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By Melanie Haiken on March 20, 2014
Two days into a visit to Nehalem Bay, Oregon, and you’ll be planning your next visit – this untraveled section of the Oregon coast is that addictive.
Posted in Active & Adventure Travel, Feature | Tagged beach, coast, kayaking, nature |
By Melanie Haiken on February 16, 2014
Lately, loads of folks have been asking me for recommendations for the perfect spring break getaway for sun and surf. Well, I’ve got the answer: Santa Barbara.
Posted in Active & Adventure Travel | Tagged banana belt, beach cruisers, biking, Biltmore Hotel, boardwalk, California, Car-Free Santa Barbara, crab, dolphins, Hotel Oceana, kayaking, lobster, Montecito Beach, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara Kayak Company, Santa Barbara Shellfish Company, sea lions, swimming |
By Melanie Haiken on August 21, 2012
Ever since I was a kid I’ve had a thing for swimming holes. My criteria are pretty standard: cold, clear, water, big sun-warmed rocks to spread yourself out on, the rushing sound of nearby rapids to soothe your mind. But there’s one more requirement that makes finding the perfect swimming hole more of a challenge. […]
Posted in Active & Adventure Travel | Tagged California, camping, hiking, river sports, Russian River, swimming, water sports |
By Melanie Haiken on December 9, 2010
The garden terrace at GlenEagles, perfect for breakfast I love the term the folks across the pond use for vacations: holidays, or “hols” for short. It’s perfectly descriptive, suggesting a sense of celebration and release. Another evocative term they use is “break,” as in the kids are on school break. It suggests a break from […]
Posted in Active & Adventure Travel | Tagged active travel, golf, Scotland, Spas |
By Melanie Haiken on September 15, 2010
Golden Era films set the tone in the lobby of the Hotel deLuxe Green, not glam, is the word usually associated with Portland these days. The city has become nationally known for its ethic of creative reuse, which permeates everything from clothing designers to restaurants. A form of reuse that’s too often overlooked is historic […]
Posted in Active & Adventure Travel | Tagged green travel, hotels, luxury travel, Oregon, Portland |
By Melanie Haiken on July 15, 2010
“I need my own personal expedition planner,” a friend said to me the other day at a party. “I want to plan biking and hiking trips but don’t know where to start.” I know the feeling. I could try to answer all the questions that turn up in post comments asking about bike rides, river […]
Posted in Active & Adventure Travel | Tagged active travel, adventure travel, biking, kayaking, river sports, water sports |
By Melanie Haiken on June 28, 2010
I’d never heard of river surfing until I was planning a recent trip to Montreal. Then suddenly it seemed it was all anyone asked about – “are you going to try surfing the St. Lawrence while you’re in Montreal?” I confess I was a bit perplexed. As a native Californian, I associate surfing solely with […]
Posted in Active & Adventure Travel | Tagged adventure travel, hotels, Montreal, river sports, surfing, water sports |
By Melanie Haiken on May 11, 2010
Does this sound familiar? You hear about a cute beach town, a quirky national landmark, a hike with views to die for — and you’re ready to hit the highway. But wait — you’ve got no one to go with. Do you forego your wanderlust? No, say a host of travel writers and bloggers, who […]
Posted in Active & Adventure Travel | Tagged safety, solo travel, travel tips, women |
By Melanie Haiken on April 21, 2010
Spring flowers may be the primary product of April showers according to conventional wisdom, and in the hills and green belt areas that ring the San Francisco Bay Area there are plenty of those. But another result of all that water is, well…. more water than most of us are used to. Which means certain […]
Posted in Active & Adventure Travel | Tagged active travel, adventure travel, hiking, nature, wildflowers |
By Melanie Haiken on April 2, 2010
Why does art make us happy? I asked myself that question over and over while staying at the Hotel Murano in Tacoma, Washington, where you can’t turn a corner without coming upon some startling confection of color, light, and shape. I fight a tendency towards a gloomy outlook, particularly in gray weather, which Tacoma in […]
Posted in Active & Adventure Travel | Tagged art, Tacoma, Washington |
