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.
Berkeley eats: where global flavors meet eclectic culture
Berkeley California’s world-class gastronomic scene makes the city a perfect base camp for Bay Area explorations. Come for eclectic culture, stay for great food and drink.
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.
Berkeley eats: where global flavors meet eclectic culture
Berkeley California’s world-class gastronomic scene makes the city a perfect base camp for Bay Area explorations. Come for eclectic culture, stay for great food and drink.
Grab your passport and travel with us …
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.
Travel Tips & Resources
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.
Seeing your way in the dark: tips for lights for night photography
Lights of almost all kinds can be very intrusive on night photography adventures. Here is my advice on what to use and how to not ruin night photos.
Train photography tips: How to take great photos from a train
Train photography can be a challenge since the train is always moving, adding a dynamic element to your photography. Here are 11 tips to help make your next train photos memorable.
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.
Tips & Resources
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.
Seeing your way in the dark: tips for lights for night photography
Lights of almost all kinds can be very intrusive on night photography adventures. Here is my advice on what to use and how to not ruin night photos.
Train photography tips: How to take great photos from a train
Train photography can be a challenge since the train is always moving, adding a dynamic element to your photography. Here are 11 tips to help make your next train photos memorable.
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.
Food & Wine
News & Updates
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.
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.
Michael Hodgson wins Best in Show in the IFWTWA 2024 Photo Contest, HI Travel Tales wins multiple medals
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.
Food & Wine
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.
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.
News & Updates
Michael Hodgson wins Best in Show in the IFWTWA 2024 Photo Contest, HI Travel Tales wins multiple medals
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.
Food & Wine
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.
News & Updates
Michael Hodgson wins Best in Show in the IFWTWA 2024 Photo Contest, HI Travel Tales wins multiple medals
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.
Travel Journals
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.
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.
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 – 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.
Travel Journals
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.
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 – 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.
