Perceptive Travel Back Issues

December 2023

Big City Birding in Japan by Sneed B. Collard III
On a father-daughter trip to Japan, a birdwatcher hunts for new additions to his list in leafy parks and riversides in urban Tokyo, Kyoto, and beyond.

Why did you Come to Latvia? by Dave Seminara
Taking his family on vacation to a country he knows almost nothing about, a writer is smitten with castles and picturesque towns in Latvia while locals wonder what the fuss is about.

For a Lifelong Homeless Traveler, Music Marks the Place by Greg Cummings
The son of expats living in Africa reflects on a life of regular movement around the world and the music that defines the places and a traveler's memories.

Italy Meets Costa Rica in a New Urbanism Community for Neighborly Walkers by Tim Leffel
There's not much historic architecture from the Spanish Colonial era in Costa Rica, so how about we just create a pedestrian-friendly town that looks like a hillside Italian village by the sea? The unique Las Catalinas Costa Rica is an encouraging experiment in human-scale development.

Travel Book Reviews by Gillian Kendall
What is a traveler's motivation? Why would two men decide, separately, to row across the Atlantic, alone? Why would a woman with a successful career, home, and relationship take off for a year to visit the national parks? And why would an immigrant who had achieved the American dream opt out to embrace existence in a van? Three books, three deep explorations of four explorers' minds.

November 2023

Rapturous Terror and Finding The Sublime in Nepal by Richard Bangs
A legendary adventure traveler looks back at an ill-fated mountaineering expedition in Nepal and ponders the meaning of The Sublime in relation to awe and danger.

The Konso King and the Wakas of Ethiopia by James Michael Dorsey
In one of the more beautiful areas of southern Ethiopia there is an ancient tribal culture of the Konso people overlooked by most visitors.

Revisiting Childhood Roots Among the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California by Amy Habstrom
A writer returns to her childhood nature paradise, this time with her own family, to find out if the landscape she remembers and writes about is still the same.

Hiking Between the Mancomunadas Villages of the Sierra Norte, Oaxaca by Tim Leffel
In mountain villages where you can see your breath and fireplaces fight back the chilly winds, the Oaxacan people have banded together to promote sustainable tourism that supports the communities.

Travel Book Reviews by Susan Griffith
An epic journey by bicycle across Turkey and another on foot around England's Lake District, both providing very up-to-date coverage of local concerns. Plus a tour-de-force of the mapmaker's art, plotting places that exist only in fiction.

October 2023

The Lahaina Fires Aftermath: Tourism Conundrums in Maui by Norm Bour
A couple ponders their vacation stopover in Maui right after a devastating fire levels the historic city of Lahaina. Is their presence an affront or a godsend on an island where tourism is the main business?

Towering Cliffs and Tranquility: Kayaking the World's Largest Freshwater Lake by Tony Robinson-Smith
A writer discovers the wonders and perils of Lake Superior, the largest freshwater lake in the wolrd, and second deepest after Lake Baikal in Russia.

Experiencing the Worst Weather on Earth on Mount Washington, NH by James Michael Dorsey
The highest peak in the eastern USA has unimpressive altitude stats, but Mount Washington still manages to be the windiest place on the continent that's open to visitors.

A Salty Time at Las Coloradas: the Pink Lakes of Mexico by Tim Leffel
Can a sea salt factory become a big tourist attraction? At Las Coloradas Tourist Park in Yucatan State, pink lakes and flamingos anchor an area where an industrial park is surrounded by deserted beaches and lagoons filled with wildlife.

Travel Book Reviews by Gillian Kendall
Some travel really is about the destination, not the journey. In these three books (two by Perceptive Travel contributors), the authors go to find something in a specific place: spiritual insights in deserts of the American West; good meals and good times all over the world; and gray whales in a lagoon in Baja.

September 2023

In Search of Traditional Barbacoa on a Mexican Road Trip by Lydia Carey
Sometimes a quest can give a road trip needed structure, but a search for the best traditional barbacoa in central Mexico tests the patience (and guts) of two travelers heading out together.

