Hi humans, it’s everybody’s favorite pint-sized pound puppy, stopping by to catch you up on my (mis)deeds. I’m sure you’ve all been wondering where I’ve been, but Mom claims she’s had more pressing stories to tell. Psst. I say she’s just jealous of my widespread appeal and Internet popularity. Luckily, she and Dad are currently [...]
On Safari: Spots and Stripes
January 30, 2011 By 21 Comments
The hyenas may have been the highlight of our second morning on safari in Ngala, but they weren’t all we saw. The morning light had yet to spill over the bush as our Jeep sped along the bumpy, dirt path and a pair of long necks interrupted the terrain before us, creating a much-wanted road [...]
10 Celebrities’ Rider Food Requests
January 28, 2011 By 3 Comments
Published January 2011; The Daily Meal Celebrities may get the third degree when it comes to who they date, what they wear, and which rehab facility they’ve checked into (this week), but one of the best ways to judge the crazy factor of your favorite A-listers is by examining their riders — requests presented to [...]
Photo Friday: Los Angeles, California
January 28, 2011 By 37 Comments
I’ve never been that big a fan of art museums. Don’t get me wrong: I’m not saying you shouldn’t go to them, but when I travel, I like to be out and about exploring a place by foot or from high up in the air or even from beneath the surface, not indoors. In fact, [...]
Parachuting at Heavenly
January 25, 2011 By 29 Comments
Hello everyone, SVV here, reporting from Heavenly Ski Resort. We’ve been having a lot of fun using our outdoor cameras and trouncing about the slopes these days. The mountains are buried in snow and the skies have been crisp and beautiful. A friend of mine recently loaned me a new invention of his—adapted from his [...]
How to Be a Tourist in Los Angeles (and Not Feel Totally Lame)
January 24, 2011 By 35 Comments
I normally stay put during peak holiday travel times as I try actively to avoid hordes of tourist whenever possible, but when my friend Ellen asked if I would consider coming to LA for her 30th birthday—which happened to take place over MLK weekend—all it took was discovering that Virgin America was practically giving away [...]
Photo Friday: Mammoth Mountain, California
January 21, 2011 By 33 Comments
It’s ironic because this is the time of year that’s usually the most beautiful in San Francisco. Summer is dreadful; I purposely plan to be gone June through August of each year to avoid the city cloaked in fog and the general feeling of dreariness that accompanies it. Yet now—in mid-January—we’re enjoying crystal blue skies, [...]
Living the High Life in Orlando
January 19, 2011 By 28 Comments
In 2009, I vacationed in Orlando. In 2010, when it was time to pick a spot for a long weekend escape, I chose the same. When people ask me “where does a travel writer vacation?” they’re shocked to learn the answer. But I’ll be frank: I will love those parks until the day I die. [...]
What You’re Worth
January 17, 2011 By 111 Comments
A few months back, a well-known band came to me via their publicist wanting me to promote an event they’re sponsoring. It was a cool concept, in a fun place, and it would allow me to check another item off my Life List. The kicker? They weren’t going to pay me for my time or [...]
Photo Friday: Locarno, Switzerland
January 14, 2011 By 24 Comments
The best part of my trip to Switzerland in the fall of 2009 is that while it wasn’t my first visit to the country, I did get to explore an entirely new region, completely foreign to me. After my time in German Switzerland, the group headed down south, almost to the border, to the Italian [...]
