Experiences
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Cherry Blossom Festival- Washington, D.C.
Without a doubt, Washington is at it’s most beautiful in the spring. Down at the tidal basin, it doesn’t get much better than those fleeting few weeks in March or April when the cherry blossoms bloom, and the entire area is transformed into a pale pink dream. Some years are better than others; harsh weather and high winds can destroy the delicate blossoms. But, when the weather cooperates, the experience is downright heavenly. The idea of cherry trees around the tidal basin predates the official planting by almost 25 years; during her first trip to Japan, National Geographic board member Eliza Scidmore encountered the trees, and was moved by their…
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Danube Cruise- Melk, Austria
To be clear, I am not speaking of the Danube cruises advertised on PBS, prior to Downton Abbey. I am sure those are wonderful if you are in your twilight years, and need travel to be made as easy as possible. However, having been at museums when those groups arrive en masse, I can attest it is a disruptive nightmare, from which you can only beat a hasty retreat. So, no, not that. Thankfully, there is a wonderful 2.5 hour cruise, which you can conveniently book through the railroad. Same sights, no crowded chaos. Perfect. Start your adventure in Vienna, taking an early train to Melk. When you purchase your…
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Sunset Cruise- Santorini, Greece
As I have mentioned a time or two (or ten), I do love a scenic cruise. It is hard to beat a few hours out on the water, under the warm summer sun. Gentle ocean breezes, cool drinks, and wide open water. I seek these excursions out, and will take them whenever I can. I have yet to be disappointed, except when we got bumped off the boat in Hawaii due to overbooking. I am still salty about that. However, perhaps the best cruise I have ever taken departed from the Greek island of Santorini; it spent several hours exploring the archipelago’s bays and volcanoes, before literally sailing off into…
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Paradise Guest Ranch- Buffalo, WY
As much as I love cities, I love wide open spaces. Ridiculously wide open spaces, with nothing for miles, save grazing cattle, tall grasses, and distant mountains. The type of space found only in the West. The type of place described in Cole Porter’s seminal song “Don’t Fence Me In.” Which is exactly what you will find at the Paradise Guest Ranch. For those who dream of wide open spaces, endless skies and cowboy adventures, it is indeed paradise. Tucked away down a long dusty road, about a half hour outside of the sleepy town of Buffalo, is the Paradise Guest Ranch. It is certainly not the easiest place to…
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King Ranch- Kingsville, TX
All hat and no cattle certainly does not apply to King Ranch. With 35,000 cattle and over 200 Quarter Horses, it is one of the largest ranches in world. At 825,000 acres, it is larger than the State of Rhode Island. Founded in 1853, it is a living reminder of the Wild West; wonderfully historic, it is a true throwback to the days of cowboys and cattle drives. Though still a thriving concern, the ranch itself is very much a reflection of the past. Founder Richard King lived a very interesting life. Born in New York City to poor Irish immigrants in 1824, he was indentured to a jeweler at…
