United States Archive

  • Boo Boo Zoo

    Helping Hands in Maui – A Visit to the Boo Boo Zoo

    I wasn’t sure I was in the right place. I’m not great with directions and as I drove up the wooded drive it didn’t look like what I thought an animal sanctuary should look like. The peacock convinced me otherwise, as did the small army...

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  • Road

    My American Bucket List

    I think most of us are guilty of not properly exploring the areas around where we live. Instead we jet off to new and exciting destinations, forgetting that some of the best places are close to home. I live in the United States, a wonderfully...

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  • Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor

    Weird America – What International Travel Writers Think About the U.S.

    Travel is necessarily colored by our backgrounds and personalities. These factors along with many more shape our travel experience and ultimately decide for us what we think about new destinations. Being American, I’m somewhat blind to our national eccentricities and so I wanted to find...

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  • IMG_6011

    Walking Through New York During the Holidays

    Even a city as large and extreme as New York City gets into the holiday spirit, although in a way completely unique from any other city in the world. A combination of long held traditions and more modern but no less fun experiences have crafted...

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  • World Golf Hall of Fame

    Experience Golf at its Best at the World Golf Hall of Fame

    I wouldn’t necessarily say that I’m the biggest golf fan in the world; I don’t even play the sport. My partner of ten years though is a passionate golfer with a scratch handicap and has taught me the finer parts of the game and its...

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  • Rhubarb coffee cake in Napa Valley

    Culinary Photo Tour of Napa Valley

    Napa Valley has a long history, most of which had nothing to do with wine oddly enough. But that’s how people around the world have come to know this small valley in Northern California, all thanks to the production of grapes and the masters who...

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  • hot air balloon napa valley

    Getting High in Napa – Hot Air Ballooning Over Wine Country

    Last weekend I had the chance to preview one of the amazing prizes in the Hilton HHonors Seven Tickets to Your Paradise Sweepstakes. The prize package I sampled was Your Ticket to Dine; a remarkable, once in a lifetime trip to Napa Valley. Hilton HHonors...

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  • Aloha sign

    Lessons Learned from Twenty Minutes in Lahaina

    I’d like to think that I’m a well-reasoned, thoughtful traveler and that I give every new destination the time it takes to form an impression before passing judgment. Sometimes though that judgment comes quickly, as it did in the case of Lahaina on the Hawaiian...

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  • Travaasa Hana Resort

    Holistic Luxury in the Tropical Haven of Hana on Maui

    The Road to Hana was a little stressful – I won’t lie. Even though it’s only 52 miles from the airport to Hana, the road takes an average of 2 ½ hours to drive in large part due to 59 bridges (46 of which are...

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  • Road to Hana

    Photo Tour of the Road to Hana – Maui

    I had heard of it, I think many of us have: the Road to Hana. Sounds a lot like manna, and so my brain always equated the trek with a visit to paradise. That correlation wasn’t too far from the truth as I found out...

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  • Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Colorado

    Sometimes You Just Need A Laugh – The History of Colorado Miners (Satire)

    Travel can be transformative, it can be educational, it can be powerful. It can also just be reduced to some jokes and maybe a little slapstick. I was in Colorado recently for a conference and had the great opportunity to participate in an all day...

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  • Annapolis Maryland

    Journey to America’s Forgotten Capital

    I live in Washington, DC, a city that has had the honor of serving of the capital of the United States for more than two-hundred and twenty years. However, it’s not the only capital the country has had, a fact most American school kids know...

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  • Go John Trail

    Five Things You Might Not Know About Arizona

    Today’s post comes courtesy of Dave Porter with The Roaming Boomers. In 2006 David and his wife moved from Michigan to Arizona and haven’t looked back since. Although they admit there’s a lot to see and do in the Midwest, the endless sunshine and warm...

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  • World of Coke

    Shrine to Carbonated Goodness – The World of Coke in Atlanta

    There are a few things I must have when I travel. A Clean bed, hot shower, Wi-Fi and most importantly, Diet Coke are all necessary components of the travel experience for me. I’ve been an ardent fan of Diet Coke for at least twenty years,...

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  • Annapolis

    Skip the Staycation, Go For the Nearcation

    Two years ago at a conference I had the great pleasure of meeting a well known travel editor and managed to separate him from one of his business cards. Later when I read through the business cards I had collected I noticed that on the...

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  • Diamond Head Sunrise

    Where the Powerful Travel – Top Presidential Vacation Destinations

    Today is Presidents Day in the United States; a day to celebrate, um, Presidents and more importantly it’s a day off from work. What connection does this have to a travel blog? Well, Presidents are human too and need vacations just like anyone else. Not...

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  • New York Times Square

    Top 5 Free Attractions in New York City

    Today I am pleased to feature a guest post by Leslie Koch. Leslie is the founder of DowntownTraveler.com, an online magazine for urban travelers who crave arts, culture and adventure. Leslie lives in New York City, where she settled after completing a year-long, round-the-world trip...

