Tagged With "Spruce Tree House"
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San Juan: Two Markets, Old and New
As Gumbo readers know by now, a lot of us who write these pieces are suckers for markets, large and small, wherever we go. If an army travels on its stomach, an army of bloggers stocks up at the public market. So, on our recent trip to Puerto...
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San Juan, Puerto Rico: Outside the Walls
Because Puerto Rico was the first freshwater island for 16th-century travelers from Spain, and because it guards the entrance to the Caribbean, its Spanish masters went out of their way to defend it, not only with the huge fortifications at the...
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A summer trip to Valencia, Spain
Last Summer, in 2014, I went on an internship program in Valencia, Spain. My internship took place in a nice hotel near the center of the town and lasted 3 months. While I was there I could visit and enjoy many touristic points while also...
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Road Trip, Day 4: Fort Mason, San Francisco
March 12, 2015 I drove south through Sonoma and Marin Counties, past the houseboats on the bay at Sausalito, across the Golden Gate Bridge into San Francisco, and arrived earlier than the hostel’s official 3:00 check-in...
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Oh, to be in England! Now that April's...snowing!
Netweather.tv illustration from the Telegraph (UK) Robert Browning wouldn't be very happy with this week's April weather forecast for much of Britain. A "polar plume" is expected to arrive, bringing sub-freezing temperatures to Scotland and...
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Brooklyn's Spectacular Botanic Garden (Where Gumbo Was #112)
The Brooklyn Botanic Garden, a pint-size treasure that always seems bigger than it is (and which occupies an outsize place in botanical research) was this week's answer to Where in the World is TravelGumbo? Because the Garden presents an array...
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"Kona Coffee": Greenwell Farms Coffee Tours
Kona coffee is world famous for its full-bodied, non-bitter, bold flavor. Hard to put the taste into words, but it's good coffee! The micro-climate just south of Kona, around 1000 - 2000 ft above sea level, is perfect for...
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Walking the Burgundy Canal
Several years ago, after the completing 100+ miles of England’s Cotswold Way, over hill and dale and, at times, experiencing painful difficulties, I resolved to give up hills in favor of walking along waterways, of which there are many,...
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Amtrak's Auto Train - Relax your way to Sunshine
There is a rhythm to train travel that is different. This is especially true when you are taking a train for a long distance. I recently took a round trip excursion on Amtrak’s Auto Train. And it immediately reminded me why I enjoy train travel...
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Cruising California's 17 Mile Drive
There are a lot of famous road trips in the USA, like California's Pacific Coast Highway and Montana's Going to the Sun Highway . One of the best known drives in America is scenic 17-Mile Drive (actually distance depends on how you...
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Route 66 - Pasadena to Needles
Last summer I had the opportunity to do something I had always wanted to do - drive a significant portion of Route 66. Having spent 4 days in LA, I started a drive to Albuquerque to meet up with The Amazing Ms. D. Instead of rushing down the...
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A Busy Weekend in Philadelphia
A few weekends ago, my fiancé, my best friend and I decided to go to Philly for an overnight trip. Our goal for the weekend was to see all the touristy parts of Philadelphia. When we got to Philly from NYC, we headed straight for the L...
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Historic Route 66 (pt 3) - Flagstaff to Gallup
The next leg of my trip was the shortest distance I had to drive, but it took the longest time. There was a lot to see along the way. Flagstaff AZ I was last in Flagstaff 20 years ago. It was a dismal depressed town in which nothing was...
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Parc des Buttes Chaumont, Paris: A Park with a Past
Like so many of the great parks, Paris' Parc des Buttes Chaumont, seems to be at one with nature, or even to be nature itself. But while this park is beautiful, and a favorite of Paris families in the northeastern part of the city, it has a...
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Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Factory Tour
Much like lei made of tropical blossoms, or Dole pineapples, Mauna Loa macadamia nuts have long been a symbol of Hawaii for me. As a child I recall family friends returning to the frozen White North from Hawaii, bringing small cans of...
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Enchanted Village: a hotel for hobbits?
The Enchanted Village, a new hotel at the Alton Towers resort and amusement park in Staffordshire, England might have a familiar "ring" to it for fans of the Lord of the Rings. It's designed to reflect the visual sense of the movies based on J.R.R....
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Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve
My adventure in Kenya begins in Maasai Mara, widely considered to be Africa’s greatest wildlife reserve. With more than 200 square miles of open plains, woodlands and riverine forest, the Mara is joined by privately-owned...
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Visiting Sicily: An introductory overview
Travel guru Rick Steves likes to say (and I'm paraphrasing) that Italy either gets better or worse as you head south from Rome, depending on what you like. If you like a quieter people, trains running almost on time, etc. head...
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Columbus Antiquities Discovered in the Unlikeliest of Places
Who would have thought a great collection of Christopher Columbus artifacts could be found in a small Pennsylvania town. Stephanie Kalina-Metzger shares her discovery!
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Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage (Part 1)
Lisa Day presents the first in a two part series on hiking and experience the Kumano Koda, a pilgrimage trail in Japan.
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Finding Nature in England: Holkham National Reserve
Kirsten Hines continues her voyage of natural discovery in England, this week with a stop at Holkham National Nature Reserve.
