Golden Gate Bridge view from north

10 Free and cheap things to do in San Francisco

Visitors to the City by the Bay, and even locals like me, are always looking for free and cheap things to do in San Francisco. From hilly streets to chocolate treats, here are 10 of my favorites: 1. Explore the secret parks (called "POPOS")…
Tray of hot dos at el Guero canelo
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Local Flavor: Sonoran hot dogs in Tucson, Arizona

Sonoran hot dogs are considered by many to be Tucson, Arizona’s signature street food. Since we’re crazy for a good hot dog (such as Buffalo’s chargrilled beauties) we had to give them a try. These southwestern treats are not for fat…
Ice cream sundae, Leopold's
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Local flavor: Leopold’s Ice Cream in Savannah

Leopold’s has been scooping up their fresh house-made ice cream in Savannah, Georgia since 1919. The store was founded by three Greek immigrant brothers and their legacy continues with one of their sons, movie impresario and sometime…

Photos: The Rocky statue travels around the world

In August 2011 we started out from the Rocky Steps in Philadelphia to begin our journey around the world, along with a statue of Rocky Balboa to encourage us to "go the distance." So far "Little Rocky" has been to over 30 countries on 6…
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How to choose a dude ranch vacation

For years I’ve dreamed of a vacation out west, but I had no idea how to choose a dude ranch.  I’ve always loved the beauty and romance of the wide open spaces. As a kid I avidly watched John Wayne movies; my secret fantasy was that I’d…
things to do in buffalo

10 (*MORE*) things to do in Buffalo

When we visited Buffalo, New York this year we faced an abundance of choices for things to see. We already wrote about 11 things to do in Buffalo, well here are 10 more. 1) 40,000 city planning fans can't be wrong The heart of downtown Buffalo…
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What are kolaches? Hint: There’s lots of butter in them

What are kolaches? While driving through the small village of Calvert, Texas we saw a sign that declared "America loves kolaches" attached to a building housing Zamykal Kolaches. That was the 3rd sign we'd come across in Central Texas…
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A foodie taste of Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Biscuits, barbecue, burgers and more, the central part of North Carolina including Chapel Hill, Durham and Raleigh is a foodie's paradise. Although it goes by the more prosaic label Research Triangle, it is really a great place to get your fill…

Bacon and biplanes: A way cool fly-in breakfast

Sometimes the best travel trips come from the people we stay with, another argument for renting apartments rather than staying at hotels. That's how we ended up at a cozy spot overlooking Goodyear Lake just outside Cooperstown, NY. Of course…
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Chargrilled! A guide to Buffalo hot dogs

Buffalo, New York may be the hot dog capital of the world. Buffalonians insist that their hot dogs be grilled over charcoal, just like at an old-fashioned backyard barbecue, and hanker for the foot-long hot dogs that were the Holy…
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Moonwalking at the Armstrong Air and Space Museum

August 5th was the birthday of a person who will be remembered centuries after the memories of pop stars and sports figures have faded: Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, who died in 2012. While his achievements are honored…

Going to prison on vacation at Eastern State Penitentiary

Much to Larissa's chagrin it is hard for me to pass up a prison tour. I've dragged her along to some of the classics from Alcatraz to Kilmainham Gaol in Dublin and even to the interrogation center used by the East German…
detroit theater lakewood ohio

The Golden Age of Art Deco Movie Theaters

American Art Deco movie theaters were once the hot item throughout the country. A small town knew it was moving up in the world when a movie theater opened as it quickly became the hub of social life. Their Art Deco design evokes a time…
I Love New York graffiti

Highly entertaining free things to do in New York City

There are so many free things to do in New York it's tough to know where to begin. Here are a few involving entertainment, nature and culture. 1. Watch a TV show or movie being filmed   This realistic looking press conference at the Manhattan…
Iowa State fair food fried mac and cheese
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Iowa State Fair Food – Or why I’ll never eat again

The smell of the grease, the roar of the crowd! It's that time of year again for the greatest eating frenzy of all time, the Iowa State Fair, which opens tomorrow. Of all the food groups, one that never makes it on the government recommended…
Deke Slayton Museum

Rockets and sprockets at the Deke Slayton Museum

Big cities boast of well-known museums to see world-class art by names you’ve heard of, say, Picasso or Monet. But a drive around the American heartland reveals a treasure trove of small quirky museums that are not devoted to works of art…
Original Starbucks Pike Place Market
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10 food tourist traps to avoid

We've all fallen for them; food places the guidebooks say you absolutely must try when visiting a certain city.  So we join all the other tourists who've read the same guides and wait on long lines for what turns out to be overrated, mediocre,…
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The best BBQ dish in America

I have spent several decades traveling around America in search of the best slow smoked meat. This quest has led me on various barbecue pilgrimages, mostly throughout the south, home to some of the finest barbecue in America. Since I'm a yankee…