Blog

Scholastic Scare in Superior, AZ

"Scholastic Scare in Superior, AZ" was co-written by: Terri Campbell The day began as an innocent photographic adventure to the old mining town of Superior, Arizona, where hauntingly decrepit buildings sporadically litter the landscape. This sleepy community 90 minutes southeast of Phoenix offers photographers an array of creative compositions to...

Read more

Café Monarch: An Artful Duet of Cuisine and Romance

Cafe Monarch in Scottsdale

Scottsdale is the hub for many unique and trendy restaurants, some have staying power and some do not. My belief is that Café Monarch is here to stay. Under fairly new ownership (2013), Christian & Phillip Lewkowicz and Executive Chef Branden Levine have created a perfect duet of cuisine and...

Read more

UGOBAGS: Customized Luggage made simple

Have you ever come across a new product and wondered why someone hadn’t thought about it earlier? That happened to me recently when I discovered UGOBAGS, a customized luggage company—as soon as I saw one of their bags, I thought, “now that’s a good idea!” As a perpetual traveler and...

Read more

Crazed lookin’ owl

I was visiting my folks in Wickenburg, Arizona when I saw an owl in a tree in broad daylight. I have never seen an owl in the middle of the day before, let alone have an opportunity to photograph one this close up. As you can see, this owl looks...

Read more

A glimpse at Shoshone Falls

Just a short drive from Twin Falls, along the Snake River in southern, Idaho, are the spectacular Shoshone Falls. At over 2oo feet, Shoshone Falls are higher than the more well known, Niagara Falls. Spring and early summer are the best times to view the falls when water flow is...

Read more

Feelin’ the Love of Lake Charles

I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase, “southern hospitality” before, it’s a romanticized notion personified in movies and television shows, where chivalry flourishes and visitors are made to feel welcome. While on a recent trip to Lake Charles, Louisiana for a travel conference, I discovered the essence of southern hospitality is...

Read more

New Orleans… Captivates, tantalizes and hugs with hospitality

I’m not proud to admit the following, but I have found myself being a bit judgmental of late. Don’t misunderstand; I don’t apologize for this in the least, as I believe that some prejudices are innate human survival characteristics. However, what I’ve been discovering is that my preconceived notions, while...

Read more

Café Brûlot being prepared at Galatoire’s New Orleans

While dining at the classic and historic Galatoire's restaurant in New Orleans, I had an opportunity to try and witness their Café Brûlot being prepared table-side. If you're looking for a dramatic conclusion to your fine dining experience, you have to order the Café Brûlot. [youtube youtubeurl="P26vxmNcan0" ][/youtube]

Read more

Mike’s Road Trip on T.V. …well, sort of…

A few month ago I signed a distribution deal with a company who makes apps for ROKU streaming devices and smart TVs, my channel is now live. If you have a streaming television device, you can search under the travel section for the Mike's Road Trip channel and watch the...

Read more

Planning Your Perfect Road Trip

 Some people think that the perfect road trip simply involves getting in the car and driving. Unfortunately it’s rarely this simple - discovering those hidden gems you’ll only find on the road requires slightly more preparation in most cases. Fortunately with just a little bit of effort before you set...

Read more

Mountain Ranch Resort

The Grand Canyon State of Arizona is an amazing place and its diversity never ceases to amaze me. Like a lot of folks from the Valley of the Sun, I try to escape the summer heat as often as I can. Thankfully, the pilgrimage is only a couple hours north...

Read more

Santa Fe School of Cooking

I was first introduced to the Santa Fe School of Cooking in 2012, as it was a stop on my culinary tour of Santa Fe, New Mexico for the USA Today and Rand McNally’s “Best of the Road” rally. (By the way, Santa Fe ended up winning the “Best Food”...

Read more

Beckett’s Table: The soul of culinary confection

Opened in 2010 Chef Justin & Michelle Beckett, along with Scott and Katie Stephens, launched a ‘new’ vision including ‘old’ favorites. Nestled between the elegance of the Biltmore area and the hip and trendy Arcadia neighborhood, Beckett’s Table is an upscale dining experience with a comfortable casual feel. The restaurant...

Read more