Finding Stories on the Explorers' Route of Northern Quebec by David Lee Drotar
Stories of survival, overcoming obstacles, and battling the elements are common in the former fur trading areas where nomads and opportunists clashed in northern Quebec.

In Pursuit of Outsider Art in Morehead and Berea, Kentucky by Karen Gershowitz
A dedicated folk art collector heads south on several occasions to a major fair in Morehead, Kentucky, but a change in plans leads to a more personal connection.

Beer and Bubbles in the Czech Spa Towns by Tim Leffel
On a trip through Pilsen and the spa towns of Marianske Lazne and Karlovy Vary, a writer experiences the region’s essence through beer, biking, and a few long soaks.

Travel Book Reviews by Susan Griffith
Two books look into the past but without a hint of dry history: first a highly entertaining account of changing travel habits over the past two centuries; the other about places around the UK that have faded and vanished. Finally an exhortation to slow down as we travel and pay closer attention.

August 2023

Capri's Song of the Sea at a Bygone Beach Club by Susan Van Allen
After rhapsodic praise about a glamorous Capri beach club from her 80-something uncle in America, a writer puts her skeptical side on a shelf to see how the club who hosted singers and movie stars is faring in modern times.

Listening to Ravens' Cries in the Great Houses of Chaco Canyon by Glen Retief
A visitor arriving by rental car bakes in the New Mexico sun in exchange for experiencing the great structures of the Chacoans alone in the evening quiet.

Cruising Thailand's Chao Phraya River and Beyond with Admiral Zheng He by Harold Stephens
You think it's a big deal visiting 38 countries strung between Indonesia and East Africa? Try doing it in the early 15th century.

Island Hopping Greece on a Small Yacht Cruise by Tim Leffel
A writer joins 12 other passengers for a week of island hopping in the easternmost islands of Greece between Rhodes and Kos.

Travel Book Reviews by Gillian Kendall
A nurse travels several continents and many years to find her calling, an American woman hikes thousands of miles around the world to find the heart of the landscapes, and a couple turning 60 decide to go for a very long walk to find out if they can do it.

July 2023

Bridging the Gaps in Calcutta by Jim Johnston
A traveler returning to Calcutta encounters contrasts between the individualist culture of the west and the devotion and traditions of India.

Sharing the Republic of Georgia With the Street Dogs by K. Krombie
A writer's visit to the birthplace of Stalin comes accompanied by a constant stream of Georgian street dogs that vary in temperament from one location to the next.

Trying to Feel at Home in a Grand Castle in Ireland by Gillian Kendall
A couple checks into an Irish castle lodge with a long family history and tries to fit in where Mary Queen of Scots, Paul McCartney, and Mick Jagger all walked.

A Man and His Dragons in Southern Thailand by Tim Leffel
On a Thailand tour that's supposed to highlight pristine, unpopulated islands, the highlight turns out to be a man-made attraction created by a driven artist who turns roots into mythical creatures.

Travel Book Reviews by Susan Griffith
A 3,427-mile round-Britain bike ride to combat lock-down anxiety, an academic investigation of so-called Dark Tourism in both obvious and surprising corners of the travel industry, and a quick dash round 100 countries by the (possibly) first Black woman to visit every country.

June 2023

A Cu Chi Tunnels Tour of Vietnam by James Michael Dorsey
Reliving guerilla battle stations from a half century ago in the Viet Cong Cu Chi tunnels north of modern Ho Chi Minh City.

Tapas with Picasso in Malaga by Debi Goodwin
A traveler finds that tapas and wine in Andalucia come with a side of revelation about the company of strangers.

Fortresses and Feuds: the Maniot Land of Greece by Tim Leffel
In the wild, sparsely populated mountains in the southern Peloponnese Peninsula, lone towers bear witness to centuries of family feuding, micro-warlords, and isolation.

Untitled Story, from Asolo, Italy by Edward Readicker-Henderson
A writer counts his remaining days while touring a medieval hill town in Italy near Venice, contemplating what's worth spending time on and who to spend it with.

