Travel Stories, Cruise Reviews, and Cultural Adventures

Road trip to the top of the world: last week, up the Beartooth Pass on the famed Cooke City Highway. John Steinbeck had Charley, and Keller has Nick and Nora, below. TRAVEL THE COUNTRY, SEE NEW TERRAIN, ENJOY SURPRISES, AS THE CAR IS YOUR COCOON! STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER JOHN STEINBECK described, when beginning a trip, that delightful sense of the unknown in his engaging "Travels With Charley." He said, “A journey is like marriage. The certain way t

The ranch, located on the banks of the Clark's Fork River, provides a peaceful escape from the challenges of a busy life. A family-operation for over seventy years, the Cary's pride themselves in a well-kept and clean facility, amazing food, a relaxing atmosphere, and clients who return year after year, inviting their friends and family to join.

Cows graze contentedly in a thunder storm earlier in the week. Workers on the new roof took a rain day Thursday. CONSTRUCTION CHAOS IS GETTING UNDER CONTROL, WING IS HEALING AND WILD LIFE'S FANTASTIC UNDER THE BIG SKY Berries are ripening this week, ready for the bears and birdies. Hawks are on the watch for food, fall. STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER "The Carpe Diem Kids" Cookie and Keller load up on Park City, Montana, corn. THERE'S SOMETHING GLORIOUS a

Lisbon, Portugal delightful city awaiting your discovery and our stay in the renowned Altis Belem Hotel in the Belem district, near famed Belem Tower.

PURPLE MARTIN'S MAJESTY GROWS FINE ORGANIC FARE James Walker Hayes washes freshly picked produce at the organic farm he and his partner, Kelle Martin, run. The historic Point Arena Lighthouse, above, is a few miles back toward town from the farm, then up the road a bit. STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER THE APPROACH to a gardener's Eden is a good half hour outside of Point Arena, Calif., down a winding country road dense with fir, cedar, pine and redwoods. Yo

TRAVELER'S BALANCING ACT: HAVING A GOOD TIME MEANS ENJOYING THE MOMENT, BUT BEING READY TO BE SPONTANEOUS, SMELL THE ROSES One of the continent's largest markets was a surprise find for our travelers in Sao Paulo, Brazil. STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS The rugged Costa Brava provided a scenic vista with surprising views. PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER MY GRANDFATHER said, "When a plum falls from the sky, open your mouth." Thanks for the wisdom, gramps. I've enjoyed many a "plum" on yo

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

Cousins gathered at High Chap memorial for mum's memorial STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By COSGRIFFES THE COSGRIFFES are gathering again and the time is fast approaching. The clan will convene in August to celebrate the brief but influential life of Eric Kenzo Otokawa. We miss him terribly and send love to his mother, Misha, and to his siblings, Kenji Christopher and Kelly Midori, who will draw on their strength and our support as we pay homage to a young man beloved b

Robbie helped choreograph several European trips with mum “I’m home,” she cried, lifting her hands heavenward. “I feel their spirits.” Then she wept. My sister and I looked at one another, blinking back our own tears. Then we hugged mum and all of us cried. I remembered watching “The Wizard of Oz” as a five-year-old, with my mother at my side. Near the end, when Dorothy wakes up safely back in Kansas, her auntie and uncle at her side and the scarecrow and his pals tu