The Sun-Herald, Australia – May 1, 2011 America’s south – loosely defined as the eastern states below Pennsylvania – is often overlooked by visitors in favour of the sun-kissed beaches of California or the urban excitement of cities such as Las Vegas and New York. But this is where many of the country’s most pivotalContinue reading “Grand dames of the South”
Author Archives: Rob McFarland
Post Ranch Inn, Big Sur, California
The Sun-Herald, Australia – Apr 17, 2011 It’s not often you feel like an eco-warrior when you check in to a resort but since arriving at Post Ranch Inn, I’ve been feeling positively virtuous. After a welcoming glass of Taittinger, my car is whisked away and I’m ferried to my room in an eerily quietContinue reading “Post Ranch Inn, Big Sur, California”
Savannah, Georgia
Escape travel section, Australia – Apr 10, 2011 Of all Savannah’s 22 elegant, park-like squares, there is one in particular tourists make a beeline for. It’s called Chippewa Square and the reason is because it’s where Forrest Gump sat on a bench and famously declared that, “Life is like a box of chocolates. You neverContinue reading “Savannah, Georgia”
Adventures in Tahiti
KiaOra (Air New Zealand’s inflight magazine), NZ – April 2011 Just the word “Tahiti” conjures up an intoxicating mental image of aquamarine lagoons punctuated by idyllic sandy atolls. A land of brochure-blue skies, bath-warm water and lazy days filled with massages and cocktails at sunset. But what if you don’t want to lounge around allContinue reading “Adventures in Tahiti”
24 Hours in Toronto
GQ Australia – April 2011 Ask most Australians what they know about Toronto and they’ll likely answer “not much”, which is surprising given it’s the fifth-largest city in North America. While it might not have the profile of LA or New York, it’s not short on charm. The world’s most multicultural city, Toronto boasts 200 differentContinue reading “24 Hours in Toronto”
Driving Highway 1
Luxury Travel Magazine – Autumn 2011 As I lower the roof on our convertible Ford Mustang, I feel that tell-tale rush of excitement that accompanies the start of something memorable. I’m about to tick off an entry on my all-time travel wish-list: driving Highway 1, the spectacular coastal route that winds its way fromContinue reading “Driving Highway 1”
24 Hours in Miami
A contender for sexiest city in the US, Miami is a product of its location. As an American city with close ties to Central and South America, it is a melting pot for Latin-infused culture. You’ll find Cuban, Mexican and even Brazilian influences in everything from the music to the food and fashion. The locationContinue reading “24 Hours in Miami”
Amish tour in Pennsylvania
Before visiting Pennsylvania, my limited knowledge of the Amish was based on a single viewing of Witness, the movie where Harrison Ford goes into hiding in an Amish community to protect a young murder witness. I knew they dressed in quaint, old-fashioned clothes and used horse-drawn buggies to get around but I assumed they wereContinue reading “Amish tour in Pennsylvania”
Arctic adventure
An announcement comes over the public address system that there are two polar bears off the starboard bow. It’s 7am. I stumble out of bed, bleary-eyed, and throw on some warm clothes. Up on deck, it’s a clear, crisp day and everyone is peering intently over the side, cameras and binoculars at the ready. Suddenly,Continue reading “Arctic adventure”
King of the road
As I inched our new home out of El Monte’s hire depot in Orlando, I felt that tingle of expectation that signifies the start of something special. We were about to embark on the quintessential American holiday: an RV trip. We had two weeks to get from Florida to New York a journey that wouldContinue reading “King of the road”
Venetian High Notes
Venice’s premier concert venue is the Teatro La Fenice, a spectacular theatre whose interior is a decadent ensemble of frescoed ceilings, plush red velvet and gilded artwork. Over its tumultuous 218-year history, it’s been the site of many famous operatic premieres as well as twice being burnt to the ground and completely rebuilt. Unfortunately, evenContinue reading “Venetian High Notes”
Safari magic at Singita Lebombo, South Africa
Deidre in the driver’s seat turns around and whispers to me: “Did you hear that?” I can’t hear anything apart from my heart pounding between my ears. I’m in an open-top Land Rover in an area teeming with lions and my nerves are jangling from a heady mixture of fear and excitement. We move towardsContinue reading “Safari magic at Singita Lebombo, South Africa”
Italy by Rail
Mention rail travel in Europe and most people think of France’s TGV. What’s less well known is that Europe’s high-speed rail network extends north into Germany and south into Spain and Italy. Taking the train is not only kinder to the environment than flying, but you also get to see some of the scenery you’reContinue reading “Italy by Rail”
Fiji’s adventure playground
Fiji’s adventure playground
Fiji in style
Fiji in style
CityCenter, Las Vegas
It’s 11pm and I’ve just walked into the foyer of Aria, the 4004-room hotel centrepiece of the new CityCenter development in Las Vegas. Given there are several hundred people milling around, interspersed with a dozen security guards, I automatically presume there’s been a bomb scare or a fire alarm. When I question a nearby staffContinue reading “CityCenter, Las Vegas”
Adventure on the Murray River
It was supposed to be a hypothetical question. When I ask Jack: “What would happen if the engine failed now?” I didn’t expect him to reply: “Let’s find out.” I wouldn’t be so worried if we were in a car or a boat. But we’re in a two-seater plane – and we’re at 760m (2500ft).Continue reading “Adventure on the Murray River”
Mile high mystery in Denver
I’ve been recruited to help solve one of Denver’s most notorious crimes. On December 18, 1922, a Federal Reserve Bank delivery truck was being loaded with money outside the Denver Mint when three men pulled up in a black Buick and jumped out, firing sawn-off shotguns. Fifty guards returned fire but the robbers still managedContinue reading “Mile high mystery in Denver”
Oman
It’s 6am and I’ve just dragged myself out of a warm, comfortable bed and up a near-vertical 100-metre wall of sand to watch the sunrise. You’ll rarely find me awake at 6am, let alone up, but this seems an appropriately intrepid way to start a day in which I’ll be following in the footsteps ofContinue reading “Oman”
Great Barrier Island, New Zealand
With our belongings wrapped tightly in plastic bags and lashed to three body boards, the three of us tentatively wade into the creek. Soon the water is too deep to stand so we use the boards for buoyancy and kick for the other side. Ten minutes later, we’re standing on Whangapoua Beach, a long stretchContinue reading “Great Barrier Island, New Zealand”
Rob McFarland 