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  • Amman, Jordan

    Five Surprisingly Romantic Cities

    Some cities you expect to be romantic; Paris has made billions of dollars on that premise alone. Other cities surprise you though with their ability to charm and to help create those special romantic moments between you and your loved one. Here are some of...

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  • Lanai

    The Last Post of 2011 Travel Bests and Worsts I Will Ever Write

    I know what you’re thinking, yet another “Best of 2011″ post? I realize that I did a whole series on the topic as did every mainstream paper, magazine, TV show and of course blogger. That being said, I was tagged by a fellow travel blogger...

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  • LA

    The Ultimate Foodie Guide to Los Angeles

    I had the great pleasure of meeting the author of today’s piece, Jade Broadus, earlier this year and knew right away that I had met a fellow foodie. In spite of the hectic schedule with her own site Vagabond3, Jade graciously agreed to share some...

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  • World Trade Center Memorial

    Everything You Need to Know About Visiting the World Trade Center Memorial in NYC

    Today I am very pleased to present a guest post by travel blogger and fellow Washingtonian, Christina Saull. Her full bio follows the piece, but be sure to check out her site My View from the Middle Seat for the best in D.I.N.K. travel. Every...

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  • Voodoo

    Three Spooky Cities to Explore This Halloween

    It’s that time of year again, Halloween and the ensuing scary stories and ghost tours are almost upon us. There are scores of haunted cities that aren’t just scary on Halloween, but every day. Here are three of my favorite spooky cities. photo credit: Silentmind8...

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  • Grand Bahama Island Dolphin

    Dolphin Love on Grand Bahama Island

    Located across the street from the Grand Lucayan Resort on Grand Bahama Island is the Port Lucaya Marina, home to UNEXSO, the Underwater Explorers Society. UNEXSO is a full service dive shop and marine experience company, the highlight of which is their famous dolphin encounter....

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  • The Rotunda at the University of Virginia

    Overlooked UNESCO Sites – A Visit to Mr. Jefferson’s Virginia

      There are currently 936 UNESCO World Heritage sites around the world in more than 153 countries. Of these, only 21 are in the United States and the majority of those are natural wonders. One of the few man-made American sites on the UNESCO list...

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  • family friendly washington dc

    Getting the Most Out of Washington, DC – Four Family Friendly Activities

    Labor Day is quickly approaching and with it the unofficial end to summer vacation. But that doesn’t mean it’s not a great time to visit Washington, DC, in fact the fall is one of the best times to visit our nation’s capital. After you’ve done...

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  • Frankfurt Altstadt

    Three Interesting Cities That Surprised Me

    There are few places in the world to which I don’t want to travel. Afghanistan, Somalia and Iran pretty much top that list. But then there’s another tier of cities that while I don’t have a problem visiting, they don’t really get me excited to...

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  • Kentucky Rushmore

    Kentucky Rushmore – Massive Project to Honor Colonel Sanders, Hunter S. Thompson, others

    I have a lot of ties to the great Commonwealth of Kentucky, so seeing news about the Bluegrass state pop up on my Facebook timeline isn’t unusual. What was unusual was a web site someone shared touting the impending Kentucky Rushmore. That’s right, a larger...

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  • Harpers-Ferry

    Summer Getaways in the Mid-Atlantic

    The Mid-Atlantic region of the United States is a treasure trove of great weekend summer getaways. Whether you live in the region, or are just visiting, these are fun, budget friendly travel adventures that every member of the family will love. Eastern Shore, Maryland One...

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  • Inside the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial

    Celebrating Memorial Day – Favorite War Memorials From Around the Country

    Today is Memorial Day in the United States, a day to reflect upon and honor all those who lost their lives in service to their country. While many simply use the day as time off from work and the official start of the summer vacation...

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  • New York Times Square

    Interactive Travel Guide – What to do in New York City

    A regular feature on LandLopers is the Interactive Travel Guide. The idea is to highlight one city or country every week and then get the best recommendations from you all. By the end of the week, we hopefully will have created the best tips not...

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  • Creative Commons License photo credit: zawtowers

    Three Ways to See the Washington, D.C. Cherry Blossoms and Avoid the Crowds

    It’s that time of year again. The days are longer, the birds are chirping and the Washington, D.C. Cherry Blossom Festival is almost upon us. This is a favorite season for almost all Washingtonians, but it’s also the beginning of a busy tourist season. The...

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  • Liberty Memorial

    Travel Discoveries and the National World War I Museum

    I travel fairly often for work, and usually not to the most glamorous of locales. Business travel though can be a great opportunity for exploration and I’m always surprised at some of the amazing things I find in the least likely of places. Such was...

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  • Vegas

    Las Vegas on a Budget – Fun and Affordable

    Today I am thrilled to share with you a guest post from a great travel writer and blogger, Gray Cargill of the site Solo Friendly. Gray’s expertise doesn’t stop at solo travel, she is also an expert on all things Vegas, as she proves on...