Travel Book Reviews by Gillian Kendall
A bike ride from Tahoe to the bottom of Baja, a memoir of working in arctic Alaska, and a children's book about connections across cultures.

May 2023

Conquering Fear on a Via Ferrata in Canada by Laurie Gough
After a helicopter ride into the Bugaboos of Canada, a 50-something mother puts aside her fear of heights to zipline over ravines and walk across suspended cables between rocky peaks.

An Oregon Coast Road Trip Brings Life Full Circle by Julia Hubbel
Sometimes it takes a long road trip to realize you love where you live. An Oregon resident gets a new perspective on home after a trip down a long-buried memory lane.

Hiking With a Boatload of Memories Around Saranac Lake, New York by David Lee Drotar
A writer entering his golden years looks back on one of his first jobs while hiking around Saranac Lake in the Adirondack Mountains.

Hiking Meteora Through the Monoliths and Monasteries by Tim Leffel
Bucking the normal tourist trend of blowing through a bucket list part of Greece in a hurry, a writer takes the slow route through the monastery region and rock towers by hiking Meteora between the looming mountains.

Travel Book Reviews by Susan Griffith
An account of camel expeditions in north Africa by an author who has been called “Indiana Jones for girls”, plus two illustrated books that traverse the globe in search of places celebrated in famous films and journeys made by famous writers.

March/April 2023

Hitchhiking by Dogsled and Prop Plane on Alaska's Iditarod Trail by Sherry Shahan
Years of adventure and tales of battles with nature along the famed dogsled race in Alaska: the Iditarod Trail.

Landing in Roswell for the Annual UFO Festival by Mark Aspelin
Alien chases and crawls, UFO lectures, human and pet costume contests, and more strange sights are around every corner at the annual UFO Festival in Roswell, New Mexico.

Finding Culinary Magic in Jala, Nayarit in Mexico by Tim Leffel
Far away from the upscale resorts and rolling waves of the beach region, a traveler heads inland in the Mexican state of Nayarit to find a slower-paced Mexico in the quiet "magic town" of Jala.

Discovering History and Myself: An American Jew's Trip to Israel by Norm Bour
After a traveler has a few strange physical transformations at historic religious sites, he makes plans to visit Israel as a non-practicing Jew to see if the spirit rains down or stays quiet.

Travel Book Reviews by Susan Griffith
A couple grapples with a terminal illness by walking 1,000 miles through Britain; a daughter of the Serbian diaspora faces her tragic heritage on repeated visits to her parents' depopulated but beautiful homeland; and the praises are sung of leaving behind conventional society to live and travel in a van.

February 2023

The Healing Power of Oregon Nature, With a View From Room 5 by Adam Sawyer
A writer who has lost a partner and most of his worldly possessions finds solace in the beauty of Oregon with the help of a generous inn owner and a healthy dollop of karma.

Cave Swimming and Castle Building on the Magdalen Islands by Tony Robinson-Smith
On the windswept, eroded shores of isolated Quebec islands in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, two visitors discover the local pastimes in a resilient land.

Vientiane Buddha Park: the Legacy of Bunleua Sulilat by James Michael Dorsey
One of the best-known attractions near the capital of Laos is a sculpture garden that was the obsessive work of one man, combining Buddhist, Hindu, and 20th-century motifs.

Grappling with Europe's Only Martial Art: Khridoli by Robin Esrock
On the north-eastern edge of cultural Europe, above the Asian part of Turkey, a writer dives into the little-known Khridoli art of fighting that the Georgians used to battle a long list of invaders.

Travel Book Reviews by Gillian Kendall
Three reads that answer the hard question: why? Why would anyone become a flight attendant, especially in the 1970s? Why would anyone climb Everest, especially in the 1920s? And why on earth would anyone, ever, travel with their family?

January 2023

Sneaking Into Stadiums: Family Football Days in Brazil and Uruguay by Dave Seminara
A writer enjoys a rowdy Rio Maracanã Stadium football experience with his sons in Brazil, then has to get extra creative for them to attend a match in Uruguay.

