Since a photo is worth 1,000 words, as they say, we invite you to join us pictorially on a recent cruise through the wonders of Chile's Patagonia and Antarctica onboard the luxurious Seabourn Venture. Enjoy our photo essay on USATODAY10Best, as well as a complete photo gallery of this unforgettable adventure on our PHOTOGRAPHY WEBSITE.
Savor The Beauty of Europe's Rhine River on an AmaWaterways Cruise
Enjoy our photo gallery of a glorious cruise down the Rhine River on the AmaWaterways AmaMora, from Amsterdam to Basel, published recently on USATODAY 10BEST
In addition, check out our CRUISE PHOTOGRAPHY GALLERY to enjoy a detailed compilation of each part of this magical trip along one of Europe’s most picturesque rivers.
ENJOY A VIRTUAL TOUR OF THE CHARMING AND HISTORICAL TOWNS OF LOS CABOS
The region of Los Cabos, the southernmost tip of Mexico’s Baja Peninsula, boasts a sunny year-round climate making it a perfect destination for water sports and other outdoor activities. While the coastal town of Cabo San Lucas is famous for its bustling nightlife, luxury hotels, shopping and recreational options, several charming towns lie between the desert and the Pacific ocean and the Sea of Cortez that are definitely worth a visit. These include the tranquil old towns of San Jose del Cabo, Todos Santos, as well as the coastal city of La Paz, gateway to Espiritu Santo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where several of its plants and animals are found nowhere else in the world.
Take a virtual tour of these cities on our recent gallery published recently on USATODAY10Best.
ENJOY A VIRTUAL PHOTO TOUR OF BAJA CALIFORNIA'S LOS CABOS & THE CHARMING TOWNS THAT SURROUND IT
UPDATE: View our photo essay of our magical trip, published today (January 25) on the USATODAY 10Best site, for a tour of all the beautiful destinations you can enjoy on day trips from Cabo San Lucas.
We just returned from an unforgettable tour of Los Cabos, the southernmost tip of the Baja Peninsula, which boasts over 350 days of sunshine a year. Los Cabos, with its charming streets and bustling nightlife, is definitely a destination in itself. But did you know that between the Mexican desert and the beautiful ocean lie spectacular resorts, authentic and organic cuisine, an array of adventure activities, and the picturesque and tranquil old towns of San Jose del Cabo, Todos Santos, Pescadero, and the port of La Paz?
When you look at our gallery of our Espiritu Island day trip with Baja Expeditions, you’ll see why Oceanographer Jacques Costeau called Cabo’s Sea of Cortez the Aquarium of the World, thanks to its abundance of marine life.
Take a tour of this extraordinary region on our photo site and hopefully it will encourage you to visit soon. Throughout our visit, we noted that COVID protocols were definitely in place, with mandatory mask wearing among all visitor industry employees, as well as visitors and locals, and the highest standard of cleanliness precautions taken in hotels and public areas.
VISIT OUR ENTIRE PHOTO GALLERY HERE
VIRTUALLY EXPLORE THE WORLD WITH THESE PHOTO TOURS
While we wait for the time when we can once again travel the world freely, armchair travel will fill two purposes: to lift our spirits, while inspiring us to contemplate future travel adventures. Hopefully a virtual tour of these 10Best photo galleries will do both, and encourage us to dream and plan.
We’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite destinations, with links to photo galleries of each, and invite you to sit back and enjoy some armchair travel on our post at both USATODAY and its travel affiliate, USATODAY 10Best.
TAKE A PHOTO TOUR OF A MAGICAL CRUISE ALONG THE DALMATIAN COAST
One of the countless memories of our @Windstar cruise from Venice to Athens was a stop at the stunning island of Hvar, off Croatia's Dalmatian coast. We climbed up to the medieval Fortica fortress for panoramic views of the the medieval Old Town, islands and the blue Adriatic sea.
Since a photo is worth 1,000 words, I wanted to share some of the truly spectacular images we captured along the way.
The entire gallery of images from this oh-so-memorable voyage can be viewed on our JOANNE & TONY DIBONA PHOTOGRAPHY SITE. I hope you enjoy viewing these images as much as we did taking them.
San Antonio Texas--What's Old is New
While San Antonio, Texas is deservedly proud of its iconic landmark, The Alamo, the city offers a wide variety of attractions and activities for visitors of all ages. The recent expansion of the world-famous River Walk has also stimulated renovation projects of historical sites along its way, as well as new construction. A cultural tourism mecca, San Antonio's history can be seen today in its 18th century Missions and historic downtown, as well in its many outstanding museums. Recreational activities abound along the river and in the city's parks and neighborhoods. Colorful festivals year-round, a rich ethnic heritage, a vibrant dining scene, and a convention center expansion are just some of the reasons visitors continue to make their way to San Antonio for business and pleasure.
