Explore the journey — one trail, museum, meal, and memory at a time.
Buffalo Bill Center of the West
A day in Cody, Wyoming, turned into an unexpected journey through the history and art of the American West. I spent hours exploring the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, learning about Buffalo Bill's remarkable life and Wild West Show, and discovering an impressive collection of paintings and sculptures. From Charlie Russell's illustrated letters to contemporary Western art, there was far more to see than I had time for.
Boise: Old Penitentiary & Botanical Garden
A day exploring Boise, Idaho, took me from the fascinating history of the Old Idaho Penitentiary to the late-season flowers and sculpture exhibits at the Idaho Botanical Garden. Along the way, I discovered an elaborately decorated Halloween Jeep, an enormous collection of historic weapons, and a surprisingly lively downtown. I finished the evening with a giant Idaho stuffed baked potato at Spud Daddy and a walk through the city.
Idaho's State Capitol
I spent the day exploring Boise, starting with an excellent guided tour of the Idaho State Capitol. The building's marble columns, enormous dome and natural light made it a fascinating place to photograph. After lunch at Funky Taco, I visited the Idaho State Museum, where exhibits on nuclear research, agriculture, technology and Idaho history kept me occupied for several hours. Along the way, I enjoyed unexpected conversations with fellow visitors and learned a few things about places I had already visited during my travels through Idaho. I finished the afternoon photographing wildlife at Kathryn Albertson Park, where the quiet ponds, wildflowers and unusual encounters with people made for an enjoyable evening.
Tour of Heritage Museum
I spent most of the day exploring Helena’s new Montana Heritage Center, which opened in December 2025. The Charles M. Russell Gallery was the highlight, but the Poindexter modern art collection and beautifully designed Montana Homeland Gallery made this one of the best museums I visited in Montana.
Four Museums in Fort Benton
A full museum day in Fort Benton took me through the Missouri Breaks, Upper Missouri history, the reconstructed Old Fort and the Museum of the Northern Great Plains. I also stopped at the town’s war memorials, including tributes to Vietnam War service dogs and U.S. Navy ships, before ending the day along the Missouri River.
Nose Hill Hike
Rain changed my plans in Calgary, but the afternoon opened up for a 3.2-mile hike across Nose Hill Park, with glacial erratics, a Blackfoot medicine wheel, quaking aspens and changing views of the Calgary skyline. That evening I visited Contemporary Calgary before finishing the day with a burger, beer and an unexpected fantasy football gathering at National.
Military Museums & Peace Bridge
A day in Calgary moves from military history to a relaxing afternoon along the Bow River. I explore The Military Museums, learn the real story behind the Great Escape, photograph Santiago Calatrava’s Peace Bridge and wander the riverfront as people head home from work. The evening ends in Westhills, where a long line at Village Ice Cream turns out to be worth the wait.
Studio Bell & Central Library
I went to Studio Bell to see the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and learn more about Canada's musical history, particularly Oscar Peterson. I wasn't expecting the architecture to capture nearly as much of my attention. That continued at Calgary Central Library, another extraordinary building where the architecture became as interesting to me as what was inside.
Royal Alberta Museum
Excerpt
I spent the afternoon exploring the Royal Alberta Museum, moving from Alberta’s human history into geology, glaciers, fossils and enormous Ice Age animals. I was surprised by how much there was to learn and realized I’ll need to return to dig deeper into Alberta’s paleontological history. I finished the day relaxing outside the glass pyramids of the Muttart Conservatory.
Chena Hot Springs
I drove from Fairbanks to Chena Hot Springs expecting a small town and instead found a rustic resort built around the springs. I toured its hydroponic greenhouse and geothermal power plant, spent hours soaking and reading in the hot springs, then finished with a funny tour of the Aurora Ice Museum. It wasn't at all what I expected, but it was interesting, quirky and relaxing.
UofA Museum of the North
I spent most of the day at the University of Alaska Museum of the North in Fairbanks, wandering through Alaska’s history, art and science. From permafrost and Pleistocene animals to Blue Babe and The Place Where You Go to Listen, this was one of those museums where I kept finding reasons to slow down.
Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum
The Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum wasn’t on my original Fairbanks itinerary, but a recommendation from my Dalton Highway driver changed that. Inside I found an extraordinary collection of antique automobiles, Alaska motoring history and vintage clothing—and some unexpectedly interesting photographic subjects.
Homer, AK
Heavy rain forced me indoors, but the Pratt Museum turned out to be one of the highlights of my time in Homer. Exhibits on Alaska's boreal forest, Indigenous history, volcanoes, earthquakes, and the Exxon Valdez oil spill made for an unexpectedly engaging day. After lunch at Fat Olives, I spent the evening exploring the Homer Spit, talking with a fishing charter captain, enjoying authentic Italian gelato, and ending the day with another reminder that some of the best travel experiences come from unexpected conversations.
Seward: Alaska SeaLife Center
A rainy day in Seward didn't stop the adventure. After taking refuge inside the Alaska SeaLife Center, I explored the town's historic buildings, photographed Resurrection Bay during a brief break in the weather, and finished the evening with a drive to Exit Glacier. Sometimes the best travel days are the ones that refuse to follow the original plan.
Dutch Harbor WWII History Museum
Getting from Dutch Harbor back to Anchorage should have been easy. Instead, the day turned into a series of delays, missed opportunities, and unexpected conversations. Along the way I finally visited the Aleutian World War II Visitor Center, where the story of the Japanese bombing and the Lost Villages gave me a much deeper appreciation for the people who call these remote islands home.
Anchorage Museum
A day in Anchorage turned into five hours at the Anchorage Museum exploring Alaska's history, geology, Native cultures, and art. Afterwards I photographed reflections in downtown buildings before ending the evening at Lake Hood watching floatplanes and a pair of Greater Scaup go about their business.
Valdez Old Town
Rain turned out to be the perfect excuse to explore the Old Town Museum and the site of the original Valdez. Survivor interviews, recreated buildings, and a driving tour of Old Valdez transformed the 1964 Good Friday Earthquake from history into something deeply personal, revealing how an entire community was rebuilt just a few miles away.
Valdez Museum & Oil Terminal
The Valdez Museum covers more history per square foot than most places I've been — the 9.2 earthquake that liquefied the waterfront and forced the whole town to move four miles, the $8 billion pipeline that eliminated Alaska's income tax, and an exhibit on Lee Wulff, the father of modern fly fishing, who grew up fishing these exact waters.
White Pass and Alaska History
The White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad delivered spectacular mountain scenery, waterfalls, and a few memorable characters along the way. After returning to Skagway, I spent time exploring the Corrington Museum of Alaskan History, where exhibits on the Japanese occupation of Alaska during World War II, Native carving traditions, mammoth hunters, and the Iditarod offered a deeper look at the people, events, and cultures that helped shape Alaska's history.
Skagway's KlondikeGold Rush Stories
I spent the day exploring Skagway's history, starting at the excellent Skagway Museum and ending with the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park film. Along the way I learned about Soapy Smith, the White Pass railroad, Buffalo Soldiers, and the hardships faced by thousands of stampeders heading for Dawson City. A stop at the historic Mascot Saloon and an evening hike around Lower Dewey Lake rounded out one of the most interesting days I've had in Alaska.