North America

Learn much about the Spanish, then Mexican, expansion of influence in California through mission settlements. San Francisco Solano was the last of these missions, named after a saint.

Howard Park is one of those true hidden gems that offers a beautiful beach area combined with a wonderful multipurpose park that has something for everyone.

Part of the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, Mission San Juan Capistrano is known for its bell tower. Part of it is in ruins. See photos and videos.

If you live in or are visiting Pittsburgh during Christmas time, be sure to catch the city's famed holiday lights. You can see the main attractions on foot in about an hour. It's fun, it's free and it's colorful.

Itinerary of a day trip to Helen, Georgia, focused on traveling with children and on a budget. Includes waterfalls, Charlemagne's Kingdom, Babyland General, and Mountain Fresh Dairy. Helton Creek Falls. Raven Cliff Falls. Anna Ruby Falls.

The Orange Show Foundation is an homage to the imagination and creativity of Jeff McKissack. Built on Houston's east side, you must see this to believe it!

The Moraga Steps located in the Sunset district of San Francisco are a hidden tourist attraction. This little-known site is far away from other tourist attractions and offers a beautiful view of the city and the ocean from the top.

Information and photos of the Great Stupa Of Dharmakaya, a Buddhist shrine near Red Feather Lakes, Colorado.

Read about my visit to Hollywood Forever Cemetery. This is a cemetery like no other—full of burial places for loved ones, monuments to famous Hollywood actors, cultural and entertainment center, garden beauty, classic architecture, sites on National Register of Historic Places, and more.

Of all the Michigan Lighthouses, those on Lake Superior stand alone. Lake Superior is a cold, deep lake that often acts more like an ocean and has claimed more lives than any other Michigan Lake. Join me as I travel up the shipwreck coast exploring the lighthouses along the way.

Some information and photos of Dzibilchaltún, the small Mayan archeological site on Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula.

With nearly a dozen visits to Montréal under my belt, I know a thing or two about the place. Here's my guide to this modern North American city with a European vibe.

Thanks to the Rosenberg Arts Alliance, local artists have painted a number of outdoor benches in the historic downtown area.

Learn about the countless things that make living in Houston or visiting this large metropolitan city worthwhile. We have an abundance of things to see and do here!

The FDR Presidential Library and Museum on the eastern side of the state and Forest Lawn to the west are two historic NY sites worth visiting.

Located in the charming historic village of Somesville on Mount Desert Island, the Somesville Bridge creates a stunning reflective panorama and is one of the most photographed bridges in Maine.

One of the most photographed places in Houston is the Williams Water Wall near the Galleria Shopping Mall. Wedding photos & more are taken there.

Cornelius Nursery in Houston is worth visiting all year long. Still, at Christmastime, the sights, sounds, and smells of the season make it a fantasyland!

The Chapel of St. Basil is an architectural marvel designed by architect Philip Johnson in 1997 located on the University of St.Thomas campus in Houston.

Red Queen's Attic is a large family-owned antiques and collectibles store in downtown Rosenberg, TX. The wide aisles and artful displays enable fun shopping.

The Tim Bailey sculpture titled "Shady Grove" in Houston's Eleanor Tinsley Park holds meaning for victims of crime. It is one of several notable sculptures in this park.

The "Monument au Fantôme" by Jean Dubuffet in Discovery Green Park, located in downtown Houston adds much to the public art scene in our art-loving city.

Houston's historic Washington Cemetery was originally a German Cemetery. It has many beautiful gravestones, some of which date back to the 1800s.

Shady Lane Park teaches people about the importance of bayous in the Houston area. It has nature-inspired playground equipment, a splash pad, a community center, and more.

Chong Hua Sheng Mu Holy Palace, with its golden geodesic dome, is a Houston oddity. Although designated a non-profit entity, the construction ceased. Learn why here.

Located in Cypress, TX, the 58-acre Little Cypress Creek Preserve is a rustic nature reserve amid surrounding subdivisions. Birders like this place!

The pretty 6.5-acre Paseo Park is on the wide esplanade of Bellaire Boulevard in Bellaire, TX. It has a streetcar, art, clock, war memorial, and historical markers.

The Houston Heights WWII Memorial honors all those from the Heights who served their country, both living and dead, during that war. It is a beauty!

The "Texas Legacy" sculpture is one of many beautiful Western sculptures near Carruth Plaza, the Astrodome and NRG Stadium in Houston. See photos here.

View the delightful, eye-catching murals that have been painted on the side of the Houston hair salon called Roots the Salon, located in the Montrose area.

Located in western Houston, Congressman Bill Archer Park is a popular dog park for both large & small canines. A small skate park is also located there.

Enjoy seasonal activities like Mardi Gras in Galveston, or hit the beaches, visit museums and historic houses, eat fresh seafood, take cruises, and more!

Primavera is an annual springtime event in the Houston Galleria mall. Landscaping companies set up displays all throughout the mall and bring the wonders of outdoors inside.

Mandell Park is one of the many Urban Harvest community gardens in Houston located in the Montrose area. Community involvement has beautified this spot.

Hermann Park is filled to the brim with attractions, including golf, an outdoor theater, museum, zoo, lake, Japanese garden, miniature railroad, playgrounds, and so much more.

The Eastside Farmer's Market is held each Saturday from 8 AM to noon. In addition to fresh produce, there are flowers, food trucks, entertainment and more.

Once a month, there is a free miniature-train ride for everyone to experience in Zube Park located in Hockley, TX. See soccer fields and other amenities.

The Seabourne Creek Nature Park in Rosenberg, Texas, consists of 164 acres of open prairie, lake, wetlands, and bird sanctuary. It is educational and amazing!

The Teo Chew Temple is a Vietnamese Buddhist Temple located in southwest Houston. The Teochew people who came here from Vietnam operate this sanctuary.

One item that makes Evelyn's Park in Bellaire, TX, unique is the fantastic sculpture of Alice in Wonderland and the Mad Hatter Tea Party.

Theis Attaway Park is a 4-acre nature preserve in Tomball, Texas, with a pond, observation platform, amphitheater, 1/4-mile trail, lawn area, and restrooms.

There are many eye-catching murals painted on the exterior of the art studios at Silver Street Studios in Houston. Take a look and learn about the artists.

August Antiques Store in the Houston Heights has a fantastic variety of items for sale, including salvaged windows and doors, religious articles, books, and more. The building also has history!

The 80-acres of Kickerillo-Mischer Preserve has forested areas + 40-acres of Marshall Lake. View wildlife, walk the trails, enjoy scout activities & more.

Listening Vessels are stone sound sculptures in downtown Houston's Discovery Green Park. People can sit and whisper and hear one another from 70 feet apart!

Plan a visit to Glenwood Cemetery in Houston (origin, 1871) to see opulent gravestones in a breathtaking setting. Many prominent people are buried here.

One of Houston's oldest fountains, the antique dolphin fountain, is located in the half-acre Lamar Park in the Hyde Park neighborhood established in 1893.

"Frozen Laces - One" is a steel sculpture installation in downtown Houston created by well-known artist Louise Nevelson. See photos and videos about her life story.

Goforth Park in Cypress, TX, named after Harris County Deputy Darren Goforth, consists of a playground, dog park, and a 1.97-mile trail surrounding water.

Oyster Creek Park in Sugar Land, Texas, is a beauty! Trails, spectacular water features, art, a pavilion, lawn spaces, and more delight people of all ages.