Travel and Leisure

The Big Trees of Yosemite

Between the heavy pine and silver fir zones towers the Big Tree (Sequoia gigantea), the king of all the conifers in the world, "the noblest of the noble race." The groves nearest Yosemite Valley are about twenty miles to the westward and southward and are called the Tuolumne, Merced and Ma Read More

Yosemite: Early History Of The Valley

In the wild gold years of 1849 and '50, the Indian tribes along thus western Sierra foothills became alarmed at the sudden invasion of their acorn orchard and game fields by miners, and soon began to make war upon them, in their usual murdering, plundering style. This continued until the United Read More

History, Patience, and Understanding: An American Travel Story of Growth

For three years, my wife and I have lived abroad in Portugal. This time of temporary immigration has led to meeting people of many different cultures and has provided delightful experiences. Recently, I had another learning encounter that teaches all of us a beautiful lesson. I went into a ca Read More

Luxembourg to Paris: A Winter Adventure and Road Tour

It was winter: one of the coldest winters of the decade. The frost was powdered all over Europe, yet the Netherlands suffered from the harshest winter that year. In spite of the freeze, our travel plan was there waiting to be realized. The touring draft was sketched accordingly: from Wageni Read More

A Brief History of the Palace of Versailles

Situated about 10 miles southwest of Paris France is an epic and historic production known as the Palace of Versailles. On a land that was once the home of a dreary marsh and ramshackle old farm buildings, Versailles has risen to become one of Paris' main attractions and one of the gran Read More

Foz do Arelho: Portugal's Silver Coast Jewel

With a hypnotic and calm “lagoa” (lagoon) beach, contrasting the seaside tumult and rocky cliffs, Foz do Arelho is the quiet wonder of the Silver coast. Positioned directly west of the friendly city of Caldas da Rainha, Foz, as the local expats know it, offers everything one can desire i Read More