Article Archive

By Heather RathITWPA MemberI don’t feel well.I’m in Cuenca, Ecuador, at an altitude of 8300 feet and I think I’ve got a touch of altitude sickness (soroche). My heart beats quickly and I have to catch my breath. Climbing stairs in our hotel or up the barranco (cliff) leaves me winded. When I lay down to sleep, I can’t; insomnia is my partner. Luckily … [Read more...] about How to Avoid Altitude Sickness

By Suzanne LaBergePhotos by David J. GruskinWe slip back in time on a narrow gravel road that twists and turns into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. North Carolina’s Cataloochee Valley lies ahead. Thick forest opens to wide green meadows and a young brown bear runs across the road and into the trees beyond. Later in the day we will see elk here. Once one of the … [Read more...] about Cataloochee Valley: Get Off the Main Road and Experience the Spirit of the Smoky Mountains

By Janice HortonThink small town. Average income half the state median. Still proud of the glory days that put towns like Bolivar in the southern tier of western New York State on the map -- in this case, the oil boom of 1885. Evidence of those prosperous days is in the fine homes in the village. Now, the up-to-date school, the farms, and the handful of businesses matter only … [Read more...] about Remote Glampsite

By Kerry WattsThe air was hot as we stepped outside Kahuli Airport, Maui, but who wouldn’t love that if it means you’re standing in the sunshine of a Hawaiian island. We traveled about six miles on the local bus (just $1 per boarding, regardless of the distance) to the beachside town of Paia. The bus stop is made from half a wooden palette resting on plastic milk … [Read more...] about Paia — The Under-Valued Heart of Maui

By Bob StarinkWhat do you do after you’ve gambled your house away, wandered the streets admiring the glitz, questioned why anyone would think you would want a girl to your room in twenty minutes when you’re with your wife and kids, and seen every song the Bellagio fountains can play? You might try leaving the Strip and seeing what lies beyond the city limits.The … [Read more...] about Las Vegas