Kiri Wagstaff

I spent a few days in Edinburgh in March 2010, having an absolutely fabulous vacation. It was often rainy and cold, but that didn’t diminish my enjoyment of the delightful hiking just outside the city (I highly recommend climbing Arthur’s Seat!). This is truly a geologist’s mecca, with Hutton’s Section, the dramatic perch of Edinburgh Castle atop a volcanic neck, and more. The bus service is excellent and makes it easy for a tourist to get around. The old buildings are a feast for the eyes. Some of my favorite places were the Writers’ Museum, the National Library, the Industry and Empire section of the National Museum (trains and engines and looms and machines, oh my!), and Parliament (you can walk inside!). I also had the best fish and chips I’ve ever eaten at the World’s End Pub.

I spent four years in Ithaca attending graduate school, and I absolutely fell in love with the town. It has a lovely, tight-knit feel to it, and it’s largely populated by highly educated people who are passionate about doing the right thing. It’s secluded and remote, and the natural beauty of the area is stunning no matter the season. I experienced my first New England fall in Ithaca, astonished at the brilliant reds, golds, and even purples that blazed on the trees. Winter brings oversized helpings of piled-up snow, ice-frosted tree branches, and crystallized waterfalls. Spring bursts with green everywhere: vines, bushes, trees… The summer can be very humid, but there’s always Cayuga Lake or pools at the base of waterfalls for swimming.

Sights not to miss:

• The multiple gorges, carved by pounding waterfalls that flow to Cayuga Lake
• The Farmer’s Market, still the best example of a farmer’s market I’ve ever encountered, wildy popular with locals and visitors
• Moosewood Restaurant, a vegetarian restaurant that doesn’t skimp on flavor or creativity; I’ve never had anything there that I didn’t absolutely love (they sell cookbooks, too!)
• Cornell University, with several charming old buildings (try the library) and its characteristic clock tower (still played manually, and quite a treat to watch)

I spent nine fabulous days visiting the Big Island and Kauai, mostly hiking and sight-seeing. I went to the top of Mauna Kea, explored Kilauea in Volcanoes National Park, drove all the way around the island, snorkeled off the Na Pali Coast on Kauai, and hiked along the Kalalau Trail on the north shore. The rain that persisted throughout my trip (early May) could not dim my delight in the absolutely stunning local geology, laid-back daily rhythms, and beautiful greenery. I highly recommend the My Island B&B in Volcano and the Rosewood B&B on Kauai.