Travel Bug by Marybeth Bond Sheppard
Alaska by sea: Bears, glaciers and everything in between
Tiburon travel writer Marybeth Bond Sheppard’s fourth trip to Alaska: 13 days from Seattle on Oceania’s Riviera, a small ship that sailed deep into the bay at Hubbard Glacier.
By MARYBETH BOND SHEPPARD ·
Bhutan charts its own path in the Himalayas
Bhutan charges foreign visitors a $100-per-day sustainable development fee — currently half the standard rate — which funds free healthcare and education for all citizens.
By MARYBETH BOND SHEPPARD ·
Exploring the high country offers fresh approach to Yosemite
Over the past three years, I have been questioning whether Yosemite was worth the frustration.
By MARYBETH BOND SHEPPARD ·
Mediterranean cruise crosses continents and cultures
Over 11 days, the Travel Bug explored two continents and four countries, immersing ourselves in rich culture and history while celebrating a milestone anniversary.
By MARYBETH BOND SHEPPARD ·
Provence offers inside look at magic world of truffle hunting
In the rolling hills of Provence, a timeless tradition unfolds each winter: the hunt for truffles.
By MARYBETH BOND SHEPPARD ·
Grand County an adventurous gateway to Rocky Mountains
Colorado is an adventure-lover’s paradise, brimming with opportunities for skiing, hiking, fishing and exploring the breathtaking Rocky Mountain National Park. When my husband and I landed in Denver, we picked up our rental car and set off on a scenic drive of about 100 miles to Grand County. Our goal was to soak in the stunning fall colors, watch the elk rutting and explore Rocky Mountain National Park. While the eastern entrance through Estes Park draws around 80% of the park’s visitors,...
By MARYBETH BOND SHEPPARD ·
An island-hopping cruise in Greece
My husband, Gary, and I recently took a Holland America cruise that included stops on four Greek islands and the Turkish coast. A bonus was the luxury of unpacking just once. Before our cruise could set sail into the Mediterranean, our adventure began in Athens. On our first evening, we discovered an outdoor rooftop bar with an unparalleled vista of the Acropolis. The ancient citadel stood as a timeless beacon of Greece’s storied past. As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden...
By MARYBETH BOND SHEPPARD ·
Immerse in healing waters of Sonoma
The past few months have been punctuated with setbacks and memorials for close friends and culminated with the painful loss of our Maggie, a small Havanese-poodle mix. She was a cherished member of our family for 15 years. After Maggie died, the weight of grief settled over me and my husband, Gary, like a heavy blanket. We each grappled with the emptiness left behind by Maggie’s absence. Gary encouraged me to take a break and travel somewhere; travel always boosts my spirits. My daughter...
By MARYBETH BOND SHEPPARD ·
Grandeur of the Gold Rush at Columbia State Historic Park
California has the nation’s largest state park system, with 280 parks that encompass stunning rivers, waterfalls, sprawling forests, more than a million acres of wildlife reserves, and historic towns. Recently, my husband, Gary, and I rediscovered Columbia State Historic Park, a 2½-hour drive from the Bay Area in Tuolumne County. As we drove through the almond orchards of the Central Valley toward the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, I was wowed from the get-go: a brilliant landscape of...
By MARYBETH BOND SHEPPARD ·
Opportunities for adventure, leisure on trip to Switzerland
If you like snow-capped mountains, meadows carpeted in wildflowers, bubbling fondue, divine gelato, medieval castles and sundrenched lakes, look no further than the Jungfrau and Ticino regions of Switzerland. Like an expansive breakfast buffet in a five-star hotel, I found everything I could want on a recent trip to the two regions. At the Zurich International Airport, I jumped on a train and three hours later stepped off in the fairy-tale town of Grindelwald in the Jungfrau region, nestled...
By MARYBETH BOND SHEPPARD ·
Monterey aquarium’s new exhibit a fascinating look at sea life
Every time my husband and I travel to the Monterey Peninsula, we try to spend a couple hours at the world-famous Monterey Bay Aquarium. We are always awed by the playful sea otters, the adorable penguins, the mysterious and magical jellyfish and the hypnotizing beauty of the deep kelp forest. Before we leave, we are drawn to the outdoor deck perched on the Monterey Bay, and we wonder what lives in the depths of the Monterey Canyon, which begins at Moss Landing, extends 95 miles under the...
By MARYBETH BOND SHEPPARD ·
Central coast, Channel Islands make for fun road trip
Scratch your travel itch by exploring California. What could be easier than hopping into your car for a road trip south along Highway 1? A 100-mile stretch of the most iconic roadway in California, known as the Highway 1 Discovery Route, weaves through San Luis Obispo County along the uncrowded white sand beaches and connects artist communities and award-wining wineries. It also includes Hearst Castle, 13 state parks and an elephant seal rookery. The portion of Highway 1 that travels through...
By MARYBETH BOND SHEPPARD ·
No shortage of activities on adventure to Australia, New Zealand
‘Australia and New Zealand are really far,” said my husband, Gary, “so if we’re going to go, let’s visit both countries in one trip.” So began my challenge to plan our vacation. In the evenings, I pored over guidebooks and quizzed well-traveled friends, becoming more and more overwhelmed about the logistics. For us, the best solution was to take a 14-day Holland America cruise from Sydney, Australia, to Auckland, New Zealand, and add extra time in each country before and after for more...
By MARYBETH BOND SHEPPARD ·
Walking tours let travelers explore lesser-known corners
It’s a new year with new resolutions and travel plans. If you’re a walker and want to explore the lesser-known corners of rural Europe, where the scenery is stupendous, the pace of life slower, the hearths welcoming and local culinary specialties seductive, consider a self-guided walking trip. Last winter I researched walking routes in Croatia, the Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain and Turkey. I settled on an itinerary along the French-Italian...
By MARYBETH BOND SHEPPARD ·
