Cost: $50/day

What’s the strangest thing you have seen lately?

Lavacicles. These pointy tooth-like projections can be found on the roofs of many of the incredible lava tubes and caves at Lava Beds National Monument in northern California. They formed when viscous lava that was dripping from the top of the tubes cooled and hardened. The tubes themselves were forged when the outer edges of flowing lava from the Medicine Lake Volcano cooled and hardened leaving … Read more »

Ever consider learning from the travel writing guru himself? Now’s your chance!

Here at vagablogging we all share a common appreciation for the inspiration Rolf penned into his first book. But have you gotten the chance to read his second?

Bundled within the rich collection, Marco Polo Didn’t Go There, is something more. The endnotes of each chapter give you a little taste of what it takes to craft a good … Read more »

In 1946, Aloha Week was created by a group of Jaycees as a cultural celebration of Hawaii’s history, music and dance. Since then, it’s morphed into a variety of festivals including more than 300 events across six Hawaiian islands that are attended by a million people annually.

Even if you’re not already scheduled to be there, it’s not too late to make arrangements. The festivals are … Read more »

The lure of the exotic is strong for travelers, but we may often forget that the exotic is here at home as well. I recently returned from a 42-mile hike in Rocky Mountain National Park—one of countless National Parks that I had not yet visited—and now I have a new appreciation for trails.

It can be hard to turn off the endless chattering in your brain … Read more »

The Mexican city of Puebla has more than one way to satisfy a sweet tooth. The next time your travels take you through the colonial town, don’t think the treats end with the chocolate in mole poblano.

The best place to get an eyeful of delicious options is to head straight to Puebla’s Calle de los Dulces, or “Sweets Street,” which is full of shops selling … Read more »

The colonial city of Puebla in Mexico lures travelers eager to taste its own culinary creations (among which are mole poblano and chiles en nogada), watch the traditional Cinco de Mayo parade, or shop for Talavera pottery. And while in many destinations, artistic creations are only available in museums and shops, a short walk down any street in downtown Puebla makes it seem as though the … Read more »

Seeing a place for the first time—whether Paris or Machu Picchu—has magical moments that stay in our memories long after the trip is over. And for travelers who want those new experiences, it’s tempting to discourage or eliminate return travel. While I’m drawn to places I haven’t yet visited, there are destinations that I return to multiple times—and have new and magical experiences each time.

If … Read more »

I just saw the movie “127 Hours”, which is less about travel than standing still — it’s about outdoorsman Aron Ralston’s 5-day stint in a Utah canyon, trapped by a rock which fell and pinned his arm against the wall.  Yep, he’s the guy that had to cut his own hand off with a pocket knife.  I’d read his memoir, called “Between a Rock and a Hard Place,” several years ago, and mostly remember alternately … Read more »

Over-organizing travel plans—where you’re in a different place each day due to a long checklist of things to see—can actually result in seeing less. Sure, you may get to all the monuments or museums you want, but while the checklist blinders are on, you could be missing out on a lot of local culture.

Recently, I was in … Read more »

I just returned from a trip to Baja California Sur, Mexico, and the highlight of my trip was an hour-long boat trip to see the California gray whales in Magdalena Bay. Aside from a kayak experience when my little boat and I were just a few inches from a humpback whale, this was the closest I’ve been to a whale in the wild.

Magdalena Bay itself … Read more »