Chasing Gauguin in Tahiti by John Wright
Some 130 years after painter Gauguin lived the pauper's life in Tahiti, a writer goes in search of what's left of that world in the South Pacific.

An Atacama Desert Horseback Adventure Gets Kneecapped by Julia Hubbel
An epic horseback tour in the Atacama Desert, anticipated complete with hair flowing in the wind, presents different challenges with an untreated injury along for the ride.

Skiing on the Surface of the North Idaho Panhandle by Tim Leffel
Exploring the towns of northern Idaho and the ski slopes on its jagged mountains, a visitor ponders the whiteness both on the slopes and off as the Panhandle region squeezed between two states continues to evolve.

Travel Book Reviews by Susan Griffith
A London-Singapore overland expedition of 1955 recreated in 2019; how the challenges of traveling with children change as the family grows up; and ideas for how best to immortalize your travel experiences in a journal to enjoy in your dotage.

December 2022

Coming Home to Simon Rodia's Watts Towers by James Michael Dorsey
A writer who grew up a short distance away from the Watts Towers of greater Los Angeles looks back on his history in the neighborhood where Simon Rodia built his sculptures.

Lamborghini vs Ferrari by Robin Esrock
A travel writer who once had sports car posters on his childhood bedroom wall heads into the Italian homes of Lamborghini and Ferrari to see where it all happens and drive the sought-after vehicles into the countryside.

Oregon Orchards, Wine, and Waterfalls on a Mother-Daughter Adventure by Heidi Siefkas
When a daughter living in Hawaii and a mother living in Boston finally meet up after years of travel restrictions, an Oregon tour through the countryside becomes an ideal Plan C.

A Winter Solstice in Northern Spain by Beebe Bahrami
Experiencing the universal ritual of rebirth, light, and hope in Asturias, Colorado, ancient Persia, and Rome.

Travel Book Reviews by Gillian Kendall
How 27 men survived Antarctica, how Black motorists survived travel in the Jim Crow years, and how one writer survived a nearly-sinking ship.

November 2022

Meeting the Master of Meat in Tuscany by James Michael Dorsey
After a random "You must..." recommendation from a stranger on the phone, a visitor to Tuscany seeks out a legendary butcher and his dishes.

Tracking Turtles Along Kaisariani Trails in Greece by Jackie Craven
As wildfires threaten Athens, five poets discover surprising symbols of endurance in a forgotten monastery and a forest steeped in myth.

Rebuilding After Disaster, Tohoku's Food Industry Has Bounced Back in Japan by La Carmina
The 2011 earthquake and tsunami devastated the coast of Fukushima. A decade later, a new breed of farmers, fishermen and sake brewers have found innovative ways to rebuild in Tohoku.

Shadowy History and Secret Societies in New Haven by K. Krombie
New Haven, Connecticut is best known as the home of Yale University, but a visiting writer looks into the deathly side of the strange city and organizations shrouded in mystery, including the Knights of Columbus.

Travel Book Reviews by Susan Griffith
The elemental landscapes and unique culture of Iceland, contrast with sun-drenched sociable Spain as enjoyed by a slow train buff. Plus a fat anthology of tales of exploration and adventure that celebrate the human will to endure.

October 2022

In Bed With the Seal Team in Iceland by Rachel Dickinson
A month-long painting retreat in the countryside of Iceland turns into bedridden time with a rah-rah military action show when a cabinmate spreads a virus.

Searching for Nauru Tourism on a Troubled Tiny Island by Brandi Mueller
A scuba diver catches an island-hopper flight in the South Pacific to visit a strip-mined hunk of phosphate with a convoluted history that's still continuing.

Hiking the Heilbronner Weg in the Alps by Tony Robinson-Smith
Can a six-mile hike in the Austro-Bavarian Alps really take eight and a half hours? Yes, if you're on the Heilbronner Weg.

Puerto Rican Music, Mofongo, and Murals—Finding the Soul of a Limbo State by Tim Leffel
A set of Caribbean islands known as much for its frequent hurricane hits as anything finds the best way to cope with being a quasi-state of the USA is to hit the beach, eat well, and party on.

