Travel Stories, Cruise Reviews, and Cultural Adventures

A juvenile orca whale -- probably less than a year old -- was the star for passengers in Puget Sound Express. Watching an orca breach was...

NONE OF US knows what's around the corner -- or how long we have on this treasured Earth. Thus we must continue to try, if we have any sense at all, to roll with the punches, be thankful, relish each day.. Take a road trip to explore and learn

Red Rock in Nevada is famous for its towering red sandstone cliffs, ancient petroglyphs, and a 13-mile one-way scenic drive.

On a half-dozen visits since 2010, we've found Lake Tahoe's scenery some of the most beautiful in the western United States. Dixie II offers a fun night on the lake, even on a recent rainy evening. "It is a vast oval, and one would have to use up eighty or a hundred good miles in traveling around it. As it lay there with the shadows of the mountains brilliantly photographed upon its still surface, I thought it must surely be the fairest picture the whole world affords.” -- M

Witness one of California’s most unforgettable wildlife spectacles along the rugged shores of Central Coast, where massive northern elephant seals gather in astonishing numbers. At places like Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery, these remarkable marine mammals transform the coastline into a living stage of raw nature—complete with dramatic battles, tender moments, and the rhythms of life by the sea.

The Point Arena Lighthouse has history dating back to 1870 when the original lighthouse was erected. NORTHERN CALIFORNIA COASTAL TOWN OFFERS HISTORIC LIGHTHOUSE, FUN FOOD, ZEBRAS AND WELCOMING COTTAGES STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER Point Arena Lighthouse includes lodging and a nice gift shop with handmade aquatic-life magnets. The views are stunning. PEOPLE COME from cross-country and overseas to visit the historic Point Arena Lighthouse in California's p

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

Catalina Island Bison

WALK WITH THE ANIMALS, WATCH THE LIONS DINE, ADMIRE A GIRAFFE PAINTING PICTURES The Lion Habitat Ranch is a wonderfully run operation where you can get up close and personal with these gorgeous lions. TAKE AN EDUCATIONAL BREAK TO COMMUNE WITH LIONS NEXT TIME YOU'RE IN VEGAS AT LION HABITAT RANCH STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER Families and nature lovers take a break from Las Vegas action to enjoy the Lion Habitat Ranch not far from the famous Strip, and a r

THE SAN FRANCISCO Zoo is not pretentious, and that is one of its charms and strong suits. It wants people to learn something while enjoying the animals. There are guided tours and lectures throughout the day and feeding times with commentary.

Wild turkeys cavort and forage at our Montana place, High Chaparral, in Stillwater County on the river. STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS...

BEAR MAKES HIS MARK ON OUR SUMMER HIDE-OUT, BUT WE ARE ALL FOUR FINE AND 'BEARLY' UPBEAT

Looking for a destination beyond the ordinary? The Faroe Islands deliver dramatic cliffs, scenic hikes, puffin colonies, and peaceful Nordic charm.

MY GRANDMOTHER Olive loved hollyhocks. She was my mother's mum, and lived next door. She taught me to separate and save flower seeds each fall. Revered among her many flowers were the faithful hollyhocks. Dad's mother, Grannie Annie, loved her lilacs, too. I remember a large crystal bowl filled with those soft, circular blossoms -- sometimes a clutch of all-whites, other times a profusion of pinks, purples, reds.

Paradise Point Resort is less than seven miles from downtown San Diego, and offers a tropical world of pleasure. STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER AT PARADISE Point Resort, time truly stops. The beauty of the sea, the peacefulness of the waves, the suspension of time, all create a beautiful, insulating serenity that calls one back again and again. So it was with a summer sailing from the Point with our friends, Dawn and Phyllis. We four began a calming day

Buffalo Bill's Cody is a showy town; tiny Fishtail has a good time, too Amusements abound at the Buffalo Bill Cody Center of the West -- and Cody town herself; then there's Fishtail, Montana

MULTIPLE VISITS NEVER DISAPPOINT AT WORLD CLASS CODY, WYOMING MUSEUM The Buffalo Bill Center of the West draws an international clientele to Cody, Wyo. It houses five fine museums. A painting of Wild Bill Hickock and Buffalo Bill Cody is one of the most admired and talked about in the Whitney Western Art Museum. STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER FOR DECADES now, I've enjoyed the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. It's a road trip highlight with family, friend

Kateri, a gorgeous golden eagle, was injured while feeding on a dead deer near Gilette, Wyo. She cannot fly. She was named by a young Cody girl. Kateri honors the patron saint of people who love nature and preserve the environment. Volunteer and raptor aficionado Patrick Pitet, a retired attorney, visits the raptors and helps with the birds. Here he is with Suli, a turkey vulture beloved by the staff., . ENRAPTURED BY RAPTORS AT THE BUFFALO BILL CENTER OF THE WEST IN CODY, W

Glacier National Park, often called the "Crown of the Continent," is a million-acre sanctuary in northern Montana where ancient glaciers have carved some of the most dramatic landscapes in North America. Whether you are seeking a peaceful retreat to unplug or a high-adrenaline mountain adventure, Glacier offers a rare, pristine ecosystem that feels truly wild.

Yellowstone Park in our back yard! Time for our annual nostalgic pilgrimage celebrating a world wonder