International Falls, Minnesota, is probably best known for its winter weather. After all, Frostbite Falls is also famous for being the Icebox of the Nation! But all that focus on winter obscures the fact that Read More …
The fact that Arizona has a wine industry was news to us when we first stumbled across Javelina Leap Vineyard and Winery in 2016. Tasting the wines at Javelina Leap Vineyard and Winery Javelina Leap Read More …
While Stockholm is the largest and most well-known of the towns linked together by Sweden’s Lake Mälaren, travelers would be wise to journey farther along the lake to discover its smaller and less-famous gems. The Read More …
Lunchtime at the Milwaukee Public Market Arriving in Milwaukee on a rainy afternoon, we knew exactly where to head for a late lunch: the Milwaukee Public Market. Located downtown in the city’s historic Third Ward, Read More …
Once upon a time, beginning 500 years ago or so, castles in Sweden were surrounded by farms that produced the food needed for the inhabitants of the castle and for trade with other castles. Throughout Read More …
The penultimate stop on our Texas Hill Country tour last year was the historic little town of Gruene, Texas. Settled in 1840, the town grew up around and in conjunction with the very successful cotton Read More …
While we were in New York City last September, we took walking tours of both Greenwich Village and the Chelsea/Meatpacking District/High Line area. On both walks our guides pointed out where we could get “the Read More …
Wandering the streets below Manhattan’s gleaming towers, it’s easy to believe that the city George Washington knew – the city that served (briefly) as the capitol of a fledgling nation – no longer exists. However, Read More …
Our guide in Saigon is a big fan of rolled steamed rice pancakes (Banh Cuon) and swears the best ones can be found at a specific stall in Ben Thanh Market. The fun thing about Read More …
The Nam Ngum dam is a big deal in Laos, as it produces most of the electricity used in the country and the flooded landscape has become a vast fishery. While our guide wasn’t inclined Read More …
Texas Hill Country is littered with historic towns of varying degrees of charm. A few of these (Fredericksburg and Gruene, among them) have become major tourist attractions – places where their considerable charm is diminished Read More …
Notice to the world beyond Minnesota: The Minnesota State Fair is happening right now and it is the place to be, especially on the midway after dark. But that’s tomorrow’s post . . . . Read More …
Back in Minnesota after a spring visit to Hill Country, we were telling my mother about our trip. As with any discussion about Texas, BBQ came up. We told my mother that we had eaten Read More …
Looking for lunch on St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands? Head to Sapphire Beach, but skip the beach. (Or save the beach for later.) Instead, head up to the lookout above the beach. There Read More …
The Florida Keys are linked by series of bridges, the longest of which is the Seven Mile Bridge between Vaca Key (Marathon) and Little Duck Key. There are actually two Seven Mile bridges, a modern Read More …
Bovey, Minnesota, was once a booming mine town . . . or a teeming den of iniquity filled with bars and questionable hotels. Or both. It all depends on your perspective. Platted during the final Read More …
Driving from Cancun along Mexico’s Caribbean Coast isn’t difficult, but it isn’t very interesting either. It’s a modern highway with almost no development right along the road itself, leaving scrubby jungle and what seems like Read More …
The patio at the restaurant at Zamas (where we are staying in Tulum) is lovely, but it offers a very limited view of the ocean due to the large rock cliff behind it. It does, Read More …
What’s the most unusual pizza place you’ve ever visited? Last year’s Microdwelling exhibit featured the most unusual pizza place I’ve ever visited: A repurposed Bay-City steam shovel from the early 1920s. I would never see Read More …
Like many major museums, Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts offers several dining options – the best (and most expensive) of which is Bravo, the museum’s fine-dining restaurant where a menu of interesting, elegant, and delicious Read More …
It was not raining in the morning – although rain appeared more likely than the weather forecast predicted – and our friend wants to give us at least a glimpse of the fall leaves while Read More …
On one of the first warm evenings of spring, we took the convertible out and headed downtown to photograph the city at night. Despite gorgeous weather, the streets were nearly empty. There wasn’t a lot Read More …
The countryside west of Marrakech is known for its argan trees. These small scraggly trees produce seeds with an oil that is high in vitamin E, anti-oxidants, and essential fatty acids. It is touted as Read More …
We scope out our dinner options as we explore the city, or rather, I looked up at some point, saw umbrella-topped tables perched at the edge of a roof, and decided that was where I Read More …
The Distillery District is currently one of Toronto’s new hip neighborhoods where bars, restaurants, and galleries line the streets and new housing is going up all around (everything in Toronto goes up, as the city Read More …
Here’s the answer for all of you with limited counter space – suspend your bar from the ceiling! (Taken inside Brookfield Place in downtown Toronto.) This is my contribution to Travel Photo Thursday at Nancie’s Read More …
