Thun, Switzerland: Where to Slow Down in Shadow of the Bernese Alps

Walkway along the River Aare offers views of the Old City and the church.

A clear blue lake, a towering medieval castle, and creaking covered bridges—set against a ring of snowcapped Alps. That’s Thun, a small Swiss city between Bern and Interlaken, where you can savor slow travel yet remain close to the alpine attractions that draw millions to central Switzerland.   Like many travelers, I assumed touristy Interlaken was the obvious base for exploring the Bernese Alps last spring.   After a closer look at the map, I noticed Thun (pronounced toon), folded into a corner of crescent-shaped...

Going deep on a Norway fjord cruise with Havila Voyages

A Havila Voyages cruise ship sailing in Trolljorden along the Norwegian Coast.

A splash of Arctic ice down my back and a hug from a hairy Norse sea god confirmed my initiation into the Arctic Explorer’s Club after my Havila Voyages cruise ship crossed the Arctic Circle.   For seasoned sailors, the crossing is a milestone. For my fellow passengers aboard the Havila Pollux off Norway’s northern coast, it was a lively deck party. We celebrated our crossing with a sailor’s rum drink known as black magic, a concoction that warms the soul and energizes the spirit....

Rocky Mountaineer Train: Spectacular Scenery Plus Gourmet Cuisine

A Rocky Mountaineer train wraps around pristine rivers and lakes in Westrn Canada.e

As the Rocky Mountaineer train from Vancouver slowly gathered speed, I sank into my plush window seat. I couldn’t wait to be surrounded by the pristine rivers, alpine peaks, and native wildlife of Western Canada.   What I didn’t anticipate was the culinary adventure ahead. Within minutes, I was devouring Eggs Benedict with Canadian back bacon. My three-course lunch later that day featured Dungeness crab ravioli and generous pours of Jackson-Triggs wines.   Dining on the Rocky Mountaineer train was nearly as inspiring as the...

Dogs Lead the Way on an Exhilarating Truffle Hunt in Croatia

I joined three rambunctious dogs on a truffle hunt in the dense forests of the Istria Peninsula during my recent visit to Croatia. I love the intense, earthy flavor of truffles, a rare type of edible fungi that flourish symbiotically amid the roots of oak and other trees.   But I knew little about truffles and I had never been on a truffle hunt. During my truffle-hunting tour, we discovered several black truffles. I learned about the history of truffles and how to cook with...

Castles, Cuisine, and Cardiff Set Wales Apart in UK

Wales is part of the United Kingdom and shares the Island of Great Britain with England and Scotland. But this small country has a distinctive personality that sets it apart from its better-know neighbors.   The prevalence of the Welsh language, from road signs to café menus, alongside English, is proof of the country’s enduring heritage. So is the country’s cuisine, which is heavy on seafood, lamb and leek soup.   Wales also has more castles per square mile than any other country in Europe....

A Whale-Watching Adventure in Victoria, B.C.

Humpback whale shows some tail.

A whale-watching tour in Victoria, British Columbia, is an exhilarating experience, especially in an open-air Zodiac boat.   A clear, sunny day is preferable. The steep mountains and pine forests surrounding this city on beautiful Vancouver Island create a breathtaking backdrop for the Salish Sea. But even my tour on a rainy, cold day proved that this Canadian city is one of the best places in the world to see whales in the wild.   My whale-watching tour was arranged as part of a cruise...

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