Travel

[caption id="attachment_382796" align="aligncenter" width="570"] A view from behind the yellow line (for photography) in South Korea's Demilitarized Zone across to North Korea[/caption] As I looked across the Demilitarized Zone (a layered valley of autumn-tinged fields and soldiered fences) my heart sank with a heavy realization: Korea had more than governments, economics, armies, allies and living conditions dividing it; the landscape glowered at me as the greatest separation. North Korea was (and is) treeless. It's not that there were a few slopes...

Anytime someone hears the three letters TSA put together there's a good chance they aren't gong to jump for joy. Ever since the terrorist attacks on 9/11, and the many more attempts since then, airports all across the country have turned security checkpoints into the one thing travelers tend to loath more than flight delays.

Granted, the security personnel are just doing their jobs and there's a good chance they're no more thrilled about giving you that extra pat down than you are to be receiving it. Also, to be fair, there are a fair amount of people who should learn to read rules...

Being in the heart of Scotland’s capital city is like drifting into another era. The small city is dominated by the large castle which rests at the top of Castle Hill and marks the beginning of the Royal Mile. Strolling along the medieval streets that make up the Royal Mile is probably the best way to achieve the Edinburgh experience, as a lot of the main Edinburgh sites are in this area. Begin at the Castle and make your way east down the main road labeled ‘The Royal Mile.’ Explore such places as St. Giles Cathedral, with its famed crown spire and the numerous closes (underground streets) for free! There is also an incredible amount...

 

Livability.com recently named Northfield, MN, as the second best small town (less than 20,000 residents) of 2014 (Los Alamos, New Mexico somehow got the better of it). For those of us who have stayed in the not-so-sleepy community on the Cannon River, this comes as no surprise. In Northfield the level-headed Midwestern foundations (common throughout Minnesotan communities) mix with an almost European-like downtown riverfront, a love for eclectic...

Step aside North Shore and Wisconsin Dells, there's a new travel destination trying to make a name for itself. The new "RiverSouth" is a collaboration between Scott County cities Shakopee and Prior Lake and the area's main site attractions: The Renaissance Festival, Valleyfair, Mystic Lake Casino and Canterbury Park. The new campaign has dubbed the RiverSouth area as the Land of Big Fun. The group hopes to brand itself as a place to get away and enjoy yourself,...

Sometimes people reach a point in their lives when they need an adventure. For most people it happens after high school or college, and they have a grand adventure to mark the beginning of their adult lives. For some people it never happens or they just don’t act on it when they do. For me, my entire life has pretty much been an extenuation of this point. Finally, after a lifetime of short trips and enduring the constant desire to travel, see new places, and have new experiences, I decided it was time to pick up and move to Europe. At least for a little while. I secured an internship...

I am a self-confessed and unapologetic spouter of Minnesota pride. Whether scanning a state-themed “Top Ten” clickbait countdown making the social media rounds, for a mention of anything Minnesota, or catching up with college friends who were born and raised in other Midwestern states, I cannot help but confidently crow about the virtues and possibilities of my home state.

But this pride is born of gratitude and admiration for a certain environment; I acknowledge my demographic privilege, but nevertheless find myself emboldened...

A skyscraper, reaching towards the sky, lined in windows and shiny metal contrasts a centuries-old castle, dating back to the 1400s, built with old stones and complete with towers. These two things you would never imagine together, or expect to see side by side. But that is exactly what you see in London. London is a city of contrast, known for its modernity and smog (which I never experienced) and high fashion. Yet, it is also one of the oldest cities with a rich history. I remember visiting Boston with my mother when I was in high school. I was awe-struck by the amount of history within the city....

Close your eyes and picture everything that makes Minnesota home: the rolling green hills of the south, the tree-covered bluffs of the north, the many colors of the changing seasons. Now add over a thousand years of complex history, remains of ruins dating back all the way to the Roman empire, medieval cathedrals, and a distinct affection for beer. Now you’ve got a startlingly accurate image of Western Germany in your mind. When I arrived in Germany late last year, I was startled by how similar it was to home. I felt at home as the landscape was nearly identical to Minnesota. Even the weather and temperature were the same! If it hadn’t been for the signs written in German...