Travel Stories, Cruise Reviews, and Cultural Adventures

Pansies are perennial favorites in Ashland, Oregon, and this one was part of a shop windowbox display. STORY by Christene Meyers ...

The Colosseum and Trevi fountain in Rome Italy

A flurry of birds is caught in motion at a feeder at High Chaparral on the West Fork of the Stillwater River in Montana . Story by Christene Meyers Photos by Bruce Keller AS LONG as I can recall, birds have flitted around me, delighting and entrancing. In the mountains of Montana, the countryside of Tuscany, hiking trails in Ireland and Scotland, desert treks in Arizona, rain forests in Costa Rica, Peru and Brazil, I've always stopped to look, admire and a

Days ago, we went down the rabbit hole. We happened upon Queen Califia's Magical Circle on a driving trip. The magnificent creation of the late French artist Niki de Saint Phalle is quietly dazzling.

Story by Christene Meyers Photos by Bruce Keller Cookie and Keller enjoy sunset. IF THE airlines awarded miles for doggie travel, Nick and Nora would have logged over 50,000 miles each in their action-packed seven years. Mostly, they go where we go, by plane or car. They're happy little road-trippers. So we've started keeping track of the best of the "dog friendly" hotels we've visited recently. We estimate that Nick and Nora have bedded down with us in

The Ashland Springs Hotel holds center stage on Main Street. Writing by Christene Meyers Photos by Bruce Keller One of my favorite William Holden movies is "Shangri-la." It's set in a Utopian village in the Himalayas and director Frank Capra captures beautiful mountains, soothing forests and low-hanging clouds that seem to say "touch me, come in, enjoy." It is a magical place. Shangri-la lives! The hotel's gracious lobby is artfully decorated in the styl

Planning the perfect San Diego getaway? This San Diego waterfront itinerary highlights sun-soaked coastal adventures, must-see attractions, and unforgettable experiences along one of California’s most beautiful shorelines.

COOKIE RECALLS MISS AMERICA, PROTESTS, PLAYBOY AND HER FEMINIST GROUNDING STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS THE SUMMER of 1968 was a memorable...

I miss them. On a recent, rare melancholy rainy San Diego day, I thought of them: Of all the plays they’ve missed since they died – mum in 2008 and Robbie two years later in 2010. Of how much joy they received from travel – we had many trips together. Thinking how they'd both have voted

Editor's Note: This story was written a few years before Meyers and Keller were married in a pop-up ceremony during a family reunion in her native state, Montana. STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS: VINTAGE and BRUCE KELLER The famous photo taken on VJ Day at Times Square,1945, inspired the "Kiss" sculpture that inspired this column. Top photo: Bruce Keller and Christene Meyers on a date in San Diego. THIS VALENTINE'S week, with "The Kiss" statue back in San Diego, I'm taki

The Interlude on a happy outing in Mission Bay in this Bruce Keller photo. Hark, now hear the sailors cry smell the sea and feel the sky let your soul and spirit fly --Van Morrison A floating piece of San Diego history is in danger of sinking. Interlude, a beautiful classic wooden boat, long cared for and housed near Mission Bay Aquatic Center, needs money and man hours to restore and maintain her. Without those, her sailing days are over. So

Bruce Keller training for his diving instructor license, earned in 1976 You’ve got to love a town where National Public Radio news includes the morning surf report. Start your San Diego day with the weather (usually gorgeous) then get tips on the waves and where to catch them. When I listened to the Beach Boys in the 1960s, rockin’ out to “Good Vibrations,” I had no idea that some day I’d experience southern California culture as a resident. Land-locked in the northe

STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER It’s spring in San Diego! The dolphins are racing, the whales are heading south...

PENY WAS BORN in 1949. Christa was born in 1948. They would have been friends. Both were gregarious, over-achieving, loving, fine teachers, intrepid adventurers, with daring, charisma and humor. Christa became famous as the first teacher to train for a space flight. Peny was a ground-breaker, too.

STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER Carpe Diem Kids Today while perusing journals, I began a tally of cruises I’ve taken. The result surprised me! View from the promenade deck on our ship where art is part of the enticement. The grand total: 99! So my next cruise will be my centenary. I am excited. What and where will it be? Crystal, Oceania, Princess, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Cunard, Holland America, Carnival, Disney? Although born in land-locked Monta