Elephant Island, a tiny speck of land on the Palmer Peninsula, holds a special place in the history of Antarctica exploration. This was the location where the men of the HMS Endurance, led by Sir Ernest Shackleton landed after more than a year stuck in the Antarctic pack ice. Shackleton set off from Elephant Island …
Paradise Bay was one of the last stops on the G Adventures tour I took to Antarctica in January. It is home to the Chilean González Videla Antarctic Base, which we visited as well as having some of the best photography I saw in all of Antarctica. I had a list of shots I wanted …
I’m often asked by readers how much planning I put into a place before I visit. The truth is, very little. Mostly I just show up and often I will show up with out a place to stay. As I write this I am sitting in Barcelona where I arrived two days ago. When I …
Madrid is often overshadowed by Barcelona, yet has at least as much to offer the visitor: world-class museums, delectable markets, historic neighborhoods, exciting nightlife, traditional music, friendly people, less touristed venues, sumptuous gardens, impeccable historical credentials, and fantastic day trips (including four World Heritage Sites). If you’re wondering why you should visit Madrid, here are …
Home to over 15 million Istanbulites, Istanbul may not be Turkey’s capital (that honor belongs to Ankara), but it remains the country’s largest city by quite some margin. Formerly known as Byzantium and Constantinople, the area has long been a major area of trading and commerce thanks to its location and the Bosphorus, the river …
With half a decade of non-stop travel under my belt, I can talk about a lot of subjects related to travel. The one thing I cannot talk about, however, is what it feels like to travel for the first time. Recently my assistant Amy made her very first trip outside of US/Canada. I asked her …
After 6 months, I finally arrived back in Wisconsin yesterday. I’ll be here until June 11 when I fly to Colorado to take part in the annual TBEX Travel Bloggers conference. My mother’s house is the closest thing I have in the world to a home base if for no other reason than I have …
Whenever I plan a trip to visit family, I look around to see what else I can see and do while I’m there. This past weekend, I headed to Des Moines, Iowa and so I began my search. There are only three things Iowa is known for… cornfields, the Field of Dreams (also a cornfield) …
Muscat is the capital of Oman and a thriving cultural hub with shopping, nightlife, and restaurants galore. There are many things to see in Muscat, but since it can be a little overwhelming on a first trip, we’re here to help with a handy and complete guide! Note: If you’re planning a trip to Muscat, …