FIXING OUR BUSTED OCTOBER VACATION TO THE NATIONAL PARKS, by Ted and Sylvia Blishak

Picking up a USA Today outside our hallway door, we were jolted by the front page headline, “Government shut down, national parks closed, visitors barred from entry, campers evicted by rangers.” ....more

CHIAPAS or- How I Spent Three Days as an Illegal in Mexico, by Vicki Hoefling Andersen
Imagine our consternation to find the customs office in Benemerito recently closed, and the nearest port of entry Comitán de Dominguez, only 182 miles and, with our plans, three days away. That meant we’d be roaming southern Chiapas as “illegals” until we could obtain our visitor documentation. ...more

DAY TRIPPING IN THE CANADIAN ROCKIES, by Lee Juillerat

The challenge when staying in and near Banff National Park in the Canadian Rockies is not finding a great place to hike, it's deciding which ones to take. Here's a trio of offerings, some for people seeking a challenge, others to simply enjoy the art of being....more

ICELANDIC TRADITIONAL FOOD, by Yvette Cardozo

"They really didn't pee on the shark. It only smells that way," the chef was telling me as I peered dubiously at a bowl of white cubes amid the pile of curious Icelandic munchies on a wooden tray....more

Ideal French Tour: Riviera to Alsace: Saint-Tropez, Arles, Beaune, Colmar, by Les Furnanz

My wife and I wanted to lounge and swim for a week on the Riviera (Côte d'Azur) and then drive north through the Rhone Valley, stopping for several days in interesting towns, before ending our three-week sojourn in France's Alsace wine region....more