I had a bit of an epiphany today when, in the wee hours of the morning--thanks to one more sporadic case of insomnia--I came across a comment in a recent article by Seth Kugel, the New York Times' Frugal Traveler columnist. In the piece, Kugel reviewed reader comments from the column over the past year for a bit of self-critique, using both praise and reproof as a barometer … [Read more...] about You *Do* Actually Want to Travel, Don’t You?
Wildlife of Coastal California: The Elephant Seals at Piedras Blancas
Just a few miles north of Hearst Castle along the Pacific Coast Highway--if you're driving with the windows open--you may catch a bit of a strong, "organic" scent on the wind. I'm not talking about the salty, seaweed-y aroma of the ocean. The smell I'm describing is worse. Much worse. What you're probably experiencing is the awful stench of the elephant seal rookery at … [Read more...] about Wildlife of Coastal California: The Elephant Seals at Piedras Blancas
Finding Yourself Through Solo Travel
"Sacramento's a nice place to live, but I wouldn't want to travel here." That's what he said. The "he" in question was a young Sacramento resident, roughly my age, who'd shared a van with me as we rode from the airport toward the outer limits of the city. I wasn't exactly traveling to Sacramento, either; it was merely a stop on my way to a backpacking trip in Tahoe National … [Read more...] about Finding Yourself Through Solo Travel
Cairn Gorm: The Mountain That (Almost) Ate My Memories
Climbing Cairn Gorm wasn't part of the plan. To be frank, little of my time in Scotland had turned out the way I'd anticipated but after chickening out of a driving tour of the Scottish Highlands, I'd missed my chance at climbing Ben Nevis, Scotland's tallest peak. In Inverness on my last day in Scotland, I decided that the nearby Cairn Gorm would have to do. Topping out at … [Read more...] about Cairn Gorm: The Mountain That (Almost) Ate My Memories
Confession: I Am a Travel Chicken
Sometimes I feel like such a fraud. Often, while traveling solo, I'll meet someone--usually a group of women traveling together--and we'll exchange travel stories. "Are you traveling by yourself?" they'll ask me. I'll smile. "Uh-huh." "You're so brave!" they'll exclaim. No, not really. I'm not brave. Not at all. I have ample experiences that say the opposite. Like the time … [Read more...] about Confession: I Am a Travel Chicken