Ben Pastore

This unique forest environment is well worth the time and residual neckache to see in person, otherwise the concept of scale just can't be fully transmitted. These giants are more …

My visit coincided with the devastating forest fires of 1994, but not to worry, this is all part of the cycle. The park is so big that there was plenty …

Flocks of tourists aside, the Yosemite Valley is truly one of the most stunning landscapes this planet has to offer. The sheer face of El Capitan on one side and …

My visit to Venice left me wondering if this was a city or movie set. It was all so surreal. The charming narrow pedestrian streets and ornate bridges made it …

I'm not Catholic, but it is hard to not be impressed by the lavish wealth and imposing structures amassed by the church and on display. It really is quite a …

Even though the Summer Palace wasn't included in my tour, I made it a point to take the $5 taxi ride to the outskirts of Beijing to see it with …

What can I say that hasn't been said by someone else before me? These massive setinels of human history have earned their spot on the World Heritage List if only …

My visit here was in 1995-long before the attacks of 9/11 that spooked Americans from traveling to the Middle East. Though not a Muslim myself, I was entranced by the …

I visited Paris briefly during my honeymoon, because I couldn't call myself a world traveler and skip this Must-See location. Yes, it is all that you think, and yes, it …

Like many others before me, my visit to the Ba da ling portion of the Wall was a prepackaged, escorted trip including the mandatory tourist traps. That aside, it truly …

I came to the Blue Mountains on a day trip from Sydney and in hindsight I wish I had more time. Wentworth Falls, a town before more visited Katoomba, is …

I visited Ayutthaya in March 2003 after seeing only a small photograph in a guidebook. I wanted to get a feel of old Siam and was not in any way …

I visited the Great Barrier Reef via a liveaboard dive boat in March 2005. I've been diving all over the world, but this place tops them all if there was …

Vienna was a stop on my honeymoon, and the highlight of our visit was Schonnbrun Palace. The impressive gardens, ornate decor, and charming zoo made for a wonderful day and …

In a land of superlatives, Fiordland National Park earns the highest ranking possible in all around natural beauty. My jaw hurt from repetitive dropping as we made our way to …

Words can't really describe this moonscape of both natural and man-made sculptures of rock. Troglodyte dwellings of generations past are fun to wander through and their architectural style can best …

I visited the Cairns/Port Douglas area and in my book it lived up to a World Heritage Site. The coastline is lovely, the coastal mountains abound with waterfalls and once …