Tag: River

• November 29, 2025

  #56: The Heart of the Alps

  Success was found in Zurich, Switzerland in Blog #45, but unfortunately there was a bust in Hallstatt, Austria in Blog #48.  What do you say we return to Europe and give Austria a second chance?  After all, large foreign countries are no different from the United States in the sense that there are multiple regions…
• September 29, 2025

  #54: UNGA 80

  In September 2023, my coworkers and I experienced our first United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).  To those unfamiliar with the foreign affairs conference that takes place annually in New York City, I wrote in Blog #27 about the opportunity I was given to explain the event to a curious young man and his family while…
• May 23, 2025

  #51: You Better Belize It (Part I: Mainland)

  A hop, skip, and a jump from the continental United States is the Central American nation of Belize.  Snuggled between the Yucatan Peninsula and the Caribbean Sea, the country of Belize offers visitors equally easy access to ancient ruins, lush rainforests, and stunning beaches.  Its growing popularity with North American tourists is evident at Philip…
• March 9, 2025

  #49: Music City

  Smashville, Nashvegas, the Buckle of the Bible Belt, Gnashville, the Birthplace of Country Music.  Pack your boots, we’re headed to Nashville! The Union Station Nashville Yards, part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, ended up being the perfect selection for respite.  The hotel has high enough ratings (4.6 on Google, 4.5 on Tripadvisor) while maintaining moderately low…
• January 14, 2025

  #47: Astoria (Part II)

  This is a continuation of Blog 46: Astoria Part I. A walk through the city of Astoria, Oregon is a necessity when visiting during a period of bright blue skies that tend to be a rarity in the Pacific Northwest.  Even without the blessing of great weather, a belly full of fried fish should be…
• October 27, 2024

  #44: Moonlight in Vermont

  The “leaf peepers” hit New England in full force this October; and for better or worse, I ended up being one of them.  My vulnerability to scenery is well-documented and no different than the next visually capable human.  The autumn splendor begins when there are just enough rays of sunlight left peeking through the gray…
• October 4, 2024

  #43: City of Roses

  The city of Portland, Oregon was the second in a multi-part Pacific Northwest travel series I undertook in 2024, with the first being Seattle, as told in Blog #35: Emerald City.  Both trips were just as much social experiments as they were cities I had always wanted to explore.  Sadly, both were also equally disappointing…