Travel Stories, Cruise Reviews, and Cultural Adventures

SAMPLE TOP ACTING AT OREGON SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL, LIVELY CABARET, THEATER, FINE RESTAURANTS, CLASSIC HOTEL, CHEESE AND CHOCOLATE!...

B&Bs, shopping and attractions, including a vintage trolley which will take you around in leisurely and colorful fashion. ONE OF THE town's stand-outs, perhaps its most colorful offering, has put Jacksonville on the map. It's the Britt Festival

St. Patrick's Day delights: corned beef, music and a bucket list with mum

A VISIT AND OVERHEARD CONVERSATION BRING REVELATION OF THE PLACE'S HISTORIC IMPORTANCE With the grandeur of Tara in "Gone with the Wind," Oak Alley's "big house" rests at the end of a grand oak entryway. The view from the second-story balcony at Oak Alley. A docent in period dress guides guests through the living room of Oak Alley. STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER PLANTATIONS make me nervous. Revisiting the sorry history of slavery should make one uncomfort

Carnival worldwide -- Rio to New Orleans

Trio of venues about relationships offers home run for buffs of the boards San Diego's gorgeous location between sea and mountains is fertile ground for cutting edge theater. STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER SAN DIEGO THEATER's March offerings are as fresh, varied and welcome as our recent weather. Translate coastal sun, imposing skyline and rejuvenating breezes to the stage. You have a hint of the pleasures awaiting theater buffs. Our theaters deliver -- f

Beautifully crafted metal sculptures including elephants, eagles and even a desert jeep with passengers are positioned to suggest roaming the deserts of San Diego County, near our home here in southern California. Outside of the town of Borrego Springs lies Galleta Meadows, inspiration of the late entrepreneur and philanthropist Dennis Avery.

When renting a car abroad, think small and don't be shy

AVOID TROUBLE BY DOCUMENTING EVERYTHING, PHOTOGRAPHING DAMAGE, OBSERVING LOCAL SIGNS Renting a car abroad -- here in Sardinia -- calls for advance planning. STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER RENTING A CAR while traveling abroad can be unnerving. Daunting questions arise: What do you do about a bang or a ding noticed before you take the car out of the lot? How will you transcend a language barrier? Do you book at home before you go, or wait and take your cha

Few names in ocean travel carry the history and romance of Cunard. That story comes alive in Long Beach, California, where the legendary Queen Mary remains permanently docked—and continues to connect travelers with the golden age of ocean liners. Today, Cunard carries that tradition forward with its modern fleet, including the beautifully refreshed Queen Elizabeth.

Bruce Keller 6:03 PM (0 minutes ago) to me Step aboard the legendary Queen Mary in Long Beach and experience a remarkable piece of maritime history. This iconic ocean liner offers fascinating history, elegant spaces, waterfront views, dining, and unique stories around every corner. Whether you're a history lover, cruise enthusiast, or looking for something different to explore, the Queen Mary is a memorable California experience worth adding to your travels this year.

For this couple, the world's great cruise ship lines offer opportunity to perform magic, dancing, and other treats. SINGERS, HOOFERS, MAGICIANS ANSWER SEA'S SIREN CALL TO ENTERTAIN PASSENGERS Gowns, boas, beautifully pressed and stored, await their time in the spotlight. A stage hand does inventory. An actor's life for talented singers and dancers aboard Royal Caribbean. STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER SPACE IS SMALL , but spirits soar for thousands of

The Pyramids of Guimar convinced famous Norwegian anthropologist Thor Heyerdahl of a connection between Tenerife's ancient Guanche people and the civilizations in Central America and Egypt. PYRAMIDS OF GUIMAR INTRIGUE -- ARE THEY CONNECTED TO OTHER IN DISTANT LANDS? STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER The grounds of the Casa Charcona Museum contain nautical lore, sculpture, pottery copies, mummies and much more, as Cookie discovers. This inhabitant of Tenerife i

The Cadiz Cathedral, "Catedral de Santa Cruz," offers spectacular views of the city and port from southern Spain. ANCIENT PORT CITY OFFERS GARDENS, CHURCHES, PARKS, PEACE, FLAMENCO PLUS GREAT SURFING STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER Cadiz is known recently for shopping and surf, plus history! All roads point to Cadiz now, a hot new tourist spot. WHEN CHRISTOPHER Columbus set forth from Europe, his last steps were taken in Cadiz. From this lovely and ancient c

The New Orleans skyline is bathed in light as Natchez departs the dock. Lively evening on the Mississippi harkens back to Mark Twain days and life on the river "The Mississippi is well worth reading about. It is not a commonplace river, but on the contrary is in all ways remarkable. Considering the Missouri its main branch, it is the longest river in the world--four thousand three hundred miles." From Mark Twain's "Life on the Mississippi" STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS