'Wild' Malaysia: Orangutans, Elephants, Birds and Monkeys Up Close
We saw elephants taking baths, a Great Hornbill in a cage, played with monkeys and watched orangutans up close, but never had to hire a jeep, pay a steep fee or enter a big distant game park.That’s because in Malaysia, all of these family-friendly animal attractions are close to the cities and are easy day trips. Malaysia provides low key, low stress parks and sanctuaries to enjoy...

The French Alps: Spring Snow in Val d’Isere and Chamonix
On my arrival in Val d’Isere I noticed immediately that one is there to ski and as much as possible. True there are restaurants, bars and shops galore, but it is the slopes that rule. In fact there are twelve slope-side restaurants alone, but diners are decked in ski gear, a sure sign. The clop of ski boots can be heard just about everywhere, even in a disco. The resort is actually two as Tignes can be reached and skied on the same pass.....

The Valley of Viñales: Cuba's Hidden Shangri-La
My expectations were high as we drove westward from Havana. The fertile and affluent looking countryside kept us company as we made our way westward from Havana. I had a feeling of elation thinking of the ‘dream valley of Cuba’ that impressed me so much during my first trip to this part of the country. After about 70 km we reached the Las Terrazas complex - a rural community of sustainable development...

Hunting for Morels in Idaho
According to our guide, the wily morel might just as easily be found by the side of the road as deep in the forest. Morels like places that have been burned a few years back, the ashy soil making them happy. The key was to look for Trillium flowers, delicate little things with petals turning from white to lavender as they mature. Where they were, morels might be found… but I couldn’t see any.

Banaue, Philippines: The Imbayah Festival Celebrates Ifugao Culture
A huge, black, boar, tied to bamboo poles in front of a traditional hut in Banaue Plaza, lay on the ground. The tribesmen made mock attacks with a spear as they danced around it before sacrificing the animal by cutting around its middle. Within 10-20 seconds it was dead and the tribal folk chanted, tapped the boar with sticks before singeing its hair off on a fire. It was then butchered on the spot and distributed...

Port Antonio, Jamaica: Not Your Typical Seaside Town
Port Antonio is the ideal town on an ideal island. It has the best of everything Jamaica has to offer: great restaurants with local cuisine, dozens of natural attractions nearby (think waterfalls, hidden coves, private islands, wandering rivers), friendly people and tons of fantastic hotels. At the same time, its somewhat concealed location keeps it away from hordes of tourists. There are no lines -- only honest-to-goodness tropical fun...

Gay Travels in the Muslim World: An Interview With Michael Luongo
Travel writer and photographer Michael Luongo, author of Gay Travels in the Muslim World, has been to more than 80 countries and all seven continents. Luongo is an avid traveler and has traveled extensively all throughout the Asia and the Middle East. He has visited Afghanistan three times and has even been through Osama Bin Laden’s caves.Gay Travels in the Muslim World is a collection of essays by gay Muslim men and non-Muslim me

Oxford, England: Walking With a Vengeance
I decided to explore the Thames Walk starting near the Folly Bridge on Saturday and was pleasantly surprised. I had explored part of it earlier on Wednesday but I was in a hurry as I had a train to take to Leeds later. On Saturday I had no such compulsions. From the afternoon I devoted myself completely to the walk. There was no end point in my mind and I decided that I would walk for two hours in one direction and then walk back...

Boston With Kids: A Real Family-Friendly Destination
Sure, there's lots of history here. The Freedom Trail, the historic battles, the Old North Church, Paul Revere's ride. But what else can you find in Boston? Blue men, enormous swans, and a green monster. How about whales, seals, and robots? It's all here. Here are a few tips for the whole family, for those with kids under 12 and for the difficult tweeners and teens. Find Boston budget hotels.

British Columbia's Harrison Hot Springs: The Perfect Girlfriend Getaway
British Columbia’s Harrison Hot Springs Resort and Spa is the perfect nosh spot. Not only do they offer family-fun packages and getaways to generate romance, but there’s a blissful retreat to lure us ladies. The sweet two-night deal includes some gourmand grazing, a Zen-filled experience in the Healing Springs Spa and use of the resort’s five mineral pools. What a sure-fire cure for any frenzied female!...

Wiltshire, England: Standing Stones, Crop Circles, and Visits From Outer Space
One of the most spectacular regions in the world, Wiltshire, in Southern England, is famous for the “unexplained.” UFOs, crop circles, standing stones and white horses in the mountain-side are topics of mass-conversation and much speculation. UFOs have been recorded in the region for centuries, but one of the most memorable experiences was in 1963 when residents heard a loud, unidentifiable whine in the sky at night...

Cycling Chile’s Lake District
We started our tour in Temuco, a mid-sized city an hour’s flight south of Santiago. After a night of orientation, we drove toward the Andes and through Las Raíces, the longest tunnel in Chile. At the end of the tunnel, we could see three spectacular volcanoes – Lliama, Lonquimay, and Tolhuaca – which we kept in sight as we cycled along the Lonquimay River. That afternoon we stood high in the Andes...

Stepping Back in Time: A Visit to Historic Deerfield
As I turn onto Old Main Street in Deerfield, Massachusetts, the mile-long strip of road on which the Historic Deerfield Museum is located, it feels as if I've stepped back in time. Centuries-old restored houses share yards with private family homes, the architecture so traditionally beautiful that it would be hard to tell the difference, save for the minivans in some of the driveways. It is as if the place has been in a bubble for hundreds of years...