Learn more about civil rights history in Birmingham, Alabama, but don’t miss its deep industrial roots, great food, and a downtown park called City Walk BHAM that should be a model for every city.
Advertisement
Fabulous flamingos of Argentina’s Laguna Grande and Carachi Pampa
A photo essay showcasing the incredibly fabulous flamingos of Argentina’s Laguna Grande and Carachi Pampa. Learn where to see and photograph these amazing birds.
My Sicilian adventure: discovering Inspector Montalbano’s Sicily
Southeastern Sicily is famous for its UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Baroque architecture, food and chocolate. And it’s also famous for a certain Inspector Montalbano — as I was about to find out on my Sicilian adventure.
Captured Moments Featured Photo
“Wandering through festivals, parks, and city streets is candy to me as a photographer. There are so many opportunities to capture passing action, fleeting moments, and meaningful interactions that make you smile, laugh, or admire the human spirit…” Read the story behind this award-winning photo of a Jamaican drummer in Berlin.
Travel Tips, Food, Essays
Empanada perfection: I learned to make yummy empanadas at Finca Valentina
Seeking a deliciously deep dive into Argentina’s empanada culture, I took a hands-on empanada cooking class with Chef Maria at Finca Valentina in Salta, Argentina.
Paying to pee: bathroom tips for every traveler
Traveling can be a bladder test, especially in Europe, but free public toilets and programs like Germany’s “Nette Toilette” offer relief. Learn tips for finding bathrooms without paying or compromising cleanliness.
Modica chocolate festival in Sicily: Indulge in all things chocolate
Sicily may be renown for baroque architecture, beaches, and the Mount Etna volcano, but if you venture there in December you’ll discover it is famous for chocolate too. Chocomodica, a chocolate festival for chocolate lovers. Plus, get a bonus recipe here.
Stollen 1930: gin tasting inside a 600-year-old Austrian cave
Stollen 1930 in Kufstein, Austria, boasts one of the largest collections of gins in the world, deep inside an historic cave carved into the rocks beneath the fortress walls. It’s a remarkable place to visit, even for those who don’t love or even like gin.
Foodies rejoice on a Maine Windjammer cruise with J. & E. Riggin
An historic schooner, secret coves, a lobster bake and sweeping ocean views make a Maine windjammer cruise special. Oh, but the food! Thrill your tastebuds on the J. & E. Riggin, with its focus on local, homemade fare – and get an exclusive J. & E. Riggin recipe.
Hartstone Inn’s Electric Daisy restaurant in Camden a delight + bonus recipe
Hartstone Inn’s new Electric Daisy restaurant in Camden, Maine, offers creative, sustainable food that showcases local farms and foods. Plus, many of Chef Dustin Shockley’s dishes include the Szechuan pepper flower called “electric daisy” for an extra tongue-tingling delight. Subscriber Club members get an insider bonus recipe.
iPad Art: Watercolors From Michael Hodgson’s Travel Journal
An online gallery of travel artwork featuring favorite iPad sketches and watercolors taken from the travel journal of Michael Hodgson during his world travels.
Hotel room hacks for those annoying lights and gaping curtains
Bright lights and curtains that don’t close in hotel rooms are irritating. My bag full of tricks to help me sleep includes hangers, pillows, and duct tape to solve the issue annoying light issue to ensure a good night’s sleep.
A guide to the best women’s travel pants with pockets
Women’s pants with pockets are mandatory for travel. Who wants to always carry a purse or pack? Unfortunately, great women’s travel pants with pockets aren’t easy to find – I know because I’ve tried dozens of brands in my ongoing quest for the best travel pants. Here are some of my current favorite brands.
News & Updates
Therese Iknoian wins Best in Show in the IFWTWA 2025 Photo Contest
Therese Iknoian, co-owner of HITravelTales.com, won Best in Show in the IFWTWA 2025 Photo Contest with an “environmental portrait” of a Jamaican drummer at a festival in Berlin, Germany.
Michael Hodgson wins Best in Show in the IFWTWA 2024 Photo Contest
Michael Hodgson, co-owner of HITravelTales.com, wins Best in Show in the IFWTWA 2024 Photo Contest for the second year, while both Therese Iknoian and Michael take home multiple medals.
Therese Iknoian named Photographer of the Year, we win multiple medals
Therese Iknoian, co-owner of HITravelTales.com, named NATJA Photographer of the year, while both Michael Hodgson and Therese took home multiple gold and silver medals.
Grab your passport and camera & let’s go …
Hello! We’re Michael and Therese, and we share a deep love for travel adventures big and small, as well as each other. Our deep curiosity and passion for immersive travel, discovering distant places, meeting new people, and learning about other cultures has taken us to all seven continents, 48 countries (and counting) and all 50 states in the United States.
Our content is always informative, sometimes humorous, and filled with award-winning photography. Take a peek inside and we promise you’ll find travel tips, photographs, and destination stories that will inspire your own travel dreams and adventures.