Stephen Travels


Leave a comment

“Local. Really.” The Accurate (and Delicious) Mantra of The Skinny Pancake in Burlington, Vermont

Vermont’s largest city exudes small-town charm, particularly in its pedestrian-friendly downtown. Rising uphill from the cobalt-blue waters of Lake Champlain, Burlington bustles with knowledgeable locals, students from the University of Vermont and Champlain College, content families strolling along Church Street, and laid-back visitors taking it all in. Nowhere presents a better microcosm of this diverse population than The Skinny Pancake, a local eatery that seems to be jumping all day. You’ll be as likely to dine among college students as among yuppie families, aspiring musicians, fit cyclists, and German tourists, all while enjoying the best breakfast — and outstanding crêpes — in town. Read more >


Leave a comment

Crashing a Constitution Day Parade in Bergen, Norway

Constitution Day Parade, Bergen, NorwayWatching a parade, like Zurich’s Sechseläuten, is always fun and provides a pleasant sense of local tradition. Being in a parade, however, takes on a deeper meaning as you immerse yourself in the native culture. And when I got to march through the streets of Bergen, Norway, late at night in a torch-lit procession to celebrate Constitution Day, simply because I asked a friendly Norwegian what was going on, I felt like I belonged there, like a member of an extended and warm family, even though I don’t have a drop of Nordic blood in my body. Read more >


Leave a comment

Top 5 Things to See and Do in Wyoming

Yellowstone National Park, WyomingTraveling to Wyoming at peak season in the summer seems a little masochistic, especially if you’re visiting the incomparable national parks. With only a few main roads in the parks, an elk or bison traffic jam could easily delay you for hours, and that’s a huge amount of time to lose when there’s so much to see. A trip to the Equality State largely centers around nature and the outdoors, and the best time to appreciate it all is autumn: The summer crowds have returned to school and work, facilities remain open before closing up for the winter, and the reds and yellows of quaking aspen, dogwood, and golden larch trees stun you with their brilliance. These are my top five things to see and do in Wyoming. Read more >