Travel Stories, Cruise Reviews, and Cultural Adventures

Butte, Montana, native Evel Knievel tried a jump in this spectacular canyon in Twin Falls, Idaho. Jumpers enjoy a tamer form of...

Road trip wonders -- stopping to 'smell the roses' from Montana to California. We relish stopping to admire the landscape, perhaps exploring a bluff or bridge we haven't noticed before. We smell the roses, as Keller says, "as we stroll through the garden of life." Often we pull over to give ourselves and the dog a break. This leads to taking a few photos, studying a roadside plaque or grabbing a milkshake at a newly discovered diner.

Cookie shops for produce on an annual autumn road trip, here at a stand in the San Juaquin Valley. THANKS TO FARMERS, WORKERS, FINE WEATHER, IRRIGATION FOR YEAR-ROUND BOUNTY OF PRODUCE STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER "The Carpe Diem Kids" Rows and rows of farmland being worked meet the eye near Bakersfield. DRIVING THROUGH California's Central Valley gives the tourist time to reflect on the importance of this fertile stretch of land and the hard working m

Autumn colors out our window make a beautiful photo: chokecherries, wild rose, ornamental willow, aspen. POETS PAY HOMAGE TO COLORFUL FALL IN FULL GLORY NOW IN MONTANA Bruce Keller and Christene "Cookie" Meyers on a walk near their Stillwater home. "Life starts all over again, when it gets crisp in the fall..." --F. Scott Fitzgerald STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER "The Carpe Diem Kids" Editor's Note: This piece is timeless -- except for the COVID references.

Whether you're headed east of west, it's freeing to be off and driving on a road trip, Tips and recommendations included below While our American goldfinches have fled Montana, we found this one in a rest stop farther south in Nevada.

Towering above the Shoshone River west of Cody, Wyoming, Buffalo Bill Dam is one of the most impressive engineering achievements in the American West. Visitors can walk across the dam, explore fascinating exhibits at the visitor center, and enjoy breathtaking views of Buffalo Bill Reservoir and the surrounding mountains. It's a must-see stop for travelers heading to Yellowstone National Park or exploring Wyoming's scenic landscapes.

MORE THAN 100 years after his death in 1917, Buffalo Bill Cody lives on in the lively western town of Cody, Wyoming.

Towering peaks, crystal-clear lakes, and unforgettable mountain adventures make Grand Teton National Park one of America's most breathtaking destinations. Ride the Bridger Gondola for panoramic views, hike to spectacular Jenny Lake, and discover wildlife, alpine scenery, and outdoor experiences that will make your Wyoming vacation truly unforgettable.

A mother whale and her calf in flowers draw the eye to Victoria's famous Hotel Fairmont Empress. STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By...

Oslo is a proud city, which grew from a rustic 9th Century village to a bustling region of nearly a million people.

Skagen's distinctive yellow houses always sport orange tiled roofs, an artistic tradition. STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE...

STOCKHOLM is a city of water, museums, street markets, stately squares, lively arts, buskers, pomp and subway art to knock your socks off. It's a city of contrasts, home to the Nobel Prize ceremonies, a museum celebrating the musical group, ABBA, a famous ship museum and a connection to rock legend Frank Zappa. Inhabited for years by the Danes, it has been Swedish territory since 1523 and underwent a renaissance in the 18th century.

Those clever, fun-loving but stylish Danes have managed to combine urban sophistication and Continental charm in Copenhagen. It has the laid back feel of a small village but the sophistication of a city.

AS MUSICIANS and artists, we made our first tour stop in Helsinki at the memorial to the famed Finnish composer, Jean Sibelius. Aptly named the Sibelius Monument, it was erected in 1967 by Finnish sculptor Eila Hiltunen. It is a striking abstract sculpture, as impressive to the eye as the dramatic composer's work is to the ear. It can be seen from a half mile away and resembles clusters of organ pipes.