Scott Laird

Hawai'i, the 50th state in the union, was officially admitted to the union by President Eisenhower's signature certifying votes by both Congress and the people of Hawai'i, on August 21, 1959. In honor of 60 years of statehood, here are a collection…

Nothing quite matches a good old-fashioned spa town like Baden-Baden. And by old-fashioned, I mean really old-fashioned—or rather, “exceptionally storied.” Roman soldiers garrisoned in what is now the state of Baden-Wurttemberg in Southwest Germany…

French Polynesia has been getting a lot of attention lately. After years of stagnation, two new carriers added nonstop flights from North America to Tahiti in 2018, returning capacity to levels not seen in more than a decade. The influx of new…

One of the ways Hawai‘i keeps visitors coming back year after year is with constant innovation in the state’s tourism sector. In spite of reports that The Hawaiian Islands are nearing the limits of sustainable tourism development, there are always…

Cultural immersion is an often-used construct to describe the pleasure of surrounding oneself entirely in the culture of the region one is visiting. In Japan, immersion is often quite literal, thanks to Japan’s treasured ritual bathing in the…

Taos, New Mexico is a sensory wonderland. Bracing mountain air with the scent of Pinon, wildflowers and adobe seems to make up the common palate of the mountain west, and Taos enjoys them in abundance. While perhaps known best for skiing and a 20th…

France is the world’s most visited country, with almost 87 million tourism visitors in 2017. A significant portion of those visitors, which is more than the population of France itself, were bound for Paris. Paris is at the top of many travelers’…

Although summer is just one of four great seasons to visit the Anchorage area, it’s the most popular. With virtually endless sunlight, abundant wildlife, and plenty of opportunities to enjoy the region’s natural beauty with outdoor activities, it’s…