Tours and Sightseeing

Fort Ross — The Russian Stronghold in America

Mary Gilbert History, Tours and Sightseeing, United States April 11, 2014Alexander Rotchev, American Viticultural Area, CA, California, Coast Miwok, Elena Rotchev, Fort Ross, Fort Ross Conservancy, Fort Ross State Historic Park, Hank Birnbaum, Ivan Alexandrovich Kuskov, Jenner, Kashaya Pomo, National Historic Landmark, Rossiia, Rotchev House, Russia, Russian River, Russian River Valley, Russian-American Company, Sea otter, Settlement Ross, Sonoma County, Southern Pomo, Travel, Travel blog, Travel writing, Tsar Paul 2 Comments

Hank Birnbaum selected a sea otter pelt from a pile of skins displayed on a wooden table and let me caress the soft, luxurious fur. “Sea otters don’t have a layer of blubber to help them keep warm, unlike otherRead more

Sampling the Arts in Raleigh

Mary Gilbert Arts and Culture, Tours and Sightseeing, United States April 7, 2014AAA Five Diamond, Ashley Christensen, Auguste Rodin, Beth Lipman, Bidding for Good, Cary, Conde Nast Traveler, Dale Chihuly, El Anatsui, Forbes Travel Guide, Herons, James Beard Foundation, Michael Richards, Mickalene Thomas, NC General Assembly, NCMA, North Carolina, North Carolina Museum of Art, Poole's Uptown Diner, Raleigh, Sculpture, The Umstead Hotel and Spa, Travel, Travel blog, Travel writing 4 Comments

How wonderful to have friends who place top bids in online charity auctions and then ask you to share their winnings. Our friends, Carole and Keith, did just that when she was the recipient of a four-person food and artRead more

The Never-Ending Lure of Charleston

Mary Gilbert Tours and Sightseeing, United States March 25, 2014Battery Park, Billy Hall, Charleston, Charleston City Market, Conde Nast Traveler, Cooper River Bridge, Dixie Bakery Supply and Cafe, French Quarter Art Gallery District, Ft. Sumter, Halls Chophouse, Hank's Seafood Restaurant, Holy City, Kiawah, King Street Shops, Market Pavilion, Market Street Sweets, Pat Conroy, Pavilion Bar, South Carolina, South of Broad, The Battery, The College of Charleston, The College of William and Mary, Travel, Travel + Leisure Magazine, Travel blog, Travel writing, Waterfront Park 4 Comments

When Bill and I realized our nephew, Ben, a senior basketball player at The College of William and Mary, and his team (Go Tribe!) would play against College of Charleston, we put Charleston on our travel radar. Actually, we didn’tRead more

Luther Burbank – No Small Potatoes

Mary Gilbert History, Tours and Sightseeing, United States January 30, 2014Baked potato, Burbank potato, California, Elizabeth Burbank, Garden, Henry Ford, Historic home, Horticulture, Idaho potato, Luther Burbank, Luther Burbank Home & Gardens, Luther Burbank Home & Gardens Association, Russet Burbank, Santa Rosa, Shasta daisy, Thomas Edison, Travel, Travel blog, Travel writing 8 Comments

Chances are you rarely, if ever, think about Luther Burbank when you eat a baked potato. You’re too caught up in savoring the crisp golden skin on the outside, and the pure white, fluffy texture on the inside. If yourRead more

Holiday Sojourn on St. George Island

Mary Gilbert Hotels and Rentals, Tours and Sightseeing, United States December 27, 2013Apalachicola, Apalachicola Bay, Apalachicola River, BJ's Pizza, Blue Parrot Oceanfront Cafe, Cape St. George Lighthouse, Christmas, Dr. Beach, Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park, Eastpoint, Florida, Florida Panhandle, Forgotten Coast, Gibson Inn, Gulf Coast, Gulf of Mexico, Ira's at The Gibson Inn, Oysters, Sports Illustrated, St. George Island, St. George Island State Park, St. George Plantation, Stardust Villa, Travel, Travel blog, Travel writing, Vacation Rentals By Owner, VRBO 4 Comments

The name is attention-getting. Stardust Villa. That’s what Bill’s brother and his wife call their rental property on St. George Island, a 22-mile-long and one-mile-wide barrier island along the Florida Panhandle. Listed on the VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner) website, Stardust Villa lookedRead more

