green living, smart spending
Whale sharks are sharks the size of whales, but unlike other sharks, they are not the least bit scary. Even so, swimming with creatures as large as 60-feet is an adrenalin experience, as I found out on a recent whale shark tour in the Gulf of Mexico near Cancun. Whale sharks are annual visitors to
Read more
Commuting by bicycle is getting more popular, and so is sightseeing by pedal power – two reasons why Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants in the USA are offering guests free loaner bikes. But these are not ordinary roadsters. These are custom-made for the boutique hotel company by San Francisco-based boutique bicycle and gear company PUBLIC. The
Read more
An entire museum devoted to footwear? Yes. And it has absolutely nothing to do with obsessive shoe collector Imelda Marcos. The Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto walks us through the history of footwear, from prehistoric times to the present. It’s a fascinating look at the at the design and cultural impact of footwear, where you
Read more
Erik Lindbergh keeps aviation pioneering in the family. That’s the headline of my article on green aviation and the future of flight supported by the grandson of aviation pioneer Charles Lindbergh. Erik Lindbergh supports electric-powered and solar-powered flight and space tourism. He’s an interesting man, and I enjoyed interviewing him in 2013 for an article
Read more
It’s easy to understand why Aruba is known as The Happy Island. It’s silky white sand beaches include Eagle Beach, consistently rated as one of the world’s best, it’s a cultural melting pot with international cuisine, it has some of the best scuba diving in the Caribbean, and that’s just for starters. Aruba is located
Read more
The last place you want to see fireworks is inside your car or truck. A few simple safety checks in the driveway before your family vacation can help avoid the short fuses, inconvenience and potential safety hazards of breaking down many miles away from home. I’ve been in a car that nearly caught fire, and
Read more
Zion Lodge in Zion National Park has become the first hotel in a US national park to receive the top Green Seal Lodging Standard award for its eco-friendly environmental standards and practices. The top Green Seal is the Gold award, which means Zion Lodge is both green and gold. The top award covers everything from
Read more
The Omni Dallas Hotel proves once again that green can be beautiful, luxurious, and affordable. The Omni, which opened its doors on 11/11/11 — a lucky day for those of your who follow numerology — has earned LEED Gold New Construction certification. That makes this new Dallas landmark the first and only LEED Gold hotel
Read more
The impending mandated federal budget cuts, also known as sequestration, are a disaster for US national parks, wildlife, and for those of us who love the outdoors. The impending mandated federal budget cuts, also known as sequestration, are a disaster for US national parks, wildlife, and for those of us who love the outdoors. Sequestration
Read more
The song tells us there’s no place like home for the holidays, especially now that it’s too late to book an affordable getaway holiday airfare or hotel. But you can cash in now on these travel deals for 2013. Even the Grinch would approve. Theme parks — LEGOLAND — Even though the new Legoland Hotel
Read more