Classical and Brutalist architecture in the US capital.
Sightseeing in DC
Conditions limited my outdoor activities in DC, but fortunately I had booked a few indoor attractions in advance.
Maryland, minimally
Weighing up my claims to have visited Kentucky and Maryland on this trip.
Gallery: Greater Cincinnati
Photos from both sides of the Ohio river.
Gallery: Cincinnati Street Art
A sample of Cincinnati’s excellent mural collection.
Eating my way around Cincinnati
Cincinnati has become synonymous with an unusual twist on chili, but what other culinary treats can be found in the city?
Cincinnati Sightseeing
Discovering some of the highlights of ‘The Queen City’.
Overview: The Three-Way
Although less ambitious than last year’s, 2023’s American adventure would still take in three states – and the District of Columbia.
The Idaho and Utah State Capitols
Unusually, both cities on this trip were the capitals of their respective states. Their capitol buildings turned out to be unexpected delights.
Gallery: Boise
Highlights from a variety of attractions in Idaho’s state capital, Boise.
36 hours in… Boise, Idaho
A brief side-trip from Salt Lake City let me claim another US State – my seventh new one of the year.
Gallery: Salt Lake City
A combined collection from 2022’s visits to Salt Lake City in January and May.
Salt Lake City
With Salt Lake City hosting four climbing word cups on back-to-back weekends, I returned for a second visit in 2022.
Gallery: Bay Area
A rare non-travel day, spent exploring Oakland and – after crossing the bay by ferry – San Francisco.
Gallery: Reno
Architecture and street art from Nevada’s other casino city, Reno.
Gallery: Glenwood Springs
Trains, hot springs and plenty of snow were the themes for this extended stop in Colorado.
Gallery: Mount Pleasant
Photos from the smallest city I visited on this tour – Mount Pleasant, Iowa.
Seven States in Nine Days
In less than two weeks I was able to double the number of US States I’ve meaningfully visited, by hopping on and off the California Zephyr.
Gallery: Chicago to the San Francisco Bay, by train
Arguably Amtrak’s most scenic route, the California Zephyr allows a great variety of landscapes to be sampled from the comfort of a lounge or sleeper car. Here’s some of what I experienced during a winter run with the snow often piled high!
Chicago to the San Francisco Bay, by train
I took on the entire 52 hour, 2400 mile journey from Chicago to Emeryville on the California Zephyr – but rather than one epic ride, I split it into six pieces across nine days. Here’s how those went.