My 5 Favorite Views in New Zealand
New Zealand is full of beautiful views. From snow-capped mountains, to untouched beaches, to geothermal wonders, to lush rainforests, to rugged coastlines, to colorful towns…...
Paying My Respects at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific
I'm usually a fan of cemeteries. I think they can be beautiful places to visit, and many of them around the world are really...
A Hint of Asia in Hawaii – Byodo-in Temple
Nestled at the base of the lush Ko'olau mountains in Hawaii sits a nod to the state's Asian heritage — the beautiful Byodo-in Temple....
Why You Should Get Lost While Traveling
Most people don’t like to be lost. They don’t like feeling out of the loop, or like they’ve missed something. Most of all, they...
Ka’a’awa Valley: Where the Cows and the Dinosaurs Roam
I’m definitely no stranger to the film tourism phenomenon. I’ve seen my fair share of bare hills, snow-capped mountains, river-strewn valleys and patches of...
Fun Facts I Learned in Hawaii
Even though Hawaii is still a part of the United States, it's easy to feel like you're headed to a completely different country when...
Under the Sea: Snorkeling at Hanauma Bay, Hawaii
Looking out over Hanauma Bay when the sun is shining and a warm sea breeze is blowing in off the Pacific, it really does...
10 Most Beautiful Hawaiian Beaches on Oahu
There's really no denying it: Hawaii has some pretty fantastically beautiful beaches. Whether it's white sand, black sand, pink sand, or no sand at...
Does it Have to be Authentic to be Educational? – Hawaii’s Polynesian Cultural Center
Hawaii. Tahiti. New Zealand. Samoa. … These Pacific island nations are thousands of miles apart on a map. But there's a way to visit...
The Forbidden City: Not So Forbidden Any More
The Forbidden City. Even the name makes you want to know more, doesn't it? The Forbidden City — all 7.8 million square feet of...
Top 5 Things to do in Taupo, New Zealand
Taupo, a small New Zealand city known for its giant lake and great trout fishing, makes a great weekend getaway on New Zealand's North...
Photo Essay: How to Climb the Great Wall of China
If you're planning a trip to China in the foreseeable future, you're probably also planning a visit to the country's biggest star: The Great Wall....
Discovering New Zealand’s Coromandel Peninsula
Usually, when you come across people with shovels on a beach, they are very young people. You know, little kids building sand castles, or...
Looking Back: 2010 in Review
You're probably already tired of reading year-in-review posts like this. But too bad. 2010 was a big year for me, especially as far as...
4 Things You Should Do in Northland, New Zealand
Just before I was about to end my study abroad stint in New Zealand, my friend Andrea and I decided that we wanted to...
Hobbits For a Day: A Journey to the Shire – Part 2
Continued from PART 1. As the last strains of a pan flute solo faded away, we pulled up to the Shire’s Rest, the departure...
Hobbits For a Day: A Journey to the Shire – Part 1
The view out of the small plane window was largely unremarkable as we reached cruising altitude above the foothills outside Wellington. The aerial view...