Raleigh, North Carolina, is known as the “Smithsonian of the South,” a nod to its proliferation of museums celebrating art, culture, and history. Get a taste of its history and museums as well as its art on a walking tour of downtown Raleigh.
HI Travel Tales
Begin a journey of discovery and wonder
Mendocino’s Elk Cove Inn: Quirky, comfy bed and breakfast with spectacular views
Elk Cove Inn & Spa in Mendocino is a lovely bed and breakfast where the sounds of Pacific Ocean waves lull you to sleep at night, and the innkeeper awakens you in the morning with a knock and a sumptuous breakfast tray left at the door.
Kyiv in Photos – Remembering a Ukraine before the war
Little did I know that a last-minute trip to Kyiv and Ukraine in early 2020 would be followed by a pandemic and then a horrific war, effectively closing the borders of the country I hoped to return to. View photos of this beautiful Ukrainian city – Kyiv before the war.
Alpine vistas and adventure at Jungfrau Top of Europe in Switzerland
A day at Jungfraujoch and the Top of Europe is an unrivaled adventure. Take in sweeping Alpine vistas after traveling there on the new, super fast Eiger Express gondola and the old, quaint 110-year-old cogwheel train.
Love and passports
We’re Michael and Therese, and we want to inspire your travel dreams with our experience, curiosity, and award-winning photos and stories. Our travel includes all seven continents, 48 countries (and counting) and all 50 states in the United States. We love guiding you to off-the-beaten-path destinations and offering useful travel tips along the way.
If you’re seeking more immersive and meaningful travel, and hidden gems or local secrets, even at popular travel destinations, you’ll find them here.
Travel Tips & Resources
My tips to keep your hands warm during cold weather photography
Photography is my passion. But I also have something called Reynaud’s that makes me more susceptible to the cold, especially my hands. So I had to come up with ways to keep my hands warm for cold weather photography. Here are my DIY tips to keep shooting and staying warm, too.
Switching seats on a plane? Why I often say ‘no’ to swapping seats
I often say “no” to swapping seats on a plane. I do get asked to switch seats on a plane often enough, and sometimes, though infrequently, I am the one doing the asking. There is an etiquette to seat swapping to keep the skies friendly.
Lost your smartphone when traveling? What to do if your phone is stolen
Losing your smartphone while traveling is no fun. Be sure you have prepared your phone and protected your data well before a thief strikes so your stolen phone becomes an inconvenience, not a disaster.
How to be a good traveler in Europe – 11 tips to travel better
The caricature of that loud, garishly dressed American traveler in a different country may be funny, but you do not want to be that traveler. Here are a few easy tips on how to be a good traveler in most European countries.
Wildlife Photography Tips: 9 tips to improve your wildlife photos
It is not difficult to take eye-catching images of animals if you know a few wildlife photography tips. These nine tips improved my wildlife photos immediately, and they will improve your photographs, too.
Clean your luggage after every trip to protect against bed bugs and germs
Don’t bring germs and bugs into your home after you travel. Know how to properly clean and sanitize your carry-on and checked luggage to keep your suitcases looking good as well as bug and germ free.
Tips & Resources
My tips to keep your hands warm during cold weather photography
Photography is my passion. But I also have something called Reynaud’s that makes me more susceptible to the cold, especially my hands. So I had to come up with ways to keep my hands warm for cold weather photography. Here are my DIY tips to keep shooting and staying warm, too.
Switching seats on a plane? Why I often say ‘no’ to swapping seats
I often say “no” to swapping seats on a plane. I do get asked to switch seats on a plane often enough, and sometimes, though infrequently, I am the one doing the asking. There is an etiquette to seat swapping to keep the skies friendly.
Lost your smartphone when traveling? What to do if your phone is stolen
Losing your smartphone while traveling is no fun. Be sure you have prepared your phone and protected your data well before a thief strikes so your stolen phone becomes an inconvenience, not a disaster.
How to be a good traveler in Europe – 11 tips to travel better
The caricature of that loud, garishly dressed American traveler in a different country may be funny, but you do not want to be that traveler. Here are a few easy tips on how to be a good traveler in most European countries.
Travel Journals
New Korean War Memorial Wall of Remembrance in D.C. is personal
A Wall of Remembrance was added in July 2022 at the Korean War Memorial in Washington, D.C. Therese was there to honor the memory of her uncle Capt. Ara Mooradian, USAF, MIA, at the family ceremony prior to the public dedication. She took that moment to explore her own relationship to her uncle and his memory.
Solo road trip: How I fell in love with solo car travel
When the world came to a grinding halt in March 2020, the days began to melt one into the other. Until I discovered the joy of a solo road trip. This is the story of solo car travel as transformative travel and how it opened my mind and soul.
Make travel important in the New Year – transformative travel is life-changing
It is too easy to get stuck in a grind, in a life that sucks you into a day-to-day routine that leads to being unfit and unhealthy. But, if you make travel important, travel can be your lifesaver, leading you to a fresh start or exposing you to a mind-opening experience that affects you deeply and changes your life forever. Transformative travel is life-changing.
Iditarod dog sledding adventure – Nome Alaska goes to the dogs
Experience the lighter side of the Iditarod. Humor writer Michael Hodgson generates laughs during the Iditarod, an 1000-mile epic sled dog race from Anchorage to Nome. Even the dogs were laughing at him.
Travel Journals
New Korean War Memorial Wall of Remembrance in D.C. is personal
A Wall of Remembrance was added in July 2022 at the Korean War Memorial in Washington, D.C. Therese was there to honor the memory of her uncle Capt. Ara Mooradian, USAF, MIA, at the family ceremony prior to the public dedication. She took that moment to explore her own relationship to her uncle and his memory.
Make travel important in the New Year – transformative travel is life-changing
It is too easy to get stuck in a grind, in a life that sucks you into a day-to-day routine that leads to being unfit and unhealthy. But, if you make travel important, travel can be your lifesaver, leading you to a fresh start or exposing you to a mind-opening experience that affects you deeply and changes your life forever. Transformative travel is life-changing.
Solo road trip: How I fell in love with solo car travel
When the world came to a grinding halt in March 2020, the days began to melt one into the other. Until I discovered the joy of a solo road trip. This is the story of solo car travel as transformative travel and how it opened my mind and soul.
Food & Wine
What do you do with lots of lemons? Make super zesty French Lemon Cake!
If you are swimming in lemons during harvest, the question arises: What to do with so many lemons? What I call my “French Lemon Cake” comes to the rescue. I enjoyed this cake in France, but had to develop the recipe myself, of course using lots of juice and lemon zest.
News & Updates
Grass Valley travel bloggers win multiple gold medals for photojournalism
For the fifth consecutive year, the HI Travel Tales team of Michael Hodgson and Therese Iknoian earned top honors for their photography and photojournalism skills, taking home four gold medals and one bronze in the 31st annual NATJA awards competition.
Food & Wine
What do you do with lots of lemons? Make super zesty French Lemon Cake!
If you are swimming in lemons during harvest, the question arises: What to do with so many lemons? What I call my “French Lemon Cake” comes to the rescue. I enjoyed this cake in France, but had to develop the recipe myself, of course using lots of juice and lemon zest.
News & Updates
Grass Valley travel bloggers win multiple gold medals for photojournalism
For the fifth consecutive year, the HI Travel Tales team of Michael Hodgson and Therese Iknoian earned top honors for their photography and photojournalism skills, taking home four gold medals and one bronze in the 31st annual NATJA awards competition.
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