La Jolla, California, the Jewel of the West Coast

After a long day of hiking in Poway, my friends and I decided to spend the rest of the afternoon in La Jolla, an exclusive,…

Point Reyes National Seashore: The Lighthouse

During a previous stay in San Francisco, I tried to reach the Point Reyes National Seashore to watch the sunset, but I had failed.  Not…

Finding Solitude at Joshua Tree National Park, California

My last visit to Joshua Tree National Park was last November, a perfect time of the year for a hike.  The weather had begun to…

Revealing the Treasures and History of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris

It was a magical moment when I approached the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris as the bells began to toll.  Looking up towards the tall…

The Eiffel Tower: The Most Visited Attraction in the World

We had just finished dinner at Café de Flore located on Boulevard St-Germain, not far from the Eiffel Tower.  David and I decided to take…

Napoleon Builds an Arc in Paris, France

We walked around the circle at the base of the Arc de Triomphe, surrounded by the chaos of traffic and the sound of automobile horns.…

Royalty at its Finest at Windsor Castle

Our tour bus arrived in the regal town of Windsor and parked near the train station before we stumbled out into the winter chill.  Located…

The Mystery of Stonehenge

My friend David arrived in London where we spent time with his son and girlfriend.  Before leaving for Paris, we made plans to visit Stonehenge…

Bath, England: Ancient Rome’s Influence on the United Kingdom

Bath, England, was once an artists’ paradise where the likes of Jane Austen, the famous writer, made frequent visits as a child.  Today, visitors from…

A Rick Steves Tour of London, England

The train arrived on time at the Underground Terminal of Westminster Station.  Most everyone departed making their way onto the platform, riding escalators and taking…