Going Places with Dale Leatherman

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...
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 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 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 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...

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 Read More...

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