On Location
The best itineraries, trips, travel tips and more from around the world.
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On Location: 9/11 Reflections
We all know where we were when the planes struck. Some of us were across the country, some across the world, and some right next door. We all know someone who was deeply affected- a loved one killed, a friend who died, a coworker who didn’t make it home, a friend who mourned a loss, a hero who helped saved lives. There will never be a September 11th that passes where we don’t take pause, take time to reflect. On a recent visit to New York City, I toured the 9/11 Memorial site. I was not quite sure what to expect. Could a memorial evoke the intense emotions and feelings…
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On Location: The Playful Personality of the Galápagos Sea Lion
A young pup scoots along the waters edge, chasing my daughter, son and 3 other kids down the beach. The children stop, turn, bend down and giggle with delight as their eyes meet the pups’. The pup nods his head slightly as if to tell the kids to keep playing. They dutifully reply by turning and running into the shallow water. The pup follows excitedly, ready for more fun. This scene played out in front of my eyes within 5 minutes of our first shore landing on San Cristobal island in the Galápagos. I had read about the fearlessness of the animals on this remote island chain some 1,000 miles…
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On Location: 10 Tips for Visiting Death Valley, California
The dry, parched land stretches out before you for miles. The air burns your lungs as you take in a deep breath. There is no water in sight. This is Death Valley, California, a harsh landscape ready to be explored by only the most fearless traveler. Well, not really. Death Valley National Park gets almost 1 million visitors a year, so obviously, it’s not only for the adventure traveler. It can get mighty hot in the summer, though, with an average of 116°F in July. To make the most of your visit, here are 10 tips to enjoying this austere climate and experiencing the beauty Death Valley has to offer.…
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On Location: Neon Heaven at the Neon Museum in Las Vegas, Nevada
They flashed and illuminated the Las Vegas skyline for years. They told weary travelers to stop and get some rest. They pointed hungry patrons to grab a bite. They lured eager gamblers to spend their hard earned money. There’s nothing more mesmerizing than a bright neon sign to tantalize your eyes and possibly make you do things you didn’t plan to do. But, at one point, the hotel closes, the restaurant shuts down, or the decrepit casino implodes, making way for something more modern, something new. So where do these iconic signs go to die? Fortunately not all are left for scrap and destroyed. Many headed to a boneyard owned…
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On Location: Iguazu Falls – Impressive Brasil vs. Intimate Argentina
It didn’t take long to sense the rivalry between Brasil and Argentina of which country is the best place to experience Iguazu Falls. It may not have helped to have a Brazilian guide for most of our visit because as you can imagine, he sure had an opinion on this matter. But, being able to explore both sides for myself, from gazing up at the roaring waterfall near the Devil’s Throat to peering over a 40′ drop off from a catwalk, it was pretty easy to decide which side was better. The Rio Iguazu runs between a very small portion of the border of southern Brazil and northern Argentina. Although…
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Travel Story: The Galápagos Islands – A Family Adventure of a Lifetime
Finding our Sea Legs and Discovering Something to Please Everyone from Ages 8-78 As we stepped aboard our home for the next 8 days, we were greeted with some severe rocking. Up, down, up, down, up down. I looked over at my seasick prone daughter and watched her turn sheet white. Her eyes looked up at me in panic as she turned to disembark. Our welcoming crew, oblivious to the drama unfolding, happily ushered us into the dining room. I took a seat with my daughter at the table nearest to the door. It was pretty clear within minutes that she would not sit there without losing her breakfast, so…
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Travel Stories: The Bouquinistes of Paris
I can still vividly remember the first time I visited Paris. I flew solo as a teen from San Francisco to Charles de Gaulle to meet up with my parents who had already been traveling in Europe for 2 weeks. We took a cab back to the hotel to drop off my bags, and then they whisked me to the Seine for a classic boat tour down the river. They hoped I’d get a good overview of the city but in actuality all I got was a wonderful nap instead. The sticky summer heat, and motion of the boat was the perfect cure for jet lag! When the boat ride…
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On Location: Machu Picchu After the Tourists Have Gone
The bus careened up the narrow one-lane switch back road. The densely forested road made visibility almost impossible, but at each turn, the driver somehow managed to narrowly miss the oncoming buses filled with tourists just like us. I was convinced our driver possessed some ancient Incan secret for predicting oncoming traffic. At the top, we unloaded and filed into line to enter the historic site that ranks high on most travelers’ bucket lists. After paying the fee and getting stamped, we headed up the crowded trail to get our first glimpse at the Lost City. We formed a single file line and followed a path along a meticulously built…
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On Location: Bauhaus Design on a Random Munich Street Corner
Tucked off the main thoroughfare, in a maze of alleys far from foot traffic and cars to admire, three gleaming cylindrical pillars stand tall and proud against the corner of a modern building. They prominently flank the clean lined siding as if performing a function that we should all understand. At the top of each pillar is a black accordion detail, adding another unknown function, yet graphic element to the entire look. In front of the cylinders is a street pole, disseminating important information to anyone who cares to read. Einbahstrasse states the blue arrow pointing right, signaling the start of the one way street. Feuerwehranfahrtzone labels the red x…
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On Location: Gas Works Park, Seattle, Washington
An Industrial Past Adds Modern Whimsy to this Popular Park Rising above the verdant lawn, in the center of an open park lies what many would say an eyesore, 2 large brown cylindrical towers, scarred with graffiti and surrounded by a barbed wired fence. These defunct gas generator and processing towers by most urban planning standards would have been removed as soon as the plant shut down and the city bought the space to use as a park. Most city parks I’ve seen try their very best to conceal the visitor of any urban plights it may have once faced. In fact, many cities strive to provide greenery, vegetation and…