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May 11, 2017: Spring Ice Storm, Thunder Bay, Ontario
It's spring, and if you live in the Great White North, you never know what type of weather Mother Nature will spring on you.
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June 1, 2017: Voted the UK's #1 Favourite Bird.
In a recent UK poll the Robin was voted as the wild bird we most like to see in our English Garden. This little chap stays all year. He gets food and clean water all winter. And in the summer months he keeps my apple tree free from greenfly and bugs that like my apples too. A timid little fellow - but he will attack any other Robin that invades his territory. He has a little family now and they make plenty of welcome noise.
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Out-Of-The-Box Last Minute Weekend Getaway Ideas
After a long week of fast life and pressure at work, you just want to unwind. Andrew Lowen has some ideas for how you can do it.
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Il Capo: Palermo's Ancient Market
One of Palermo's best attractions is this open-air market that's been doing business every day for a thousand years.
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Eastern Europe Rail Odyssey: Budapest to Kiev
Do you love unusual train journeys as much as Wilbur does? Check out this fascinating adventure through eastern Europe.
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America's Cuppa Tea: A visit to the Celestial Seasons Factory, Boulder
A fun attraction in Boulder is a visit to the Celestial Seasons factory. Here you can sample free tea blends, take a free factory tour, and learn about the company's history. There's a fascinating display of original art and teapots available.
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May 20, 2017: Road to Purgatory, Naples
In Naples' historic center an unusual street name and a traditional character combine for atmosphere.
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Apr. 28, 2017: Cherry Tree Hill, Barbados
SeeSaw takes us to the top of the hill for an amazing vista over the western coastline of Barbados.
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Red Squirrels
Ian Cook shares some great photos and a detailed natural history of the charming Red squirrel, whose population is declining.
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Río Piedras and The University of Puerto Rico
Jonathan L takes us on a visit to the University of Puerto Rico, and the town and market of Rio Piedras.
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Journey through Karnataka: Hampi
Professor Abe's fascinating journey through the Karnataka region continues with an exploration of the fascinating UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hampi.
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A Visit to Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum
Join Samantha on a visit to the memorial for the 168 who died when a right-wing terrorist destroyed a federal office building in 1995.
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Valley of the Temples, Agrigento, Sicily
Agrigento, Sicily's Valley of the Temples is the world's largest archaeological site, and its mysteries are also immense. PHeymont visited and reports.
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Know Everything About Goa Travel Information
Why Goa? India is one of the countries which have always fascinated different countries. Some invade it while some ruled it. Some brought blunders to this heritage country while some others made such wonders which made their names immortal with their works. The state of Goa is part of India and is situated at the west coast of the country. The state is rich with the Portuguese’s culture, heritage and history. Goa and the Tourism Goa is listed among the best tourist destinations in India.
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Exploring Psirri, Athens, Greece
SeeSaw visits a gritty neighborhood in Athens, one she skipped at first, and falls in love with its lively atmosphere and fascinating mix of people.
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June 24, 2017: Horse and Carriage to the Market in Cuba, $4
GarryRF visits Cuba regularly, and comments on some of the things he sees and experiences.
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Dispatches from Ikaria: Part 1
Professor Abe begins the first in a four part series about visiting the beautiful Greek island of Ikaria. The landscape is lovely and the wildflowers were especially remarkable during his visit.
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July 6. 2017: The Cuban Flame Tree
Garry says no photo can do real justice to the colors of this tree, which some insist is the 'real' national tree of Cuba.
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Dispatches from Ikaria: Part 4
Professor Abe's fun and insightful series on visiting Ikaria concludes this week. Be sure to check out the great story and accompanying photos
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Don't get lost in Spain's a-maze-ing new attraction!
From a failed tree farm to the largest permanent maze in Spain.
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Mar. 5, 2017: Casa Alcaldía, Viejo San Juan, Puerto Rico
Jonathan L shows us this 1840s stained-glass flamboyan tree, the largest secular artwork in Puerto Rico at the time.
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To the top of Mount Teide, Tenerife, Canary Islands.
If you like hiking, Ian Cook shares a fascinating adventure this week, as he works his way up one of the tallest volcanoes in the world.
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Resort life: Sun, Sand, Birds and Lizards
PHeymont and his wife aren't really resort people, but on a recent trip with friends they enjoyed themselves, and found new relationships with wildlife.
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Congratulations to Ian Cook!
Congratulations to photographer Ian Cook for winning first prize in the Photographic Angle competition.
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Walking Through the NY Botanical Gardens: a Winter's Day
A winter walk takes Jonathan through an uncrowded park, and into an old-growth forest that mirrors what the area was like 300 years ago.
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A Tour of Stained Glass in Old San Juan
Old San Juan has a wealth of gorgeous stained glass in a variety of styles. Jonathan L shows us some of the best.
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Visiting Key West and the Hemingway House
Stephanie shares a visit to the Key West, a highlight of which was exploring the Hemingway home.
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VanDuzen Botanical Garden, Vancouver
A visit to an unusual botanical garden, and thoughts on why it's hard for PHeymont to write about it.
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Aug. 3. 2017: Scotch Piper Inn, Liverpool UK
GarryRF takes us to a pub that's been pulling pints for 800 years.