Even before first light, the growl of howler monkeys echoes through the trees. A lumbering tapir retreats into the cover of the forest for its daily rest, while a pair of scarlet macaws emits an unsonorous squawk and alights in…
Teens in Alaska, First Stop Juneau
Juneau, Alaska – Daddio and the twin-agers left the bachelor pad, and came to have some fun with me in Alaska. Let’s go! Here’s how it went with the teens in Alaska. First stop: Juneau Douglas Island We booked the…
Train to Trail
Skagway, Alaska – The big thing in Skagway–besides (but related to) the Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Site–is the White Pass & Yukon Route Scenic Train. WPYR is an all-day train ride from Skagway to Dawson, on the historic railroad…
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…
My Kind of Place
Isla Holbox, Mexico – For the record, it is pronounced hol-bosh (rhymes with gauche). Two hours north of Cancún, Isla Holbox once attracted only windsurfers and beach bums. But now its swanky swing bars, beachfront yoga and lobster pizza are…
Ser joven es ser Cancún
Cancún, Mexico – The mural facing Parque de las Palapas reads “Ser joven es ser Cancún”. Being young is being Cancún. The motto highlights this city’s youthful energy but also its short history. Cancún was founded in 1970, when the…
Wild Mustangs on the Beach
Corolla, North Carolina – Wild mustangs roam freely on the beaches and dunes north of Corolla. It’s not unusual to see the horses grazing amid the houses and communities at the north end of Bodie Island. There are no roads…
Helicopter over Detroit
Detroit, Michigan – Here we are, back in the Motor City! As a special surprise, the grandparents treated us to a flight in a helicopter over Detroit! It was actually cloudy and rainy as we drove to Detroit City Airport,…
Kayak Sitka Sound
Sitka, Alaska – We couldn’t leave Alaska without going for a paddle! We saved this adventure for Sitka, as the gorgeous Sitka Sound is strewn with wooded islands and welcoming inlets, all begging for exploration. Sitka Sound Ocean Adventure organized…
Hanging out with the Humpbacks
Juneau, Alaska – Fabulous day of whale watching in Auke Bay with Harv and Marv’s Outback Alaska. We opted for the smaller boat (six people plus the guide) and it was well worth it. We loved hanging out with the…