You may not be aware of this, but it snows regularly on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Yes, you read that right--at a staggering 13,790 feet, the dormant volcano Mauna Kea (“White Mountain” in the native Hawaiian tongue) dons a sparkling cap of snow in wintertime. (Its counterpart, Mauna Loa, does the same, although snow on the latter is less visible due to its more rounded peak.) Because of Mauna Kea’s unique assets, native Hawaiians have long considered it a sacred site.

Incidentally, the summit of Mauna Kea is also an ideal place for stargazing, given its height and remoteness from major cities. Hence, it now houses several of the world’s leading astronomical observatories. Native Hawaiian groups are displeased with these developments, protesting that the developments defile the sacredness of the site.

Photo courtesy of the 'Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawai'i.

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Posted in Educational & Historic, Green Travel, Hawaii, Nature & Outdoors
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In May 2006, President George W. Bush was asked what was his best moment in office so far. After admitting he’s had “a lot of great moments,” the moment he chose referred not to his daily duties as commander-in-chief, but to his cherished vacation time: "I would say the best moment was when I caught a 7 ½-pound largemouth bass on my lake.”

It’s hard work to preside over the home of the free and the brave, which is why vacation was built into the presidency since the start of the nation. George Washington had his beloved Mount Vernon plantation; John Adams his Massachusetts farm. More recently, we’ve gotten used to hearing about George W.’s vacation compound in Crawford Ranch, Texas, with his stocked fish pond, river canyons, and sprawling, single-level home visited by everyone from Vladimir Putin to Lance Armstrong.

Photo courtesy of IgoUgo member Susie Go Go.

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Posted in Celebrities, Educational & Historic
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Whether your mama is voting for Obama, you think Hillary has more verbal artillery left in her, or you're catching a ride on the Straight Talk Express, there's no denying that this is one of the most exhilarating elections in recent memory.

Like many of you, I'm hanging on every poll, obsessively reading CNN, and toying with the idea of getting more involved. The national conventions for both major parties offer excellent opportunities to observe the election process up close and explore a little of the heartland. Here's the scoop on how to get in on the action.

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Posted in Educational & Historic, Family & Kids, Guides & Planning, Trip Tips
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As a seasoned San Franciscan, I can tell you a lot about the Golden Gate Bridge. I can also talk your ears off on the subjects of crooked Lombard Street, funky Haight-Ashbury, our fleet of highly polished retro-chic cable cars, or even eccentric local legends Emperor Norton and Frank Chu.

My grasp of San Francisco lore unravels, though, once the subject turns toward the city’s spookier aspects (excepting, of course, the infamous Zodiac Killer. He’s got his own blockbuster film, after all). Otherwise, I don’t know much about the haunted parts of the Bay Area. Ghosts, ghouls, and graveyards--this fascinating side of the city always seem to come alive as Halloween approaches at this dark time of year.

Photo courtesy of IgoUgo member kona.

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Posted in California, Educational & Historic, Entertainment, Family & Kids, Festivals & Events, Holiday & Seasonal, Louisiana, New Orleans, San Francisco
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One need not look too hard to find some article declaring the impotence of the American educational system in teaching any semblance of geography to its students. In grade school, we had a relatively rigorous geography class which included anything from being able to draw and label every African country on a blank outline of the continent—and include capital cities—to knowing what was the most susceptible country to cyclones and what its main export was. The answer was Bangladesh, and jute. I never thought I’d have much use for the info. Well, to be honest, aside from being able to say “jute” more than I thought I ever would, I don’t. However, I thought I was fairly well-versed in the world, able to identify my place, and the place of other places, within it.

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Posted in Educational & Historic, Polls & Studies
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Deep in bluegrass country where horse-studded pastures alternate with woodsy hillsides and the only rest stop for miles around is at Abraham Lincoln’s boyhood home, there lies a string of historic bourbon distilleries open for tours. Last weekend, when I was in the region, I stopped in at two of them: Maker’s Mark and Woodford Reserve.

Despite the alcohol in the name, you don’t go to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail to get tipsy. First, there is a lot of driving involved on winding country lanes so a big bourbon buzz is a big no-no. Second, I know it’s a shocker (at least it was to me), but not all the distilleries give tastings. Third, a clear head is needed to navigate the rustic (and largely unmarked) backroads. But that’s part of the fun. Just when my friends and I thought we’d reached the middle of a beautiful nowhere, a sign popped up to show the way to the spirits.

