In the United States most folks will agree without hesitation that the Napa Valley is the nation's eminent wine region. It doesn't mean necessarily the most fun though. This might perhaps fall instead to Hawaii, which has two wineries CNN/AP points out are quite entertaining to visit. A laid back experience, reflective of the Hawaiian lifestyle, Tedeschi Vineyards and Volcano Winery bill themselves as places the non-experienced wine lover won't feel intimidated by. One of the most interesting things is that they blend local ingredients, such as pineapple, into some of the wines they produce.

Where Grapes and Pineapples Mix originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 03 May 2005 17:45:17 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

If you're around Reno, NV between the 12th and 15th of this month you might want to check out the annual Reno River Festival. MSNBC has a good preview piece on the event which is being held in the city's one-half mile downtown whitewater park. "Whitewater competitions, clinics, displays and demonstrations" will happen during the Festival, while the revitalized downtown core of Reno itself offers up an interesting array of cafes, restaurants and, of course, casinos.

Whitewater Festival, Reno Style originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 03 May 2005 16:33:19 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Think it's time to put away the skies? If you have access to the backcountry of Colorado, this  Denver Post article will make you think otherwise. This is apparently one of the best times of year to head out that way via car for access to powder you might not normally touch during the regular season. Top places to consider include Loveland Pass, Mount Evans  and Trail Ridge Road. You should, of course, avoid those nasty avalanches if you can.

Hitting the Colorado Backcountry in Spring originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 19 Apr 2005 16:52:45 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

One of the best joys of paddling is getting to go places that are only accessible by boat. Such is the case of the Broken Group Islands, a chain of over 100 islands and rocks set in the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve of Canada. Writer Matt Jackson takes us there in this well written MSNBC/Canoe & Kayak piece. Takeaways from his adventures include not messing with the sea lions, enjoying the best tidal pools have to offer and generally being blown away by the beauty of Canada's Pacific Northwest region.

Paddling the Broken Group Islands originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 19 Apr 2005 16:17:14 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Kayak? Canoe? Inflatable? Hard shell? What's the best choice to enjoy the roaring rapids as snow packs around the country begin melting? Rex Turner writes in MaineToday.com that you should think of buying a paddling boat as you would a car, asking yourself questions like what you will be doing with it and where you will be going. Another thing to think about is what paddling experience you already have - one used to a canoe may find a kayak daunting at first.

Picking that Right Paddling Boat originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 13 Apr 2005 17:44:42 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

If you haven't had a chance to see the Mona Lisa yet, she's got a new room to greet the 6 million or so who come to see her each year at the Louvre.  As this CNN article tells, her new location is larger then the previous spot to provide more people a chance to catch a glimpse of that famous smile. The new gallery also provides space for other 16-century Italian paintings.

The Mona Lisa Shuffle originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 13 Apr 2005 17:28:47 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

A great thread in the Lonely Planet forums from earlier this year talks about the worst American airports. As most threads like this go, opinions are all over the map, though there are some useful tips to be had from savvy travelers on making the most of the more crappy terminals around the country. I personally have never been fond of the United section of Washington Dulles - its long, narrow and very difficult to navigate when crowded. What's your worst airport and/or terminal?

Worst American Airports originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 11 Apr 2005 22:51:07 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This nice short story from California Culinary Academy graduate Heidi Schooley tells of her three month internship at noted winery, restaurant and cooking school Badia a Coltibuono in the Chianti region of Tuscany. She talks about her work with regarded chef Francesco Torre, her first meal in the famous wine growing region and generally what it was like to experience life in place where she felt the most amazing part of the journey was eating the food and not just cooking it.

An American Chef in Chianti originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 11 Apr 2005 22:33:29 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Browsing through freelance writer job listings, I came across one of what seems like dozens these days for an online travel magazine. It, unlike others, looks to actually be a very cool site called Pology. Started this month, Pology wants to put a fresh face on travel writing by posting pieces which "convey visceral experiences that come about from submersion in a new culture (abroad or domestic). This isn't a publication that focuses on shopping, resorts, spas. We want stories that are saturated with life and are revealing of culture."

The stories and awesome accompanying photos definitely seem to be fitting that mission statement so far. 

Read Pology originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 29 Mar 2005 15:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

From the files of James Wysong, a flight attendant (former?) who has a couple of books under his belt about life at 35,000 feet, comes a funny column about ways to annoy his kind and perhaps find yourself sitting on the tarmac or in jail. Some of his list includes actual events he has observed, such as opening an exit before take off to see if the slide works and pulling out a squirt gun which looks like a real weapon and spraying people. It's nice to see people like Wysong reminding us how stupid the human race can sometimes be.

