Travel Past 50

06/15/2026

Sitka National Historical Park is Alaska's oldest federally designated park, best known for its remarkable collection of Tlingit and Haida totem poles displayed along a mile-long trail through a coastal rainforest. The park also preserves the site of the 1804 Battle of Sitka between the Tlingit Kiks.ádi clan and Russian colonial forces, and houses a cultural center where Alaska Native artists demonstrate traditional carving, weaving, and beading. Click through to the post for photos and a practical guide for visiting this Sitka attraction.

A complete guide to Sitka National Historical Park — totem poles, Tlingit history, the visitor center, and practical tips for cruise and independent travelers.

06/11/2026

Wildlife in Alaska, so far. Sea otter, sea lions, bald eagle, and mountain goat. Not including sightings of brown bear, humpback and orca whales, and all sorts of birds.

06/10/2026

Happy place, on the water near Haines, Alaska. A good introduction to the glacial mountain scenery and nature all around.

06/08/2026

Be sure to allow an extra day or two in Juneau, before the start of your journey. The Alaska State Museum’s collection showcases both natural and human history. We enjoyed a temporary exhibit: retrospective of Dorothy Grant’s haute couture, bringing Indigenous fashion to the world stage. Added bonus: our visit overlapped with the biennial Indian Celebration. Many artist pop-up booths and performances, a great way to learn how designs represent family and clan history.

06/06/2026

Great minds think alike. The day the New York Times features gazpacho happens to the the same day we updated our recipe: How We Make it at Home

Spain's signature gazpacho is our favorite summer food. The cold tomato soup has infinite variations. Here's Kris's gazpacho recipe, adapted over the years and using Minnesota farmers' markets' best seasonal produce.

06/03/2026

I had a lot of fun putting these together. Some are pretty funny, others are pretty smart. A good mix if you're interested in travel.

Tom's personal collection of 115 travel quotes — inspiring, funny, and a few you've never seen before. Curated from 16 years and 80+ countries of travel.

05/26/2026

An easy listen packed with fun stories and interesting background about Jerez de la Frontera. The award-winning Amateur Traveler podcast includes some reporting from yours truly in this episode about Spain's 2026 Culinary Capital. Take a walk and listen in.

Explore Cádiz and Jerez in Spain, with sherry, Andalusian horses, flamenco, beaches, ancient history, and standout food. The 2026 Culinary Capital of Spain.

05/26/2026

I just did a week's review course of my Spanish in Málaga. In addition to Málaga being one of my favorite Spanish cities, it was huge fun to be with other "over 50s" to share the language, food, and culture of a great city. ,

Why taking a Spanish class abroad is the best slow-travel hack for adults over 50 — sharper brain, deeper culture, and real friendships. Here's how we did it in Málaga.

05/21/2026

05/19/2026

We first visited Andalucía in 1975, but Jerez de la Frontera has only recently grabbed our attention. Spain's Gastronomic Capital for 2026, this remarkable city in Cádiz province is the birthplace of sherry wine, flamenco, and the legendary Carthusian horse. We dove into all three — but were also mightily impressed with the food. The well-deserved culinary recognition plays on both the traditional dishes and heritage products of the area, but also on the artistry of chefs like Javier Muñoz whose restaurant La Carboná delivers a food experience that is both approachable and complex. Wow.

Our new guide covers the best sherry bodegas and vineyards, the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art, authentic flamenco at Tabanco El Pasaje, and restaurants ranging from a roadside venta to fish fry 'freieria' to white tablecloth affairs.

This is one of Spain's most rewarding — and most underrated — destinations. Read the full guide at the link. 👇

Spain's Gastronomic Capital 2026: our firsthand guide to Jerez's best sherry bodegas, Carthusian horses, flamenco tabancos, and restaurants.