The Traveler's Journal

822: Appreciating the Superior Apostles

The chain of tiny islands draped off the shoulder of northeast Wisconsin that juts into Lake Superior make for excellent adventures on foot, kayak, or canoe.

821: Repositioning Cruises

Trans-oceanic cruises have become increasing rare, but there two short seasons each year for travelers who want to experience a crossing.

820: Sending It All Back Home

819: Not So Quant Customs and Duties

Whenever you travel abroad, remember that anything you bring back into the United States is subject to customs inspections and, if applicable, collection of duty. Here are a few thoughts on how to avoid unpleasant surprises.

818: Private Rail Travel

For a century, the luxury of a private rail car defined the ultimate way to travel over land. A surprising number of "varnishes" have survived and been restored. Some are even available to hire.

817: The City of the Sea and Mountains

Among North America's many magnificent ports of call, Vancouver stands out.

816: American Travel Fantasies

Although Labor Day marks the end of the traditional summer travel season, many Americans are already dreaming about their next adventure. Here are a few of our favorite fantasies.

815: Hiking the Coast of Cornwall

Cornwall is the county at the tip of the long finger of England that points into the open Atlantic. Walking its coastline is a most enjoyable excursion, and one that takes visitors back in time.

814: Sunrise at Campobello

Franklin Delano Roosevelt was just a year old when his parents first brought him to this island in the Bay of Fundy just off Maine's most eastern point. It was the place of some of his favorite memories and most personal tragedy.

813: Pondering Peterborough's Petroglyphs

Generations of Ojibwa Indians carved shamanistic figures into the white rock faces of what is now Petroglyph Provincial Park in south central Ontario.

812: Tips on Touring Toronto

The name of Canada's largest city derives from a Huron Indian term for "meeting place." That's certainly an apt description for this marvelous metropolis.

811: Wanderlust in Reverse

Sometimes, the best vacation can be found right in your own backyard. Call it the "Stay-home Syndrome."

810: Circumnavigating the Planet

An airplane trip around the world is the stuff on which travel dreams are built. Round the World fares can also be most affordable way to go. in fact RTW fares can be the least expensive way to fly, no matter what class of seat you buy.

809: A Journey on which to Build

Looking for a most meaningful travel experience. Consider some of the options offered by Habitat for Humanity's Project Global Visit.

808: Weddings at Sea

Nautical nuptuals certainly sound romantic, but considering how expensive land-based weddings can be, they may also be something of a bargain.

807: Off-off-beat Hawaii

Last time, we visited Hawaii's least populated islands. Midway Atoll is its least visited place.

806: Relaxing on Lanai

The sixth largest island in the Hawaiian archipelago, Lanai is also the least developed, but, in addition to two superb hotels, it has some very off-the-track attractions.

805: Tips on Taking Pictures

Smart phones and digital cameras have certainly made taking pictures easier than ever before, but bringing home great images still requires some well-established principles. We offer a few.

804: The Lure of Lyon

Last time, we took a look at the magnificent Rhone River. Lyon, France's second largest city, is the river's most cosmopolitan place.

803: Relishing the Rhone through France

While the Rhone River may lack the cachet Seine's cachet, the Rhine's twists and turns, and the Danube's sweep, it's safe to say that Europe wouldn't be the same without it. That's evident in places like the city of Avignon, the medieval capital of Christendom'.

802: Savoring an Alsatian Feast

Alsace, the narrow 120-mile long strip of fertility tucked between the Rhine River and the Vosges Mountains, has been disputed territory for centuries. French in recent decades, it has a character all its own, a blend of German and French, particularly in quaint villages such as Colmar.

801: Tracking the Bengal Tiger

Weighing 500 pounds or more, Panthera tigris tigris, is the world's most formidable feline. Chitwan National Park in the highlands of Nepal along the border with northern India is one of the few places on the planet they can still be found.

800: Ogling Okopogo

Set in a scenic valley in the mountains of western Canada, Lake Okanagan is a real charmer, and monster-hunting is not the only reason to visit.

799: Wandering through a Shining Schoenbrunn

It's easy to understand why Austria's Hapsburg monarchs so loved summer. It allowed them to escape to their "modest" retreat on the edge of the Vienna Woods. www.schoenbrunn.at

798: Touring the Tombs of Vienna

For centuries, the monarchs of the Austrian Empire were entombed in gilded sepulchers around its capital, Vienna. Often, their body parts wound up in three separate places, which today make for fascinating, albeit macabre, visits.

797: Enjoying Kaffee and Kuchen in Leipzig

Great strides have been made in the cities of Germany's eastern half in the nearly 27 years since reunification. No place is that more evident than in Leipzig.

796: Hints on Haggling

Most places around the planet, prices can be negotiated. One trick is to know when to haggle and when you have a good deal, one that is both fair and respectful of local sellers. We offer several tips.

795: Maps of the US Geological Survey

Though electronic maps can be handy, the printed maps from the US Geological Survey are still a more liable way of finding your way around the wilderness.

794: Warm Greetings from Greenland

The world's largest island, Greenland is a unique place with some special charms, not all of which are icy.

793: Arizona's San Pedro River

Flowing north out of the mountains of SE Arizona, this waterway is a 140-mile-long oasis.