Travel Stories, Cruise Reviews, and Cultural Adventures

The majesty and magic of Butchart Gardens in Victoria, B.C., have captivated millions since Jennie Butchart had an idea. GARDENS BORN OF...

Christene "Cookie" Meyers and Bruce Keller take to San Diego Bay and a Flagship dinner cruise, with spectacular views. TAKE YOUR PICK OF...

"Daydreams" by Patrick Dougherty, under construction last fall at Tippet Rise, is part of a glorious landscape merging art and nature,...

ENJOY THE REAGAN LIBRARY FOR A WELL ORCHESTRATED TRIBUTE TO A DEDICATED PRESIDENT Flowers are left at the foot of Reagan's bronze each...

Artist Aki Narita calls her room design "Geisha Goldfish" incorporating two favorite elements of the Japanese culture. Art floor celebrates Japanese culture -- book a hotel room to enjoy the view of your own art show The approach to Park Hotel Tokyo leads one through lovely gardens. A plaque in each art room gives details about the artist, here Aki Narita (see above). STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER ONE ROOM  feels like an underwater hideaway, with red gei

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

TOUCHING PLAY WITH FINE ACTING, A COMIC EDGE AND A TOE-TAPPING TRIO TO SET THE MOOD Manny Fernandes and Carla Harting square off and eventually admit their attraction in a winning play at San Diego Rep. From left, Richard Tibbets, Jim Mooney and Alicia Previn set the tone for "Outside Mullingar," a lyrical tale of family, loyalty, pride and love.  The pastoral pull of Ireland's countryside comes inside with "Outside Mullingar," San Diego Rep's first-rate production.  STORY By

Signature coconut shrimp, hibachi steak with mushrooms and yummy soup made moments ago are part of a delightful "Taste of Catalina" food...

Bill Jones was a wonderful painter, whose one-man shows drew crowds in Phoenix and Los Angeles galleries.  Here is a favorite...

TAKE A TASTY BITE . SAVE MONEY, TOO, WITH THE PASS THAT MAKES THE MOST OF MANHATTAN TIME Action-packed CityPASS maximizes precious time,...

The view from Mystic View Cabins near Fishtail is spectacular, with the beautiful Beartooths right out the door. QUIET, QUAINT CABINS...

Actor Sam Waterston this summer as Prospero in "The Tempest," at New York's Shakespeare in the Parks.  ACTORS, AUDIENCE  HAVE STAYED...

Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga deliver wondrous performance TOP LIFETIME SHOWS LINGER IN ARTS REVIEWER'S HEART, AS SHE SHAMELESSLY GOES GAGA ...

Queen Elizabeth's pool is spacious and inviting, but understated in its artful touches.  A stunning marquetry panel invites inspection as...

The bridge climbing group wends its way carefully above the waters of Sydney, Australia's, world famous harbor. RECOVERING COWARD TICKS A BIG ONE OFF HER LARGE BUCKET LIST WITH TWO BRIDGE CLIMBS At the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Keller and Cookie celebrate with a wave and a victory cheer. STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER I MUST HAVE  been dream walking the morning I went on line to book two tickets to climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge.  I sent a text to t

BACK ON TERRA FIRMA IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE! Sydney's famous Harbour Bridge as seen from our veranda earlier this morning.  What a...

QEII lecturer Josh Logan gave tips A poster for "Annie Get Your Gun'' inspired the creation of Lilian in "Lilian's Last Dance." on making a character come alive Click here ==> Lilian's Last Dance STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS CROSSING  the Atlantic on the Queen Elizabeth II, in the summer of 1986, famed Broadway producer and director Josh Logan was one of the guest lecturers. He was one of my idols, for I'd grown up with the music of "Annie Get Your Gun," and "South Pacific," bo

THE FOLLOWING SPECIAL posting is one of several recently published newspaper articles.  It ran in the hometown paper of novelist Christene Meyers, a Montana native launching an international book tour in Australia and New Zealand.  Meyers grew up in Montana, where the novel is partly set. It is garnering praise on Amazon as an eBook. "LILIAN'S LAST DANCE" features a love triangle, and a troupe of actors in New York, Europe and Los Angeles during the transition from silent mov

European travels took us to Paris to Gertrude Stein's home Click here ==> Lilian's Last Dance The legendary Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas made many Atlantic crossings, and are cameos in "Lilian's Last Dance."                            STORY By    CHRISTENE MEYERS Crossing the Atlantic on the Queen Elizabeth II was part of the fun research for "Lilian's Last Dance." Here William Jones and Christene Meyers enjoy! CREATION of "Lilian's Last Dance" took many years and trips