My list of must-see museums in Kansas City during my visit in July included the American Jazz Museum. It’s located in the 18th and Vine historic district, an area of Kansas City noted for its contributions to jazz. The museum is small but its colorful exhibits hold many treasures from the days when jazz was king in KC.

I’m a fan of many genres of music, ... Read More

I’m not a pizza fanatic and generally order pasta or a salad when dining at a pizzeria with family or friends. Maybe it’s a result of too many mediocre pizzas in my youth; let’s face it, Domino’s, Pizza Hut and Little Caesars aren’t exactly gourmet establishments. Or maybe it’s because I grew up in Memphis where barbecue reigns supreme—who knows?... Read More

I’ll never forget the first time I went to the Black Hills of South Dakota  and saw Mount Rushmore. I was on a quest to visit all 50 states and I had three left- South Dakota, North Dakota and Hawaii.

I’ve heard a saying that you go to some famous places three times in your life: As a child, with your children and on a senior bus trip.... Read More

These observations of the final day of the Winter Olympics come to us from Gail Screaton, AAA/CAA Account Manager for western Canada.

Well, the games are really over - I think that I'll be going through 'Olympic withdrawal' this week!

Wasn't the hockey game a nailbiter yesterday?  ... Read More

Knowing I have to get up at an unconscionable hour invariably means that I'll wake up every hour to check the time.  The night before the Men’s Giant Slalom was no exception.  Combine that with knowing it's a travel day . . .  well, I probably shouldn't have tried to sleep at all. 
 
As I wrote in my first blog in this series, the only way to get to the venue (Whistler's Creekside) for the Men's Giant Slalom was by purchasing a ticket from the Olympic Bus Network.  With the event starting at 9:30 a.m., it was suggested that... Read More

He had me at “Hello.”

Johnny Cash, that is. I’ve only been in love with his mournful bass-baritone voice for a short time (since 2005, when the biopic “Walk the Line” first turned me on to the hell-raising maverick who originally wanted to be a gospel singer). Nevertheless, if CDs wore down like well-appreciated vinyl, my frequently replayed Cash discs would be ready for the junk pile.

Still, it’s understandable that I didn’t even think about the legendary... Read More

The Galapagos Islands off the coast of Ecuador in the Pacific Ocean have for years been the epitome of ecotourism.  Experiencing this destination with National Geographic in conjunction with Lindblad Expeditions was a privilege and a day-by-day wonder.

National Geographic and Lindblad Expeditions have formed a partnership in various parts of the world based on their dedication to preservation and exploration.  From the observations of a professional traveler, one of the reasons that... Read More

“I’m going to Kansas City, Kansas City, here I come….”  The 1959 song (sung by Wilbert Harrison), was the first thing that sprang to mind when I found out that I was  assigned to visit and write about the city for the AAA TourBook and AAA.com Travel Guides. I did a lot of research before my trip; it’s not only a job requirement, but I like to learn as much as I can about a place before I visit. In a nutshell, Kansas City, Missouri is best known for its barbeque and history, jazz and blues music and... Read More

It was hard to believe that the day had finally arrived.  My Olympic experience was going to begin. The hockey game I was scheduled to attend started at 9 p.m., but I had already decided to spend the entire day in downtown Vancouver soaking in the atmosphere.

The first challenge was transportation.  Everything I read or heard about visiting Vancouver during the 16 days of the Olympics was to take public transportation.  So, at about 10:30 a.m. my cousin dropped me off (city maps in hand) at the Braid Avenue SkyTrain station.  The Read More

I hate to be redundant, but Friday was ANOTHER beautiful day in Seattle.  One of the locals I spoke to said "don't think about moving here . . . it's not usually like this in the winter."  Temps were in the mid 50s and the sun was shining brightly. It was take off to Vancouver day, but I had a couple of last minute things on my list that I hoped to enjoy before leaving Seattle. 
 
A friend recommended the Underground Tour.  I initially thought it meant it was something not mainstream or not in the open.  And essentially this was... Read More