Category Archives: Journal Articles

 
Idaho’s Old Penitentiary Tour Engages Visitors       
By Bobbie Green

The old Idaho Penitentiary is one of four territorial penitentiaries, still in existence, in the United States. Built east of Boise in 1870 and it housed prisoners until 1973. Now, the complex of several sandstone buildings, are open to revealing public tours.

Our tour guide’s father was a guard at the prison– our guide lived on the property as a boy. He had interesting tales to tell.

A prisoners life was very harsh in those days compared to the resort like penitentiaries we send our criminals to now days. There were no workout rooms, computers and air conditioning.

Visitors begin by watching a video recalling prison history and its notorious inmates. …

Read More

Battle at Atlantis-Basketball, Sun and Surf
By Ron Kapon 

New Providence (21 miles long and 7 miles wide) is the island home of Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas and is located in the middle of the Bahamas archipelago of over 700 islands. These islands start within 50 miles of Miami and stretch hundreds of miles to the northern coasts of Haiti and Cuba. Only about 35 or so are populated with Nassau, Freeport and Paradise Island hosting most of the tourists. About two thirds of the population of around 260,000 live on New Providence. The city shopping area is compact and easy to leisurely explore on foot. I do not recommend renting a scooter unless you are used to driving on the …

Read More

The Sporting Life in Las Vegas
By Ron Kapon

When I mentioned I was invited to Las Vegas for five days, the first thing people asked was “do you like to gamble?” Then it was what shows are you seeing? Lastly it was “where are you eating, and what wines will you be drinking?”But I had to tell everyone that my Las Vegas Overtime Guaranteed Tour was all about sports. The MGM Grand Hotel & Casino was my host for four nights. I unwound in their spa in the steam room, sauna and whirlpool. Let the games begin. 

By the time you read this USA Sevens Rugby Tournament & Fan Festival will have taken place at Sam Boyd Stadium. The home …

Read More

Cleveland and the Ohio Wine Trails
bY Ron Kapon
Things have changed since 2006 when I was last in Cleveland, both for the city and for the 500,000 residents and more than 10 million visitors annually. The city has opened its arms to the art world in major fashion. Sports have taken on a new veneer with the Browns, Cavaliers and Indians all playing in new stadiums situated in the downtown area, almost touching Lake Erie and each accessible by public transportation. Take a train from the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport to Tower City Center and shop, eat and walk through a skyway to Quicken Loans Arena (basketball & concerts) and Progressive Field (baseball). Browns Stadium (football) is but …

Read More

A Visit to the Pocono Mountains
By Ron Kapon

I did not experience the whole 2,400-square miles that are the Pocono Mountains but rather two resorts located about 45 minutes from each other. There are six interstate highways that make the region quick and easy to reach from all directions. The Poconos is a well-known 4 seasons outdoor recreation destination for visitors around the northeast, especially from New York City and Philadelphia. The Poconos (population 340,000) encompasses the Delaware State Forest, including seven state parks and …

Read More

.

Albany, NY- Dysfunctional Legislature, Functional City
By Ron Kapon
Albany is the capital of New York State and is about 140 miles north of the city. The City of Albany sits on the Hudson River and has a population of a bit fewer than 100,000 (Albany County has 300,000). There are about1.2 million people in the metro area that includes the cities of Troy, Schenectady,  Rensselaer and Saratoga Springs. Albany was founded as a Dutch trading post in 1614. In 1664 the English renamed the town Albany, in honor of James II, Duke of Albany. In 1754 representatives of seven British North American colonies met in the Albany Congress. …

Read More

Portsmouth New Hampshire & Wentworth by the Sea
By Ron Kapon

Native Americans of the Abenaki tribe were the original inhabitants of the territory later named New Hampshire. The first settlement began in 1623 and was named Strawberry Banke for the wild strawberries that grew there. Portsmouth grew into the colonies’ fourth largest city at the mouth of the Piscataqua River, which divides New Hampshire and Maine. The port dealt with fishing, lumber and shipbuilding. In 1653 it was incorporated as Portsmouth after the port city of the same name in England. By 1679 it had become the territory’s capital, and remained so until 1774 when Exeter became New Hampshire’s Revolutionary …

