Across from Redbank, Minnesota lies Wisconsin. A campground and boat launch was visible right across the river and I thought I'd walk over to have a look. In doing so, I came across a beautiful wetlands reserve! Pierce County Islands Wildlife Area is a 958-acre property on the Mississippi River in Pierce County. The acquisition of the property started with Pierce County donating land to the state in 1968. Additional acreage was purchased around the original land, including

Antigua was the first true eastern island scheduled on the cruise out of San Juan. I had almost no expectations (or information) about it. I love to watch entering a harbor in the morning, if possible, and because I had missed the entrance to Road Town, Tortola, I wanted to be sure I was up for the one into Antigua. Like Tortola, Antigua is filled with green hills. not pancake flat. However, Antigua's main city (and capital) St. John's is extremely large compared to Road

While researching the area around St Paul, a small town downriver, was mentioned repeatedly - Red Wing. Since the train timings for a stopover were convenient (headed toward Chicago), I added it to the itinerary. Luckily, I managed to get seats. The stopover in Red Wing might have been the best small town visit of the entire trip! The train station was just a tiny building set amongst grain silos in an otherwise busy port on the Mississippi. I stayed at the venerable St Ja

February 2026 Back in Georgetown days when I had a close Puerto Rican friend, Ivan, I traveled multiple times to San Juan. On one trip, his father (quite generously) sponsored us for a weekend jaunt to St. Thomas. While there, we visited St John and I was blown away. Those few days set the bar for any beach I would see the rest of my life. I always wanted to return to the Virgin Islands, but since Brian and I lived in Asia for many years and our travel focus was "far a

I wanted to try one traditional place to eat in St Paul before leaving the following morning. In the early evening, I stopped at Waldmann's, just at the opposite end of High Bridge. The building and its legacy are historic in St Paul (even if the current incarnation is not). The building that houses Waldmann was constructed in the fall of 1857 — six months before Minnesota became a state, nearly four years before the American Civil War began, and at a time when less than 10

February 2026 Back in the late 80s Brian and I lived in Washington Heights, Manhattan. [see: Colonel Robert Magaw Place ]. In those days, the neighborhood was heavily Dominican. Although the area was considered "rough and dangerous", all the Dominicans we met were unfailingly kind and pleasant. Throughout my adult life, I met people who traveled to the DR and told me "you have to go". Brian and I were always interested in places "far away", so it never got on our radar.

In a city built onto bluffs and hills, a famous overlook gives good views of downtown St Paul and the Mississippi Valley. I set off from the hotel after a brief rest and retraced some of my steps toward Smith Street. There I found "High Bridge" which crosses to a viewpoint on the opposite bank. Along the way I passed the randomly placed "Large Green Chair". The Smith Street Bridge (High Bridge) lives up to its name. I easily found the viewpoint and looked back over some o

Because I was based in Santo Domingo (my choice), I wanted to take at least one trip into the countryside to get a better flavor for the country. I met a travel agent on the first day who went over a range of possible day trips. I settled on Isla Saona, part of a national park near the famous resort city of La Romana. Because it was a long drive (two hours) and then a boat ride (an hour and a half), the tour started at 6:00am. We all met in Parque Colon in the old city

After passing through Irving Park, I came to the river's edge and found a completely renovated walkway filled with parks, benches, and amenities. There I happened to chat with a long-time resident who explained in the not-so-distant past the area had been an absolute no-go zone, riddled with crime. What I saw was a beautiful park right under the bluff that the city was laid out on. The place was lovely and peaceful. The views of the river traffic, the old bridges, and t

February 2026 After the cruise to Hawaii, I decided to spend a few days in San Francisco as I had not been since my first visit in Georgetown days. The weather did not cooperate at all, but it was still a great walk down memory lane. I was staying just a short walk from the Transamerica Pyramid. I felt nostalgic about it since it was the tallest building in the city on that first visit (since eclipsed by the Salesforce Tower). Of note for me was that the redwoods in the p