Angel Oak Tree – A Heavenly Site

Mary Gilbert Tours and Sightseeing, United States November 21, 2013Angel Oak Tree, Bohicket Road, Charleston, Charlotte, Highway 17, Jennifer Appleby, Johns Island, Kiawah, Live oak, Mint Museum, Mint Museum Randolph, Museum, Seabrook, South Carolina, Travel, Travel blog, Travel writing, Wray Ward 6 Comments

We’d been to Kiawah, a barrier island off the coast of Charleston, South Carolina, dozens of times. With its 10 mile-long pristine, unspoiled beach, Kiawah is our favorite coastal destination in the South. On all our visits, however, we’d neverRead more

Food Tripping In Portland

Mary Gilbert Food and Wine, Tours and Sightseeing, United States October 29, 2013Balsamic vinegar, Belgian waffle, Benessere, Cacao, Chocolate, Cool Moon Ice Cream, Courier Coffee Roasters, Elephants Delicatessen, Food cart, Give Pizza a Chance, Heathman Hotel, Hotlips Pizza, Mt. Hood, Nostrana, Olive oil, Oregon, Ox, Pearl Bakery, Pearl District, Portland, Portland Farmers Market, Portland State University, Portland Walking Tours, Powell's Books, The Frying Scotsman, The Gaufre Gourmet, These Guys Brooklyn, Travel, Travel blog, Travel writing, U.S. News and World Report, Willamette Valley 6 Comments

FLOSS No, it’s not a directive about proper dental care. Rather, FLOSS stands for Fresh Local Organic Seasonable Sustainable. That acronym is the sacred mantra of Portland’s vibrant cuisine scene, said Adam, our guide from Portland Walking Tours. Adam wasRead more

The Gorgeous Columbia River Gorge

Mary Gilbert Tours and Sightseeing, United States October 5, 2013Best Western Plus Hood River Inn, Bonneville Fish Hatchery, Bonneville Lock and Dam, Bridge of the Gods, Cascade Locks, Cascade Mountains, Chanticleer Point, Charles Lindbergh, Columbia River, Columbia River Gorge, Crown Point, Explore the Gorge, Hiking, Hood River, Lewis and Clark, Mt. Adams, Mt. Hood, Mt. St. Helens, Multnomah Falls, Multnomah Falls Lodge, Munra Falls, Oregon, Pacific Crest Trail, Queen of the West, Sacajawea, Salmon, Travel, Travel blog, Travel writing, Vista House, Wahclella Falls 10 Comments

It was time for our annual reunion with our friends Cyndi and Ernie from Winston-Salem, NC, and Penny and Gil from Santa Rosa, CA. Where should we go, we wondered, that would give us beautiful scenery, outdoor recreation, a senseRead more

The Wild Life of Jack London

Mary Gilbert History, Tours and Sightseeing, United States August 15, 2013Beauty Ranch, Big House, Call of the Wild, Charmian London, Eucalyptus, Glen Ellen, House of Happy Walls, Jack London, Jack London Lodge, Jack London Saloon, Jack London State Historic Park, Snark, Sonoma Valley, The Sea Wolf, Travel, Travel blog, Travel writing, Valley of the Moon Historical Society, White Fang, Wolf House, Yaws 6 Comments

Posted from Glen Ellen, CA Our docent Trixie, leading her debut tour at Jack London State Historic Park in Glen Ellen, recited a litany of woes about early 20th century author Jack London as she guided our group along theRead more

The Hunt for Tule Elk

Mary Gilbert Tours and Sightseeing, United States August 7, 2013Bakersfield, Bear Valley Visitor Center, Mountain lion, Pacific Ocean, Pierce Point Ranch, Point Reyes National Seashore, Sonoma Valley Regional Park, Tomales Bay, Tomales Point, Travel, Travel blog, Travel writing, Tule elk, Tule Elk Reserve 0 Comment

Posted from Glen Ellen, CA Ter and I were on a mission: hike along Tomales Point at Point Reyes National Seashore in Marin County in search of the once-endangered tule elk (pronounced toolee) at Tule Elk Reserve. We learned about theRead more

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Welcome to The Roads Traveled

Greetings! I’m Mary Gilbert, a writer and blogger sharing stories and discoveries about people, places, and passions. While I live in Charlotte, NC, travel begins as soon as I walk out the front door, and home becomes wherever I am at the moment. Click here to learn more.

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