I've continued to do a lot of tourism blogging. Because I like to; because I have a nifty digicam now; and because I entertain the rash idea I may be able to eventually convince state and regional tourism promotion agencies or magazines here and there to fund some travel blogging expeditions by me. In any event, leisure travel and sometimes even business travel can be a real window into our country's splendor and foibles. And frank first-person travel writing geared toward tourists and recreationists fills a void on the Internet, which is chock-full of tourism "advertorial" that is either bland, vague, frothy, specious or some combination thereof. Print press travel articles are often helpful, and I've written some myself, for major daily U.S. newspapers, and glossy magazines. Some such pieces wind up online, and some don't. Newspapers and magazines often cover travel locations that align with the interests of advertisers, rather than where you may want to go. If I see another spread on glorious Wisconsin in a Chicago newspaper, I'll.....retch. (And yes, I know all about Door County, Wisconsin - it's a far damn cry from the Pacific Northwest or even the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, OK?)
Overall, the Internet is rather short on travel reportage and commentary from unbiased sources.
My travel posts are typically geared toward the tourist or daytripper - but may include personal, cultural, political and even public policy observations that struck me either at the time or later when writing up my adventures.
So.....for my own purposes and for the convenience of any interested readers, here's a compendium of links to my travel writing over the last few years here at Rosenblog. Just added this summer is the four part series, "Making The Most Of The Oregon Coast;" plus Montana posts on Glacier National Park and Flathead Valley; and more Washington material. I've arranged everything by state, and will update the link list here periodically.
UPDATE, 12/06/06: Today, I'm adding to this compendium some recent Chicago travel blogging posts, published at Rosenblog this fall.
UPDATE: 4/27/07: I'm adding some recent SoCal tourism posts.
SEATTLE AND WASHINGTON STATE
"In Seattle's Muck And Mire." (Low tide at Alki Beach).
"Puget Sound: Western Washington's Highway On The Water."
"Touring Like A Local: West Seattle's Lincoln Park."
"I Ain't Got No Big Itch For Greenlake." (Seattle's Greenlake Park, and namesake neighborhood, from the perspective of a local, and a tourist).
"Cruising For Produce On Vashon Island."
"The Zen Of Horse Dung." (Day trip from Seattle to Joemma Beach State Park, Key Peninsula).
"Marrowstone Musings." (Vacationing on Marrowstone Island, in Puget Sound).
"Washington State Ferries: The Good Wait."
"Wringing The 'Soaked Seattle' Meme Dry" (How we hoodwink the world about our "rain").
"Northeast Tacoma's Hidden Gem: Dash Point Park."
"Family-Friendly Hike To Barclay Lake." (An excellent day-hike within driving distance of Seattle).
"Seattle Hiking Guide: Snow Lake." (And another).
"Touring Like A Local: The Magic Of Mountain Loop Highway." (And another still, off one very scenic and trail-rich gateway to Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest).
"That Near-Death Buzz." (An opinionated take on hyper-risky winter sports expeditions in the Northwest).
"Index, Washington Needs A Shot In The Arm."
"Malay Satay Hut Rules!" (Casual, outstanding Malaysian restaurant in Seattle's International District).
"Middle Fork On My Mind." (A hike along the Middle Fork of the Snoqualmie River - and a trip back in time. Blame it on Ray Charles).
"God Bless America, And Western Washington." (A July 4 weekend photo essay of a Hood Canal circle tour).
BRITISH COLUMBIA
"Splendiferous British Columbia." (Guest essayist Charlie Hoff, on Bella Coola and Barkerville).
"Is There Any Fixing Vancouver's Gastown?"
"The Best And Worst Of Vancouver."
"Best And Worst Of Vancouver: Part Two."
"A Vancouver Shopkeeper's Death Wish For Bush."
"Canadian English Dictionaries Are Vestigial."
"Statist Confiscation Of Property Rights Eyed On Saltspring Island." (Vacation home rentals as a menace to society).
OREGON
"Making The Most Of The Oregon Coast: Charleston And Environs."
"Making The Most Of The Oregon Coast: Cape Perpectua And Heceta Head."
"Making The Most Of The Oregon Coast: Newport."
"Making The Most Of The Oregon Coast: Bandon, New River And Cape Blanco."
"Making The Most Of The Oregon Coast: Port Orford Heads & Pistol River Parks."
CALIFORNIA
"Hello, Coronado" (on the "disintermediated" tourism ethos; Playa Coronado flava; historic landmark hotel pix)
"San Diego's Point Loma And Ocean Beach" (big high views of S.D.; history; nature; a great hippie 'hood; foodie fun)
"Living Large In Orange County" (recreational sociology + Laguna Beach tidepooling, Dana Point)
"Touring Like A Local." (San Francisco's neighborhoods - not its' stale tourist attractions - are what make for a great visit. Same deal in Seattle).
"Subsidizing Incuriousity." (Why San Francisco's cable cars are a waste of time for visitors; and why fare hikes trump public subsidies as a means of covering operating losses).
"The Hike To Heart Lake, Near Mount Shasta."
MONTANA
"Montana's St. Ignatius Frescoes, And Mission Falls."
"Glacier National Park: The Hike To Hidden Lake.
"Glacier National Park: Hiking The Highline Trail."
CHICAGO
"Chicago, Chicago." (Promontory Point, Hyde Park, the Nile Restaurant, the Gold Coast).
"Rosenblog's Chicago Restaurant Guide, Vol. 2." (El Nuevo Leon, Gene & Georgetti's, The Mirabel, more).
"Turd On The Plaza - Exhibit #1 - Chicago." (On unfortunate urban outdoor sculture).
"Notes From Chicago." (Art Institute, Wrigely Field, Lincoln Park, The Mexican neighborhood of Little Village; Los Candiles restaurant).
"Panhandlers Overtake Chicago."
"Savor The Flavor Of Chicago's Puerto Rican Epicenter - Humboldt Park"
"From Manny's To The Shedd, Via Chicago Sardine Authority"
"The Sphinxes See All, From Chicago's Willoughby Tower"
MICHIGAN
"Mystery Blogger Stalks Grand Rapids."
"Meijer Gardens Tropical Conservatory: Just The Place In July."
"Community Responsibility Theme At Grand Rapids Black Summit."
"San Chez Bistro's Tapas: Pride of Grand Rapids."
"Beach Pole-Vaulting In Grand Haven."
"Grand Haven Musical Fountain Needs New Music."
"Sleeping Bear Dunes Adventure."
"From Elberta To Grand Marais."
"Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Marquette and Petosky."
"Germfask, Michigan: It Can Only Get Better."
TECHNORATI TAGS: TOURISM, TRAVEL, BLOGGING, SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, OREGON, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CALIFORNIA, MONTANA, CHICAGO, MICHIGAN, HIKING
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Posted by Matt Rosenberg at September 8, 2006 10:56 AM
AND - the photographs make beautiful screen savers: I have the frescoe in St Ignatius (picture No. 2 ) on my computer, now.
Posted by: Lorna at September 8, 2006 06:34 PM