Wapo on the Big Easy

by Erik Olsen on

New Orleans and Bourbon Street. They go together in the mind’s eye
like salt and pepper or the Captain and Tenille. I think of New Orleans (where I was recently for a bachelor party) and
I immediately think of the legions of extremely intoxicated people shuffling up and down Bourbon Street like a scene
from a new version of Animal House directed by George A. Romero.

But the Washington Post says
that once you get beyond the drunken tards all around Bourbon Street, you may find that New Orleans is one of the most
exotic places in the US. And this
article take you around, showing you other places to see, things to do, offers you a different glimpse of the Big
Easy. I wish I’d read this before my last trip.  

Searching for Old Florida

by Adrienne Wilson on

Indian River County may not have the pampering or five star luxury in all of Florida, but the
discoveries here are a little more punchy and a lot more
exotic. Christopher Elliot and Kari Haugeto of Tripso
explore the Marsh Landing restaurant where Ben Bishop, General Manager, is eager to have them taste the turtle
soup.  Tiny samplings of alligator, catfish and frog legs had already been placed in front of them before
Bishop came dashing out with the soup, but these are the tastes that make up ‘Old Florida.’ 

Not everyone will be anxious to experience exotic reptiles and will probably want to stick to new Florida in that
case, but there’s still much more to consider.  Like the Indian River Groves where fresh grown Navel oranges, Ruby
Red grapefruit and Honeybell Tangelos can be found for miles.  The citrus here is said to be some of the sweetest
and juiciest in the world.  With all the reptiles aside I think juicy oranges is definitely worth a stop
if you’re already on your way into other popular Florida destinations.  Indian River County is located two hours
southeast of Orlando.

Oh, the Cook Islands

by Erik Olsen on

There’s something about the tropics that stirs something deep inside me. It’s not just the whole
Blue Lagoon thing, but something about the actual distance from the
rest of the world that is such an allure. And fewer places are as distant as the
Cook Islands. The 15
atolls and islands that make up the Cooks, which are named for 18th century explorer Capt. James Cook,  are strung
across 850,000 square miles of ocean midway between South America and Australia. This story in
the LA Times does a
fine job capturing the exoticness and the history of the islands, and there is even a video portion worth a watch.

Gates of the Arctic

by Erik Olsen on

The Wilderness Act is almost 41 years old…about the same age as Tom Cruise…but I argue it’s
been much more influential. There are 8.5 million acres of wild country in the Arctic…a mind boggling expanse when you
think about it. Access to the area comes mostly from float planes, leaving you very alone in a very remote place.

NPR’s Elizabeth Arnold heads to the
Gates of the Arctic National Park in this audio piece and explains what makes
the North so alluring and intimidating.

Walking Amalfi

by Erik Olsen on

Here’s another great summer trip idea. Walking the Amalfi Coast.
There are so many incredible trips offered through Backroads, that it’s hard to choose, but hikers should take a look
at this one. We’ll post about others for other sports in the
future.

So for this trip: You’ll meet in Naples and then continue to Capri on a private boat and ascend Monte Solaro,
the highest point on the island, you’ll walk through the tiny coastal villages of Positano and Amalfi, and enjoy fresh
seafood. It goes on and on.

It ain’t cheap, but what a way to spend a few weeks.