Travel

ABOVE PHOTO: Frank Lloyd Wright house “Falling water” (Jim Packett/Shutterstock) By Renée S. Gordon Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands, recognized for its sheer beauty, inspires visitors to take the long way home, seek out the hidden path and wander in search of the endless possibilities the area offers. (laurelhighlands.org)  Laurel Highlands was home to native tribes —…

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BPT If you’re planning to travel for the holidays this year, you’re not alone. Over 107 million people traveled last year for the holidays, according to estimates from the American Automobile Association (AAA), and more than 97 million of them did so along the nation’s highways. If you plan to join them this year, traffic…

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ABOVE PHOTO:  Berkeley Skyline  (Photo: By JorisB1995 / Shutterstock)   By Renée S. Gordon Northern California was home to nearly 300,000 indigenous people prior to the arrival of Russian and Spanish Europeans in the 1700s. The major tribe being the Ohlone, also known as the Costanoan. European arrival, the establishment of missions and the Gold…

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ABOVE PHOTO:  Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa  (Photo: meunierd / shutterstock)   By Renée S. Gordon “All the leaves are brown, and the sky is gray / California dreaming on such a winter’s day.” –Mamas & the Papas California Polytechnic State University (established 1903) and Cuesta Community College (established 1965) are located at the…

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ABOVE PHOTO:  Alf Museum  (Photo: Renée S. Gordon)   By Renée S. Gordon While academic programming may be considered the most important factor in selecting a college, also essential to success are both the campus and local culture. College tours are an excellent way to experience a slice of student life, obtain specific admission and…

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ABOVE PHOTO:  The Petermans visit to the Carl Sandburg home   By Karen Chavez ASHEVILLE CITIZEN-TIMES/AP ASHEVILLE, N.C.–There were some sketchy moments as Tanya Cummings thought her self-described “short, little legs,’’ wouldn’t get her up and over the boulders way taller than her 4-foot-11, well-coiffed and manicured frame, or out of the deep woods in…

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ABOVE PHOTO: American Falls and Maid of the Mist boat on Niagara River.  (Vlad G/Shutterstock) By Renee S. Gordon The 400-acre Niagara Falls State Park is situated on the New York side of the Falls and is the oldest state park in the country. It was developed in 1885, approximately 10,000 years after its natural creation,…

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BPT Foodies with adventurous palates might be tempted to vacation in El Salvador just to enjoy its array of delectable local dishes. Of course, the green and lushly tropical country called “Land of Jewels” by the locals has much to offer beyond cuisine. Visitors can enjoy volcanoes, beaches, archaeological sites, artisan communities and culturally rich…

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NEWSUSA A former Nevada school for Indian children continues its mission of education, but now as a museum and educational center for tribal arts and culture. The Stewart Indian School in Carson City, Nevada, was opened by the federal government in 1890 with the goal of educating Indian children. The school’s original goals included assimilating…

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ABOVE PHOTO:  Freedom Wall   (Photo: Renée S. Gordon)   By Renée S. Gordon The Buffalo-Niagara Corridor in Western New York has the distinction of having always been both a permanent sanctuary and a reliable embarkation point. Geography, accessibility to the Falls and Lake Erie and proximity to Canada contribute to the region’s international flavor,…

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