Why Can't I Open the Emergency Door Before Takeoff? originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 29 Mar 2005 14:48:44 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

What better way to travel along the Swiss Alps then via the Glacier Express? This 75-year-old train line, according to AP/CNN, has been shepherding passengers through breath taking scenery and mountain passes which are more than a mile above sea level. It is supposedly one of the most beautiful train rides in the world and, judging by the pictures on their website, I would have to agree.

That 75-Year-Old Swiss Alps Train originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 28 Mar 2005 19:52:49 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Bored with ocean surfing? Thought about taking a wave down ye olde river? That's right - I'm talking about tidal bore and the sport of bore surfing. This National Geographic article talks about this interesting recreational activity and how these inland waves form. In summary, a tidal bore occurs when a wave forms from tides as they head into certain rivers and only under certain environmental conditions. Some bores can travel up to 20 miles an hour and get stronger as they go up the river, creating a unique surf condition which has sometimes been sighted many miles inland.

Surf's Up on the River, Dude originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 28 Mar 2005 19:12:35 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

One of the best places to take stock of the world around you is on the top of a mountain. Ed Viesturs is one climber who can truly say he's had plenty to see as he seeks to be the first American to climb the 14 tallest mountains in the world (all above 8,000 meters). He's already got 13 checked off the list, according to this Seattle Times interview, and is on his way to Nepal to tackle his last obstacle before the goal line: 26,545 foot Annapurna. He's already been bested by this peak twice and has no attentions of letting three times be the mountain's charm.

The 14 Peaks of Ed Viesturs originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 28 Mar 2005 18:28:56 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

To many, many skiers Scot Schmidt is the man who created "extreme skiing". This great interview between Schmidt and the Denver Post takes readers inside the life of a man who "modernized a leaping, knees-to-your-chest schmear turn that was emulated by millions in his wake" and has starred in nearly 40 movies, including a bunch of Warren Miller flicks. His exploits have made him quite a legend and, with the corresponding riches which have followed, Schmidt has gone off to do things like co-found Go with a Pro, a company which pairs top tier athletes with those who can afford their rates.

A Man With No Extremes originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 23 Mar 2005 20:53:06 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

There's a whole lot of building going on down in Charlotte, North Carolina now that the new U.S. National Whitewater Center has secured final funding and broken ground. Slated for completion in Spring 2006, this very cool looking 307-acre facility will boast the world's largest artificial whitewater river, a high adventure center, 11 miles of hiking and biking trails and a 37-acre island you can camp on. It has already been designated an U.S. Olympic Training Site and the new home of USA Canoe and Kayak.

Charlotte, Get Ready for Artificial Whitewater originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 23 Mar 2005 20:31:20 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Have you ever had the chance to explore Niihau? This most "forbidden" of the Hawaiian Islands (usually seen only at a distance, like the photo on the right) is virtually untouched by tourists and developers, mainly due to the influences of the island's owners to keep it pristine and shelter the native Hawaiians who live in the only village. This leaves people like the San Francisco Chronicle's Jeanne Cooper "eavesdropping at the edges of Niihau" through a handful of organized tours.

"Forbidden" Niihau originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 21 Mar 2005 18:43:38 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

If you had two kids, an open weekend and some desire for adventure, where would you go? One AP writer, whose article on her adventures was picked up on CNN, decided to try her luck in Florida. The resulting tale, split one day each between the glitz and entertainment of Miami and the outdoors exploration of the Everglades, is quite enjoyable. There was enough fun to be had for all, including some delicious down home cooked gator.

Florida in 48 originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 21 Mar 2005 18:24:56 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Being from California, I'm blessed with large amounts of wide open spaces, rugged coasts and beautiful forests to explore. It's also a reason why I don't often explore outdoor areas in other states. This article about Kentucky's growing ecotourism has me thinking a visit to the Bluegrass State might be in order soon though. Among the more popular outdoor activities are eagle weekend programs, elk tours and cave exploring.

Getting Outdoors in Kentucky originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 18 Mar 2005 14:10:09 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Ever kayaked the Hudson River? To many, it's still considered a polluted body of water. Perceptions are changing now though, as this CNN article on paddling this New York state body of water points out. A growing kayak outfitters industry is springing up in places like Cold Spring, with many people taking an hour long train ride from NYC to enjoy the country and do some river exploration.

Kayaking the Hudson originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 18 Mar 2005 13:35:27 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

In keeping with our kitesurfing POTD, here is a great San Francisco Chronicle story about the sport and its growing popularity in the Bay Area. For those who don't know, the writer describes kitesurfing (also called kiteboarding) as a sport in which "kiters must pilot a giant kite while steering a board". It draws upon elements of many other sports and is very challenging, but quite a rush as well.

Kitesufring, Redux originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 18 Mar 2005 12:53:57 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.