Travel Book Reviews by William Caverlee
Extreme backcountry skiing, tales from a lifetime of travel, and a book of photography highlighting the colorful northern lights displays in the northern skies.

September 2022

Evolving Views of History at the Whitman Mission Historical Site by Teresa Bergen
The historic stories we learn are colored by who tells them. Were the Whitman Mission founders hardy explorers who came west on the Oregon Trail to tame wild lands and save souls? Or racist invaders who got what was coming to them?

Looking for Home in a Coffee Growing Paradise in Colombia by Julia Hubbel
A lifetime wanderer looking to escape the USA for a more laid-back life heads to an area where caffeinated beans mix with slow small-town life, in the main coffee region of Colombia.

Lionfish Hunters of Tom Owen's Caye by David Alexander Baker
When a father sees the coral reefs disappearing faster than his daughter's childhood, he books a trip to a remote island in Belize for the two of them to become hunters of an invasive fish.

Freak Shows and Farces at the Ringling Circus Museum in Sarasota by Tim Leffel
With atmospheres of dark and light, pageantry and pain, the traveling circus has captivated creative writers since the first tent went up. The Ringling Circus Museum presents the stories behind the spectacles.

Travel Book Reviews by Susan Griffith
A collection of thoughtful essays that record transformative and memorable walks, a five-year journey round South America by a remarkable couple pursuing wildlife, and an affable account of a cycle ride from London to Edinburgh.

July 2022

Pierced Cheeks and Pain in Trang, Thailand by Tony Robinson-Smith
Two travellers discover that tofu satay and mango salad aren't on the menu at the Vegetarian Festival in Thailand, but mutilations are!

A Dispirited Ride to the Pyramids for a Tea in the Sahara Moment by Bull Garlington
A writer setting out with images of being Paul Bowles in the desert gets hit hard with reality when setting out for a sunset camel ride near the Great Pyramids of Egypt.

From Trash to Tables in a Tanzanian Safari City by Julia Hubbel
In the unlikely location of Arusha, Tanzania, a writer finds a company turning thrown-away plastic into high-end furniture for safari camps and homes.

Where the Moors of Spain Live On in Andalucia by Tim Leffel
A writer explores the long-ranging legacy of the Moors of Spain, a pivotal time in Europe that gets rushed over in most high school history classes.

Travel Book Reviews by Susan Griffith
Two intrepid women travelers, one who joins a source-to-sea river expedition in Guyana, the other cycles solo 7,000 miles to the Middle East, plus a well-curated collection of recent travel articles.

June 2022

Wedding Day on a Nile River Island in Egypt by Debi Goodwin
On an organized tour of Egypt, a country of big history, a traveler discovers it's the small moments that make a trip memorable.

The Argentinian Gaucho Horse Whisperer of Cordoba by Madelaine Triebe
In a change from the Argentine gaucho tradition of dominance by force to break a horse, a writer watches a horse whisperer establish trust through hours of interaction.

Seeing Our Ancestors Through the Dordogne Cave Paintings in France by Beebe Bahrami
Time-travel and reverence deep in the prehistoric caves of France: quiet time in Font-de-Gaume and Lascaux Valleys.

Orca Whales, Wildlife, and Wine on the San Juan Islands by Tim Leffel
A first-time visitors finds layers of surprises in the Salish Sea island region where whales and sea lions roam, by the once-disputed border between Washington State and Canada.

Travel Book Reviews by William Caverlee
A travel memoir of two years on a remote African island, travel inspired by the viking sense of adventure, and collections of photos and stories that introduce readers to the Nordic countries.

May 2022

Beloved Objects That Hold Our Travel Memories by Jeff Greenwald
A long-time travel writer reminisces about the objects he has collected over the years and the stories they represent.

Poison Ivy and Pitcher Plants: Paddling Kejimkujik National Park by Tony Robinson-Smith
Canoeing the backcountry lakes of Nova Scotia during sometimes rough weather, two Canadians come to appreciate nature's finer details.

