Haines, Alaska – After exploring Wrangell Island by e-bike last week, I decided to undertake another bicycle outing. This time, I had the great fortune to rent a Salsa Journeyer gravel bike (true love!) from Sockeye Cycle in Haines. My…
Exploring by E-Bike
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…
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,…
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.…