By Jillian Ford-Carver “Yep, it’s a big hole. Can we leave now?” That was my response when our parents dragged my sister, brother, and me to the Grand Canyon on a family vacation. So every time friends visit us in the southwestern United States and say they want to go to the Grand Canyon, I’m dumbfounded. What’s the fascination with this big hole? It must be something … [Read more...] about Adventure in the Grand Canyon
Destinations
A Manageable Mega-Resort: The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
By Jim Reno If Las Vegas by the Sea is your idea of a good time, then add the Hard Rock, Punta Cana to your list of must-see Caribbean mega-resorts. This was not the quiet, couples-only Caribbean island experience. This was more like a nice cruise ship that decided to permanently dock itself on a beautiful beach where everyone was beautifully tan, spoke English and Spanish, … [Read more...] about A Manageable Mega-Resort: The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
The Giant Mantas of Ecuador
By Roy Sherrid ITWPA Member There are hundreds of quaint fishing villages along Ecuador’s Pacific coastline. Each one has its own particular charm or sight that makes visiting it a memorable vacation experience. Many of them advertise their locality for its great whale- or dolphin-watching opportunities. But the small town of Puerto Lopez has another claim to attract … [Read more...] about The Giant Mantas of Ecuador
Discovering Cognac and Comics in Angoulême, France
By Judy Leaver ITWPA Member I originally thought of Angoulême, a few hours’ train ride south and west of Paris, as simply the starting point of a self-guided hike that my friends and I were taking in this region. To my surprise, I was captivated by all this city has to offer -- antiquity, whimsical art murals, restaurants, and modern boutiques. Most important, it is where … [Read more...] about Discovering Cognac and Comics in Angoulême, France
An Unexpected Gem in a Land with Countless Treasures
By Jillian Ford-Carver A gallery employee pulls me aside as if to share a well-kept secret. “Take a peek under this dining table; there were buttons installed to call the servants (a preferred alternative to yelling down the hall),” he says. “This is the only room in the villa that looks just as it did when Mestrovic lived here.” The Ivan Mestrovic Gallery had not even … [Read more...] about An Unexpected Gem in a Land with Countless Treasures