During the summer of 2010 the two of us followed the Oregon Trail from the pioneers’ major jumping-off point in Independence, Missouri, to the “promised land” of Oregon City, Oregon. While the pioneers required from four to six months to cover the 2,000 miles, we reached Oregon’s Willamette Valley in a little over three weeks. […]
Big Bend—The Uncrowded National Park
Bordering 118 miles of the Rio Grande River in southwest Texas is one of America’s most isolated and strikingly beautiful national parks. The mountain and desert landscapes at Big Bend National Park are simply stunning. Big Bend was originally a Texas state park, but Congress moved to make it a national park by giving authorization […]
Rowing Across the Border
Those of us who have traveled extensively know the usual drill at border crossings: you wait behind a line of fellow travelers or in a vehicle that inches slowly forward as questions are asked and passports are checked and stamped. That’s not the experience at Big Bend National Park’s Boquillas Port of Entry. After being […]
Fort Robinson: A Western Treasure
Tucked into Nebraska’s far northwest corner is an unusual state park where you can immerse yourself in western history, ride horses, paddle a kayak, hike, swim in an Olympic-size pool, enjoy an open-air Jeep or stagecoach ride, visit a history center, take in a live theater production and ride in a horse-drawn wagon. You can […]
San Francisco’s Gem: the Presidio
Fisherman’s Wharf, the Golden Gate Bridge, cable cars, Alcatraz and other attractions and activities have drawn visitors to San Francisco long before 1962 when Tony Bennett left his heart here. One of the USA’s premiere tourist destinations, the city is compact, offers excellent public transportation, fine restaurants, spectacular vistas, a wide range of hotels, diverse […]
Exploring the Other Montana
A mention of Montana brings to mind the snow-covered Rockies, mountain lakes, grizzly bears and fly-fishing in a mountain stream. It is the scenic western region of the state that is most frequently depicted in travel magazines and where most vacationers head during a summer trip, perhaps on their way to Yellowstone or on a […]
Getting on the Right Track
For many Americans a mention of Nebraska brings to mind cornfields, football and cattle ranches. For investors—both novice and professional—Nebraska is synonymous with investment guru Warren Buffett, the Oracle of Omaha. History buffs think of Nebraska as a gateway to the Old West where a long stretch of the historic Oregon Trail follows the Platte River. However, mention Nebraska to a train enthusiast and it is North Platte’s Bailey Yard that inevitably springs to mind.