Despite the continued steady churn of speculation on the (gasp!) danger of leisure and luxury cruise ships, statistically, staying safe is relatively easy. First, you could not go on one — probably the easiest and cheapest option — which is the preferred method of folks who are scared off by the aforementioned speculation (and the visual of half a ship sticking out of the water on every channel for two weeks), as well as for people who rant about why they hate every possible kind of cruise — but have never been on one. (If you’re one of the latter, stop reading now because no amount of logic will fix you). Second, assuming you go on a ship, follow three simple rules that will virtually ... Continue reading →
Almost everyone tells you how to get in touch with your inner voice, but no one says what comes after “Once upon a time…” Nearly all great stories, from cave drawings through Bill Bryson’s latest work, follow some version of the same road map—and without it, most stories just wander. Learn the structure of storytelling, from a great lead to a solid angle to an ending that makes readers remember your name. Spud Hilton is the award-winning travel editor of the S.F. Chronicle. A journalist for 20 years, Hilton has written columns, travel essays, and features for more than 70 newspapers. He is a faculty member of the Book Passage Travel Writers and Photographers Conference. Location: Street: 51 Tamal Vista Blvd City: Corte Madera, Province: ... Continue reading →