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Travel Stories, Cruise Reviews, and Cultural Adventures


Bridgehouse Bed and Breakfast in Redding CA great Italian food and a unique bridge
BEAUTIFUL SUNDIAL BRIDGE IS THE CENTERPIECE FOR YEAR-ROUND RECREATION, ART, NATURE VIEWING, FABULOUS DINING The Bridgehouse Bed and Breakfast in Redding is a unique B&B. STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER I'D NEVER SPENT time in Redding, Calif., but the opportunity seemed too good to miss when our travels took us to Mount Shasta for a friend's 60th birthday party. Dara Engelhardt and Logan Engelhardt are part of the family enterprise that is G

Christene Meyers
Jul 1, 20144 min read


'Kayak Kid' takes to the Moss Landing waters after abstaining from the sport for decades
PERFECT SETTING, CALM CALIFORNIA WATERS HELP GIRL GET BACK IN THE BOAT Pelicans at Moss Landing were part of the lure to get Cookie back in the kayak after an accident derailed her. Cookie musters her intrepid bravery chip and prepares to kayak again. STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER A KAYAKING KID am I now, thanks to friends who coaxed me back onto the water. They knew I'd had a kayaking accident on my one and only attempt at the sport -- hit by a wave in

Christene Meyers
Jun 27, 20144 min read


Travel tight rope: take a road less traveled,but balance planning with spontaneity
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

Christene Meyers
Jun 14, 20144 min read


Fort Lauderdale's Itinerary - myriad charms focus on love of the natural world
AMID CITY LIFE, BUILDINGS AND BUSTLE, FLORIDA'S UNIQUE WILDLIFE THRIVES IN BIRD PARKS, EVERGLADES AND HISTORIC HOUSE

Christene Meyers
Jun 3, 20143 min read
Sexy boobies, the ocean's faithful birdies, fly high, feast, fool around
This booby has his eye on the seas below, looking for a meal. He also eyes the female booby, vying for her graces. This booby is at...

Christene Meyers
May 20, 20143 min read


Cabo San Lucas travel guide -- with wowing rocks, top beaches, glass blowing, shopping and a peaceful mission
Looking for the perfect mix of beaches, adventure, and nightlife? This Cabo San Lucas travel guide covers why this Baja destination is a must-visit from iconic views to unforgettable ocean experiences. And don't miss a side trip to Todos Santos and Hotel California

Cookie & Keller
May 16, 20144 min read


Alpenhof Lodge Grand Teton, a European chalet in the American West
Europeans love the Alpenhof Lodge, tucked against the spectacular Grand Teton Range in Wyoming.
The inn has the ambiance of a Swiss or Austrian chalet, with flowers in the window boxes, a full hot breakfast, and Old World hospitality. It even has a yodeling website!

Cookie & Keller
Oct 9, 20134 min read


All aboard for a wild scenic train ride on the White Pass and Yukon Railway
Riding the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad from Skagway is one of Alaska’s most scenic excursions. Built during the Klondike Gold Rush, the historic train climbs steep mountain passes, crossing trestle bridges and waterfalls on its way to White Pass Summit. It’s a breathtaking journey through gold rush history and rugged wilderness.

Cookie & Keller
Sep 21, 20135 min read


Sunset sail shows off Puget Sound as ferries, tour boats beckon
Seattle is at its best viewed from the water. Options include ferry, Argosy boat or private sail on lovely Far Niente yacht. FAR NIENTE...

Christene Meyers
Sep 14, 20134 min read


Why you should cruise Alaska - glaciers, ice, fjords and splendid port stops. It's my 100 cruise!
Cruising's pleasures heightened by exhilarating Alaskan adventure

Cookie & Keller
Sep 7, 20134 min read


Passion for flowers blossoms into love affair with Montana abloom
SO THIS is an homage to the beauty of flowers and those who tend them, a salute to the world of blooms which surrounds us. I am thankful for their offerings: the rainbow's hues, the fragrance of nature's finest perfume. To flowers! To those seductive enticers of bees and hummingbirds -- and to the blooms which lured a couple of lucky kids with cameras into the wondrous world of gardens thousands of miles apart.

Christene Meyers
Sep 4, 20134 min read



Christene Meyers
Aug 27, 20135 min read


Finding Home in Nature - Montana and California offer nature's bounty to welcome
Split between Montana’s wide-open landscapes and California’s coastal beauty, we’ve discovered that “home” isn’t tied to one place, it’s rooted in nature. From mountain air to ocean breezes, the natural world connects our lives across distance, grounding us in a shared sense of comfort, belonging, and peace.

Cookie & Keller
Aug 14, 20135 min read
Happy birthday to me as I count my blessings
This birthday, Keller takes Cookie sailing off La Jolla Shores. Ringing in another year brings time for reflection, joy, humor and appreciation "...all the gardens of spring and summer were blooming in the tall tales Beyond the border and under the lark full cloud. There could I marvel my birthday...." --Dylan Thomas STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER "The Carpe Diem Kids" AS I MARK my birthday tomorrow, I am thankful that I, too have "lark full cloud" and a

Christene Meyers
Aug 10, 20134 min read


Crazy Mountain Inn treats guests to rustic rooms, stellar view, tasty pie
The Crazy Mountain Inn is a welcoming stop in the heart of Montana, offering comfortable lodging, local hospitality, and easy access to some of the state's most beautiful scenery. Located near the towering Crazy Mountains, it's an ideal base for hiking, fishing, wildlife viewing, and scenic drives. Guests can explore nearby small-town attractions, discover the Yellowstone River region, or simply relax and enjoy authentic Montana charm away from the crowds.

Cookie & Keller
Aug 3, 20135 min read
Celebrating the horse -- holding his head high in history's annals
HORSE HAS BEEN AROUND LONGER THAN WE THOUGHT STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER and JANE MILDER This scene, of horses in pasture framed by the Crazy Mountains, epitomizes the grandeur of Big Sky Country to many Montanans. No horsing around. The horse goes back farther than we imagined. So an homage seems in order. With Fourth of July parades and the horse the star of the rodeo, we have new scientific information about his history. But first, allow me so

Christene Meyers
Jul 3, 20133 min read


Feathered friends in flight and repose ground this pair
A flurry of birds is caught in motion at a feeder at High Chaparral on the West Fork of the Stillwater River in Montana . Story by Christene Meyers Photos by Bruce Keller AS LONG as I can recall, birds have flitted around me, delighting and entrancing. In the mountains of Montana, the countryside of Tuscany, hiking trails in Ireland and Scotland, desert treks in Arizona, rain forests in Costa Rica, Peru and Brazil, I've always stopped to look, admire and a

Christene Meyers
Mar 20, 20135 min read


Whales, dolphins, critters aplenty play for the crowds off San Diego
STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER It’s spring in San Diego! The dolphins are racing, the whales are heading south...

Christene Meyers
Feb 2, 20133 min read


Bighorn porn and pelicans diving lure adventuring twosome
STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER Blog tidings – from the Beartooths of Montana to the coast of southern California. In...

Christene Meyers
Jan 1, 20131 min read
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