america
Travel from sea to shining sea; by car or by plane, there's plenty to see in the good ole US of A.
A Bite of the Big Apple
I wrote this back in March 2001 as part of a University application, after my brother and I visited New York for the first time. With today being what it is, and there being so much negativity surrounding New York today, I thought I'd share some of my happy memories of visiting my favourite place in the world.
By Mark Williams8 years ago in Wander
Things I Miss about America
It’s too easy to look at what’s happening in the land of my birth right now and breathe a sigh of relief that there is an ocean between me and all the vileness. Rumours of sharks swimming up freeways in the flooding after Hurricane Harvey. Actual Nazis who are not ashamed to show their faces while perpetrating violence. The grim spectre of impending nuclear winter. In my eleven years living in the UK I've seen both countries change in ways that seem so unthinkable I began to wonder whether we've slipped into a parallel dimension. Yet for all the woes Britain is currently experiencing, it seems for the time being to be the lesser of two evils.
By Caitlin McDonald8 years ago in Wander
Fishing the Gallatin Montana
As a former term-limited Montana legislator who sat as Chairman of the Fish Wildlife & Parks committee and someone who has had the privilege of growing up here in Montana catching trout for over 50 years, I thought I might share some valuable information. In 2001 I sponsored HB 292 which became law and was signed by then Governor Judy Martz. It has always been my interest in seeing more people having access to Montana’s incredible blue ribbon trout streams and rivers. That is what HB 292 did and why it was called the Fishing Access Enhancement Program.
By Daniel Fuchs9 years ago in Wander
July 13/14, 2017 – Greyhound Bus 6933
Suitcases, backpacks, hiking boots, and bodies line the glass and concrete terminal. Metal benches produced in some no-name factory in an arbitrary city by sad little people who once believed in upward mobility are held in place by other equally sad men and women who still cling to the hope of making it big. A life-sized Barbie on the TV overhead decries this political atrocity and that and brings news of yet another murder in our precious hidden gem of a flyover city.
By Gabriel Cabrera9 years ago in Wander
Quest of the Phoenix 2017 (8)
I woke up at 4:45 AM and couldn’t fall back asleep again, thanks to the combination of cacophonously singing birds and the gastric havoc wrought by yesterday’s gluttony. At least this would help me get an early start since I had a helluva drive today.
By Nathan Sturm9 years ago in Wander
Day at Old Sturbridge Village
I have not been to Old Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge, MA since I was six or seven, which is going on 15 or 16 years ago. Today, it was open for free as part of the state’s “Free Fridays” program, so my mom and I went there to meet Ruth, an old friend of her’s. The drive from Gloucester was about an hour and 40 minutes.
By Rachel Lesch9 years ago in Wander
Quest of the Phoenix 2017 (6)
Up at 6 AM again (after an eight-hour rest; hard to believe this is a “vacation” with me going to bed and getting up so early) and spent three hours preparing myself. First, I went and got a nice nutritious continental breakfast with all of the food groups represented (except meat), then I spent some time planning my route to South Mountain Park, grooming, and dressing carefully to hide the fact that I was slightly out of shape — I would be hiking in the rising heat of the late morning, so I couldn’t get away with wearing a jacket or whatnot.
By Nathan Sturm9 years ago in Wander
Most Expensive Hotels on the West Coast
Traveling in style has always been in vogue, and these days, the competition for being the most lavish hotel in America has never been more extreme. Nowadays, resting in the lap of a luxury hotel or resort takes many different forms — including the hyper luxury form.
By Mackenzie Z. Kennedy9 years ago in Wander
Quest of the Phoenix 2017 (5)
Once again I was up at 6:30 and had a breakfast of tea and granola/fruit bar. Browsing maps and such on my phone, I was determined to CAREFULLY plan my route into Phoenix to avoid anything like last night’s debacle. In any event, I knew that my motel this time would have an actual “parking lot.” Still I retained some residual nervousness.
By Nathan Sturm9 years ago in Wander
Two Wandering Souls
Little did we know, there, right in front of us, was change. For months I had been planning the trip of a lifetime. I had made spreadsheets and mapped out countless routes. Organizing each stop to create the ultimate, soul searching road trip. My itinerary was set, my budget saved, my car fixed, everything was ready to go, or so I thought.
By Eslieann Lefler9 years ago in Wander
Quest of the Phoenix 2017 (4)
I rose early again but took my time getting ready, since I had a shorter drive today (or so I thought). Checking out, I also bought a postcard depicting Canyonlands National Park, since Tina (and her mom) had requested one and it enabled me to give the innkeepers an extra 80 cents to thank them for their nicely-scented room. I was on the road again by 9:30 and in good spirits, for today I would be driving through Monument Valley.
By Nathan Sturm9 years ago in Wander
California Dreaming
The first time I had gone on vacation to California was when I was 16 years old. My parents finally gave in due to my bugging the crap out of them to take me to Disneyland for my "Sweet 16" Birthday. Hard to believe at that time I was more interested in meeting Mickey and Minnie than going to a party and getting drunk with friends. Is what it is though and was happy to have talked my parents into taking me and thankful they had the money to do so.
By Kate Adams9 years ago in Wander
