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Travel Stories, Cruise Reviews, and Cultural Adventures


Kualoa Ranch Oahu's Premier Adventure Destination
Kualoa Ranch Hawaii's Premier Adventure Destination. Take a horseback ride or try a zipline tour, enjoy a boat ride, shop for homegrown produce and prowl famous movie locations.

Cookie & Keller
Apr 95 min read


Big Bus pleasures shed new light on San Francisco as 3 generations hop aboard to experience and learn about the city
Big Bus a great way for 3 generations to explore and bond together

Cookie & Keller
Jan 15 min read


Make Christmas dreams come true with new food, fun, traditions
Christmas morning on Hawaii, "the Big Island," presents a double rainbow to passengers aboard a Body Glove trip down the Kona coast....

Christene Meyers
Dec 19, 20246 min read


Porcelain potter Cosgriffe retires from studio, parts with treasured collection
Rick Cosgriffe's decades long fascination with Oriental brush stroke painting shows in his graceful and detailed work. These jars are inspired by the wildflowers of his native Montana. Sumi brush painting influenced Montana born artist's unique pottery style PORCELAIN COLLECTION GOES FOR SALE AS ARTIST MARKETS COLLECTION OF VINTAGE SHOW PIECES STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER Artist Cosgriffe's fine porcelain pottery caught the eye of New York Times art critic

Christene Meyers
Sep 5, 20244 min read


Tourist card enhances Europe's charms seen through brother's eyes
Unlock Europe for less with tourist cards that bundle transport, museum entry, and skip-the-line perks. From Paris to Rome, these passes can save money, time, and stress while helping you see more in fewer days. Discover how to pick the right card for your trip, stretch your budget, and avoid common pitfalls so your itinerary flows smoothly across iconic cities and hidden gems.

Christene Meyers
Aug 29, 20245 min read


A fond farewell to fellow traveler John: amiable, adventuresome friend
Yorkshire farmer and world traveler, John Speight, and his wife, Sue, enjoy a laugh with friends Bruce Keller, left, and Christene...

Christene Meyers
Jun 27, 20244 min read


Transplant Tale: Celebrating 7th 'Liverversary' with travel, joy, gratitude
TRAVELING TO HEALTH WITH GRATITUDE, HAPPY HEARTS AND A BORROWED LIVER STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER SEVEN YEARS ago...

Christene Meyers
May 23, 20244 min read


Pop-up Montana wedding: Here comes the surprised, speechless bride!
The clan gathered for a birthday party for Christene "Cookie" Meyers, but she didn't know it was also a wedding. Her longtime partner, photographer Bruce Keller, had arranged the ceremony with the couple's niece and nephew, Amarylla and Steve Ganner. "Father Steve" officiated. "Father Steve," a San Francisco lay minister, has officiated at other weddings. He and his wife, Cookie's niece Amarylla, secretly arranged with Keller to add a wedding to the birthday bash. GROOM P

Christene Meyers
Aug 17, 20234 min read


Bishop Museum in Honolulu -- guide to a treasure trove of Pacific Island wonders
The Bishop Museum offers a deep scientific perspective on the Pacific, revealing the unique ecosystems of Hawaii, including native birds, marine life, and volcanic geology that make the islands unlike anywhere else on Earth. Interactive displays explain how the Hawaiian archipelago formed in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and how isolation created unique biodiversity. The museum’s science center and planetarium add dimension. It's great for families and curious travelers.

Cookie & Keller
May 11, 20234 min read


Santa Barbara's Maritime Museum: highlight of a Ventura County visit
A fine collection of seafaring artifacts combines with beautifully curated changing exhibits to show off Santa Barbara's proud maritime...

Christene Meyers
Feb 16, 20234 min read


Paramount Pictures: Get ready for your close up at Hollywood studio
The famous gate to Paramount Pictures has been used in many films, including "Sunset Boulevard" which tells the story of a fading star...

Christene Meyers
Feb 9, 20233 min read


Thanksgiving pledge: Let us give thanks for health, happiness, travel, family, food, nature
Thanksgiving pledge: Let us give thanks for health, happiness, travel, family, food, nature

Christene Meyers
Nov 24, 20224 min read


A dog's long, lively life : Nicky lives on as a fearless, loving Yorkie
Nick is surrounded by flowers on his 16th birthday. Even though he was virtually blind and had painful spinal and rear leg issues, he was still game for a walk, a snuggle, a kiss for his people. BRAVERY, LESSONS, LOVE, JOY FROM AN ENDEARING YORKIE NAMED NICK STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER Nothing like a Yorkie kiss, and Nicky was a generous kisser, here with his appreciative mama, Cookie. FOR THE first time in 17 years, I sit at the computer with no doggie

Christene Meyers
May 26, 20226 min read


Dolphin encounter: Swimming with dolphins a is a treat to cement bond between species
IF YOU YEARN to connect with another species, and have watched the joyful antics of dolphins, there's no better place to bond with these intelligent creatures than a dolphin encounter at Hilton Waikoloa Village's Dolphin Quest.

Cookie & Keller
Jan 27, 20224 min read


Key West Food Tour: Dining delights in munching our way on a tasty, Cuban inspired path through a colorful town
ONE CAN dine like a king, snacking your way through a leisurely few hours in Key West, where the scents and tastes of Cuba and the Caribbean are a very real part of life.
We took a fun foodie's walking and tasting tour and we're going back for seconds!

Cookie & Keller
Jan 20, 20224 min read


Holiday happiness with Family fun and a cherished recipe
Holiday happiness: food, fun, family and a cherished recipe

Christene Meyers
Dec 23, 20213 min read


Travel and Traditions: Benefits are family bonding, friendships, global exposure
MY GRANDPARENTS lived next door, so we didn't have far to go to enjoy their guidance and company. Holiday meals at their home were much loved tradition. We sang "Over the River and Through the Woods"with gusto to please Gran Olive, who taught us the melody and her revised lyrics. Her favorite holiday was Thanksgiving. Coming shortly after her Nov. 19 birthday, it was an extension of that -- a bonus time together to play music, Scrabble, pinochle and cribbage, to visit, cook a

Cookie & Keller
Nov 25, 20214 min read


Legoland - Some, not all, Southern California parks, zoos reopen for July tourism
Part of Legoland is open for business and family fun. The park's popular Sea Life Aquarium is reopened, and the rest of the park is planning to announce its reopening soon. Reservations are required, admissions are limited and masks are required. COVID CONSTRAINTS INCLUDE MASKS, DISTANCING, LIMITED NUMBERS, SANITIZING STATIONS AND MORE STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER The new cubs are a big hit at the reopening of San Diego's world renowned zoo, now once aga

Christene Meyers
Jul 3, 20204 min read


A bus turned hotel means vintage fun for two children of the '60s
Bohemian Bus Beautiful represents a delightful retro-inspired alternative to traditional hotels and hostelries. CONVERTED BUS PROVIDES...

Christene Meyers
Feb 7, 20203 min read


Romancing into our dotage -- light the fire of romance after tragedy
Happy in Barcelona, taking a chance on love. NOT OLD, BUT BOLD, IN LOVE! DON'T LET THE CALENDAR STOP YOU FROM JOY Excited to be touring...

Christene Meyers
Sep 20, 20193 min read
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