By Stephen Bugno Virginia’s Northern Neck is rich in scenic beauty, with 1100 miles of shoreline containing beaches, marinas, historical sites, viniculture, and small towns that date back to colonial times. The region is located along the banks of the great Potomac River, downstream from Washington, DC and is bordered on the south by the [...]

By Stephen Bugno San Blas used to be important. It was a crucial port when trade between Spain and the Philippines was in its heyday. Then Acapulco took over and San Blas became a backwater. But that’s why it’s a fantastic, little, chilled-out beach town today. Set 90 minutes down a narrow two-lane road bounded [...]

By Noel Lau “There’s no cheap way to get to Machu Picchu,” said the guide who was trying to sell me a tour. Seeing Machu Picchu had always been a dream of mine but I wasn’t going to join a tour. Getting to Machu Picchu can put a dent your pocket. I was at the end of [...]

By Avery Sumner Down the way where the nights are gay and the sun shines daily on the mountaintop, I took a trip on a sailing ship and when I reached Jamaica I made a stop… Somewhere in the depths of the Gulf Stream I woke to the sounds of ocean splashing against hull and [...]

[The following is a Sponsored Post] The dominant images of Thailand are the limestone cliffs of Phi Phi, long boats and turquoise water. But the ‘kingdom’ offers more than this. Beyond the beaches lie hills and mountains waiting to be discovered. Think lush green valleys, waterfalls, villages and wildlife. Also think, tribal life. Having adopted [...]

By Avery Sumner It’s May 15 and I’m still wearing socks and sweaters in the south of France. I’m living in the Pyrenees-Orientales department of France because it boasts the most days of sunshine in the whole country. I came here for the sun, the sea and the mountains—for the famed Mediterranean climate. But being [...]

By Beau Miller To tell somebody you are traveling to Oman is often met with confusion. “What are you doing in Amman?” is a typical response. “Where is that, exactly?” might be another. For those who hear correctly and know where Oman is, a feeling of befuddlement may give rise to such self-reflecting as to [...]

By Noel Lau The biggest of Spain’s Balearic Islands, five million visitors descend upon Majorca every summer. This island boasts a temperate climate, year-long sunshine and soft sandy beaches that slope gently into the clear, turquoise Mediterranean Sea. Situated in the Mediterranean Sea, east of mainland Spain, Majorca is connected by ferries to Barcelona and [...]

By Stephen Bugno Out on the Streets The scene on the streets of Bangkok depends entirely on the neighborhood you are in, but expect to find plenty of activity. Lots of street food carts, makeshift souvenir stands, and markets filling the side streets. Avenues are crammed with cars, motorbikes, and the ubiquitous three-wheeled tuk-tuks. It’s [...]

Editors note: At first I hesitated in publishing an article with “party” in the title after such a short period of time since the devastating tsunami, but this post is part of the #JapanLife and #Blog4Japan which aims to bring attention to Japan from bloggers around the world. Before publication, author Tom Shuttleworth assured me [...]

By Nelya Rakhimova Tobolsk is an average Russian town located in the middle of the western Siberian plain. It used to be the capital of the whole of Siberia until the 20th century when the Trans-Siberian railway was built just south of here, when Tolbolsk reverted to being a small provincial town. Nevertheless, Tobolsk remains [...]

By Michael Bugno Upon arrival, I am greeted with a huge brick wall that says, “Keep Portland Weird”. I sort of knew what I was getting into when I read Keep Portland Weird: 5 Crazy things to do in Portland, Oregon. But seriously—whatever happened to arriving in a city and having a Top 10 sights [...]

By Stephen Bugno It’s finally safe enough The days of worrying about getting kidnapped in Colombia are more or less over. Colombia’s tourism board is telling us that “the only risk is wanting to stay”. The main tourist routes are established and travel to Colombia is the safest it’s been in years. True, the FARC [...]

By Noel Lau What is it about languidly cruising down the Amazon River that strikes people as romantic or exotic? Tales from travelers, documentaries and movies have made this boat ride up or down the cafe au lait-colored river a must-do South American adventure. Manaus, Bazil: Your Amazon Adventure Begins Whatever your route is, you’ll [...]

By Hope Nardini Portland is plastered with “Keep Portland Weird” bumper stickers, t-shirts, and even billboards. It’s one of my favorite cities to visit, because there is always something strange and crazy right around the corner. From “zoo bombing” on kiddie bikes to setting your taste buds on fire with habanero cheese fritters, Portland will [...]

By Stephen Bugno   I had initially set off to Colorado for my brother’s downtown Denver wedding and thought I’d extend the trip to include summiting a few ‘fourteeners’ and visit Mesa Verde and Great Sand Dunes National Parks, but the week following the reception quickly turned into how many outstanding Colorado Breweries I could [...]

Festa de São João, One of Europe’s Biggest Street Festivals By Stephen Bugno To experience Portugal at its most uninhibited, untamed and inebriated, don’t miss Porto’s massive, traditional annual Feast of St. John’s Eve. For one night every year, the city of Porto, Portugal goes absolutely wild. The celebration—Festa de São João—or Feast of St. [...]

Visit Tokyo on a Tight Budget By Katherine Whatley To a foreigner, Tokyo conjures up images of kimono, sky scrapers, Godzilla and crazy fashions. A city with a great vibe, it’s somewhere that any self respecting tourist should visit once. But let’s face it, Tokyo is expensive. It’s easier to spend more and more money [...]