All photos © Joanne DiBona © Tony DiBona, All Rights Reserved
CLICK ON ARROWS AT RIGHT TO VIEW A PHOTO GALLERY OF SAN ANTONIO
Things to Do in San Diego---All Year Round
It’s no secret that San Diego is one of the nation’s most appealing vacation destinations--for so many reasons. Combining year-round, near perfect weather with a spectacular natural setting, the region is home to exciting theme parks, world-class arts and culture, unlimited outdoor recreation, a vibrant downtown, eclectic dining options, top-rated resorts and spas, a rich history dating back to the 18th century, a dazzling variety of shopping opportunities, and 70 miles of glorious beaches, just to name just a few of its attractions!
In fact, San Diego is home to such a plethora of exciting things to see and do for persons of every age and budget, it can be overwhelming for a potential visitor to choose from such a wealth of options. To put some fun and ease into the planning process, check out some sample itineraries in the PHOTO GALLERY below and enjoy my recommendations for a fun-filled day or two (or more!) in beautiful San Diego.
Photos, All Rights Reserved © Joanne DiBona CLICK ON ARROWS BELOW FOR SLIDE SHOW
A Springtime Trek Through Old Japan: The Kiso Road
There is no better way to discover the beauty of Japan than by seeing it on foot.
Walk Japan a pioneer of off-the-beaten-path walking tours of the country, offers a wide variety of excursions for every fitness level in key locations throughout Japan. Check out my photo essay, recently published on
which details a magical Walk Japan trip that took us from the modern city of Nagoya to the historic old city of Matsumoto via the ancient Kiso Road and Nakasendo Way.
IF YOU GO: TRAVEL ESSENTIAL TIPS FOR A TRIP TO JAPAN
Everyone worries about staying connected while traveling abroad—and about racking up hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars in roaming charges with your local provider if you aren’t careful.
One solution many opt for is to purchase a roaming data bundle from your U.S. provider. But I found a less expensive and extremely effective solution through CellHire. The company offers super fast 4G-LTE coverage with unlimited data (and that is the key here, as you will need it to access maps, information, Skype and your favorite social networks) for $14.95 a day-$79 a week-$159 a month. They also allow five users to connect to the MIFI, so this is a no brainer for families or people traveling in groups.
The connectivity was flawless. Whether I was in a train speeding through the Japanese Alps, overnighting in a remote mountain inn, or walking through city streets, this device was a lifesaver. Very simple to use, it also boasts hours of battery life. Sweet!
Cellhire also offers a variety of other connectivity options, so check them out before your next trip abroad.
Powering Up
My internet connectivity issue being solved, my next worry was how to power my phone and laptop while I was traveling on foot over hiking trails and by train from town to town. This is when my Apelpi external battery charger came to my rescue.
In addition to packing a hefty 6400 mAh capacity via two USB ports (and robust enough to charge multiple devices throughout the day), this charger doubles as a fashion statement. Who can resist a red (or pink or green) apple doing its thing next to your phone or tablet? Light-weight and extremely durable (it was dropped by mistake a few times and survived the abuse), this will definitely be my favorite tech accessory on my future trips.
Keeping Healthy
Sure, keeping connected on international trips is important…..but so is keeping healthy.
I had heard about the importance of wearing compression socks on lengthy international flights for people with deep vein thrombosis and other circulatory disorders, but I never considered them for myself—until I ran across the stylish RejuvaHealth line!
The company features a series of slimming, shaping and supportive stockings, leggings and socks that utilize graduated compression to relieve soreness, pain, and reduce the swelling that often occurs on long flights.
Figuring it was worth a try, I opted for a pair of Rejuva Knee High Coolmax compression socks for the flight as well as a pair of black footless compression leggings for the walking trails. I selected the 15-20 compression level, which was perfect for me.
To be honest, I didn’t expect much. But now I am convinced I will never fly again without a pair of compression socks nurturing my restricted circulation! I can’t believe what a difference they made in my comfort during that long flight, especially when I couldn’t move my legs except for under the seat for hours on end.
The leggings also made a significant difference on our trek--when we hiked more than 7 miles daily—in that I didn’t get the soreness in my calves as I expected. I’ll soon add more RejuvaHealth items to my travel wardrobe, to be sure.
