United States of America (East) travel articles

Here are some great articles and links relating to travel in the United States of America, east of the Mississippi.  Click here for articles West of the Mississippi.


Active & adventure
How to read trailblazing signs in the USA


Appalachian & East Coast
See the America only locals know



Food & drink
The taco taking the US by storm
The sausage loved by presidents
A drink more American than beer?
The sandwich that made the Big Easy
The Manhattan’s biggest mistake
Taking a bite out of the Big Apple
Deep-dish pizza’s deep-rooted story
In search of Miami’s Cuban sandwich


Florida & the South East
How a disastrous city became sexy
Up-close with huge sea predators
In Florida, man vs. manatee
In search of Miami’s Cuban sandwich
Beyond bourbon in Louisville, Kentucky
Wild woodlands of the Great Smokies
America’s best little beach towns
Florida’s stunning island sanctuary
First 24 Hours in Miami
First 24 hours in Savannah, Georgia
The insider's cultural guide to Miami: Flashy, classy … and hot 


Mid-West
Inside the Shawshank prison
Cycling a city once ruled by cars
See the America only locals know
Deep-dish pizza’s deep-rooted story
Art made from what?
Detroit, beyond the bankruptcy
Chicago: Summer on a shoestringUS road trip: slow drive to Sitting Bull country in North and South Dakota
Chicago’s new high line is ‘more than an elevated park’ 
An urbanist's guide to Chicago: ‘the most American of American cities’  
36 Hours in Chicago


New England
The little state with a big story
New England's charming lighthouses
Short break in Boston
5 quick tips from a native New Yorker
10 things to do for free in Boston
Top 10 national and state parks in New England
 

New Orleans & Louisiana
The Big Easy’s iconic cocktail 
The sandwich that made the Big Easy
Mardi Gras: The biggest free party on earth
New Orleans, where memories float on the summertime breeze 

 
NYC & New York State
Daredevil due scales Niagara Falls
A movie tour for Manhattan lovers
Friends' TV cafe finally a reality
New York’s most morbid museum 
The Manhattan’s biggest mistake
Abandoned New York City
Taking a bite out of the Big Apple
Voices of Red Hook, New York
Saunter your way around Manhattan
NYC uncovered
5 of the best natural parks in New York State
The Wanderlust guide to the best of New York City
How to hail a cab like a New Yorker
5 secrets about New York City's Subway




Photo essays
Winter in the U.S.
Autumn in the U.S.
United States
Your Louisiana Photos
U.S. Road Trips
National Park Coastlines
Your Park Photos
American Beach Towns
Admiring Ansel Adams

 
USA 
The USA's Wildest National Parks
Secret places in US state parks revealed
The Wanderlust Guide to the best of US National Parks
9 breathtaking American day hikes
Planning the great American road trip
Trips of a lifetime: USA
The USA's best rail journeys
The ultimate USA road trip
Free to See in the U.S.
A guide to Route 66

  

Washington DC 
The sausage loved by presidents

United States of America (West) travel articles

Here are some great articles and links relating to travel in the United States of America, west of the Mississippi.  Click here for articles East of the Mississippi.


Active & adventure
A climb both beautiful and brutal
Downhill skiing – without snow
Kayaking Kauai’s Na Pali Coast
How to read trailblazing signs in the USA


Alaska
The train that takes on Mt McKinley
Cruising into Gold Rush country
Journey into the Alaskan wild
An Alaskan paradise in peril
Alaska’s ultimate road trip
Alaska: the USA's wildest state
Conquering your fear in Alaska
At Katmai National Park in Alaska, Bears Rule
Alaska Road Trip
Denali National Park 
On Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula, Catching Halibut, and Stunning Tableaus


Arizona
Hiking in the Grand Canyon: A cut above the rest


California
LA has a river? 
A search for the perfect tiki bar
If Bigfoot is anywhere – he’s here
Scenery once owned by James Cameron
The Scot who waves America's parks
What happens at a desert star party
A road trip straight from the 1960s
Facing down Death Valley
Modern art abounds in San Francisco
Hiking and houseboats in Sausalito
America’s best little beach towns
San Francisco’s urban wine renewal
Mini guide to San Francisco cuisine
Mini guide to California's wineries
In search of California’s sea otter
First 24 hours in... Los Angeles
10 things to do for free in LA
10 things to do for free in San Francisco
In Joshua Tree, a Desert Blooms 
36 Hours in Los Angeles


Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho & Montana
Mesa Verde’s ancient cliff dwellers
Jackson Hole: The best of the West
Rise of the ganjapreneurs
First 24 hours in Denver, Colorado
Exploring exhilarating Colorado, USA
Rockies road trip: driving Colorado in the summer 
 

Food & drink
The taco taking the US by storm
A drink more American than beer?
The sandwich that made the Big Easy


Hawaii
Stunning footage of a deadly wave
Life in the shadow of a volcano
America’s best little beach towns
Kayaking Kauai’s Na Pali Coast
5 unmissable Hawai‘i experiences
A Hawaiian Island Where Everybody Knows Your Name


Nevada
Nevada's secret underwater world
Facing down Death Valley
Mini guide to nightlife in Vegas
First 24 hours: Las Vegas
An Insider's Guide to Quirky Nevada
The crazy world of Burning Man – festival survival guide 


New Mexico
The weird and wild outdoors of southern New Mexico


New Orleans & Louisiana
The Big Easy’s iconic cocktail 
The sandwich that made the Big Easy
Mardi Gras: The biggest free party on earth
New Orleans, where memories float on the summertime breeze 



Oregon
The town that gave The Goonies life
Portland's urban adventures
In Portland, Thai Food Moves Beyond the Usual



Photo essays
United States
Your California Photos
Your Hawaii Photos
Your Louisiana Photos
U.S. Road Trips
National Park Coastlines
Your Park Photos
American Beach Towns
Admiring Ansel Adams

 
Texas
See the America only locals know
The allure of the open Texas road
The best BBQ joints in Texas
Top 5 Texas highlights

  
USA 
The USA's Wildest National Parks
Secret places in US state parks revealed
The Wanderlust Guide to the best of US National Parks
9 breathtaking American day hikes
Planning the great American road trip
Trips of a lifetime: USA
The USA's best rail journeys
The ultimate USA road trip
Free to See in the U.S.
A guide to Route 66

  
Utah
Missing pieces in Utah
Dangerous dreams in rural Utah
Utah’s astonishing wild side


Washington 
An ancient luminous landscape
A climb both beautiful and brutal
The quietest place in the USA
Downhill skiing – without snow
America’s best little beach towns
Rise of the ganjapreneurs
10 things to do for free in Seattle

Top 10 national and state parks in Washington state 

Canada travel articles

Here are some great articles and links relating to travel in Canada.


Active & adventure
Into Canada's wild backcountry 
It nearly killed me with delight 
Canada's greatest cycling trail
Ontario's top 5 hikes
5 top hikes in Ontario (reprise)
Top 10 aquatic adventures in Ontario
All at sea: kayaking in Nova Scotia
Top 10 outdoor adventures in Canada
Top 5 activities in Ontario, Canada
Cycling the city People power: the secret to Montreal's success
Biking a New Route Through Ontario’s Scenic Greenbelt 
The Canadian Maritime Safari That Should Be on Your Bucket List
 

Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba & the prairies
Where polar bears outnumber people 
Into Canada's wild backcountry
Two incredible weeks in Iceland and Canada
Track pioneers and polar bears in Churchill 
Road trip - Manitoba
Road trip - Banff and Jasper National Parks
An urbanist's guide to Edmonton
Canadian museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg
In Calgary, Exploring the Cultural Side of ‘Cowtown’


Arctic Canada & Nunavut
Camp on top of the ocean
Where polar bears outnumber people
Discovering wild, wonderful Nunavik
Meet Canada's Ice Bears
An Inuit adventure cruise in Arctic Canada
Track pioneers and polar bears in Churchill



Arts & culture
A blank canvas for Vancouver


British Columbia, Vancouver, Rockies & West Coast
Where the white spirit bear roams
A new reason to ride Canada's rails 
Where most skiers dared not go 
Watching Canada's killers at work 
It nearly killed me with delight 
Canada's greatest hidden rail trip 
Go from sea to sky 
A blank canvas for Vancouver 
Canada's secret sunshine coast
Canada's creative island escape
10 things to do for free in Vancouver
7 things to do for free: Vancouver 
Road trip - British Columbia
City guide -Vancouver


