
Known as the cigar capital of the world for many years, the century-plus-old Latin district in Tampa, Florida known as Ybor City has much to offer the urban traveler.
A resource for independent travelers

Known as the cigar capital of the world for many years, the century-plus-old Latin district in Tampa, Florida known as Ybor City has much to offer the urban traveler.

Those Visiting the Tampa – St. Pete – Clearwater area shouldn’t miss the chance to visit the great Greek heritage resource right at our doorstep. I’m talking about sponge docks of Tarpon Springs, and the surrounding neighborhood bursting with Greek restaurants, heritage venues and funky Mediterranean atmosphere right here on Florida’s nature coast.

Photo credit: nealaus New England is a great place to visit year round, depending on whether the tourist is looking for beach, skiing, sightseeing, history, or whatever. Autumn, however, is the natural tour de force up here. We do it really well, in many ways, and not like anywhere else. FOLIAGE Viewing autumn foliage in [...]

Touring Peru is a life’s dream for many travelers, and no small feat for those who actually manage to make it happen. Rugged terrain and transport logistics, along with long international flights to even arrive in the nation of the Peru can make following this particular travel dream seem daunting. For those that are willing [...]

One of the most famous locations in South America, Lake Titicaca is visited by most vacationers to Peru via the port town of Puno.

After seeing the sights and attractions in Lima, Peru, many tourists head directly to the Sacred Valley. With the town of Cusco as your base, experiences such as the Inca Trail, Machu Picchu, Sacsayhuaman and Pisac are all within easy reach.

If you’re a frequent world traveler, you’ll end up in Bangkok at some point or another. It’s a major regional hub in Asia, and a relatively affordable city.

Easily accessible from modern-day Bangkok, the former Siam capital of Ayutthaya, Thailand has a number of cultural locations to tour, including an historical archaeological park which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

If you’re planning to visit Jordan, rest assured there will be plenty there to keep you entertained. While Petra is perhaps the most well-known of all the Jordan attractions, the truth is there are a myriad of things to do in Jordan, including a collection of impressive castles, an entire Roman city preserved for exploration, [...]

One of the oldest, continuously-inhabited cities on Earth, the Jordanian capital of Amman is considered by many to be simply a stopover on their way to more famous in-country destinations such as Petra, the Dead Sea, Madaba or one of the numerous crusader castles in the kingdom. But there are several things to do in [...]

One of the New Seven Wonders, the rose-red city of Petra, Jordan has hosted the filming of Indiana Jones, countless tourists and a number of notable international celebrities.

Managing a multi-day stopover in Madaba on your way to Petra means amazing mosaics, dinner at the atmospheric Haret Jdoudna and quite possibly crossing a number of daytrips off your personal bucket list.

Our first night in Jordan’s magical Wadi Rum began with a sky-high bon fire, exotic Arabic music and a food table piled high with hummus, olives, lamb and rice.

Setting aside references to the cult classic song by The Dead Kennedies, taking a holiday in Cambodia is a life’s dream for many travelers.

Chances are, if you’re heading to Siem Reap, Cambodia, you’re going to see Angkor Wat. The subject of numerous documentaries and travel articles, this ancient and massive set of Khmer ruins is on the bucket list for many travelers.

Many travelers find themselves in Guayaquil, Ecuador due its popularity as a jumping off point for touring the Galapagos Islands.

If you’ve found Guayaquil to be a little too industrial for you, then consider heading up the coast a bit for a quiet getaway in Ayampe, Ecuador.

It’s no secret to those who know me that I’m a huge fan of Middle East travel. While it’s true I’ve spent more time in other countries throughout the region, David and I did have a chance to visit Israel several years ago.

Jerusalem is on the life list for many travelers, and has been on the international events radar for thousands of years. If you’re finally planning a trip, there are a number of things to do in Jerusalem that you definitely don’t want to miss.

Haifa, Israel is a picturesque port town in the northern part of the country. Located on the slopes of Mount Carmel, it’s home to the University of Haifa, and believe it or not a selection of nature areas.

If you’re looking for a break from the old-world feel and slower pace of some of the other towns throughout Israel, Tel Aviv is the place to head.

Slightly south of Bolzano and about a half hour west of Verona is the Italian wind-surfing destination of Lake Garda.

Towards the southern end of Lago di Garda lies the picture-perfect town of Sirmione, Italy. Accessible through castle walls and a foot bridge, this strollable town celebrated by the Roman poet Catullus is worth a daytrip for the discriminating tourist.

Historically a maritime rival with the likes of Venice and Genova, Pisa, Italy gets its current fame from a failed, but phenomenally beautiful architectural project. The leaning tower of Pisa is certainly the attraction that draws most foreigners to this Italian city, but there is definitely more here to explore.

The Venice carnival may be what puts this city in the international news every year, but it’s a highly sought-after tourist destination at any time.

Slightly south of Bolzano, in the northern part of Italy is a centuries-old town whose name we all grew up knowing. Verona. Historically referred to as Little Roma and the setting for Shakespeare’s famed Romeo and Juliette, Verona is not only a great jumping off point to explore several other Italian and European destinations, it’s [...]

There are few cultural festivals more elaborately celebrated than the Venice carnival in Italy. People from all over the world travel to this annual event. Some to participate in the costumed revelry, others to sight see and troll for photo opportunities. The city is picturesque enough in its own right. Add in the gilded masks, [...]

When you’ve seen and experienced all of the things to do in Quito, you’ll be ready to start incorporating a daytrip or two into your Ecuador excursion.

Encompassing Andean slopes, rainforest and the headwaters to the mighty Amazon river, El Oriente in Ecuador is one of several ecological destinations the country has to offer. During our trip there, we stayed at an affordable eco lodge on the river called France-Amazonia, took a river tour and checked out a great animal rescue project. [...]

On our journey to El Oriente in Ecuador, we stayed in small, developing town known as Misahualli. While the selection of places to rest your head was somewhat slim, we did manage to secure lodging at a small eco lodge called France-Amazonia.
This view was photographed from a castle wall near Bolzano, Italy. There are many castles in the area, as well as wineries, farm stays, ecological experiences and cultural performances. The area is also a popular destination for ski holidays in the winter.
This Andean woman takes a break from selling her wares to socialize with tourists in Peru's Sacred Valley.
The ancient Nabatean city of Petra, Jordan provides a peek into ancient civilization and also into the local Bedouin culture, which values the social experience of drinking tea highly.
This stand of palm trees against a blue sky is located in Florida's Longboat Key, one of the islands of Sarasota. It's a popular getaway with tourists and Florida residents alike, when one wants a taste of forgotten Florida.
Exploring the world-famous archeological site of Machu Picchu takes some time. In order to make the most of your visit, it's best to arrive at Aguas Calientes an afternoon ahead of schedule and head up the mountain first thing the next morning.
This command module is part of the Saturn V rocket display at the Kennedy Space Center, which is a must-see exhibit if you only have one day at the KSC. The entire venue is right down the road from the Astronaut Hall of Fame, another fun family attraction on Florida's space coast.
This abandoned mosque in Israel lies along the shores of Lake Tiberius, otherwise known as the sea of Galilea. The view of the ancient stones and overgrown plants struck me as sort of an Indiana Jones image with a bit of Middle Eastern flair.
This resort cottage photograph was taken at the thermal hot springs resort of Papallacta, located in the mountains of Ecuador. The mist rising off of the thermal pools brings a bit of a mystical quality to the image.
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