Parowan Gap Petroglyphs (image: DB’s Travels)

by: John Kloster

Perfectly positioned three hours away from both the Grand Canyon and Las Vegas, the Cedar City area of southern Utah is the ideal base camp for exploring the area’s natural wonders.  Nearby Zion National Park showcases geologic masterpieces like towering sandstone cliffs, hanging gardens, forested side canyons, and isolated mesas.  A trip to Bryce Canyon National Park reveals large natural amphitheaters and bridges as well as windows and hoodoos, soft sedimentary rock topped by harder stone that protects them from the elements.

These famous sites appear on many travelers’ must see lists. If you want to wander off the beaten path, you can easily discover three hidden Utah gems from your Cedar City base camp.

Continue reading US Travel | Three Undiscovered Utah Gems

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The California Zephyr (image: Patrick Rasenberg)

by: John Pitt, author of USA by Rail

American trains have always had a strong hold on the popular imagination, inspiring countless songs, stories, scandals and legends. Their rugged charm sets them apart from more mundane means of transport and, as Homer Simpson said, ‘Nothing beats flying across the country on a train.’ Students receive discounted ticket prices and Amtrak rail passes are available for citizens of any country, including the USA and Canada. These are valid for 15, 30 or 45 days of coach class travel and allow you to visit 46 US states and more than 500 destinations.

Serendipity is one of the great things about train travel. I’ve heard fascinating stories sitting by chance next to Tennessee Williams’s former chauffeur and once watched a football game on TV with Bill Cosby in New York’s Pennsylvania Station. You can mingle with fellow passengers on board, watch a movie in the evening, have a drink at the bar or just enjoy the passing scene.

Trains are safe, pollute less and rarely suffer from weather delays or long security checks. You won’t be surcharged or given jet lag or made to take your shoes off. You stay in touch with an ever-changing landscape and between the cities and small towns you comprehend America’s sheer size, seeing what this country looked like before McDonalds and Coca Cola.

Amtrak trains have style and old-world charm. Novices are well cared for by helpful attendants, making it easy to visit most big cities as well Disney World, Niagara Falls and the Grand Canyon. You can go from coast to coast, explore the Rocky Mountains and ride alongside two oceans. Often you see places that can’t be visited any other way. These are some of the best journeys -

Continue reading US Travel | 5 of the Best American Train Journeys

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Red Rocks Amphitheater (image: timmyjohn1)

by: Jim Guttau

From its beginnings as a frontier town during the Pikes Peak Gold Rush, the city of Denver has become a thriving cosmopolitan city and the largest city within 600 miles.

One of my favorite aspects of Denver, my city of residence for nearly five years, is the abundance of outdoor activities.  With over 300 days of annual sunshine and the nation’s largest city park system, Denver residents enjoy year-round outdoor activities, from whitewater rafting on the Arkansas River to skiing at the world-class ski resorts nearby.

Nicknamed the “Mile High City” because of its elevation (5,280 feet above sea level), Denver has developed a reputation for a flourishing restaurant scene and exciting nightlife, especially in the hip and historic LoDo (Lower Downtown) neighborhood.  Not to be missed are the many art districts and galleries scattered around the city, such as the brand new Museum of Contemporary Art.

Here are my top 5 ways to experience Denver: Continue reading US Travel | Top 5 Ways to Experience Denver, CO

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