Canada 
The Wanderlust Guide to the Best of Canada
Your video guide to quirky Canada
Canada's top 5 Christmas markets
6 Canadian destinations fit for royalty
Top 10 outdoor adventures in Canada
Top 5 Islands in Canada: Readers' Choice Awards 2013
The Strange Reason You'll Always Weigh Less in Canada Than Anywhere Else
Top 5 Cities in Canada: Readers' Choice Awards 2013


Food & drink
Top 10 Foods to Eat in Quebec
Only in Canada: Cheezies, Coffee Crisp, and More Canadian Snacks
On Prince Edward Island, a Seafood-Dining Excursion


Maritime Provinces
Finding serenity on Prince Edward Island
Road tripping in Atlantic Canada
Short break: Halifax, Canada
All at sea: kayaking in Nova Scotia
Road trip - Cape Breton, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia: oceans of music at the edge of the Atlantic
On Prince Edward Island, a Seafood-Dining Excursion
The Canadian Maritime Safari That Should Be on Your Bucket List 


Ontario, Ottawa, Toronto & Niagara Falls
The nicest people in the world
Under the radar and undeniably cool
10 free things to do in Toronto
12 best brunch spots in Toronto
5 reasons to visit Ottawa now
First 24 hours: Toronto, Canada
Top 10 Ottawa experiences
Ontario's top 5 hikes
5 top hikes in Ontario (reprise)Top 10 aquatic adventures in Ontario
Top 5 activities in Ontario, Canada
Top 10 Things to Do in Ontario
City guide - Toronto
Biking a New Route Through Ontario’s Scenic Greenbelt
Food lover's guide to Toronto
Where to go in Toronto



Northern lights
Snapping the northern lights
Hunting the aurora
Best of the northern lights
60 Second guide to the northern lights
How to shoot the Northern Lights - a tutorial


Photo essays
Canada's Cities
The Animals of Canada
Your Canada Photos
Canada National Parks
Classic Vancouver
Canada 
Toronto Architecture
Canada Unbound: A Photo Tour of Beautiful British Columbia


Quebec, Quebec City & Montreal
Canada's party city
To Montreal with Google as a guide 
A new look for Old Montreal 
Canada's greatest cycling trail
How to explore classic Canada
First 24 hours in Montréal
Top 10 Foods to Eat in Quebec
Historic District of Old Quebec
City guide - Montreal  
Laughing in Montreal: top 5 things to do in Canada’s comedy capital
Cycling the city People power: the secret to Montreal's success  
36 Hours in Montreal
 

Rail travel
Canada's greatest hidden rail trip 
A new reason to ride Canada's rails
The VIA Rail train adventure: part 1
The VIA Rail train adventure: Part 2


Yukon & North West Territories
The call of the Canadian wild
Camping in the tundra 
Canada's massive glacial wilderness 
Meet Canada's Ice Bears


Wildlife & nature
Watching Canada's killers at work 
Where polar bears outnumber people
It nearly killed me with delight
Meet Canada's Ice Bears
Track pioneers and polar bears in Churchill
Explore Canada's Wild Spaces

New trips in the Americas for 2014

In North, Central and South America we have some great new trips for 2014. 

In earlier blog posts I wrote about new walking and hiking trips and new cycling trips for 2014.  For less active cultural trips, we offer some great small-group tours.  Below is our lineup of new tours in Europe for 2014.  For more new trips ideas, click on these blog posts: Europe, Asia, Off-the-beaten-track.


The US Northwest: some of the most rugged and iconic landscapes in the US are found in the American Northwest. This vast untouched wilderness offers a pristine habitat for wildlife and is also of great geological interest. We stay in historic lodges in the heart of Glacier, Yellowstone, Mt Rainier and Olympic National Parks. The lodges are perfect bases in which to relax after active days spent in the outdoors, before stepping out the next morning straight back into sublime surroundings.

Argentina, Chile & Bolivia: this once in a lifetime tour takes in the staggering natural and cultural wonders that Argentina, Chile and Bolivia have to offer, as well as cosmopolitan Buenos Aires. There are few sights greater than the world?s largest salt flats, one of the highest geyser fields in the world, the colossal Iguazu Falls, and the wind-carved landscapes of San Pedro de Atacama! There's also plenty of wildlife spotting opportunities as we visit World Heritage Sites, parks and wetlands, plus the chance to experience life on an authentic 'Gaucho ranch'.

