Under the Sea: Snorkeling at Hanauma Bay, Hawaii
Looking out over Hanauma Bay when the sun is shining and a warm sea breeze is blowing in off the Pacific, it really does...
10 Most Beautiful Hawaiian Beaches on Oahu
There's really no denying it: Hawaii has some pretty fantastically beautiful beaches. Whether it's white sand, black sand, pink sand, or no sand at...
Does it Have to be Authentic to be Educational? – Hawaii’s Polynesian Cultural Center
Hawaii. Tahiti. New Zealand. Samoa. … These Pacific island nations are thousands of miles apart on a map. But there's a way to visit...
The Forbidden City: Not So Forbidden Any More
The Forbidden City. Even the name makes you want to know more, doesn't it? The Forbidden City — all 7.8 million square feet of...
Top 5 Things to do in Taupo, New Zealand
Taupo, a small New Zealand city known for its giant lake and great trout fishing, makes a great weekend getaway on New Zealand's North...
Photo Essay: How to Climb the Great Wall of China
If you're planning a trip to China in the foreseeable future, you're probably also planning a visit to the country's biggest star: The Great Wall....
Discovering New Zealand’s Coromandel Peninsula
Usually, when you come across people with shovels on a beach, they are very young people. You know, little kids building sand castles, or...
Looking Back: 2010 in Review
You're probably already tired of reading year-in-review posts like this. But too bad. 2010 was a big year for me, especially as far as...
4 Things You Should Do in Northland, New Zealand
Just before I was about to end my study abroad stint in New Zealand, my friend Andrea and I decided that we wanted to...
Travel Scene – Pike Place Market
A man is singing on a street corner outside a bustling café. He’s strumming a guitar that’s slung over his shoulder, and a harmonica...
Hobbits For a Day: A Journey to the Shire – Part 2
Continued from PART 1. As the last strains of a pan flute solo faded away, we pulled up to the Shire’s Rest, the departure...
Hobbits For a Day: A Journey to the Shire – Part 1
The view out of the small plane window was largely unremarkable as we reached cruising altitude above the foothills outside Wellington. The aerial view...
The Pros and Cons of Travel
I am passionate about travel. Anyone visiting this site should be aware of this. But just because I love it doesn’t mean I’m not...
Walking the Paths of the Dead in New Zealand
“The way is shut. It was made by those who are dead, and the Dead keep it…” I'll admit it: I'm a huge “Lord...
Why the Travel Blogging Community is Awesome
The travel blogging community reminds me a lot of the swing dancing community back in my hometown. Okay, okay – I realize that comparing...
How to Spend 36 Hours in Sydney
You have 36 hours to spend in Sydney, Australia. I know, I know — “That’s it?” you say, “That’s not enough time!” But you’re...
My Favorite Architecture in Dunedin, New Zealand
Dunedin may be best known for being home to Otago University and Baldwin Street, the steepest street in the world. But there's much more...