After passing by all the lovely homes above the city on Summit Avenue, I returned to the lower city. I wanted to try a coffee recommended by DV in DC (who always knows great locations) and then continue onto a riverside park. I walked along Grand Street which holds the coffee shop I sought as well as a popular breakfast joint. I enjoyed a latte (I needed energy during my full day walkathon) Hope Breakfast Bar I continued across the John E Johnson Memorial Highway to Irvine

January-February, 2026 For a long time, Hawaii was never on my radar. Honestly speaking, I had been to so many tropical islands in other countries (as well as Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands), I wasn't in any hurry to visit. An expensive flight, expensive hotels, expensive.... everything - what was my motivation to go? Add to that, many people I knew who had visited (or lived there) returned "mystically transformed" (which also happens to tourists in Bali). I had n

Highly recommend for any visitor to St Paul are the stately mansions of Summit Avenue, overlooking city and river. As the avenue starts adjacent to the cathedral, I could continue with my "full throttle" tour without any backtracking after seeing St Paul's largest church. The historic area’s mansions represent a variety of architectural styles, including the longest preserved stretch of Victorian-era homes in the nation. The first home on Summit was owned by Macalester Col

After five long sea days, the Ruby Princess [see: Ruby Princess ] arrived in Ensenada, Mexico. My expectations could not have been lower. Most people to whom I spoke only reported bad things about the place and apparently there were some security issues. After being on the ship for so many days, I just wanted to walk around outside on terra firma . Additionally, I was in desperate need of a shave. I found a recommended barber online and arrived just as he was opening

Thomas Langdon Grace was installed as Bishop of Saint Paul in July 1859, and was immediately confronted by the same problem that had plagued his (three) predecessors. During his tenure, he began to plant the seeds for yet another building project. Upon his retirement in 1884, the challenge and vision of a new cathedral was passed to his successor, Archbishop John Ireland. Having already established that he would build a great cathedral, the task that now fell to Archbishop I

Everyone on the ship looked forward to Maui because our visit to Kona was canceled due to heavy seas and issues of transferring passengers ashore via tenders. We pulled into Kahului Bay just after some showers passed. The weather forecast was for sunny skies in the morning turning into rain in the afternoon. Unfortunately, the rains moved in shortly after arrival and the only truly blue sky I saw was as the ship docked. Kahului Harbor The tour that day was to a "tropical

St Paul was sliced up by downtown interstate highways like many cities in the 1960s and 70s, but luckily I-94 cuts through the city in a trough and does not mar the view looking from downtown toward the state house. Minnesota's capitol stands very proudly on a hill overlooking city and river - for me, one of the most impressive placements of a state house I have ever seen. The mall in front of the capitol fans out toward the river and holds a lot of monuments and memorials.

After a disappointing introduction to the Aloha State in Honolulu, I looked forward to the Ruby Princess' [see: Ruby Princess ] stop in Nawiliwili, Kauai. After all, 90% of tropical island Hollywood sets are filmed on Hawaii's "garden island" beneath its deeply eroded, green cliffs. "Exotic" does not even begin to describe Kauai. The tour from the ship included two major sites on the island: the Spouting Horn Blowhole and Waimea Canyon. I had heard from everyone that

I ended up with one full day in St Paul. That meant I wouldn't even have time for Minneapolis. I had to make the best of it. After breakfast at the hotel (included), I set off to explore. I re-visited the train station (to appreciate it more) [see: Union Depot, St Paul, Minnesota ] and then found myself in nearby Mears Park, a lovely small square surrounded by modern office buildings. Complete with a faux babbling brook, the park is beautifully laid out. Next to it r

Honolulu was never on my radar as a place I planned to visit. Hawaii, yes - Honolulu, no. Yes, I had grown up watching Hawaii 5-0, and remember the famous Brady Bunch holiday episode there, but I never had any interest in the city. However, it was the Ruby Princess' first port of call [see: Ruby Princess ] and a state capital. Of course, I felt obligated to enjoy a walkabout because the ship would stay in the city uncharacteristically late (11pm). Most cruises depart