Travel Stories, Cruise Reviews, and Cultural Adventures

THE PRESIDENT who ended World War II and the writer who ran with the bulls in Pamplona loved Key West, Florida. Neither could claim to be a "conch" (native son) -- but each fished the waters and relaxed in the town.  Both men established homes in this laid-back berg, spending treasured days there.  Harry Truman escaped Washington D.C.'s cruel winters, spending 11 extended stays during his Presidency,1946-1952. Beginning in 1931, Ernest Hemingway spent a half-dozen years in

Bruce Keller displays the cookies he begged for and which the non-baker Cookie provided. He pronounced them "incredible - far beyond...

Crossing the fabled bar where the Columbia meets the Pacific is the focus of several exhibits at the engaging Columbia River Maritime...

Montana's most recent "gathering of the clan" --  50 people for Cookie's birthday celebration before Covid. Today, we give thanks for each of these  loved ones -- who came from all over the country.    MEMORIES, MAGIC AND MISSING THE HAPPY CHAOS OF HOLIDAYS STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER WE SANG this song with gusto, to please our grandmother Olive who taught us the melody and her revised lyrics. Her favorite holiday was Thanksgiving. Coming shortly after he

The Palm Springs home of Elvis and Priscilla Presley is a Celebrity Tours stop. Priscilla Presley   talks about the couple's time in the...

The Sacajawea Inn in Three Forks, Montana, honors one of the most revered women in the history of the United States. Whether spelled with...

Finishing touches are complete as the Alberta Bair Theater, formerly the Fox Theatre, opens its doors  once again. The 1931 building...

Step into the pages of American literature with a journey through Salinas and Monterey, where the spirit of John Steinbeck still lingers. From the agricultural heartland that shaped his stories to the historic waterfront of Cannery Row, this coastal California adventure blends literary history with seaside charm.

Lady Gaga's moving rendition of the National Anthem set the tone for a day of musical celebration. Music highlighted the inauguration,...

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

Cody's Buffalo Bill Center of the West is a world class complex of interesting and varied museums.   STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By...

 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.

NATION'S FIRST AND OLDEST NATIONAL PARK TREASURE DRAWS NATIVE DAUGHTER BACK AGAIN  Bison grazing and the steam of geysers in the...

After a closure of nearly three months, Yusupov Palace is again open. Its opulent rooms and appointments reflect the grandeur of royalty...

St. Petersburg's architecture reflects its glory days as a city in Imperial Russia. The Hermitage Museum is home to one of the world's...

The 2020 season at Oregon Shakespeare Festival includes ten promising productions in three venues. Here, the Allen Elizabethan Theatre...

Lovely hotels are part of the allure of Palm Springs, here the pool area of the Hilton Palm Springs in the heart of downtown. MORE LAID...

Exploring the ruins of Iximche, Guatemala, provides a fascinating look into the ancient Mayan culture. Volcan de Fuego steams, smokes and...

Bohemian Bus Beautiful represents a delightful retro-inspired alternative to traditional hotels and hostelries. CONVERTED BUS PROVIDES...