Ki is an upscale Japanese restaurant with several locations in Canada, including one in Brookfield Place in downtown Toronto. It’s hard to miss if you happen to be in the area: If you’re outside you’ll Read More …
The Palmer House is a historic hotel and restaurant in Sauk Centre, Minnesota. Depending on your interests, the Palmer House is either famous as the model for the Minniemashie House in Sinclair Lewis’ Main Street Read More …
I fall in love with Toronto’s Distillery District the moment I spot it a few blocks ahead through the bus window.My new love doesn’t disappoint. We are greeted by interesting restored buildings – the remains Read More …
Friday evening – after the workshops and tours, but prior to the opening of main conference at TBEX – brings the always greatly anticipated opening party. It was held at Roy Thompson Hall, home to Read More …
America’s Taco Shop (named for owner America Corrales), would be easy to drive right by – another taco place in a city filled with them. However, driving by would be a mistake, as the small Read More …
We have moved one bay down, from Baie Ternay to Port Launay on Mahe in the Seychelles Islands. The sun is shining when we arrive – it’s a beautiful evening. Still, it’s time to think Read More …
An unexpected luncheon date at work this summer brought me to the Dari-ette in Saint Paul’s Dayton’s Bluff neighborhood. This is truly a Wayback Machine experience. I’m sure there were places like this when I Read More …
If you are heading west out of the Twin Cities (Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota) on Interstate 94, make a stop at the Clearwater Travel Plaza. While it may look like just another overgrown highway Read More …
Lake Vermilion is located in northeastern Minnesota, 4-5 hours north of the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metro area, roughly between the towns of Tower (on the east) and Cook (on the west). DNR Recreation Compass With about Read More …
I didn’t make my lodging reservation in Keystone for the TBEX conference in a timely fashion. While TBEX was advertising a discount on conference lodging, I couldn’t figure out how to get the discount when Read More …
I’m in Keystone, Colorado, for TBEX‘s new media travel writers (bloggers) conference. The conference starts off with a fancy function on the mountaintop – a destination that can only be reached via not one, but Read More …
Freshly squeezed fruit juice is available everywhere in Istanbul and vendors always prominently display the fruit they are using. Why buy a bottle of plain old water when you can have fresh pomegranate juice? Just Read More …
Sweets are very popular in Turkey – and very beautiful. Next post: Chora Church Previous post: Kapalı Çarşı (The Grand Bazaar)
It is a beautiful day to be heading up the shore, but first we stop at Amazing Grace for a little (or not so little) breakfast and some freshly baked goodies to take north with Read More …
After a little Christmas music (perfect for western swing dancing) at the Portrait Gallery’s courtyard jazz concert, we make a quick run through the adjacent Christmas Market. Then it’s time to get something to eat. Read More …
We decided to take this trip in large part because it offered the opportunity to visit Cape Town. I had long wanted to visit this city of mountains, sea, penguins, culture, and history and had Read More …
A friend had recently driven this route, so I thought I knew what to expect, knew that the last of the informal settlements and mountains of tailings piles would give way to miles and miles Read More …
Johannesburg is the financial heart of southern Africa. Located near South Africa’s administrative capital in Pretoria (South Africa has three capital cities, Pretoria is where the President and his cabinet are located); this is a Read More …
Imagine my surprise upon entering a very large South African gas station/convenience store/restaurant complex with rhinos lolling about just beyond the parking lot and finding an American wild-west themed Spur Steak Ranch inside, complete with Read More …
We’ve seen signs advertising biltong everywhere and even bought a little during one of our mega C-Store stops. (We tried it once, mind you.) When our tour guide headed into what appeared to be a Read More …
I have a date to visit the Mill City Farmer’s Market in Minneapolis with a girlfriend this morning, which turns out to be a short bike ride from her house via the Stone Arch Bridge.I Read More …
We are meeting a friend for dinner in Duluth and don’t want to go to any of the usual places. She makes a couple recommendations and, even though they really don’t serve dinner (just appetizers), Read More …
I’ve long had a love-hate relationship with the Dakota in Minneapolis: I love the music and intimate setting, but am put-off by the extremely short sets, relatively high ticket prices, and class priority for seating; Read More …
I thought I was done with the “reflections” theme, but when I started sorting my (very limited) pictures from Boston last weekend it was pretty clear that this should be the Thursday Photo: Temazcal Tequila Read More …
Boston has really revived its waterfront, increasingly turning it into a lively, vibrant place. One example of that is the new Legal Seafood Harborside where one can sit at the seafood bar and watch the Read More …
Denmark is a small country with a good road system, making it easy to get around by car or bike. A couple links for country-wide information: Danish tourist information Northeast Zealand interactive map Note that Read More …
Quick bite anyone?Photo of the week is part of “Photo Thursday,” started by Nancie at the Budget Travelers Sandbox. Please visit her site for links to more great photos.
