Travel Stories, Cruise Reviews, and Cultural Adventures

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

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

The Yorkshire terrier's small size belies its personality: energetic, spirited, domineering. Yorkies are affectionate. They love attention, a good choice for one who wants to dote on a dog with tenacious personality. Beneath the glossy coat beats the heart of a feisty terrier.--AKC's "Dog Breeds, What Dog For Me?"

Nick, left, and Nora, dry off after a swim in their "Auntie Robbie's" pool, in spring of 2006. They were born in fall, 2005. Nora, left,...

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...

With her faithful service dog, a young visitor poses her animal next to a one of the AKC Dog Museum bronzes. DOG DEVOTEES DELIGHT IN...

Children's pools, playgrounds, rowing ponds for all ages, beautifully kept greens greet the eye at Central Park East. A calming stroll...

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK is best shared with friends -- and most pleasantly, with chums from another country. We showed off the nation's oldest national park recently to our friends, John and Sue Speight, an adventuresome English couple we met a few years ago on a Southeast Asia cruise.

Tucked deep in northeastern Montana, Sioux Charlie Lake is a quiet escape reached via the scenic Stillwater Trail #24. With sweeping prairie views, pockets of forest, and the kind of stillness that’s hard to find anymore, this hidden gem rewards those willing to wander a little off the beaten path

Wading, not quite walking, on the water, sisters Cookie, left, and Olivia, make their way to the wedding on Beverly Beach. Behind them, sister Misha and family friend Virginia join the wedding party for Kira and Mike. Flower girls sprinkle rose petals along the sand, making way for the bride and groom. STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER Gallavant: to go from place to place seeking out entertainment and amusement-- Oxford Dictionary THIS SUMMER -- more than a

The countryside around Julian, California, offers fine hiking, fun places to stay, bird watching -- and a peaceful get-away. Lilacs bloom and welcome to verdant countryside and Julian hospitality. ART, MUSIC, FUN PLACES TO STAY, SHOPPING, BIRDS, FLOWERS, APPLE PIE AND A FINE ITALIAN RESTAURANT STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER Spring flowers lead the way to a lovely late April and a pleasant May. A VISIT TO Julian, California, is a journey back in time

Nick and Nora love huckelberry ice cream, a roadie treat in Julian, California which they visit twice a year. "Charley is a mind-reading...

Thrilled guests watched a pair of whales blow -- thanks to Hornblower staff who make announcements on sightings, explaining various whale...

A drive up the California coast from southern California includes plenty of stops so the Yorkies can be exercised and kept to a routine. Traveling with pets means being sensitive to their needs, to help them adapt and enjoy the journey, too.

YORKIES WILL TURN TEN THIS YEAR! PAWS UP FOR OUR FAITHFUL COMPANIONS AND ROAD WARRIORS Nick and Nora enjoy a recent trip to Glacier...

THE APPLE CAPITAL of the world has a nice rhyming nickname. It also offers a get-away both soothing and exciting. Julian, California, a small, quaint mountain town in southern California, offers history, fun hotels, shopping, scenery and perhaps the best fruit pies in the state.

Nestled in the scenic landscapes of Montana, Fairfield Park Inn offers travelers a relaxing retreat and road trip with easy access to nature, small-town charm, and unforgettable Big Sky views. It’s the perfect base for exploring Montana’s rugged beauty while enjoying comfort and convenience.

Cookie with Nick and Nora on a walk in Davis, Calif., during which time she embraced her genetic dog disorder. ABIDING LOVE OF CANINES IS A LONG ESTABLISHED FAMILY TRAIT "Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole." -- writer, photographer Roger Caras. STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER "The Carpe Diem Kids" Cookie's mother, Ellen Nystul and her beloved Scottie, Jinx, in 1941 in Columbus, Montana. Jinx ate shoes, books and the legs off a piano

The Murray's classic style includes nods to Montana and the west, with a contemporary flair. Elegance, comfort and western...

This Montana visitor may be a grizzly -- we can't quite see a hump. Several neighbors spotted him recently. The nearby Nye Church in Stillwater County, has had grizzlies in the yard and a grizzly is meandering the West Fork this week. HIGH CHAPARRAL, MONTANA, ATTRACTS WILD LIFE: LIONS (NO TIGERS), & BOUNTY OF BEARS AND DEER This bear is definitely a grizzly, as evidenced by the hump. He was photographed near Lake Louise in Canada. STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE