This trail is one that you do not want to miss, especially during this time of year. At first glance, the unassuming trailhead seems like just another path off Highway 1. It is not until you venture toward the ocean when a hidden treasure gradually unfolds in front of you: a secluded valley, blanketed in … Continue reading Calla Lily Valley: Pristine petals in the ocean’s embrace
A trip to San Francisco would not be complete without paying homage to the Golden Gate Bridge, undoubtedly one of the most enduring symbols of the city. Great vista points abound, yet one that always wins my vote is Battery Spencer, an abandoned military point just north of the bridge. The view here is one … Continue reading Battery Spencer: A vantage point like no other
Fuji-michi, or “Fuji road”, is a quaint street running through the center of Fujiyoshida and ultimately leading to Mount Fuji at the far end. Once a bustling commercial district, most of the stores are now vacant. The abandoned street look, lined with old signboards and traditional lanterns with Mount Fuji in the backdrop, gives a … Continue reading Fuji-michi: Because it is there
As you reach the top of the staircase landing, turn around. Here, you will see Mount Fuji at eye level, almost as if floating above the village at its foot. With the vermilion Chureito Pagoda in the foreground, this view of Mount Fuji cannot be more iconic. To get to this scenic spot at Arakurayama … Continue reading Arakurayama Sengen Park: Stairway to wonder
The moment that iconic silhouette comes into view, you start to understand why the Japanese people hold it in such high regard. Noted for its signature snowcap and perfect symmetry, Mount Fuji (Japanese: Fuji-san) is not only a sacred symbol of Japan, but also a cultural icon and a source of artistic inspiration. At any … Continue reading Mount Fuji: A zen state of mind
Sitting at the confluence of Ottawa River and Rideau River, Ottawa is not only the political center of Canada but also home to the Rideau Canal, a 125-mile waterway connecting the capital all the way south to Lake Ontario. Led by British military engineer Colonel John By, its construction was originally intended as a defense … Continue reading Ottawa: From humble beginnings to center stage
When architect Eugène-Etienne Taché designed the Parliament Building of Québec, he was looking to highlight the history of Québec. He did so not only by embellishing the building’s façade with important figures from the region’s past, but also by engraving the following words at the main entrance: Je me souviens. Literally translated into “I remember” … Continue reading Québec: Je me souviens
Atop the high cliff of Cape Diamond sits La Citadelle, a fortress originally built by the British between 1820 and 1850 to protect Québec from a potential American invasion. The attack never happened, yet La Citadelle has remained an active Canadian military installation to this day. The adjoining Plains of Abraham, on the other hand, witnessed the … Continue reading La Citadelle: A reminder for peace
Québec is a city built on steep hills. Staircases abound in connecting the Upper Town with the Lower Town, each exuding its unique charm. Frontenac Stairs (French: L’Escalier Frontenac), one of the most frequented, starts right by the Frontenac Kiosk at the Dufferin Terrace and leads you down the hill to Côte de la Montagne. … Continue reading Petit-Champlain: Life in an old world charm
It is an omnipresent landmark in Québec—you find it on postcards, in souvenirs, or simply when you look above the hills from any corner in the city. Perched atop the prominent Cape Diamond (French: Cap Diamant) overlooking the St. Lawrence River, the Château Frontenac is a quintessential element of the Québécois skyline. A UNESCO World … Continue reading The Château Frontenac: Ambitions, grandeur, and prestige
Situated at the heart of downtown St. Paul, the Landmark Center is more than a historic building. It used to serve as the Federal Court House and Post Office from 19until the mid-20th century, when its government tenants moved out and calls for demolition ensued. Thanks to a group of citizens who campaigned relentlessly, fortunately, … Continue reading Landmark Center: The light still shines
Here comes October in the Midwest. It can still feel warm from time to time, as if summer has never left. Yet the fluttering leaves always have a tell: they are a pigment different every second, signaling the shorter days ahead and the impending winter. On a sunny day, there is perhaps no better way … Continue reading Minneapolis: The leaves, they are a-changin’
