A former Civil War-era mansion has been recast as the Heights House Hotel, a luxury boutique hotel in the historic Boylan Heights neighborhood overlooking downtown Raleigh, North Carolina.
Michael & Therese
Award-winning travel writers and photographers, Michael Hodgson and Therese Iknoian, use words, art, video and photography to inspire you to embark on your own travel adventures. They are members of the North American Travel Journalists Association, the International Food Wine and Travel Writers Association, the American Society of Journalists and Authors, Professional Photographers of America, and the Adventure Travel Trade Association.
Best Berlin museums highlighted during Long Night of Museums Berlin
Imagine staying up all night going in and out of any number of Berlin museums. When the annual Long Night of Museums in Berlin rolled around, we joined in the fun — wandering through museums until 2 a.m. It is a great way to explore some of the best Berlin museums.
Things to do in New Bern, NC – Discover historic small-town charm
There are plenty of things to do and see in New Bern, North Carolina, which should not come as a surprise since the city’s tagline is “We’ve spent over 300 years preparing for your visit.”
Benjamin Ellis House offers casual luxury in New Bern, North Carolina
New Bern, North Carolina, is a darling city worthy of a stopover to experience small town charm on the Neuse River. We’d recommend you stay at the luxurious Benjamin Ellis House, a spectacular historic inn that gives travelers comfortable, centrally located lodging for a walkable visit.
Hyatt Centric Sacramento: centrally located historic boutique hotel
When you visit California’s capital city of Sacramento consider staying at the Hyatt Centric, a superbly located upscale boutique hotel that shows off the building’s history.
Grass Valley travel journalists win three photography gold medals
Michael Hodgson and Therese Iknoian win three gold medals, a silver medal, and two bronze medals in the International Food Wine and Travel Writers Association 2022 photography awards.
Air travel is getting harder: Here’s how to make flying more enjoyable
Air travel is getting harder. Long delays, canceled flights, lost or delayed luggage, and horror stories of packed planes, plus stressed-out passengers, and flight crews. Here are a few tips to make flying more enjoyable or at least tolerable.
Best travel pants for men and women – the pants we wear when traveling
What makes the best travel pants for any type of traveler? Since a lot of travel also involves sitting and walking, what pants you slip on makes a big difference in your travel comfort. These are the brands we recommend as the best travel pants for men and best travel pants for women.
Subscriber Club Member Discounts and Deals
In addition to the free access to recipes, ebook downloads and premium content, Subscriber Club members get access to exclusive discounts on services and products our favorite brands and destination partners provide. Thank you for being a Subscriber Club member!
Berlin gasometer: best sunrise to sunset views of Berlin
Take a Berlin gasometer tour to experience what could arguably be one of the best views of Berlin, sunrise to sunset. View a photo gallery and video of our gasometer tour to get a look at the adventure of a lifetime you could have. The 360-degree views of Berlin from the top of the gasometer are stunning, night or day.
HI Travel Tales wins medals for website & photography excellence
For the fourth consecutive year, HI Travel Tales has won top honors for excellence, with the blog named as one of the three best in North America in the 30th Annual NATJA Travel Media Awards Competition as well as gold and bronze medals for photography.
Cruise Modesto: Almond blossoms, olive oil, milkshakes, and fun
When you visit Modesto, you need to jump in your car and really cruise Modesto to understand the city’s wealth of agriculture, adventure, history, and food. An audio tour provides a perfect guide to the highlights.
Our top photos from Instagram: best of Instagram 2021
These are our top photos from Instagram – voted on by our followers with their likes, shares, and comments. We hope our best of Instagram 2021 travel photos will help you dream of destinations near and far, and inspire you to start your travel bucket list for 2022.
Visiting a Maasai village in Kenya – What to expect
A visit to a Maasai Village in Kenya offers a unique insight into the Maasai culture and way of life, as well as providing fantastic photo opportunities. But you need to know what to expect and what the Maasai will expect of you.
Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel: A luxury historic San Francisco hotel
The Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel offers affordable boutique luxury with amazing San Francisco views and location. Renovated in 2020, the historic Clift Hotel rates as a top hotel in San Francisco for comfort, ambiance, and service.
A gift guide for buying the perfect gifts for any photographer
Photographers can be a difficult bunch to buy for but we’re here to make choosing the perfect gift for any photographer a lot easier. This list contains perfect photography gifts, big or small, from photo gear we use and love.
Travel gifts for him or her: Perfect gifts for the traveler in your life
Any time of year is the time of year for travel gifts for him or her. We can help you find the perfect gifts for the traveler in your life – or perhaps a few super practical or fun items for you, too.
Best vacation travel tips: Stay healthy, stress-free and safe
Traveling by airplane, train, car, or bus can be stressful, especially if plans must shift or change due to cancellations, delays, or illness. Our vacation travel tips will help you minimize the stress!
Palm Springs outdoor art scene – Palm Springs public art and art walks
While Palm Springs may be famous for its celebrity lifestyle and Hollywood elite residences, it is becoming even more famous for its public outdoor art and murals. Our guide to the Palm Springs outdoor art scene details art walks and publicly supported art in a vibrant public art scene.
Packing tips for sustainable travel – be an eco-conscious traveler
For the sustainable traveler, being eco-conscious is a lifestyle that drives all day-to-day choices. And packing for a vacation is no exception. Here are some suggestions for what to pack, and what not to pack, to ensure that you’re traveling with environmental and cultural sensitivity top of mind.
HI Travel Tales Guest Blogging Guidelines
How to submit a guest blogging pitch for HI Travel Tales. Be original. Be inspiring. Be authentic. Be professional. You must have your own website. Read this if you want to write for us. We’re very selective. Being up front, we don’t accept link exchanges or sponsored posts – period.
Best travel underwear – bras, briefs, boxers and socks
What makes the best travel underwear? Yeah, we’re talking skivvies, such as bras, briefs, panties, boxers and socks — the foundation for any comfy travel outfit. Don’t let your undies get in a bunch. Let us help you choose the best travel underwear for any adventure.
Hotel Winters a gem of a Yolo County hotel
Hotel Winters in Yolo County, California, opened in 2019. It offers a taste of casual luxury in the small, charming farm town of Winters and is a perfect base for exploring nearby wineries, restaurants, and outdoor recreation.
We love sunflowers! Best sunflower photos and sunflower facts
Everyone loves sunflowers. Sunflowers symbolize loyalty and adoration in the Western world. In China, they symbolize long life and good fortune. To Native Americans the sunflower represents harvest and bounty. Enjoy a gallery of our best sunflower photos and fun sunflower facts.
Sunflower photography tips – How to take great sunflower photos
Sunflowers offer incredible photo opportunities to a photographer with a bit of imagination and planning. Sunrise to sunset and every bit of light in between, knowing how to take great sunflower photos in the sunflower fields is the key to success. Our sunflower photography tips will help.
SCP Mendocino Inn and Farm: perfect Mendocino hotel escape
The SCP Mendocino Inn and Farm provides an ideal Mendocino coast escape. Located a short stroll from Van Damme State Park and Beach, and only a few minutes’ drive from historic Mendocino, the Inn and Farm bed and breakfast hotel impresses in every way.
California road trip visit to Feather River Fish Hatchery & Oroville Dam
A fun Northern California road trip stop in Oroville, just off Highway 70, east of Highway 99, is the Feather River Fish Hatchery and Oroville Dam.
Want to drive fast cars? Head to the BMW Performance Driving School
At the BMW Performance Driving School in Thermal, California, anyone can get behind the wheel of a high-performance BMW and drive faster than ever imagined, all under the watchful eyes and guidance of a professional race car driver.
Getting and managing money when traveling
Getting and managing money when traveling is not all that complicated or difficult, but a few universal money and safety tips do make the task easier wherever you may travel in the world.
HI Travel Tales takes home four global photography awards
In the first photo competition by the International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association, Therese Iknoian and Michael Hodgson garnered four awards, including a Best of Show.