Thanks for joining me on the journey.
I’m an American travel writer dividing my time between Seville, Spain and California. I travel the world seeking intriguing curiosities and outrageously delicious comfort food so I can have the fun of writing about them here. — Karen McCann
-
Our Magical Mystery Tour of California’s Roadside Attractions
“And that,” Mike told me, “was when I saw Bigfoot.” Wait, what? He’d actually had a close encounter with the legendary humanoid creature said to inhabit the local forests? You can see why I’ve had a lifelong love affair with California’s roadside attractions. You expect the unexpected, and even so, they always surprise you. Rich…
-
How to Meet People on the Road
Earlier this week I was rambling on about some of my favorite travel encounters — meeting musicians in a Trieste dive bar, dining with a dentist in Zagreb , the Stockholm “oops” party — to Mary Rogers , who was interviewing me for her podcast, Experience 50 . It was a morning interview…
-
Notice Anything Different About My Blog?
“Your biggest risk isn’t failing, it’s getting too comfortable,” said Drew Houston, the guy who started Dropbox. “Every day, we’re writing a few more words of a story. I wanted my story to be an adventure and that’s made all the difference.” The story of this blog has been a far more exciting adventure than…
-
Who Is the Real Rosie the Riveter?
Last Saturday, I had the astonishing good fortune to meet Betty Soskin , one of the original “Rosie the Riveters,” women who took on “men’s work” in the nation’s factories and shipyards during World War II. At 95, Betty is America’s oldest park ranger, and she takes pride in sharing her story, giving frequent talks…
-
How YOU Can Go to Harvard & Help Mobilize America
Yasmin Radjy Every time the guy in the Oval Office does something that makes us all crazy, he creates countless new volunteers for the progressive cause. He is our best possible recruitment tool! But then what? Being all fired up is great, but what exactly are the next steps? First, we zero in on our…
-
Is American Democracy a Love Story?
I love to ask people, “If you could look the president right in the eye, right now, and say one thing to him, what would it be?” This always prompts a moment of silence, a glassy-eyed, deer-in-the-headlights stare, then a deep breath and a steely gaze, followed by something from the heart. When I posed…
-
THE MOST DANGEROUS WOMAN IN AMERICA
“I know somebody you should interview,” a friend wrote me. “The Christian Coalition once called her ‘the most dangerous woman in America.’” “Oh, yeah,” I said. “I definitely want to talk to her .” With so many of us embracing political activism for the first time in decades – if not the first time ever…
-
One Woman’s Spiritual Path to the American Resistance
A video of my conversation with Jen Hofmann, creator of the Americans of Conscience checklist. Every journey teaches us something, even if it’s only that pig’s ears really are as rubbery and tasteless as you’d imagine, or that the best time to check for bed bugs is when you arrive at night, not when you…
-
WOMEN OF THE AMERICAN RESISTANCE: ROME
Feeling powerless isn’t in Tanya Halkyard’s DNA. She grew up hearing stories about her great-great-great-great aunt, Susan B. Anthony , who blazed a trail through 19th century American politics, championing the abolition of slavery, votes for women, and other causes considered radical, if not outright insane, at the time. But Tanya never imagined, when she…
-
Women of the American Resistance
The other day I was all wound up telling Rich about my latest Resistance project, and when my eloquence, passion, and ability to blather on was finally exhausted and I stopped talking, he said, “You know, I almost feel sorry for the poor bastards you’re going up against.” I like to think conversations like that…
TRAVEL with CURIOSITY
These days I’m cultivating curiosity, which science says will keeps my brain agile. I figure spending more time on the road and indulging my natural nosiness about the world will be good therapy and a cheerful counterpoint to today’s headlines. And I will never run out of quirky stuff to write about.
SUBSCRIBED BUT NOT GETTING POST ANNOUNCEMENTS?
Check your spam folder. If you still can’t find them, please let me know.
THIS BLOG IS A PROMOTION-FREE ZONE. As my regular readers know, I never get free or discounted goods or services for mentioning anything on this blog (or anywhere else). I only write about things I find interesting and/or useful.