The Museum of the Earth! A big name for a fairly small institution, but the name really reflects its topic rather than any huge ambition. Its task is big enough: to tell the story of life on earth through fossils. And it has the fossils to do it: with...
When the weather turns cool and the leaves turn colors, lots of tourists turn to New England to watch—and it adds up to a huge business for New England hotels, restaurants and other travel services: over $3 billion in all. It's so big that it...
The most amazing views in Yosemite National Park, and among the most spectacular viewpoints on Mother Earth, are found at Glacier Point. In the summer Glacier Point is easily accessed by the Glacier Point Road, but this road is closed in the winter.
While he was despised by many during his lifetime, J.P. Getty has left the world a wonderful legacy in his fabulous art collection and foundation.
My favorite stretch of lonely road in the world is the 200 miles of Highway 395 south from Topaz Lake, where it enters California from Nevada, where these pictures were taken, south through Bridgeport and the turnoff to Bodie , past Mono...
“Going to the river” is a thing both locals and visitors to Gold Country seem to do a lot. My son, having lived here for a time, often heads straight up Highway 49 to the South Fork as soon as he gets to town, but I’ve...
Hydraulic mining in action. Note the size of the miner, lower left. It’s hard to believe one could find a place that’s 45 minutes drive up a mountain on a very bad road by accident, but that’s how it...
"Cannery Row...is a poem, a stink, a grating noise, a quality of light, a tone, a habit, a nostalgia, a dream." — John Steinbeck, from his novel ' Cannery Row' Wow! With a beautifully written introduction like that,...
This bronze statue of Elvis, sculpted by Carl Romanelli and unveiled in 1978, now proudly stands in a prominent spot in the lobby of the Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino , formerly known as the "Las Vegas Hotel and Casino" (2012-2014), The...
Officially called the Pigeon Point Light Station, it’s been my sentinel, standing at the edge of my personal territory, telling me I’m nearing, or leaving, my family on the coastside of the Bay Area, south of San Francisco. I...
Gumbo was visiting the small town of Leavenworth (population ~ 2000) in Washington state. Leavenworth is situated on the eastern slopes of the Cascade mountains only a few hours drive from Seattle. Gumbo has only visited this town...
Here are few pictures that I took while I was sitting in the passenger seat during a recent road trip to Banff and Jasper National Parks. The drive through the southern Rocky Mountains is on the TransCanada highway, but the most scenic...
Please don’t misunderstand, I’m not really a believer in “things happen for a reason”, more a believer in “things happen”. But I will say I was lucky, one day last month, to be waiting at a stop sign...
Our excellent group of puzzle solvers quickly put an end to this travel quiz. The puzzle was first solved by PortMoresby, who emailed her correct answer at 8:25 am to: suggestions@travelgumbo.com . Roderick Simpson...
Mandolin is truly a hidden gem in the middle of Midtown Miami. When you walk through the blue double doors you find yourself in an enchanted outside patio with wood tables and chairs that are covered with blue accents. The restaurants owners have made...