Travels + Reflections

I’d always wanted to take a cross country train trip, and I decided to ride Amtrak’s California Zephyr from Chicago to Sacramento, a total of 2,353 miles.   I flew from Maine to Chicago, and used one of my free Hilton reward stays at the Waldorf Astoria.    When I arrived, I walked around the city to find some delicious food (True Food Kitchen).   The next morning, it was time to get a ride to the train station.  The Zephyr was scheduled to leave mid-afternoon and since I had purchased a bedroom ticket, I had access to the Metropolitan...

The Channel Islands sit off the coast of California, and consist of different islands you can visit.  How’d I get there and what did I do? Well, I hopped on a plane and landed in Burbank (lovely small airport) and stayed overnight in downtown Los Angeles.  I recommend the Hilton Checkers.  I have stayed there numerous times and their rooftop deck is stellar.     I walked around LA for a bit, and headed to Union Station after staying overnight in the hotel.  I took an Amtrak train to Ventura after the overnight stay.  I recommend buying the business class ticket.  It...

The Salton Sea, California’s largest lake at over 300 square miles, lies south of Palm Springs in the southern part of the state and sits over 200 feet below sea level.  The lake holds an intense beauty, yet this beauty sits in stark contrast to the ongoing struggles that exist for humans and wildlife who live in its midst.  The lake lives among a mixture of dilapidated buildings covered in graffiti, empty lots, and currently occupied homes.  The area serves as a reminder of a bygone era and the struggles here people have faced.  Despite its challenges, people still live...

I knocked off my 48th state with a visit to Washington, and a highlight of the trip was driving from Seattle to Spokane through the North Cascades National Park.  The North Cascades are astoundingly beautiful and I hope to go back again someday.  I did this trip in a day, and of course the longer you have the better.  However if a day is all you have, it’s certainly doable and worth it!  My journey though the mountains started at an overnight stay at the KOA in Concrete.  I stayed in a yurt, which was great.  I’ve said it before...

The San Juan Mountains of western Colorado are one of the most magical mountain ranges I've visited.  There is a little town sitting in the high mountains there that serves as a hub for adventure. Ouray, a town of a thousand people, is known as the Switzerland of America.  No words can ever fully describe the majesty of mountains that surround this place.  I’ve been to Ouray a few times and wanted to share the area with you!  Maybe it will inspire you to travel there someday, or reminisce if you’ve already been.     I’ve stayed at a few lodging places there.  The Riverside Inn was clean and...