We had “snacks” late in the day in a cozy courtyard in Nyhavn. By snacks, I really mean lunch. . .(They were delicious but there were a LOT of them.)I really shouldn’t need to eat Read More …
Previous post: There’s Almost a Light Rail Stop at the Airport Because I have friends here, in all my visits I’ve never stayed in a hotel here. I’ve been looking forward to staying downtown Read More …
Previous post: The Best Thing at JFK Since we haven’t really eaten anything for what seems like a very, very long time (breakfast on the plane was inedible), once we have settled into our room Read More …
Previous post: For lunch my cousins take us to a lakeside restaurant. It seems a very long way from anywhere and it is very quiet today. However, the food is excellent and they assure us Read More …
I’ve become a fan of Groupon, although I tend to use it only to get discounts at places I either already know I like or have been waiting try. None-the-less, when discounted tickets for the Read More …
Previous post: Minnehaha Falls There’s nothing like having out-of-town guests to get one to finally get to the local hot spots that are otherwise too easy to save for some other day – like Izzy’s Read More …
Previous post: The Guthrie (and Mill City Museum) It isn’t often I can get to Minneapolis for lunch, but when I do I usually head for the Dakota where former neighbor and chef extraordinaire Jack Read More …
Michele and Norman are coming to visit!Norman is an architecture buff and Michele worked in downtown Minneapolis many years ago, so a tour of downtown might be a good place to start. We could start Read More …
I’m in training most of this week, a short jaunt north that winds between small lakes and wetlands interspersed with ugly suburban development. Mostly though, it is a pleasant trip and the weather is nice Read More …
Previous post: Auction Day Despite the rain, it’s pleasant cruising through the bright green fields. (We’ve had a wet spring, so the fields are particularly lush.) Our plan is to do a little shopping (art Read More …
Travel As usual, I flew Delta direct from Minneapolis. Although my frequent flier status yielded me a window seat in a substandard row (noticeably less pitch than other rows – I was in a middle Read More …
Previous post: Portland Through My Window Usually I’m not a big fan of eating alone in a restaurant, but I’m hungry after a long, tedious, and slightly uncomfortable journey here, so a lovely lunch somewhere Read More …
Delta runs regular non-stop flights between the Twin Cities and Albuquerque. It’s one of the few routes where I almost always score an upgrade and the Albuquerque airport is a pleasant little spot with actual Read More …
Previous post: The Cross River at Highway 61We are actually up here not to enjoy early spring on the North Shore, but to take in Inuit art and culture at Sivertson’s Gallery in Grand Marais Read More …
Previous post: Pachacamac Able has brought us to one of the places I most wanted to visit while in Lima, the funky Barranco neighborhood. This was a seaside resort catering to Lima’s aristocracy during Read More …
Previous post: In the Air We are so lucky to arrive to LAX and find David and Joe waiting for us at the baggage carousel. I love you guys! Not only do they pick us Read More …
Previous post: Today is our wedding anniversary. I can’t think of many better ways to celebrate than on a patio in the company of friends. . . tonight we are joined by college friends and Read More …
I know you all think I lead this exciting, dramatic life, but really, I’m pretty boring. For example, pretty much every Saturday when we are in town, you can find us eating lunch at Maverick’s.This Read More …
Previous post: Drinks at Bond, Dinner at Clink We don’t have tickets for today’s Red Sox/Blue Jays game, but it seems like such a good day for baseball that we head into Boston and Read More …