Hood River’s Fruit Loop: Roam with a mountain view
It would be difficult to find a more beautiful drive in almost any season than the bucolic Fruit Loop, a 35-mile, north-south elliptical route that...
Hit the Road
A fruitful trip to Washington’s Walla Walla Valley
In a world of uncertainty, I thought that one thing I could count on was that apples grow on trees. Not so in this southeast...
Boatload of holiday fun in and around San Diego
Gondolier Luke “Luciano” Andreen surprises us with a question: “Would you like me to sing a song?” Absolutely. “In English or Italian?” Since we are...
Conservation up close in Washington’s Blue Mountains
Hartmut Stecher is a marathon runner, so when he takes off down the trail, we have to hustle. We are hiking in Jasper Mountain Reserve,...
Reindeer games and more in America’s Bavarian village
Question: What can run 50 miles an hour, swim faster than Michael Phelps and control the temperature of its legs so they don’t freeze to...
Art, food scenes complement natural beauty in Edmonds, Washington
Forty-five minutes out of Edmonds, Washington, heading south on the Puget Sound Express catamaran Swiftsure, we spot them — the unmistakable dorsal fins of three...
Discovering Utah’s desert treasures in St. George
You might call it St. George’s “three-fer:” Red Hills Desert Garden, Pioneer Park and Red Cliffs Desert Reserve. The three destinations, all contiguous on the...
Walking with a purpose along the Camino de Santiago
One route. Two journeys. That’s how MiraCosta College professor Leola Powers describes the six days that she and longtime friend Christie Pickel spent walking the...
LA writer explores city’s origins, opportunities
Tackling the history of Los Angeles — the sprawling, chaotic, seemingly amorphous neighbor to the north — had to be as intimidating as the L.A....
This short walk will stay with you a long time
Jenny’s Canyon. It might be the most dramatic half-mile walk you’ll ever take. This magnificently unique miracle of nature is just one of many wonders...
Virginia’s Montpelier confronts contradictions of fourth US president
It is an unplanned but pleasing coincidence that our visit to Montpelier, the home of James Madison, the fourth U.S. president (1809-1817), coincides with Juneteenth. Recognized...
Family history, slavery intersect in rural Virginia
It’s barely 10 a.m., but our group of seven is sweating under the Virginia sun. I’ve got to keep my sleeves rolled down to prevent...
‘Cycling Across Oregon’: Tips from a North County alum
Oregon’s system of 17 Scenic Bikeways promotes cycle tourism and brings business to small towns. ...
Celebrating the art, history and architecture of Las Vegas
Breeze block. Butterfly rooflines. Weeping mortar. Precast concrete. I knew nothing of these mid-century modern architectural features until I spent an April weekend with folks...
Museum of Making Music renovations hit the right notes
In April, the Carlsbad museum held a grand reopening to showcase its extensive renovations....