A view of some mountains and water from the ground.

Patagonia: Journey to the End of the World

Once upon a time, an enterprising rock climber launched a line of clothing for extreme sports. He named it “Patagonia,” a word that triggers a visceral reaction in adventurers and wannabes. Even the armchair traveler experiences a shiver visualizing one of the wildest regions on earth, a faraway place with strange creatures, rugged terrain and .… [Continue Reading]

A river running through the middle of a canyon.

Simply Grand: Rafting the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon

I’m sitting just inside the lobby of Las Vegas’ Paris Hotel to escape the sweltering heat that seems to radiate from the sidewalks and buildings as well as the sun. I would like to cover my ears to block out the sounds of slot machines, sirens, traffic, and raised voices. I feel as if I’ve[Continue Reading]

A group of people in the water with scuba gear.

Orlando: Magic Kingdom for Adults

My breath whooshes out, sending a cascade of bubbles toward the water’s surface. One of the passing sharks turns and cruises toward me, mouth agape in an exceedingly toothy grin. He’s so close, I could touch him—if it weren’t for the mesh barrier. When he loses interest, I swim over to a window, where my[Continue Reading]

A river with two boats on it and a bridge in the background.

West Virginia’s New River Gorge National Park and Preserve

If you’re a Baby Boomer (born 1946-1964), mention of the New River brings to mind intense whitewater adventures under Spartan conditions. If you didn’t experience it, you heard about it from friends who rafted or kayaked the Lower New in the 60s and 70s. They talked of paddling Class III-V rapids, eating soggy baloney sandwiches,… [Continue Reading]

A group of people in life jackets are on a raft.

Nature’s Roller Coasters

Nature makes the best roller coasters. Rafting is wet, wild and exhilarating, and no two rides on a whitewater river are ever the same. Today’s upscale outfitters won’t guarantee that anyone will stay dry—or even stay in the raft—but they do promise indulgences at the end of the day. In the 1970s, whitewater rafting was a[Continue Reading]

Featured Articles

A view of some mountains and water from the ground.

Patagonia: Journey to the End of the World

Once upon a time an enterprising rock climber launched a line of clothing for extreme sports. He named it “Patagonia,†a word that triggers a visceral reaction in adventurers and wannabes. Even the armchair traveler experiences a shiver visualizing one of the wildest regions on earth, a faraway place with...
A river running through the middle of a canyon.

Simply Grand: Rafting the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon

I’m sitting just inside the lobby of Las Vegas’ Paris Hotel to escape the sweltering heat that seems to radiate from the sidewalks and buildings as well as the sun. I would like to cover my ears to block out the sounds of slot machines, sirens, traffic, and raised voices....
A group of people in the water with scuba gear.

Orlando: Magic Kingdom for Adults

My breath whooshes out, sending a cascade of bubbles toward the water’s surface. One of the passing sharks turns and cruises toward me, mouth agape in an exceedingly toothy grin. He’s so close I could touch him—if it weren’t for the mesh barrier. When he loses interest I swim over...
A river with two boats on it and a bridge in the background.

West Virginia’s New River Gorge National Park and Preserve

If you’re a Baby Boomer (born 1946-1964), mention of the New River brings to mind intense whitewater adventures under Spartan conditions. If you didn’t experience it, you heard about it from friends who rafted or kayaked the Lower New in the 60s and 70s. They talked of paddling Class III-V...
A group of people in life jackets are on a raft.

Nature’s Roller Coasters

Nature makes the best roller coasters. Rafting is wet, wild and exhilarating—and no two rides on a whitewater river are ever the same. Today’s upscale outfitters won’t guarantee that anyone will stay dry—or even stay in the raft—but they do promise indulgences at the end of the day. In the...

Swimming With Humpback Whales

“The principal gift whales offer humanity is that they are the only animals that can impress us enough to persuade us to change our minds about the importance of the wild world.†– Roger Payne, Among Whales When I saw a flash of white on my left, my heart jumped into...
A whale is jumping in the water

Exploring Alaska’s Glacier Country by Small Ship

Humpback whales bubble-netting. Copyright Donnelle Oxley The underwater microphone beneath our skiff picked up the whoosh of bubbles and the sound of whales chattering like children at recess. But we knew the humpbacks circling under us were on serious business—the pursuit of dinner. As if at a conductor’s signal, all...
A large building with trees and water in front of it

England’s Woburn Abbey

Woburn Abbey dates back to the mid-1100s. As I drove through England on a balmy day in late May, I found it hard to concentrate on driving on the “wrong†side of the road because the countryside constantly drew my attention. Meadows and crops in all shades of green covered...
A large white building with columns and a flower garden.

America’s Resort, the Inimitable Greenbrier

West Virginia’s Greenbrier Resort is consistently ranked as one of the best resorts in the world, and few who have experienced the place would argue with that assessment. The resort staff accepts accolades with Southern-style humility. They’re accustomed to praise, including grand titles such as “Best Resort in the U.S.â€...
A horse barn with a fence and bench in the foreground.

The Calumet Legacy

Courtesy Calumet Farm When Oxbow scored his gate-to-wire victory in the 2013 Preakness Stakes, it raised hopes throughout the racing world that Lexington’s historic Calumet Farm was making a comeback. In the past, the iconic farm on Versailles Road had fielded more classic race winners than any other farm in...

About Dale

A woman with short blonde hair wearing a blue shirt.

In the course of her life, she has exercised racehorses at New York's Belmont Park, shown jumping horses on the A Circuit, driven a race car with the late Paul Newman, and played the world's most famous golf courses. She is a former private pilot and an avid scuba diver. Read More...

In the course of her life, she has exercised racehorses at New York's Belmont Park, shown jumping horses on the A Circuit, driven a race car with the late Paul Newman, and played the world's most famous golf courses. She is a former private pilot and an avid scuba diver. Read More...

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