Apostle Islands National Lakeshore: A Destination for All Seasons
The quaint town of Bayfield Wisconsin, on the shores of Lake Superior, is the gateway to the magnificent Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, a year-round visitor destination. Enjoy a slide show highlighting the culture and natural beauty of this area by logging on to 10BEST/USATODAY Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.
Hearst Castle: America's Favorite Palace
Hearst Castle is a national and historical landmark located at San Simeon, on the central coast of California. It was designed by architect Julia Morgan between 1919 and 1947 for newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst. Its considerable collection of art and antiques spanning thousands of years is open for public tours. The castle is a part of the California State Park System and attracts millions of visitors from around the world annually.
For more photos and commentary on Hearst Castle, please visit my 10BEST/USA TODAY article, as well as my complete PHOTO GALLERY.
Italian Ambiance on the Southern California Coast
The Southern California coastline is dotted with luxury resort properties ready to welcome leisure and business travelers-- such as the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort in Dana Point.
Elkhart Lake: Wisconsin's Historic Playground
The state of Wisconsin is filled with charming, historical visitor destinations, such as Elkhart Lake.
Please enjoy my USA Today photo show on this delightful town. Visit my Elkhart Lake Photo Gallery for more images of this charming Wisconsin destination.
Scenic Photo Tour of the Beauty of Maine
I hope you enjoy this USA Today Travel photo tour of the glorious images of Maine. Please find more photos of this picturesque state on my MAINE PHOTO GALLERY.
Acadia National Park, Maine's Crown Jewel
If you are traveling to Maine, you must include Acadia National Park in your itinerary. My photo essay on the national park is featured on USA Today's 10Best.com.
ACADIA NATIONAL PARK, MAINE'S CROWN JEWEL
See more photos of this visit on my PHOTO GALLERY of our adventure at Acadia National Park.
Following in Darwin's Footsteps--Glorious Images of the Galapagos Islands
Ever dream about a trip to the Galapagos Islands? I have for years, and I finally was able to check it off my travel bucket list. Enjoy my photos of this enchanting archipelago as we follow in Darwin's footsteps.
Yosemite National Park: Off-Season Beauty Worth Discovering
Yosemite National Park is a destination for all seasons. Each year, millions of visitors are drawn to its magnificent granite cliffs, thundering waterfalls, giant sequoia groves, and awe-inspiring vistas. In late fall and winter, the visitor can enjoy the crisp air and spectacular scenery at a more leisurely pace than during the crowded summer months. Accommodations are more readily available and affordable. Clear blue skies, spectacular fall foliage, and snow-capped mountain peaks create postcard-perfect scenes.
View a photo slide show on USA TODAY/10Best on the wonders of Yosemite in off-season.
Discover Italian Heritage in America's Neighborhoods
The great European migration to the United States between 1880 and 1920 brought millions of immigrants to the nation's shores, which included some 4 million Italians. These original families and their descendants all left their mark on the traditions that remain alive today in Italian neighborhoods across the nation. Pictured in this show are a handful of the many cities and towns across the United States with Italian roots, where one can find a true taste of Italy in the heritage that remains remarkably intact in these colorful ethnic neighborhoods.
VIEW A USATODAY/10Best photo show of America's Italian neighborhoods
View article on USA TODAY on the best Italian Neighborhoods in America
The Castello di Amorosa Takes You Back to 13th Century Tuscany--in Napa Valley!
The Castello di Amorosa winery, which looms high on a hill located near the town of Calistoga in Napa Valley, is a authentically-styled replica of a Medieval Tuscan castle built by Dario Sattui, owner of the V. Sattui Winery in St. Helena, Ca. Built in 2007 on 8 levels both above and below ground, the castle also serves as a functioning winery known for its reserve Cabernet Sauvignon as well as other varietals. The winery offers several wine tasting experiences, including food and wine pairings and wine aficionado tours that focus on high-end, specialty wines.
ENJOY A USATODAY/10BEST photo tour of the Castello
Carmel-by-the-Sea, California-Classic & Cool
Internationally known for its scenic beauty and rich artistic history, Carmel-by-the-Sea lies on a gently rising slope above a magnificent white beach on California's Monterey Peninsula, some 200 miles south of San Francisco. Despite its relatively small size, Carmel-by-the-Sea offers the visitor a plethora of activities and experiences. These include fine dining, wine-tasting, historical walking tours, hiking, shopping, art collecting, golf, performing arts, spas, and beach activities. It is also a preferred location for destination weddings and romantic escapes. Carmel-by-the-Sea is strategically located near popular destinations such as Cannery Row, Big Sur, Carmel Valley, and the 17-Mile Drive, making it a perfect spot from which to explore the entire Monterey peninsula.