Travel and Leisure

The Big Trees of Yosemite

Between the heavy pine and silver fir zones towers the Big Tree (Sequoia gigantea), the king of all the conifers in the world, "the noblest of the noble race." The groves nearest Yosemite Valley are about twenty miles to the westward and southward and are called the Tuolumne, Merced and Ma Read More

The Real Streets of Venice: Queen of the Adriatic

It was Venice, the City of Canals and the Queen of the Adriatic, in a nutshell. It was a simple image I remember photographing out of our hotel room window. See, this was the end of a long and frenzied 10-day trip to Italy that encompassed the Amalfi Coast, Rome, Florence, and now Venice. Since this Read More

Torres del Paine National Park: Chile’s Patagonia Crown Jewel

Torres del Paine National Park is located in southern Chile's Patagonia region and is one of the country's national protected forest areas. It encompasses over 2,422 square kilometers and is comprised of many rivers, crystal blue lakes, glaciers, and mountains. The historic towns of Punta Ar Read More

Peniche: The Surfing Destination of Portugal

Enclosed by three breathtaking walls of deep blue ocean, Peniche is the surfing destination of Portugal and maybe all of Europe. Home to several renowned surfing schools, and what many consider the best waves in Western Europe this fishing port has all the essentials for an amazing surfing experienc Read More

Coimbra: Portugal's City of Knowledge

Coimbra, known as "City of Knowledge" or "City of Students", is the cultural capital of Portugal. Fronting a distinctive and beautiful Mondego River, as well as, being etched into a mountainous topography, gives this city a distinctive visual flavor. The spectacular views, histor Read More

Lisbon's Impressive Jerónimos Monastery (Mosteiro dos Jeronimos), Facts

Jerónimos Monastery (Mosteiro dos Jerónimos) is one of the most impressive examples of wealth and power that Portugal had during the Age of Discovery. It is one of the best examples of European Gothic architecture in the whole of Portugal. Located in Lisbon, the Mostei Read More