Within just a few days last autumn I spent the night at a ghost town hotel followed by a chilly overnight stay in a tipi at Blackfoot Crossing. The experiences were unforgettable and surreal all at once. I was on a media trip in the Alberta Badlands, a few hours outside of Calgary, with two […]

It’s become a tradition for John and I to return to his hometown in Iowa to ring in the new year. During our winter visits, we usually do our first photowalk of the year, sliding around the ice-covered streets and crunching through knee-deep snow. Winter 2009-2010 in Iowa When we arrived this time around, we […]

As 2011 winds down, I have decided to do my annual “year in review” posts. While it’s tough to select the best moments (that I have blogged) over the last year, this week I’ll profile the following categories: Travel, Food, Music, and Entertainment. Travel A highlight for the blog in 2011 was partnering with Backyard […]

For years I’ve been hearing about how wonderful the train trip is from Vancouver to Seattle. 4 hours straight across the border, coastline the majority of the way, free WiFi, and no worries. I experienced the journey myself just a few days ago and aside from the early departure and a few delays with the […]

Afternoon tea at the Fairmont is a tradition in many cities along the coast. You can sit in a regal tea room at the Empress in Victoria, enjoy scones before your flight at the Fairmont Vancouver Airport, and I’ve recent experienced a special holiday treat at the Fairmont Olympic in Seattle. Holiday Tea is hosted […]