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“When in Singapore, you have to try a Singapore Sling at the Raffles hotel!” What is it about travelers and their aggressive advice?!! (See Wow Place #133.) I don’t have to do anything!. I mean, geez, I don’t even like drinking. Why in the world do I need to get myself all gussied up, go […]

“When in Rangoon, you have to eat lobster thermidor at the Strand Hotel!” I receive a lot of advice when traveling around Asia. “You have to stay at this hotel,” or “You have a drink at that bar.” But the one recommendation I hear again and again without fail is to eat lobster at the […]

Traveling in “developing countries” is all about choices. Sometimes you choose correctly, have an amazing experience and pat yourself on the back for your wonderful trip savvy. Other times you choose poorly, lose money, wind up in a dodgy situation, and beat yourself up for dropping the ball. Travel decision-making is like a muscle; your […]

Yesterday’s post about Disney Sea got me thinking about the old ticket system they used to have at the Disney parks. Long before the current all-inclusive entry pass, Disney offered a booklet with tickets labeled A, B, C, D, and E. An “A” ticket might get you a ride on something tame like a Main […]

When someone says this restaurant or that movie or this museum is “one of a kind,” how do you react? My own first thought is, “Well, does ‘one of a kind’ mean worth visiting or does it just mean unusual?” After all, there is a Microbes Museum in Amsterdam that is undoubtedly one of a […]

When I was a kid, the ultimate sign of innocent courage was entering the Jarvis’ house on Halloween. You see, every year on October 31st the Jarvis’, our next-door neighbors, would transform their house into a witch’s lair, complete with cobwebs, smoke effects and a big scary cauldron where Ms. Jarvis would stand, stirring the […]

“You’re looking strong Dave.” “I can’t breathe, Donica.” “Only 6 miles to go. You got this!” It seemed like a good idea at the time. If I’m going to run a marathon, why not do it on dirt – easy on the knees – and in a park – lots of tree cover. Huddart Park […]

“Hey guys, what do you think about a detour today?” “What kind of detour, Dave?” “Well, there’s this ancient Native American site on the top of a mountain.” “Let’s do it!” For a brief stint in my late 20s, I had a job driving a 13-seater van across the country, leading shoe-string, camping tours for […]

When I was growing up, I loved the movie Planes, Trains and & Automobiles, with Steve Martin and John Candy. You don’t even need to see the movie to guess what it’s about: two guys trying to get to an intended destination via a variety of modes of transportation. Needless to say, Steve and John […]

If given a choice, would you rather have a nice, 3-course meal carefully crafted by your favorite chef, or visit a fancy buffet restaurant offering an unlimited range of choices? My guess is that the results of such a survey would split right down the middle: some people would choose quality of experience, while others […]