Read More

Christmas in the Lehigh Valley

by Ron Kapon

With a population of around 800,000 the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania encompasses the cities of Easton, Bethlehem and Allentown. Easton is the smallest with a population of 26,000 and is but 70 miles from NYC (first city after leaving New Jersey along Interstate 78). It sits at the confluence of the Delaware & Lehigh Rivers. It is the home to Lafayette College, the National Canal Museum (the only museum dedicated to the story of America’s historic towpath canals) and the famed State Theatre Center for the Arts with top stage and screen performers. Centre Square with its weekly farmers markets, restaurants, art galleries and antique …

Read More

Factory Tour & Snack Food Capitol of the World, and the UnCork York WIne Trail

By Ron Kapon
I have written about many southern cities in the past few years including Oklahoma City, Knoxville, Birmingham, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, New Orleans, Myrtle Beach, Raleigh, Charlotte, Houston and Jacksonville. As a born and raised frenetic New Yorker I found many things to enjoy in the “laid-back” south. Most of the trips mentioned above were structured press familiarization trips with activities all day.

Could I really relax on a “free to do what you like” trip? The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa proposed just such a three night restful long weekend in late September. My Continental Express flight would be two hours to Savannah and less than an hour drive to Hilton Head Island. Why not spend a …

Read More

Wining & Dining in Anguilla
By Ron Kapon

Anguilla is situated in the British West Indies, around 150 miles east of Puerto Rico and 9 miles north of St. Maarten. It is the most northerly of the Leeward Islands in the Eastern Caribbean. The name Anguilla means eel, which is perfect for an island that measures 16 miles by 3 miles. The Valley is the capitol and is home to around 600 of the 12,300 island residents. If gambling, nightlife, cruise ships and shopping malls are your thing I would suggest not visiting Anguilla. The island tends to draw a very upscale clientele, much like St. Barts, but without the paparazzi. …

Read More

Tales of the Cocktail
bY Ron Kapon

I admit it; I am a wine guy. I have been teaching and writing about wine for over 45 years. Even my e-mail spells it out- VINORON. A few years ago I added spirits to my journalistic endeavors and even shared teaching a spirit course at The International School Hospitality Management at Fairleigh Dickinson University. I have traveled to Scotland (Scotch), Ireland (Irish), France (Cognac), London (Gin), several Caribbean Islands (Rum), Mexico (Tequila), Peru (Pisco), Jerez (Brandy), Italy (Grappa) and Sweden (Vodka) for my research. There was an opportunity to broaden my knowledge and find interesting angles for stories: The 6th Annual Tales of …

Read More

U. S. tourist venturing to Russia will not be disappointed. They will find their trip a rewarding experience and return home with a new perspective of the lovely people who were once our arch enemy during the cold war.                             
Amadeus Waterways a young, but renowned company provides 5 star river cruises throughout Europe. Among their fleet is the ship Leo Tolstoy, This is the first season for Amadeus running the Russian Waterways itinerary. I chose to see Russia from the Leo Tolstoy because of her history. She was built in Austria for the high ranking Kremlin officials and to host foreign dignitaries. The Captain, Valery Usikov has been aboard for 25 years, first during his military service …

Read More

By Bobbie Green
Tombstone was not what I thought it would be, based on the advertisements and articles I have read about the town famous for h O.K. Corral shootout, but I would put it on the must-see list for anyone traveling in Southern Arizona.
On the 27th of October 2006 a multitude of people from all over the world, many in period dress, gathered to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Gunfight at the OK Corral in Tombstone Arizona. The 3-day event was planned and executed by the town’s citizenship with the help of some outside entertainers.
I have never been to Tombstone before, so everything from boot hill to shoot outs on Allen Street was new to me. My perspective …

Read More

By Ron Kapon
I love Napa. I used to work there. You can spend three days in Napa and a lifetime in Sonoma. Our goal is not only to get visitors to Sonoma County but also to get them into the vineyards. Our organization represents 1,800 wine grape growers in Sonoma County. We believe when wine drinkers know how and where our grapes are grown, they will have a greater appreciation for Sonoma County.”- Larry Levine, VP Communications, Sonoma County WineGrape Commission.

