American Nomad Blog
About this blog
American Nomad covers the best of U.S. travel—from vacation deals to festivals, weekend getaways, travel tips, and more. A seasoned traveler and Moon author, Laura is the perfect guide to help discover new gems when traveling domestically.
Recent Posts
- A Southern Girl's Wintertime Adventure in Yellowstone
- One Novelist's Odyssey Across America
- Gearing up for a Family Camping Trip
- Mint Juleps and More at Oak Alley Plantation
- Avoiding Identity Theft While on Vacation
- Money-Saving Travel Tips from Nomadic Matt
- Fashion, Fun, and Convenience for the Modern Traveler
- In Search of Irish Museums Across America
- The Inspiring Journey of a Solo Kayaker
- Getting Fit for Treks in Yosemite and Elsewhere, Part 2
- Getting Fit for Treks in Yosemite and Elsewhere, Part 1
- Experiencing Yosemite with YExplore
- Two Travel Contests Worth Mentioning
- A Word About the TSA's No-No List
- A Reader's Advice About Airport Security
The Healing Powers of Travel
Tomorrow is Halloween, my absolute favorite holiday, and as with last year, I was planning to gab about the best of America's spooky diversions, from seasonal haunted houses and actual haunted locales to ghost tours and ghost towns. I thought that I might also share my own experiences at some of the Big Easy's signature attractions and events, such as the House of Shock and the Endless Night Vampire Ball – both of which my husband, Dan, and I had intended to attend this past weekend. more >>
Family-Friendly Fun at Niagara Falls
When Hurricane Katrina descended upon southern Louisiana, near my hometown of New Orleans, back in late August of 2005, I definitely fared better than some native New Orleanians. At the time, my husband, Dan, and I were actually near Los Angeles, far from the path of the destructive storm, and luckily, all of my immediate family members (Mom, Dad, Maw-Maw Deanne, Aunt Judy, and Paw-Paw Al), who still lived in and around New Orleans, survived the hurricane's aftermath. True, most of our possessions were utterly destroyed by the subsequent flooding, but as I've already noted, I was definitely luckier than some. more >>
Outdoor (and Indoor) Adventures in the Smokies, Part 3
Since last week, I've posted two installments of a three-part conversation with Katy Koontz – Knoxville resident, longtime travel writer and Smokies expert, and author of the Smoky Mountain Travel Guide ($2.99), a handy mobile app available for iPhone, iPad, and Android devices. Filled with colorful photos, turn-by-turn GPS directions, and up-to-date content about the park as well as the hotels, restaurants, attractions, and shops in the surrounding gateway towns, this interactive app also allows travelers to peruse relevant web pages and YouTube videos, mark and sort entries, and leave comments or ask questions of the author. more >>
Outdoor (and Indoor) Adventures in the Smokies, Part 2
In the wee hours of Friday morning, I posted the first installment of a three-part interview with Katy Koontz – Knoxville resident, longtime travel writer and Smokies expert, and author of the Smoky Mountain Travel Guide ($2.99), a handy app available for iPhone, iPad, and Android devices. As I mentioned on Friday, Great Smoky Mountains National Park (107 Park Headquarters Rd., Gatlinburg, TN 37738, 865/436-1200, 24 hours daily, free) is one of my favorite locales under the purview of the U.S. National Park Service, which recently celebrated its 96th birthday. more >>
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Moon Travel Guides make independent travel and outdoor exploration fun and accessible. With expert and adventurous travel writers delivering a mix of honest insight, first-rate strategic travel advice, insider travel tips and an essential dose of humor, Moon Travel Guides ensure that travelers have an uncommon and entirely satisfying experience. Each travel book is filled with unique trip ideas, easy-to-use maps, and detailed information on sights, restaurants, and accommodations. Moon Travel Guides not only point you in the right direction, they inspire new ideas and adventure. Whether you are seeking a relaxing beach trip to Hawaii, or an adventure travel trip to the rainforests of Costa Rica, Moon guidebooks—and Moon.com—are with you every step of the way. Founded in 1973, the Moon Travel Guides series includes Moon Handbooks, Moon Outdoors, Moon Metro, Moon Living Abroad and Moon Spotlight travel books. Moon is based in Berkeley, California and is a proud member of the Perseus Books Group.