Practical Traveler

articles with practical travel advice and ideas

Cruising down the Amazon: Your Guide to a do-it-yourself Amazon Boat Trip

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, […]

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A Hitchhiker’s Guide to South America

By Sally Kay South America is a huge continent, and a lot of backpackers want to hitchhike through it.  But in this vast continent every country is different, so hitchhiking can vary quite a lot.  Here is a rough guide to hitchhiking in the different countries of South America. Argentina Argentina is a wonderful country

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Keep Portland Weird: Five Crazy Things to Do in Portland, Oregon

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

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colorado beer

Colorado: In a State of Beer

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 visit. For anyone who

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Volunteering in Spain with Vaughan Town and Pueblo Ingles

Volunteering in Spain: Two Programs that Offer English-Speaking Volunteers Full Room and Board By Stephen Bugno     I’m almost as exhausted as they are, but somehow they keep going. This is supposed to be easy for me, right? English is my native language.   They sun is about to set in our small “English

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Your Indie Guide to San Francisco

San Francisco is a city where residents have historically lived by their own set of rules and is brimming with an unflinching independent spirit. Where else can you find zombie flash mobs, public pillow fights, an enthusiastic bike and skate culture, a great music and arts scene, more hipsters and gays than you can shake a stick at, and limitless options for amazing food on any budget.

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