husky dogs reindeer sausage alaska
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Local flavor: Trying reindeer sausage in Alaska

Anchorage's Town Square Park on West 5th Avenue is a festive place. Particularly during the summer when the waning orange glow of the sun at 11 pm sort of makes it feel like sunrise. Which got me in the mood for breakfast, or was it the dueling…

Never too old: Learning how to surf in our 50s

In our 11+ years of journeying around the globe we've tried to experience new things and seek adventure outside our comfort zone. Earlier in the year we rode horses for the first time and later Larissa flew an aerobatic plane upside down in…
chile ristras, first thanksgiving in texas
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Hey Pilgrim: The first Thanksgiving was in Texas (in April)

The first Thanksgiving was in Texas? Well, THAT certainly goes against what every American kid learns in elementary school! But travel opens your eyes to all sorts of new possibilities, and a visit to west Texas challenged our childhood memories…
Beamy with D-day memorabilia
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Local Hero: Meeting a D-Day veteran

Despite all the globe-hopping and monument seeking, the best aspect of travel is the people we meet along the way. They're the ones who provide us the stories that make travel a more enriching experience. This came into sharp focus at a recent…
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Quirky America: Visiting Carhenge in Nebraska

We've taken road trips all over the world but still love driving around America the most due to the wide variety of unusual roadside attractions in the United States. One of the more off-beat highlights of our autumn road trip across America…
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The 10 spookiest ghost towns in America

It's that time of year with Halloween approaching that we start thinking of all things haunted. Here are 10 of the spookiest ghost towns in America, places that were once thriving but are now abandoned. A visit to any one of them is intriguing,…

Staying at hotels in Las Vegas without casinos

Las Vegas is one of the most popular cities in the world, but is it an attractive tourist destination for people who don't gamble? We put the city to the test, starting out by finding hotels in Las Vegas without casinos (or that place them in…
Elvis Presley Las Vegas Graceland wedding chapel

Things to do in Las Vegas without gambling

Strolling down the Strip in Las Vegas, our faces were overwhelmed by the glow of a million pulsating lights. We don’t gamble so what would we do in a city that is defined by casinos? We weren’t alone. Las Vegas is one of the country’s…
Tray of jelly donuts, buffalo
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We make the donuts at Mazurek’s Bakery in Buffalo

At 6 a.m. the streets of this Buffalo neighborhood are deserted. Dawn is gradually washing away the film of night, transforming lumpy gray forms into a scattered array of brick houses and the occasional leafy tree. Midway down the block in a…
Cool old roadside sign
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How is America different from the rest of the world? (Part 2)

We've been traveling the world for almost three years now and recently wrote a story for Huffington Post that asked "how is America different from the rest of the world?" That story struck a chord among readers who suggested more areas…

A secret list in the Civil War prison at Andersonville

While redeeming the souls of over 13,000 of his fellow soldiers at the Civil War prison in Andersonville, a Connecticut man became one of the biggest whistle-blowers of his era. For his efforts he was hounded by the Army, court-martialed and…
Little Rocky, with some of his cousins

Meet Thomas Schomberg, the artist who made the Rocky statue

We've been traveling around the world for almost three years with our trip mascot Little Rocky but had yet to meet sculptor A. Thomas Schomberg, the man who made the Rocky statue. Originally the statue was a prop for the movie Rocky…
Stafford at Furnace Creek VC in Death Valley, with thermometer 111 degrees!
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Meet an intrepid traveler walking across America

We meet some incredible people on our travels who make Larissa and me seem like a couple of slackers. Such an encounter happened when we were visiting Death Valley National Park on a typical steamy summer day. With the temperature hovering around…
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Trailing the Ghost of Elvis through Memphis

Memphis is a city oozing with musical spirits, with the ghost of Elvis Presley topping the list. Although most people know Memphis as Elvis’ home at the peak of his career, it’s also the city where he grew up. Perched on a bluff high above…
Statue of RM Nixon at Nixon Library

A Tale of Two Presidents: Visiting the Nixon and Reagan Libraries

Visiting the Nixon and Reagan libraries When Ronald Reagan finished his second term he rode off to his ranch in California, atop a wave of popularity that helped his vice president get elected to succeed him. Our last image of Richard Nixon…
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…
wende museum cold war los angeles
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Cars, stars and guitars: 12 free things to do in Los Angeles

With guest writer Sofie ~ Los Angeles is chock full of  amusement parks, fancy restaurants and trendy night clubs. But these things all cost money. Visiting Los Angeles doesn't have to be expensive, though. Here are a few hidden gems…