Winter 2011

As editor in chief of Stowaway, I am the only consistent staff member from one issue to the next. For every issue, I start out with a completely new magazine staff of students at Brigham Young University (BYU) in Provo, Utah.

The Art of Capoeira

When Aubrey Wright walked into an orphanage in Haiti as a volunteer with Sustain Haiti, she was literally welcomed with open arms. “The children ran up to me with their arms outstretched, saying ‘Po tem! Po tem!’ which means ‘Hold me! Hold me!’” Aubrey says. In her volunteer work, Aubrey, a student at Brigham Young University, learned to love the orphans as she helped them -emotionally recover from losing loved ones, homes, and -possessions in the earthquakes that devastated Haiti last year. “I truly feel that this is how you can make a difference in the lives of children in Haiti—hold them. Not just physically, but emotionally. Hold them in your arms and in your heart.”

Guess what . . . You don’t have to win the lottery to fulfill your dream of visiting the Mayan ruins in Guatemala or of going on a gondola ride in Venice. Your young-adult years are supposed to be a time of exploration and adventure, so start thinking beyond weekend road trips. Here are a few tips to help your traveling dreams become a reality.

Kendall Wilcox spends about 30 weeks out of the year traveling as a senior supervising executive producer for BYUTV—and he loves it. “This is the longest I’ve been home since April, going on two and a half weeks. I’m getting a little stir-crazy,” he confides. Whether he’s traveling for work or pleasure, Wilcox has a knack for finding local treasures and delights, delicious food, and interesting art, all off the beaten path. Keeping his ears, eyes, and mind open, Wilcox is able to get to know a location and culture in a refreshing and simple way: by taking everything as it comes.

Spring has sprung, bringing with it flowers, food, music, and cultural celebrations around the country. For a fun way to enjoy the season, check out these spring festivals.

Dealing with Aerophobia

The phrase “spring has sprung” instills fear into the hearts of many winter sports lovers. To extend the adventure of winter during the early spring months, the small northern Utah towns of Francis, Kamas, and Oakley offer recreational activities that will satisfy nearly any winter sport hunger.

Hawaii is a popular vacation spot full of amazing sights and family-friendly activities. While there are many touristy areas to choose from, here are three attractions in the Hawaiian Islands that enable you to catch your breath, take in scenery, and enjoy the outdoors.

Ancient History Museums in America

Attention, foodies! Instead of simply sampling local flavor on your vacation, why not bring a taste of your travels home with you? Cooking vacations are a unique way to experience a country, city, or village as you learn about food traditions by cooking local dishes and exploring local markets. Whether you want cooking lessons locally or abroad, for a day, a week, or longer, there is a cooking vacation for you. Prices, which are based on location and length of stay, typically range from $150 to $4,000.

Since my childhood, family vacations have been centered around one question: “What are we going to eat?” With this very question in mind, my sister and I toured Paris by pâtisserie (pastry shop). Armed with Jamie Cahill’s book, The Pâtisseries of Paris—which lists the pâtisseries, chocolatiers, cafés, and glaciers of Paris by arrondissements (neighborhoods)—we discovered the charms of the French through their food. Here are some highlights of our favorite sweet spots in Paris.

An unsolved mystery. A historic treasure. What secrets shroud Stonehenge? What is its history? This article discusses the myth behind this monument and some possible answers to these questions.

Cedar Point: rollercoaster heaven. This record-breaking amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio, is home to some of the tallest, fastest, and most intense rollercoasters in the world. For all you rollercoaster enthusiasts (and even those who aren’t), check out this article for more information on what this world famous park has to offer.

It was 5 a.m. and my dad was dropping my mom and me off at the airport. We were about to begin a journey to Antarctica, that oft-forgotten seventh continent. As Dad unloaded the luggage, we quickly discovered that my suitcases had not made it into the car. With no time to recover the baggage before the flight left, I set off on a three-week expedition with not so much as a pair of underwear to keep me warm in the below-zero weather. Forgetting the luggage was definitely a bad way to start the trip, but little did I know that things would only get worse.

Caught in a spring shower? Stowaway has you covered.

Travel again with Stowaway as we discover how to see the real New Zealand. Get a map of the best places to ski and snowboard in the place that is home to 'the greatest snow on earth.' Explore yurting—a new way to camp in the winter. And have you ever wondered what it would be like to live around the world? In this issue, you'll meet Ruth Baptista, a 'citizen of the world.' Winter is the theme, and now it's up to you to join us as we dream, explore, and discover in the Winter 2011 issue of Stowaway Magazine.

For a new way to experience your favorite destinations, grab a bike and check out a nearby rail-trail. Many railroad tracks that once connected America’s cities were discontinued in the 1960s. But today more than 1900 miles of tracks around the country have been converted into multi-use trails known as rail-trails.