By Jillian Ford-Carver “Yep, it’s a big hole. Can we leave now?” That was my response when our parents dragged my sister, brother, and me to the Grand Canyon on a family vacation. So every time friends visit us in the southwestern United States and say they want to go to the Grand Canyon, I’m dumbfounded. What’s the fascination with this big hole? It must be something … [Read more...] about Adventure in the Grand Canyon
Volume 7, Issue #10 - October 2014
A Manageable Mega-Resort: The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
By Jim Reno If Las Vegas by the Sea is your idea of a good time, then add the Hard Rock, Punta Cana to your list of must-see Caribbean mega-resorts. This was not the quiet, couples-only Caribbean island experience. This was more like a nice cruise ship that decided to permanently dock itself on a beautiful beach where everyone was beautifully tan, spoke English and Spanish, … [Read more...] about A Manageable Mega-Resort: The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
The Giant Mantas of Ecuador
By Roy Sherrid ITWPA Member There are hundreds of quaint fishing villages along Ecuador’s Pacific coastline. Each one has its own particular charm or sight that makes visiting it a memorable vacation experience. Many of them advertise their locality for its great whale- or dolphin-watching opportunities. But the small town of Puerto Lopez has another claim to attract … [Read more...] about The Giant Mantas of Ecuador
Restaurant Le Bistrot de Mougins, Mougins, France
By Audra Brianne ITWPA Member Tucked in the hills above Cannes, a 15-minute drive from the sea, stands the hilltop town of Mougins. In this mecca of gastronomic delights, a local gem stands out: Le Bistrot de Mougins at 93 Place Commandant Lamy. Just a few steps from the Espace Cultural Musee Gottlaby, this family-run restaurant has been entrenched in the old village … [Read more...] about Restaurant Le Bistrot de Mougins, Mougins, France
Discovering Cognac and Comics in Angoulême, France
By Judy Leaver ITWPA Member I originally thought of Angoulême, a few hours’ train ride south and west of Paris, as simply the starting point of a self-guided hike that my friends and I were taking in this region. To my surprise, I was captivated by all this city has to offer -- antiquity, whimsical art murals, restaurants, and modern boutiques. Most important, it is where … [Read more...] about Discovering Cognac and Comics in Angoulême, France