Photo courtesy of IgoUgo member MilwVon.

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Posted in Culinary Travel, Educational & Historic, Scenic Drives
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I was smitten, and all it took was a single glance down Deadwood, South Dakota’s Main Street. Paved with brick and lined with turn-of-the-century street lamps, the street curves its way through gently refurbished saloons, hotels and general stores that date back to the Gold Rush days of the late 1800s.

Surrounded by the Black Hills, the entire town of Deadwood is a National Historic Landmark and is probably as close to a Wild West town as you’ll get these days.

Photo Courtesy of Deadwood Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau.

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Posted in Casinos & Gambling, Educational & Historic, South Dakota
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Like a crushed beauty queen, the Statue of Liberty was relegated to the runner’s-up lounge to weep with the Easter Island statues after the “new” seven wonders of the world were revealed over the weekend. Read the winner’s list, though, and you’ll see she had some tough competition. Edged out by the likes of the Taj Mahal, the Great Wall of China, Petra in Jordan, and Brazil’s Christ the Redeemer, she really has nothing to be ashamed of.

Although I’ve been to a lot of wondrous places, I’ve been to only three that made the list: the Roman Coliseum, Chichén Itzá, and, most recently, Machu Picchu.

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Posted in Educational & Historic, International Travel, Travel News
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It's the season of the White nights in St. Petersburg – an amazing time of year when night is as bright as day and the whole city celebrates. I was in St. Petersburg for the very beginning of white night season –this picture was taken on a boat ride at 11pm! While I was there it stayed light until around midnight. That kind of light is a wild thing. You know you should be getting ready for bed but when it's so light outside….Wouldn't you rather walk along the cobble streets and view the canals?

The White Nights offer a perfect time to take in the beauty of St. Petersburg. The city is very walkable (though you'll need to be wearing comfortable shoes) and in fact the traffic is so horrid that you're almost always better off hoofing it than taking a taxi. (As a side note taxis are also extremely expensive and if you don't know the language you're really at a loss when it comes to bargaining.) You can appreciate the details of the city if you take it in by foot and you can stretch that to the max during the white nights. From St. Isaacs Cathedral to the Hermitage, the summer palace to the Peter and Paul Fortress – you could spend days in St. Petersburg and not get the time to see all of the art and architecture.

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Posted in Educational & Historic, International Travel, Russia
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Paris Hilton’s little stint in the slammer has been defined by her weepy “boo-hoos” and her very vocalized desire to get out. If only she knew that a new trend in the travel industry is to go to jail--directly to jail--and even pay for it, she might sit back, relax, and revel in her lack of freedom like any other properly adventurous prison tourist.

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Posted in Educational & Historic, Hotel Travel
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Editor’s Note: G’day mate! I write you after my long haul to the land down under, where I spent my holiday with the Aussies and roos. It was an experience, so, come on, have a go! Join me for my three week Australian series, Adventures of Oz. (1 of 3)

It always makes the most sense to start a story from the beginning. So before I dig into tales of the Sydney Opera House, the outback or the Great Barrier Reef, let’s first explore ancient Australia.

On my recent trip, I had the chance to hear native stories -- about how the ancestral spirits emerged from the earth and the sky to create the land, the people and the traditions. The passion in the voice of the native who told the stories made me feel more intimately connected to Australia, magnifying its beauty and giving me deeper understanding of its origins. For me, exploring the history of a culture always makes me feel closer to the destination. After all, traveling is about truly experiencing a place, not just seeing it.

Photo courtesy of Brisbane Marketing and Riverlife Adventure Centre.

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Posted in Australia, Educational & Historic, International Travel
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Born and raised in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, I’m quite familiar with the unspoken rivalry between the two cities, which are separated only by a 35 miles stretch of highway. Dallasites turn their noses up at the prospect of venturing to the city known as Cowtown, and Fort Worth natives have probably been guilty at one time or another of calling their neighbors to the east snobs.

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Posted in Bars & Nightlife, Culinary Travel, Dallas/Fort Worth, Educational & Historic, Shopping, Texas
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