Travel

Mazatlan a charming Mexican haven

MAZATLAN, Mexico — The atmosphere in the Plaza de Toros, hot in the afternoon sun, crackled like popcorn, leaving visitors wondering just how long the crowd, growing larger by the minute, would sit patiently and wait. But as late arrivals searched for the last free seats, their concerns melted away.

Bora Bora’s beauty deserves a lasting look

BORA BORA, French Polynesia — It was just after 6 a.m. when the sound of a ship’s horn awakened us. My husband, Jeff, and I looked at each other sleepily, then scrambled to our knees so we could look out the window above our bed. There it was in all its glory: a massive cruise liner that overwhelmed Bora Bora’s western lagoon.

On the Road: Strawberry Festival

One of the oldest continuing festivals in the state, the 82nd edition of the festival will feature a grand parade, fireworks show, arts-and-crafts Market in the Park, vendor booths, carnival, kiddie parade and entertainment stage.

Piecing together the ancient art of mosaics

RAVENNA, Italy — The Italian mosaic master sat poised behind her small, wooden work stand, a log placed on end and embedded with a small, sharp steel tool.

Brilliant blooms at the Desert Museum

For the past decade, I’ve headed to Arizona in midwinter to visit family and catch a respite from cold weather. Each year, as I leave its warm, dry air to return to my snowy home, I’m told, “You really should come when the desert is in bloom. It’s spectacular.”

Cinema buffs look for frames of reference

LONE PINE, Calif. — As howling winds tore through the eastern Sierra, Dan Gillespie and his wife Carol trudged along a narrow gravel path, their eyes alternating between photos they carried and the contours of a cove guarded by granite walls.

Philippine island offers a bit of everything: Beaches, culture and exotic cuisine

If you’re looking for a tropical adventure to add to your bucket list, a trip to the island of Negros in the Philippines might be just the ticket.

Get inspired by arid landscapes, desert cultures

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Striped balloons dot a bright blue sky. Red rocks silhouette a lone dead tree. A white ladder leans on a brown adobe dwelling.

Rose City's big, blooming bounty

Rose City’s big, blooming bounty Portland’s location at the confluence of the Columbia and Willamette rivers and a good 100 miles south of Puget Sound gives it a leg up on the growing season. Naturally, it’s a gardener’s paradise.

Put the top down and see the world

Few things celebrate the end of winter like a great drive and enjoying the beach. Whether you can put the top down or not, members and editors of travel website VirtualTourist.com are sure you’ll enjoy any of their top 10 coastal drives.

earthy Burlington

BURLINGTON, Vt. — There was a McDonald’s downtown in Vermont’s largest city for years, but then Vermont’s largest city decided it didn’t want McDonald’s anymore. So the McDonald’s closed.

Dreams of Africa are alive in the Okavango Delta

MAUN, Botswana – If you’ve paid for an African safari, but you’re still not clear about the details, bad on you. Making the same mistake, I didn’t dig into the heart of the adventure before I headed to southern Africa for my first wildlife safari because I was always too busy. Bad on me!

5 free things to do in Charleston

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Charleston is awash in history and Southern charm and becoming widely known as a culinary town. Each year it hosts major events ranging from the Spoleto Festival USA to the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition and the Family Circle Cup Tennis Tournament. But there are a lot of free things to do for visitors drawn to the city founded in 1670. Here are five suggestions:

Bike the Skagit Valley tulip fields for stunning views, easy access

It’s no secret that the flat Skagit Valley looks a lot like the Netherlands. It also is filled with that über-Dutch crop – tulips. Now that April is here and all those blooms are painting the fields with vivid yellows, reds and pinks, it makes sense to tour around them on that quintessential Dutch form of transport: the bicycle.