John Syron, Author at Family Travel with Colleen Kelly

61 National Parks: Classifications, Tips, and Cool Facts

There are presently 61 U.S. National Parks. 20 of them are a stone’s throw away from civilization, 33 are remote or borderline remote, and 8 Parks are very remote. Those near civilization include Acadia, Mount Rainier, Redwood, Rocky Mountain, Badlands, Great Smoky Mountains, Joshua Tree, Hawaii Volcanoes, Haleakala, Zion, Saguaro, Cuyahoga Valley, Mesa Verde, Arches,

A Stroll Through Shenzhen

For most, a trip to mainland China means visiting the environs of Shanghai or Beijing with perhaps a tour to The Great Wall, or Shaanxi Province and the Emperor’s terra-cotta warriors. But for those who prefer a more local experience without sacrificing fine cuisine and luxurious digs, I would recommend a stroll through Shenzhen. Located

4 National Parks To Visit this Winter

4 National Parks To Visit this Winter There are 4 National Parks you will want to visit in the USA this winter season. Often overlooked, Death Valley Park in California / Nevada is in my Top 10 list. Death Valley in winter is most pleasant, though crowded with baby-boom retirees. The vistas are unimaginable. Whether you lodge or

October Selections: Fall Travel Ideas in the United States

As we approach October, our senses seem to reach back to remembrances of lazy, summer days; of lemonade so icy cold the glass would sweat in rivulets; of the sound of children playing in the streets; of being off from work and having had the opportunity to act like a kid again ourselves. And the

Visiting Katmai National Park: Adventure, Bears & Beauty, Oh My!

Of all the national parks in the park system, few bring out as many questions as does Katmai National Park. American Samoa may draw out the jungle explorer in us to wonder of logistics and flight or ship docking times. And the same could be said of Gates of the Arctic and Kobuk Valley, though

Discovering a Reconstructed San Diego and Why You Need to Visit

The very first time I learned of the city of San Diego, I was at a raucous party in Kansas City. I was only 18 years old at the time and was coming home from my first adventure out west. Two buddies and I had stuffed ourselves into an old Dodge Swinger (manual 3-speed on

‘When You Are Old’ in Xichang, China

Written at the close of last year’s “Spring Festival”, the Year of the Rooster; and released today, celebrating the first day of this year’s Chinese New Year…. The Year of the Dog “When you are old and gray and full of sleep And nodding by the fire, take down this book…..” – W.B. Yeats, Irish poet

If You Really Want to be Enchanted

There is a feeling of beguilement that wells up in one’s heart when the name “New Mexico” is mentioned in conversation. There is a pulling at the five senses. It is as if all the art, cuisine, hot-air balloons, and Georgia O’Keefe rounded pink mountains are magnetizing you with their call. There is a sense

Dining and Dancing in Palm Springs

Known for its starry nights and warm desert breezes, Palm Springs, California elicits from many a traveler the desire to just dance. It is as if something wells up from your inner reaches in a primal need to express yourself under the palms. And if dancing in the open air under the shadow of Mount

Tripping Over Hong Kong

When planning a trip to Hong Kong, or as the native Chinese prefer to say…”HK”, one may be overwhelmed by all the delightful sights to see and all the dozens of things to do there. One may even find one self tripping over all the possibilities. For those of us who would prefer a more

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