Summer 2011

Mistaken in Peru

This breathtaking scene is the reward for a lengthy hike.Tucked away in an offshoot of the Grand Canyon lies Havasupai—Arizona’s hidden paradise. The Havasu ‘Baaja, the aptly named people of the blue-green water, maintain this desert oasis. Havasupai is the ideal place for scaling waterfalls, exploring riverbed travertine (limestone) formations, and relaxing in natural pools to the soothing sound of rushing water.

Choosing the right travel camera can be difficult, especially on a budget. When the trip is over, your pictures are some of the best souvenirs you’ll have. But while you’re looking for the best camera, you shouldn’t have to take out a loan to suit your style. Are you taking your camera for a night on the town, an afternoon on the river, or a rock-climbing excursion? No matter what your style, find the camera that’s right for you.

For literally my entire life my dad has been sick. He was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when I was an infant and we were always aware of his condition. Growing up we watched him take his insulin shots and visited him in the hospital when he got the flu. Once he and my siblings got in a car accident because his blood sugar was low. But we dealt with it. Then it all culminated with kidney disease.

The dawn has not broken yet. Many are still in their beds, wrapped up in thick quilts. Only the occasional bark of a dog punctuates the tranquility.

Traveling down the East Coast this summer? If you’re taking I-95, why don’t you try some of these locations that offer something more exciting than your usual rest stops?

The hustle and bustle of flea markets can be exciting and overwhelming. There are people to your left and right arguing over prices, eager to get the best deal. Haggling isn’t that hard—even if you are shy.

For a new twist on traveling, take your dancing skills on vacation. Dance tourism is a fun and heart-pounding category of cultural tourism. Dance traditions are found in every culture, and the options for dance tourism are just as varied. Whether through a dance vacation, festival, or performance, you can experience a culture or just have fun through dancing.

Did you know that the most foreign and undiscovered environment on earth is found below the water’s surface? Approximately 71 percent of the earth is covered by ocean, and over 230,000 different types of marine life-forms occupy that space.

Last August, Chris Gearheart jetted off to Minneapolis on a business trip—his first official business trip for his first official job since graduating from college. That weekend, Chris could have put himself up in a nice hotel and enjoyed a relaxing stay with fresh linen, television watching, and continental breakfasts—all “on the tab.” But he didn’t put himself up in a nice hotel. He chose to CouchSurf instead.

Carpeah—like so many others in India—lived every day in pain. He was banished to live among “his own,” forbidden to associate with the rest of society and reduced to nothing but a beggar. He was also afflicted with a disease that rendered him permanently blind. Being well into his 60s, Carpeah had an 18-year-old grandson, whom he had never been able to see.

As you enter the antique shop, a wave of smoke wafts over you. Yellow light shows dimly through the artificial mist emitted by the cigar. Around you rise large stacks of books, piles of old coats, suitcases, lamps, old metal gadgets you’ve never seen before, and boxes of unknown treasures.

After just two days, their arms were sore, their legs had cramped, and they still had 3,000 miles left to go. They slept on the cold, hard ground and ventured into rainstorms. But Eric Brewer and Matthew Case couldn’t abandon their friendship motto of “living life legendary.” “We felt like this trip went right along with that motto,” Matthew told me. As both bikers recounted their experience on the bike trip, I gleaned their excitement in telling their story—even though it had been two years since their trip.

Two years ago, I walked across Europe in a brand-new pair of Converse sneakers. Though they provided me with (what seemed like) innumerable blisters, they also gave me a myriad of memories. As I traveled through each country, I asked at least one person to sign my shoes—someone who stood out to me as unforgettable. In many of the countries I visited, it was impossible to choose just one person to sign them. And by the end of my trip, not only did I have over 50 signatures on my “new” shoes, I had even more memories to go with each one.

How are IHOP, Denny’s, Outback Steakhouse, Olive Garden, Red Lobster, and other widely franchised restaurants similar? They’re incredibly common and can become dreadfully dull if you eat out at any of them regularly. To expand your culinary tastes, look for the small, locally owned ethnic restaurants in and around your neighborhood.

Utah Shakespeare Festival

Cruises are designed to be one-stop vacations. Within a few days on board the ship, vacationers are offered a variety of experiences. Options range from full-service spas to ziplines and rock walls; from towel-folding classes to shopping seminars; from gyms to boxing rings. Not to mention the free food 24 hours a day every day, or the medical staffs that take care of any problem from seasickness to appendicitis, or activities to entertain every personality. Cruises are one-stop vacations where everyone—not just the elite—is treated like royalty.