“Most people who come to wine country are limited to tasting rooms with wood-paneled bars and first year staff. On a Sonoma Vineyard Walk we get into the vineyards with …

Read More

Once you get to your destination side trips can play an important part of your vacation pleasure. It makes no difference if you are touring from a cruise ship or from your land based hotel or resort. The best trips are not necessarily ones your concierge or cruise director are promoting, or maybe you have already been there done that, so the following alternatives may be just what you are looking for.
Are you going to be on the East coast to enjoy the fall colors? While in Portland Maine try your hand at lobster fishing. Within walking distance of the cruise ship docks you will see the Lucky Catch lobster boat. Opposite her mooring is where you …

Read More

For those who want to continue their education and have fun at the same time, Santa Fe offers just the menu, from ongoing archaeological digs to ancient Indian villages to more museums than you can visit in a week to a selection of restaurants that will please every palate and educate you at the same time about real southwestern food. The ancient Plaza evokes the influence of the Spanish and offers tourists not just a lot of shopping but even more history. The historical place to visit on the Plaza is the Palace of Governors, once the seat of government for the Spaniards and now a registered national historic landmark.
This museum falls under the aegis of the Museum …

Read More

Mesquite Skydive, located at the airport in Mesquite Nevada, 80 miles east of Las Vegas is the only skydiving attraction for experienced divers, as well as first timers between Los Angeles California and Salt Lake City.

I was treated to the thrill of seeing their operation first hand, actually from the co-pilots seat of the 17 passenger caravan 208, a very small plane by my standards. I felt perfectly safe and aware I was with a very experienced pilot. Seemingly, light as a feather our take off and landings were hardly noticeable. Seeing the beautiful city from the air is more than delightful, it gives one a whole new perspective of the area.

Among our grouping was Ronny Anderson, …

Read More

by Ron Kapon

For those of you who are geographically challenged Maine is often confused with its sister states New Hampshire and Vermont. 90% of the land in Maine is forest (mostly inland) with low mountains. With 3,500 miles of shoreline and 3,000 plus islands along the jagged, rocky coastline Maine borders the Atlantic Ocean on the south and east; New Brunswick, Canada on the north and north east; and Quebec on the north west. With a population of only 1,321,505 the state is 98% white with a large French-Canadian community. It is the northernmost portion of the eastern United States.

I was offered the opportunity to experience a four day cruise …

Read More

The once controversial Atomic Museum is now a 3-year old reality at 755 East Flamingo Road in Las Vegas. It is located on the ground floor of the Desert Research Institute’s building. The atomic testing grounds have been an intricate part of Nevada history since 1951, when President Truman approved the site over protest from the Las Vegas Casinos who were worried it would adversely affect their business, instead it became and attraction for them as they advertised for patrons to watch the then above ground test from their roof tops.
The Nevada Test Site Historical Foundation is the Parent organization of the Atomic Testing Museum. The organization was created as the workers from the test site started saving discarded …

Read More

Americans do not have to go to a foreign Country to experience a once in a lifetime flight of fancy over a live volcano. A visit to the big island of Hawaii and signing up to take one of the many helicopter tours over the live Kilauea Volcanic System will provide tourist with an awe-inspiring look at a sight very few people get to witness first hand.
Let me warn you, this is not a “cheap” thrill, at approximately $200.00 a person. However I have not talked with anyone who was not thrilled with their experience and were glad they did it.
After flying over the lush greenery of the island, you enter the volcanic system …

Read More

Snorkeling is one of my favorite activities to do whenever the opportunity presents itself during my travels. Having just arrived in the Great Barrier Reef for the first time, I couldn’t wait to go in search of Nemo.

We anchored the small boat just off Lizard Island. I put on my gear and slipped into the warm water. I glided on the water examining the ocean bottom of pure white powder, noting it was void of any plant life. Suddenly, as though a theater curtain parted, the set emerged. The reef appeared with all its glorious color. I was amazed at how much there was to see, and in my mind I kept hearing (like the old Frankenstein movie) …

Read More