When I was a kid, a scene I saw in an old western movie absolutely terrified me: A cowboy died a slow death by sinking in quicksand. It was …
Laurie Schmidt
West Kauai: The Garden Isle’s Quiet Side
As a kid growing up in south Florida, I went to Disney World a lot. My favorite ride at the Magic Kingdom was It’s a Small World, a …
Solo Travel: Overcoming the Fear
I’ve been traveling solo for more than 25 years, and it’s given me some of the most rewarding experiences of my life. But was I afraid to …
West Coast New Zealand: Alpine Peaks to Rainforests
When I did my solo trip around the South Island of New Zealand, I hadn’t planned to spend much time on the West Coast. It was mostly just a …
Best Day Hikes in Grand Staircase-Escalante NM
If you want to get an up-close look at southern Utah’s arches, natural bridges, and hoodoos, the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument …
Visit Bermuda: 5 Things to Know Before You Go
Back in the late 1970s, my brother and I went to see the new blockbuster movie, The Deep. I was fascinated by the cool underwater scenes I’d …