Travel

Category

City Park bridge

Three New Orleans Parks to Walk Off Beignets and Hangovers

New Orleans parks don’t get as much attention as neighborhoods like the French Quarter and Garden District, but they should because they’re spectacular. I recently spent a month in the city, eating red beans & rice, beignets, and king cake so I had a lot of walking I needed to do. Outside of the Garden District, these three parks were my favorite places to do it. Audubon Park This 350-acre park is Uptown, not too far from the Garden District....

Mardi Gras World paints

It’s a Mardi Gras World, We’re Just Livin’ in It

Floats at Mardi Gras World are not like floats you’ve ever seen before, unless, of course, you’ve been to Mardi Gras. If you grew up anywhere else in the world as I did, your idea of a parade float probably involves paper or plastic-colored flowers shaped into semi-recognizable figures made by high school students. I remember once seeing a series Disney princess floats and the only way you could tell what princess you were looking at was by the colors....

Bayou Sign

Touring the Bayou in Jean Lafitte National Park

Before booking a kayak tour through the Jean Lafitte National Park bayou, I messaged the host. The tour promised a slow paddle through the bayou with likely sighting of swamp birds, turtles, and maybe some gators. Kayaking and alligators didn’t seem like they should go together, so I asked,  “Are there alligators? I want to do this, but it seems totally crazy to me. Am I nuts?”  “There are alligators, but you’re not crazy!! It’s an awesome time!!”  A friend...

Saguaro National Park cactus with orange sunset

5 Beautiful Places to See Near Tucson, Arizona

Tucson is a rare and beautiful place. I didn’t know much about it before I went there, and that’s because the people are chill, and I think maybe they’re trying to keep this fantastic place a secret. You know a place is spectacular when it has two unique lifeforms that only live there – the Saguaro and Pipe Organ Cactus. Here are five places near Tucson that I loved 1 Saguaro National Park Saguaro Cactuses are an icon of the...

Old Tombstone sign

Ghost towns? Visit Tombstone and Bisbee, Arizona

Imagine that you create a town where thousands of people live and work at the mine and associated businesses. Then, one day, the mine runs dry, and everyone leaves. Boom. Ghost town. There are a lot of ghost towns in the southwest, even those that don’t officially call themselves one yet, but none are more famous than Tombstone. America’s Famous Tombstone Ghost Town Tombstone, Arizona, is way down in southeast Arizona and is home to some of our favorite wild...

colorful Xochimilco boats

Visiting the Disappearing Xochimilco Floating Gardens

In Xochimilco, at least 25 colorful trajinera boats were stacked next to each other at the dock, and I needed to get to the one at the end. So, I jumped from boat to boat and tried not to fall into the water as I leapfrogged. Floating through the canals of Xochimilco on a trajinera is a cultural pastime, popular with tourists and Sunday favorite activity for locals. The once pristine canals and waterways were beloved by the likes of...

Puerto Vallarta sign

10 Things to Do in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Fun, free, beachy and beautiful: this is Puerto Vallarta. If you’re considering going, or maybe you’re already there, these are 10 things I did that you might like too. I spent a month in Puerto Vallarta and in that time I was able to participate in several adventures. Below are 10 of the most popular places and activities I found in the city. You’re sure you find at least one you’ll love too. Click on the titles to read individual...

Agave plant
Marietas Islands Hidden Beach