Inspiring travel stories, tips, and guides from a couple exploring the world one destination at a time.
Last Updated: July 2017
From Québec City we turned east, following the Saint Lawrence River toward the tip of the Gaspé Peninsula — one of the most scenic drives in eastern Canada. The peninsula juts into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence for nearly 200 miles, with the river on one side and the mountains of the Chic-Chocs on the other. It took us several days to reach the far end, with stops along the way that ranged from a campground disaster to some of the best hiking we found all summer.
Last Updated: July 2017
After our San Diego interlude, I rejoined Sandy on the East Coast and crossed the border from Vermont into Canada without any drama. The border agent asked about weapons, our occupations, and the length of our stay — nothing about food, wine, medications, or Jake’s rabies certificate. We may have under-packed the wine.
[Read more…] about Québec City, Canada: Old City Walking Tour, Montmorency Falls & Tall Ships 2017
Last Updated: July 2017
We interrupted our New England summer travels when Michael needed to fly back to San Diego for a week to manage his physician practice. It turned out to be a welcome reset — and a reminder of how much there is to do in a city we know well. Downtown San Diego has transformed steadily over the years, and with Comic-Con and Pride Week both kicking off during our visit, the streets had an unusually electric energy. San Diego is the eighth largest city in the United States, its economy anchored by military and defense as much as tourism, and its enduring appeal built on miles of sandy coastline and one of the most reliably mild climates in the country.
[Read more…] about Downtown San Diego: Gaslamp Quarter, USS Midway, Comic-Con & La Playa
Last Updated: July 2017
Western Massachusetts doesn’t get the attention it deserves. The Berkshires — a range of low forested hills running along the state’s western edge — quietly house three world-class cultural institutions within a short drive of each other: a living museum of Shaker communal life, one of the finest small art museums in America, and the permanent home of Norman Rockwell’s original canvases. We made a day of all three, and left genuinely impressed by each.
Last Updated: July 2017
Catskill, New York turned out to be one of our better work-and-rest stops of the summer. Juniper Woods Campground put us within easy reach of both Lake George and a quirky small-town Main Street where dozens of painted fiberglass cats stand guard year-round. Good internet, a hot tub for sore muscles, and friendly neighbors around the pool — exactly what we needed mid-trip.
[Read more…] about Catskill & Lake George, New York: Cat Sculptures, a Boat Cruise & Adirondack Wine
Last Updated: May 2026
Lake Placid is a beautiful mountain town no matter what the season. Tucked into the Adirondacks of upstate New York, it’s best known for hosting the Winter Olympics twice — in 1932 and 1980 — and the legacy of those games is visible everywhere you look, from the speed skating oval to the bobsled run to the ski jump towers that still dominate the skyline. We happened to be here in early June, and between the lupine blooming along every roadside and the summer training programs in full swing at the Olympic facilities, the timing couldn’t have been better.
[Read more…] about Lake Placid, New York: Olympic Ski Jumping, Whiteface Mountain & Mirror Lake