Highlights of Nicaragua: from the twin peaks of Ometepe Island to the ashen slopes of Cerro Negro Volcano, the 'Land of Lakes and Volcanoes' is a great way to escape the crowds. Travel through misty cloud forest, full of birds, wildlife and the sweet smell of orchids, and to isolated Pacific beaches where nesting olive ridley turtles arrive en masse (in season). We also have time to enjoy colonial Granada and revolutionary Leon; rustic, charming cities.


Explore El Salvador: delve into the unassuming beauty of El Salvador and discover why this is one of the hidden gems of Central America. This trip gives you a sumptuous taste of life in this fascinating country, taking you from the lush nature reserves near Ahuachapan, to the charming colonial streets of Suchitoto and the buzzing capital of San Salvador. Sail onto brilliant blue lakes, hike among rich birdlife in spectacular national parks, and discover the Cerro Verde volcano. Walk down cobbled streets and admire colourful houses in a nostalgic small town, and discover a flourishing arts scene hiding behind old colonial doors. Then, bask in the hipster vibe of San Salvador’s bar and café scene and get immersed in a city bursting with energy and contradictions. There are plenty of things to love about El Salvador, and this trip reveals some of the best.

Hawaii: oh Hawaii, you tropical, sun-blessed beauty. Be swooned by the sun, romanced by the people and lulled to sleep by the waves crashing on coral reef. Spend the days lazing on white sands, exploring active volcanoes or catching some gnarly breaks. And come night-time, hit up an evening luau on the beach, where campfires burn, traditional Hawaiian fare is served and moonlight dancing takes the centre stage. Hawaii is everything you have ever been told about it – incredible landscapes, irresistible beaches, delectable food and an unmistakable island vibe. It might just be your perfect slice of paradise.

In earlier blog posts I wrote about new walking and hiking trips and new cycling trips for 2014.  For less active cultural trips, we offer some great small-group tours.  Below is our lineup of new tours in Europe for 2014.  For more new trips ideas, click on these blog posts: Europe, Asia, Off-the-beaten-track.

Adventure Trips of a Lifetime

Having been blessed to have traveled through nearly 100 countries, you often ask me what the best adventure trip is I have ever done.  So here is a top-ten of trips, in no particular order, I think everyone interested in adventure travel should do in their life:

  

  1.  National Parks ofthe West –the mountains of Yosemite, stunning Bryce Canyon and Monument Valley and the awesome Grand Canyon – this USA South-West trip is a gem.  We have a walkingtrip too.

  

  2.  Essential Peru - the mysterious Nazca Lines, Machu Picchu in its incredible setting, spend the night in an island homestay, and the stunning Colca Canyon.   Want to hike the Inca Trail and upgrade your hotels?  Check out this adventure in comfort: Classic Peru.

  

  3.  Falklands, SouthGeorgia & Antarctica – the best trip, the best ship, the best guides, the best time for the ultimate expedition cruise.  Looking for a shorter trip? - maximize yourtime in Antarctica.

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  4.  Botswana Explorer – the best safari with the best guides and done in the most intimate way – best of all, no single supplements.  E-mail me for dates and rates.

  5.  Kiboko Safari – showcasing all the best parks in East Africa – ask me how you can get a great deal and still see the famous wildebeest migration.

  6.  Egyptology – as of writing this (SEP2013) not a safe destination, but what would a top-ten list be without it?  On this trip you will be guided by real Egyptologists and stay in 5-star hotels for a great price.  See the pyramids and the Valley of the Kings in style!

  7.  Best of Italy – the classic highlights of Italy in a 2-week trip.  If you want to experience more variety like stunning coastlines and small villages, ItalyUncovered is my best bet.  Rome, Florence, Tuscany, Umbria, Venice, the Amalfi Coast - they are all waiting for you!

  8.  Ganges, Taj andRaj visits two of my favorite Indian sites – the Taj Mahal and Varanasi - India in a nutshell.  If you want to do all of India in one trip, including Kerala, check out our IndiaExperience.

  9.  Best of Cambodiaand Vietnam - Angkor Wat is a must-see and can do easily be combined with Vietnam.  This trip runs in the opposite direction as well.

  10.Imperial Chinaand Yangtze River Cruise is arguably our best China trip as it covers Beijing, Shanghai, the Terracotta Warriors and so much more.   If you have only two weeks, pick this adventure trip, or this trip with upgraded hotels.

Adventure Travel of course goes beyond these destinations too.  The world is your oyster - email me to arrange your own perfect holiday!