By staff writer Vicki Lathom. Photos Copyright © Vicki Lathom. Feature photo: Starfish in a boat’s spotlight on Little Bahama Bank THE BAHAMAS are much heard about but little understood. People think of Nassau, the hotels of Paradise Island, and giant cruise ships. The Abacos ain’t nothing...

Story by staff writer Betsy Villanella. Photos Copyright © Betsy Villanella. MY FAMILY used to have our own version of a secret garden, though it is much bigger than a garden. We live down the road from a state park. It’s not large compared to a lot of state parks in the US, but it has some beautiful...

By guest blogger Steven Hampshire. Photos Copyright © Steven Hampshire. AFTER SIX MONTHS of stagnate Surrey dwelling, the wife and I thought it might be nice to take an extended mini-break somewhere we hadn’t yet been. I wanted to drive, and Lindsay wanted to see some coast, so we figured “Why...

Story by staff writer JM Merchant. Photos Copyright © Joanna Abram. GETTING BACK ONTO the little green bus after our stay at Tatapouri was difficult. We were all reluctant to leave our newfound patch of paradise, but we knew there were more wonders to come. We were traveling with Kiwi Experience, an...

By staff writer Vicki Lathom. Photos Copyright © Vicki Lathom. TEMPERATURES IN THE mid-70s, a tropical breeze and palm trees seem to be an unlikely combination to celebrate a traditional Christmas. But it works for cruisers hanging out in the Bahamas for the winter at Abaco Boat Harbour. Around December,...

Story by staff writer Ann McElfresh. Photos Copyright © Ann McElfresh. TOM AND I were lucky enough to live in Sicily when we were young . . . seems like a lifetime ago, yet we remember it as if it were yesterday. One of the things we hoped to cross off our “bucket list” was to spend Christmas in...

Story by staff writer Judy Clement Wall. Photos Copyright © Judy Clement Wall. OVER THE Thanksgiving holiday weekend, I headed back up to Mt. Diablo to see if I could get some pictures of the breathtaking view that was less than breathtaking last time I visited. (See Rock City and The Legendary View...