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  • James Madison's Montpelier

    Exploring America’s History – Presidential Tourism

    It was a cold, bright day in January when we left Charlottesville and made the short drive back to Washington. Along the way, for no other reason than it was there, we decided to stop at the home of James Madison, Montpelier. The first part...

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  • Photo Credit CC: angelcohn

    M is for Museum: New Sesame Street Museum to Open in DC

    The new National Children’s Museum, which is slated to open in 2013 at the National Harbor complex, has signed a new partner – Sesame Street. Under the agreement, the Sesame Workshop will work closely with the new Museum in developing programs, exhibits and acting as...

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  • Cody Pic 940

    The Morality of Dog Sled Tours and Responsible Travel

    In my post, To Zoo or Not to Zoo, I discussed animal welfare and the responsibility of the traveler when taking part in animal related activities around the world. In that post I showed my true colors as a bleeding-heart animal lover, a title from...

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  • sackler

    Interactive Travel Guide – Washington, D.C.

    I recently started a new series on LandLopers, the Interactive Travel Guide. The idea is to highlight one city or country every week and then get the best recommendations from you all. By the end of the week, we hopefully will have created the best...

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  • King Family Vineyards

    Sampling Virginia’s Winery Tours

    Many people may not realize that Virginia is one of the top wine producing states in the country, home to more than 160 wineries located in all areas of the state. Virginia wine has matured a lot in the past decade, expanding throughout the state...

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  • Rotunda at UVA

    Higher Ed Travel: Colleges and Universities as Tourist Sites

      For many people, the thought of their alma mater brings back a flood of memories, hopefully most of them good. In addition to being bastions of learning though, many are also a great place to tour. When you’re visiting a new city or region,...

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  • James Madison's Temple Montpelier

    Travel Details – James Madison’s Temple

      One of my favorite aspects of travel is discovering the little nooks and crannies of history that most people overlook. At even the most famous of sites and landmarks there are almost always tiny details that go unnoticed by the average traveler. I came...

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  • Woodford Reserve Bourbon Barrels

    America’s Spirit – Kentucky Bourbon Trail

    Whiskey has been around for almost as long as there has been corn, barely and pristine water with which to make it. Not unlike many other foods and libations though, America has put its unique stamp on this mother of all spirits. I discovered the...

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  • Union Station Christmas Tree Washington DC

    Union Station’s Norwegian Christmas

      Washington, D.C. is a city of small details. All over town there are tiny monuments, statues and recognitions that most people don’t realize even exist. I’m also continuously amazed at the linkages between our nation and other countries found throughout town. One of the...

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  • Creative Commons License photo credit: Paolo Rosa

    Washington, DC Travel – How To Tour the White House and U.S. Capitol

    I’ve lived in Washington, D.C. for more than a decade and still find the city a great place to call home. Having a restless personality, I never thought that I would be able to live in one place for so long, but D.C. is dynamic...

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  • Ponce de Leon Hotel, Flagler College St. Augustine Florida

    Gilded Age in St. Augustine

    Earlier this year we discovered that the ancient (by US standards) city of St. Augustine makes for a great long-weekend escape. We had spent a couple of days meandering around the European style town and even though the heat was stifling, we had found many...

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  • Capitol

    American 2010 Elections and the Impact on Travel

    I am sure the fact the we had midterm elections here in the U.S. last week has escaped the notice of very few people. I am always amazed at the level of American political knowledge I find around the world, particularly when so few Americans...

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  • Artprize pig

    ArtPrize – Grand Rapids’ Great Gamble

    It was pure coincidence that a business trip to the great city of Grand Rapids, Michigan was also to occur during one of the biggest community events of the year – ArtPrize. ArtPrize is an international art competition held in Grand Rapids, which first took...

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  • Inside the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial

    Travel Photo: Three Perspectives of the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

    Visiting the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial in Hawaii was an incredibly moving and emotional experience; much more so than I had anticipated. Here are three entirely different views of the Memorial which I think capture the spirit of the site.   All three photos are striking,...

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  • wheaton escaltor

    Five Washington DC Activities Off the Beaten Path

    Washington, DC is famous for its monuments, memorials and Smithsonian Museums. However, there are many things to do and see in the District that few tourists know about, much less visit. Here are my top five favorite off the beaten path DC attractions. 1. Longest...

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  • Castillo de San Marcos

    Castillo de San Marcos National Monument – St. Augustine, Florida

    It was one of those hot summer days in Florida when you start sweating even before you wake up. By mid-morning, the heat and humidity had become a force to be reckoned with. It was in this climate that we made our way to the...

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  • Vilano Beach, Florida

    The Strange Tale of Vilano Beach

    Before leaving on a recent trip to the St. Augustine, Florida area, a family member gave us a tip for what was promised to be a fantastic Italian restaurant. According to this family member, the restaurant, Benito’s Pizza & Pastabilities, had Northern New Jersey and...

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