The view changes. Miles and miles of rolling hills give way to sandy beaches, slanted cliffs and tall swaying pine trees.

Our getaway suggestion: Take a relaxing train trip along the picturesque West Coast.

My co-host, Pat Johnson, and I recently traveled on Amtrak's historic Coast Starlight from Los Angeles...

Your kids have been working hard the last six months at school and deserve a little fun and relaxation. Start planning your family Spring Break getaway now! My pick this year would be cool road trip to discover a little bit about our nation's capitol.

Now, they may hem and...

On an early winter morning recently, I checked into the Lynn Sage Comprehensive Breast Center of Prentice Women's Hospital at Northwestern Memorial in Chicago. I was there for my annual mammogram, and as usual I was pretty shaky. I hate this exam because of the bad news that may come...

The most fascinating stop on my Trans-Siberian Railroad journey across northern Asia was Mongolia, a country steeped in ancient history and the lore of Genghis Khan, a man who created a global empire. Today, Mongolia's government is committed to rapid urban development that is pushing its capital, Ulaanbaatar full speed...

I am sure of a few things and one of them is that Rio de Janeiro is one of our most stunningly beautiful cities.

Rio "takes your breath away" when you discover it for the first time or return for the fifth time. Imagine a vista of mountains, one...

I know the word muse is an overused term for people who inspire creativity in others, but I find it appropriate to use when I remember the spirit of Maggie Daley and her commitment to the youth of Chicago. She inspired and she worked hard on this relationship. It wasn't...

Seeing pictures of the latest riots and upheaval in Egypt has brought back vivid memories of our most recent visit this past January.

It was only 11 months ago that both Pat, my co-host of "Grannies on Safari," and I arrived in Egypt for a 12-day adventure. This wasn't...

I want to be a scientist in my next life

I had the most inspiring experience a few weeks ago and was so geeked that I wanted to share it: a behind-the-scenes tour of one of the country's most esteemed science laboratories -- The Argonne National Laboratory.

Argonne National...

There comes a time when frequent travelers such as myself, crave a little piece of home when on the road. Sometimes, frankly, I just get tired of staying in a hotel, especially if I'm staying longer than a few days or when I have my family with me.

My...

I've traveled to far reaches of the globe for decades and have met hundreds of people who have graciously embraced me. Experiencing cultural and ethnic differences has not only been fun but I've learned a lot.

Last month I traveled through Siberia on the ZarinGold Trans-Siberian Railroad, and during...

I have never prepared myself for a journey as much as I had for my trip on the Trans-Siberian Railway. The name itself had long ago conjured up images of an exotic trip of epic proportions. Why? Because I would be traveling the world's longest railway in a restored train...

The single traveler can find much to feel good about these days. One of them is not the single supplement that tour companies and cruise ships charge for the passenger traveling alone.

Some day there will be second thoughts about this unwarranted charge that can run up to two...