Sausalito, California is a small town located directly across the bay from San Francisco. On a clear day, the view is postcard worthy, with the city skyline towering over the infamous prison island of Alcatraz and the Bay Bridge stretching across the horizon. Of course the view was obscured by fog during my visit, but […]
Day Trip
Nara Day Trip: One Day in Japan’s Deer City
Nara, Japan is one of the most unique destinations in the world. The ancient city predates Kyoto as Japan’s first capital. It boasts many important temples and shrines, including eight UNESCO sites and one of the largest bronze Buddha statues in the world. But it’s Nara’s welcoming committee that makes a visit here memorable. Nara […]
Himeji Castle Day Trip from Osaka – Is it Worth It?
Himeji-jo is widely considered to be the best of Japan’s remaining original castles. UNESCO praises its masterful wooden construction and gleaming white walls. Locals lovingly call it the “White Egret Castle,” since the 400-year-old main keep perched atop a hill is said to resemble a bird in flight. Himeji is 100 kilometers from Osaka and […]
A Perfect Fall Day in Bennington, Vermont
For a small shire town, Bennington, Vermont is packed with interesting things to do. This is thanks in part to its storied past. Founded in 1749, Bennington was the first town in what would eventually become the State of Vermont. (Hence the town slogan, “Vermont Begins Here!”) At the time, however, America was a set […]
Toledo, Spain: The City of Three Cultures
Over the course of its 2,000-year history, Toledo has been ruled by Romans, Visigoths, Moors, and Castilians. Jews settled in Toledo during the Middle Ages and thrived under the religious tolerance of the Moors. Muslims, Jews, and Christians coexisted openly during this surprisingly harmonious era, and traces of each religion can still be found among […]