It’s no coincidence that we had a wonderful getaway to Lake Michigan just last summer, which explains…
Boston’s Best Cycling Routes
This spring I have been busy updating Lonely Planet’s Boston city guide, as well as the Massachusetts chapters for Lonely Planet’s New England (both new editions forthcoming in 2025). LP has taken some excerpts from the Boston guide to create…
The Most Beautiful Flowers in the World
Sandwich, Mass – Lonely Planet made a list of the best places to see the most beautiful flowers in the world, and Heritage Museum and Gardens in Cape Cod made the list. (It was my suggestion. It’s also on my…
24 Reasons to Visit Boston in Winter
The map of Boston is a patchwork of oddly shaped and diversely formed districts, a so-called city of neighborhoods. Some were the original pieces of historic Boston, while others were once independent municipalities that were annexed by the larger city. But all…
A Local’s Guide to Boston in Winter
Bostonians don’t let the weather stop us, even in the coldest months. This is New England, after all, so we know how to make the most of winter. Join us as we venture out into the icy air or retreat…
Boston vs Chicago
I go head-to-head with my Chicago-based colleague, debating which city is best to visit, Boston vs Chicago. “I am a Midwesterner by birth and a New Englander by choice, so I feel well qualified to weigh in here. And considering…
Costa Rica on a Budget
Traveling in Costa Rica on a budget? It’s easy to experience sticker shock when checking into eco-lodges and renting vehicles and booking tours in Costa Rica. Indeed, it is the most expensive country in Central America, thanks to a booming economy and…
How to get around Costa Rica
Costa Rica packs a world of adventure into a relatively small area. Limited infrastructure means that getting around can be a challenge, but it’s also one reason that Costa Rica is the wild and wonderful place that it is. Do…