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Therese Iknoian

Winner of a gold and silver medal from the North American Travel Journalists Association in 2019 for travel photography excellence. Little did her parents know that a short trip to Europe in high school would launch a lifetime love of travel, languages and cultures. Trained as a news journalist, Therese Iknoian now focuses her writing and photography talents on travel. Fluent in German, Therese also runs a translation business (ThereseTranslates.com) working primarily with companies in the outdoor/sports/retail industry. She's a French speaker, and loves to learn a bit of the language wherever she goes -- gdje je kupaonica? Мне нужна помощь! -- often embarrassing herself in the quest for cross-cultural communication. Therese is a member of the North American Travel Journalists Association (NATJA) and the International Food Wine and Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA).
Discover San Francisco secret gardens, rooftop parks and open spaces

Discover San Francisco secret gardens, rooftop parks and open spaces

by | Jun 8, 2021 |

POPOS may sound like a funny name for something you’d munch on during happy hour, but that is so wrong. POPOS stands for “Privately Owned Public Open Spaces,” a.k.a. San Francisco secret gardens, urban parks, and city open spaces. Whether you as a traveler call them POPOS, secret gardens, or rooftop parks, they are ideal respites and secluded open spaces when wandering and touring cities for anyone who just needs to rest weary feet or simply take in the surroundings or do a little people-watching – for free, and often in a really pleasant venue.

Cajun cooking class with Spuddy: Real Cajun gumbo recipe

Cajun cooking class with Spuddy: Real Cajun gumbo recipe

by | Jan 29, 2021 |

Cooking up the best authentic Cajun gumbo is not hard, but it does require a few pointers. Spuddy Faucheux at Cajun Cooking Experience near New Orleans shared his world of cooking with us in a personal Cajun cooking class. Now, we’re sharing the cooking experience and his authentic chicken and sausage gumbo recipe with you.

Road trip safety essentials for travel during COVID-19

Road trip safety essentials for travel during COVID-19

by | Jan 10, 2021 |

Since COVID-19 is likely going to be around for a while, even after vaccinations, safe road trips may be the best answer to see new places. With our road trip safety essentials list, you can avoid relying on restaurants and make less frequent trips to stores so you can focus on having fun and traveling well.

What Chernobyl looks like today: the Chernobyl disaster in photos

What Chernobyl looks like today: the Chernobyl disaster in photos

by | Sep 30, 2020 |

What does apocalypse look like? To see what Chernobyl looks like today, I visited the Chernobyl disaster zone in early 2020, nearly 34 years after the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the Ukraine exploded. The disaster forced tens of thousands to leave their homes, many more to perish from radiation exposure, and countless others to suffer from disease.

Plan a trip to coastal Maine: A MidCoast Maine travel planner

Plan a trip to coastal Maine: A MidCoast Maine travel planner

by | Sep 2, 2020 |

Explore MidCoast Maine on a coastal Maine road trip. Sit in a classic Adirondack chair and enjoy coastal breezes, eat fresh lobster while taking in ocean views, visit with local craftsmen, and explore back roads winding through quaint Maine towns. Our MidCoast Maine travel planner will help you organize your vacation.

Is it safe to fly? Flying during a pandemic with American

Is it safe to fly? Flying during a pandemic with American

by | Jul 29, 2020 |

What was it like flying during a pandemic? Is it safe to fly? I took a transcontinental flight on American in July and, in short, it was terribly stressful. You thought flying before the pandemic had become an unpleasant grind? You haven’t experienced anything yet. Pack your sanitizing gear, personal protection gear, and choose your airline and seats as carefully as possible. Read what my experience was like in July 2020.

What to do in Fresno on a Highway 99 road trip in California

What to do in Fresno on a Highway 99 road trip in California

by | Jun 24, 2020 |

Located along Highway 99 in the Central Valley, Fresno doesn’t immediately grab you as a place worth spending much more than a night. But appearances can be deceiving. There are quite a few historical, cultural and culinary gems waiting to be explored in California’s fifth-largest city. Read on to know what to do in Fresno.

Learning night photography is a journey

Learning night photography is a journey

by | Jun 11, 2020 |

Travel photography is a skill that takes a little focused diligence – but one that will come in handy for taking better photos on your next vacation. Learning night photography takes you and your photography skills to another plane – one that teaches you a bit about yourself and your camera too.