Somerville, Mass – I arrived home 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, so it’s…
Tren Maya
Cancun, Mexico – To get to Campeche and back, I rode the new Tren Maya, which now circles the Yucatan Peninsula, connecting towns, tourist attractions, and archaeological sites, big and small. This particular route – between Cancun and Campeche –…
Maya World
Xpujil, Mexico – For anybody passionate or curious about the Maya civilization, a journey along Hwy 186 in Campeche will be a highlight of Mexico. This southern peninsular area was the earliest-established, longest-inhabited and most densely populated region in the…
Campeche Centro Histórico
Campeche, Mexico – Welcome to the other side of the Yucatán, and I mean that both literally and figuratively. Located in the far southwestern corner of the peninsula, Campeche state is more rural, less prosperous and less developed than other…
Going Solo in Mexico
Cancun, Mexico – Now that S & V are twin-agers, I have become acutely aware that my time with them is limited. They are no longer allowed to miss school just so we can go on a family trip. This…
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…
Beauteous Beaufort
Beaufort, North Carolina – Beaufort was the best surprise of my trip to North Carolina. I fell in love with this picture-perfect town, with its white-washed Bahamian-style houses (including one where Blackbeard lived!) and its wildflower-strewn, pony-dotted offshore islands. Welcome…
Graveyard of the Atlantic
Hatteras, North Carolina – Shallow shoals, shifting sandbars and inclement weather have long posed a threat for ships navigating the waters off the North Carolina coast. Near Cape Hatteras, the Diamond Shoals are particularly treacherous. As evidence, the seafloor is…
Marsh Land and Maritime Forest
Hatteras, North Carolina – Summer vacationers flock to the OBX for fishing and surfing and other beachy fun. But there is a backside to these islands, a patchwork of marsh land and maritime forest that is also a wildlife wonderland.…