This post was recognized by the North American Travel Journalists Association (NATJA) with a Silver journalism in travel excellence award in 2020 in the category Photography – Portrait, People
The glass box called “The Ledge” is a popular selfie photo spot on the 103rd floor Skydeck of the Willis Tower in Chicago. Stand, jump or lay on the clear glass floor and look down 1353 feet to the street below. Would you do it?
Chicago is a city of neighborhoods, each one with a distinctive personality and community. It is also a city with a very diverse ethnic population and it takes pride in that diversity and gets its strength from it. Where else would you see a Scottish bagpipe band marching in the annual Chinese New Year parade?
One of the best reasons to visit Fairbanks, Alaska in winter is to see the amazing sculptures created during the World Ice Art Championships that are held here each year. The year we visited, this highly detailed and delicate ice sculpture was my favorite. Two acrobats are frozen in time as they perform their aerial acrobatics with ice rings. This sculpture was impressive to see during the day, but it really came alive at night once it was lit up.
One of the experiences I enjoyed most during my winter visit to Denali National Park a few years ago, was spending some time with the park’s sled dogs. Since Denali NP is under snow for so many months of the year, the rangers use sleds pulled by Alaska huskies to patrol the park. The day we were there, most of the dogs were out with the rangers, but a few were taking it easy in their little wooden dog houses. We were told that if the dogs come out and get on top of their dog houses, they are willing to be social and get attention. This beautiful pup was quite friendly and happy to have us provide some love. And since we were the only people in the park that day because it was the middle of February, we had the dogs all to ourselves.
The tallest peak in North America can often be difficult to see. But on a visit to Alaska one winter, I was fortunate to see Denali peeking out above the clouds. In fact, the 20,310 foot tall mountain was visible from almost 200 miles away as I was driving from Anchorage to Fairbanks.
This was an epic year of travel for me – the best ever. I was very fortunate to be able to go somewhere special each month.
I visited National Parks in the US as well as a few new places in my home country. I had a completely unique experience as a volunteer citizen scientist in Kenya. And my feet touched the soil of South America for the first time. To top it all off, I was totally spoiled on a one of a kind barge cruise on the Burgundy Canal in France. I don’t think any year in travel can get much better.
To all my friends, family, readers and followers – sending you lots of butterbeer and other Hogwarts goodies for a truly magical season, whatever holiday you celebrate. (Wishing this was a photo of my castle, but it is actually the Hogwarts Great Hall at Warner Brothers Studio outside of London).
Each year the official Christmas tree in London is displayed at Trafalgar Square. The tree is a Norwegian Spruce from Norway that is 50 to 60 years old and is donated by the city of Oslo. This tradition started in 1947 as a show of gratitude for Britain’s help to Norway during WWII.
One of the fun holiday events I observed in London was the Great Christmas Pudding Race at Covent Garden. To raise money for Cancer Research, teams dressed up in costume raced around an obstacle course while trying to hold on to a Christmas Pudding. In the UK a Christmas pudding is a steamed cake, which does wobble a bit but not quite as much as an American pudding would.
Along with Big Ben and the Tower Bridge, the London Eye has become an iconic structure that immediately identifies the city which is ironic because it was initially built for only a five year run to celebrate the millennium. This Christmas tree is one of many that I saw throughout London on my visit this December.