I think people who work at a city or state’s convention and visitors bureau have the hardest jobs. These are people who must tout the latest and greatest going on in their respective areas, but obviously have zero control over outside forces.
Imagine working at New York’s tourism office right after 9/11. Ouch.
We’ve discussed New Orleans’ [...]
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Tags:social media·tourism
Before we went to Orcas Island a few weeks ago, a friend of mine said that when we were there we had to check out this artist. I was intrigued by her enthusiasm, but it’s always one of those things that seems more interesting to the person who is recommending the experience.
I filed it away to the back of my mind, but then when we were there, another set of friends suggested his work to us, so we had to check it out.
Anthony Howe is a sculptor whose work seems to be influenced dramatically by nature and engineering.
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Tags:art·great design
I won’t lie. Deciding not to get on a plane during my job transition was hard for me. With Lia in Amsterdam and other friends jaunting off to the South of France for a month, it’s hard not to feel a tad jealous.
But I was trying to be prudent and wanted to take advantage of the Pacific Northwest’s gorgeous [...]
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Tags:camping·dreamscapes·Orcas Island·San Juan Islands
Over the holidays I was going through security in Madison, Wisconsin on my way back to Seattle. My hometown is certainly not a hotbed of terrorism, but the way TSA went through my luggage I might as well have been in Tel Aviv.
I was carrying powdered soap and a scented candle someone had given me as a [...]
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Tags:airports
I can be somewhat nostalgic at times, particularly when I think about summer vacations. I loved the final weeks of school, when glorious and infinite summer days, and unbridled adventure stretched in front of me.
I’m experiencing a grown-up version of that now, as this Friday will be my final day at my job. After that, [...]
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Tags:airlines·bicycles·road trips
I have a friend who is a hard core traveler. She’s been to South Korea and Qatar and Kenya and lived in Hong Kong and, well, you get the picture. Her travel experience, and the fact that she’s hilarious and laid back, is why I chose her to go to South Africa with me. She [...]
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Tags:Africa·dreamscapes·photos
Christopher Rhoads of the Wall Street Journal wrote a great story about how the infrastructure created for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece has become derelict, and a symbol of the country’s ruined economy.
As Greece sifts through the wreckage wrought by its enormous public debt, which sent tremors through world finance in recent months, [...]
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Tags:great design·Vancouver
One trick pony Frank Gehry has flown over the cuckoo’s nest.
Dezeen magazine reports on his unbelievably hideous Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health which recently opened in Las Vegas. Imagine the low man on the totem pole in Gehry’s office stuck on this project for three years. He or she would seriously have to have [...]
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Tags:bad design·Guggenheim
Today, in honor of what would have been Jacques Cousteau‘s 100th birthday, I felt inclined to post some shots I’ve taken during recent travels of healthy and happy oceans. I also thought it might bring some catharsis (at least for me) after viewing all the terribly sad photos taken in the Gulf of Mexico over [...]
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Tags:beaches·photos
Lia and I do like Virgin America Airlines, despite their in-flight texting (personally not a fan) and other idiosyncrasies. They’ve taken innovative approaches to differentiating themselves in the marketplace, which I always appreciate.
However, when I saw this on Virgin America’s Twitter feed, I was immediately annoyed.
Look, I can appreciate attempting to green your business. But [...]
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Tags:airlines·social media