Hitting the Brakes in Western Pennsylvania by David Lee Drotar
Exploring quirky museums in the countryside of rural Pennsylvania devoted to classic cars and more somber topics, a writer finds a place where America's untold stories line up.

Going with the Flow on the Pacific Coast Highway by Heidi Siefkas
A former tour guide and rental business owner tries to just let things happen on a camper van trip up the PCH from Los Angeles to Portland in America.

Travel Book Reviews by Susan Griffith
A diverting miscellany of short well-honed travelers' tales from around the world, a collection of encounters with nature around Britain by a gifted writer and ecologist, and a grueling long walk in West Africa in an attempt to discover what matters.

April 2022

Tlacotalpan's Candelaria: A Blend of Music and Adoration by Lydia Carey
A traveler discovers the beauty and music of the Candelaria Festival in Mexico's Caribbean Colonial town Tlacotalpan, Veracruz.

A Nepal Hike Gone Wrong: Suspended in an Altered State by Catina Noble
A novice hiker who embarks on the popular trek to Everest Base Camp ends up half-unconscious in a Nepali hospital for days instead.

To a Speck on a Map in Azerbaijan With the World's Most Extreme Travelers by Dave Seminara
When a group of country-counting, obsessive travelers heads to a usually off-limits part of Azerbaijan, camaraderie overcomes an underwhelming itinerary.

Fierce Battle Cries and Penis Gourds in the Wilds of New Guinea by Jackie Chase
A ceremonial tribal battle in the wildlands of Irian Jaya, New Guinea feels a bit too real for a mother who brought along her 14-year-old daughter.

Travel Book Reviews by William Caverlee
A wide-ranging guide to all things Italy, stunning photos from three of the world's most southern regions, and children's book about coral reefs that's just as enjoyable for adults.

March 2022

"Newly Opened Places" issue

February 2022

Don't Mention the War in Serbian Sarajevo by Kris Mole
Day-drinking immersion with ethnic Serbs in Sarajevo reveals some pretzel logic in the retelling of history.

Searching for Anything Real, Anything True in Mexico by Luke Maguire Armstrong
A man at the breaking point in an abusive relationship ponders the next move from the back of a police pickup truck in Mexico.

The Wild Beaches of the Oregon Coast: How Walrus Teeth Called Me Home by Julia Hubbel
A writer returns to an area on the Oregon coast that enchanted her decades earlier, at a time of year when the waves hitting the shore are at their most ferocious.

The New Stars of Community-based Tourism in Mexico: Melipona Honey Bees by Tim Leffel
Community-based tourism is thriving in the Yucatan state of Mexico, with some unlikely players in the spotlight: the stingless bees that produce the expensive melipona small-batch honey.

Travel Book Reviews by William Caverlee
An exhaustive and enlightening collection of railway drawings, a photographic journey to the USA's national parks, and a hard-core adventure woman's rough travels in Africa.

January 2022

Facing the Sea Wolf in Asturias, Spain by Beebe Bahrami
Local knowledge and remote footpaths in northern Spain lead to a wolf encounter and a deeper walk in the world.

Green Wine, Clay Pots, and Portugal Wineries by Lydia Carey
A traveler heading to Portugal for the first time gets a crash course in the local viniculture by visiting wineries in the Duoro Valley and Alentejo.

Sicily Through a Dark Lens of Violence by Camille Cusumano
A routine visit to Palermo shines a light on the island's underbelly in the No Mafia Memorial, a museum with a vengeance.

Humans and Beasts in the Wilds of East Africa by Julia Hubbel
A writer returns to Kenya and Tanzania in the midst of worldwide travel restrictions for five adventure-filled weeks, seeing the ongoing struggle between a growing human population and the wild animals that need room to roam.

Travel Book Reviews by Susan Griffith
Tales from a British TV host who makes programs in embattled corners of the world, the story of a man who sailed for years with a chicken, and a gripping tale about a con-artist who preyed on obsessive travelers.




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