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What’s New in Theme Parks: Thomas, Harry, and Elmo
Thomas the Tank Engine turned 65 this past weekend, and my four year old was up bright and early, ready for me to take her to the opening of Thomas Town at Six Flags America in Largo, Maryland. Despite...
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What Travelers Can Learn from War Zone Reporters
A couple weeks before leaving for my recent short trip to Qatar, a book came into the office titled How to Avoid Being Killed in a War Zone. Although I had been told Qatar was remarkably safe, I was...
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Doha Diaries: Part 1
My recent Qatar Airways flight from Washington, D.C. direct to Doha, the capital of Qatar, took almost 14 hours, but it was the most civilized in-flight experience I’ve had in a long time. My only...
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Doha Diaries, Part 2
I was only in Qatar for about 60 hours but I surprisingly learned a lot—especially about camel racing. Or, to be precise, dromedary racing. (Dromedaries have one hump and are native to Arabia, while...
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Bucks County, PA, with Kids
Today’s blog is brought to you by the letters B and P. That would be B for Bucks County and P for Philadelphia, where I spent a kid-centric Memorial Day weekend. In less than 48 hours, we got multiple...
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New York City with Little Kids
Vacations are not what they used to be. I spent the July 4th weekend in New York City, my first trip there with kids in tow, and it really hit home for me: I’m a parent. If I weren’t a parent traveling...
View ArticleMuch Ado About Suchitoto
The El Salvadoran town of Suchitoto overlooks a blue volcanic lake in a region long considered a place of great natural beauty. But the country’s 12-year civil war ravaged this cobblestoned town, and...
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Discover America’s Secret Heroes
What do National Geographic Traveler editors do when they retire? Well, if you’re Paul Martin, you write a book about a subject you’ve been gathering information on for years: little-known...
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Pennsylvania Dutch Country in 7 Bites
Foodies who disdain smorgasbords and sprawling restaurants that feed hundreds of bused-in tourists, feel free to stop reading right now. If you’re still with me, let’s talk about chicken pot pie. And...
View ArticleThe Best Travel Books of Spring
Though it might not be quite time to hang up your winter coat for good, a bushel of books have sprouted to inspire a bout of warm-weather wanderlust. There’s something here for fans of every genre:...
View ArticleThe Books of Summer
Nothing can ruin a long-haul flight or a lazy August afternoon at the beach as much as lack of good reading material. The best #TripLit reads — the ones that distinctly evoke place — can enhance your...
View ArticlePlanning a Beach Trip With Little Kids
As beach season — at least here on America’s East Coast — comes to a close (farewell, soothing surf and sand-covered watermelon slices!), I’m reflecting on how planning a beach vacation requires a...
View ArticleThe Best Fall Travel Books
This fall, we’re seeing a heap of new #TripLit stocking the shelves, the kind of books that — no matter if they fall under the fiction, adventure, history, or foodie categories — open up the world and...
View ArticleThe Best #TripLit This Winter
Winter may be the perfect time for hibernating with a page-turning read. But the seven new books listed below all convey a deep sense of place that just might inspire you to break out of your warm...
View ArticleBudapest’s Grand Hotels
With its title alone, Wes Anderson‘s new film, The Grand Budapest Hotel, conjures up a vision of Old World elegance. The quirky comedy stars Ralph Fiennes as a concierge of a legendary hotel in a...
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Beyond the Beach in Aruba
Visiting Eagle Beach for the first time feels like déjà vu. Haven’t I seen this place before? Oh yeah, it’s the dream beach on my credit-union checks and desktop wallpaper. Except that nothing beats...
View ArticleUltimate Summer #TripLit Reading List
The dog days stretch out in front of us in all their indolent or pulse-quickening glory, depending on your style. This sunny season is paved with compelling stories to be lazily read by the beach or...
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The Postcard Project
“Are postcards obsolete?” asked a recent article in the Washington Post Travel section. Well, it depends on who’s answering. I’ve been collecting postcards since I was a little kid—keepsakes from my...
View ArticleRiver Cruising With Kids: Three Reasons to Go
River cruising is hot right now, one of the fastest growing markets in travel. A river ship doesn’t have the climbing walls, play zones, or indoor skydiving activities that filigree ocean-going ships,...
View Article@NatGeoTravel Twitter Chat: Best Fall Trips
Savvy travelers know that fall is the best time to hit the road: destinations are less crowded, less expensive, not as muggy. A flurry of autumn festivals and events fill the calendar, and seasonal...
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