Category: Travel

  • T-Mobile Simple Choice Plan

    I switched to AT&T when the first iPhone was released and have had no coverage issues for the most part. Of course, if I ventured to the Grand Canyon or another remote part of the United States, all bets were off, but that is to be expected. The one thing I did not like about…

  • Helix Community Science Center, Los Altos, CA

    Helix by Exploratorium is a children’s science center located on State Street in Los Altos, CA. In the Bay Area, larger science museums provide more of an all-day experience. In contrast, Helix is a place for local kids to spend an hour or two in an educational environment. The center is a two-story facility with…

  • Hiller Aviation Museum

    I’ve driven past Hiller Aviation Museum in San Carlos, CA many times. This afternoon, I finally set foot in the museum and was really impressed with the exhibits. In the lobby, a replica of the Wright Brothers’ plane floats above your head. In the cavernous exhibit hall, you can see an impressive collection of helicopters…

  • Mission Peak Regional Preserve

    I climbed up to Mission Peak in the Mission Peak Regional Preserve, which is located at the end of a suburban street in Fremont, California. I arrived shortly before 8 a.m. on a weekend and the parking lot was full. In fact, the entire street leading to the preserve was full. First off, this was…

  • D-Day Tours

    Next week, Normandy will celebrate the 70th anniversary of D-Day. I was in Normandy last December and signed up for a tour of Normandy with Christophe Gosselin of Normandy Heritage Tours. My adventure started at the Paris Saint Lazare station. I am glad that I arrived early at the station because I needed every single…

  • Musée des Arts Forains

    On January 1st, I was in Paris. The only problem was that almost all the regular tourist attractions were closed. Fortunately, a few searches on Google along the lines of Paris open new year suggested the Musée des Arts Forains. Despite visiting their website and viewing their numerous photos, I still could not figure out…

  • Bay Area Discovery Museum

    Located across the Golden Gate Bridge, the Bay Area Discovery Museum offers an engaging experience for young children. During our visit, the museum offered a Framed: Step Into Art exhibit. Basically, the exhibit displays a work of art with the usual description of the artist and the work. However, the exhibit also brought the art…

  • Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo

    The Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo is a great San Francisco Bay Area destination for children. Located in Palo Alto, the museum offers fun and education exhibits targeted towards its young visitors. The exhibits at the museum do change. The current one is focused on bugs, which showcases various insects. Outside, you can see…

  • Eshom Campground, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park

    While trying to find a campground at Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park on short notice, I came across Eshom Campground, which had a camp site open for reservations. On Google Maps, the campground appears a short drive from Grant Grove. But, in this case, appearances can be deceiving. On the ReserveAmerica website, the location…

  • Sweetwood Group Camp at Half Moon Bay State Beach

    We went camping a few weeks ago at the Sweetwood Group Camp site in Half Moon Bay State Beach. Reserve America rated Sweetwood as primitive, which certain gave me some pause. I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect. As it turned out, we were far from being consigned to the Stone Age at this camp…