Travel Stories

Explore firsthand travel stories and practical travel guides for adults over 50, solo women, and curious travelers who want to know what a destination is really like. Drawing on more than 30 years as a travel writer and photographer, I share honest accounts of road trips, luxury hotels, museums, public art, food and wine, and memorable experiences across the United States and around the world. You’ll find original photography, helpful planning details, and the small surprises that can turn a trip into a story worth telling.

For example, these articles represent the range of travel stories on PTW, including road trips, cultural attractions, food, photography, and travel for people over 50. A low-stress Montana getaway filled with museums and public art, a Verde Valley weekend featuring wine, scenic rail travel, and Arizona history, and what to know before visiting Casablanca’s Hassan II Mosque.

The campfire in courtyard

Campfire Hotel Bend: 5 Reasons To Love Your Stay

Campfire Hotel in Bend, Oregon, caught my photographer’s eye with bright orange décor. Then a bride in a hot dog …
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Phalarope Lake at Black Butte Ranch, Three Sisters in the background in Central Oregon

Black Butte Ranch in Central Oregon: 5 Reasons I Loved This Getaway

When I visited Black Butte Ranch in Central Oregon during the summer, I found myself in Horse Heaven. It was …
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Sunflower fields in Wilsonville, Oregon

Holiday Inn Wilsonville: 5 Best Reasons to Book Your Stay Here

Looking for a comfortable place to stay near Portland, Oregon? Holiday Inn Wilsonville offers convenient I-5 access, on-site dining, an …
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Red Feather Lodge historic sign in Tusayan

Here Are 5 Things We Loved About the Red Feather Lodge Grand Canyon

We loved the Red Feather Lodge in Tusayan when we were there in the spring. Here are the reasons: Located …
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Yoli place setting for dinner.

Where to Eat and Drink in Bend, Oregon: 13 Stops for Food Lovers

Bend fed my curiosity and my appetite on my quest to find great places to eat and drink in Bend …
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Public art in Carlsbad - Three Sailboats - a mural in Carlsbad Village

How to Enjoy Art Between Every Bite in Carlsbad Village

A Carlsbad Food Tour feeds your eyes as well as your appetite. On a recent tour, colorful murals and public …
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Carlsbad city entrance sigh

How to Find the Best Food and Stories Hiding in the Carlsbad Food Tour

The Taste of Carlsbad Food Tour serves up a flavorful mix of chef-driven cuisine, craft beer, public art, and colorful …
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Dana Point Marina and Jetty

8 Exciting Reasons Dana Point Should Be Your Next Stop

Dana Point delivers the kind of California coast that keeps pulling me back. After 40 years living in Orange County …
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Mural by Mat Sansing, 710 1st Avenue S., Great Falls

Great Falls vs. Bozeman: Which Montana City Fits You?

Sunset on the Missouri River overlooking the River Walk. © Julie Diebolt Price Bozeman over the rooftops. © Julie Diebolt …
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Westbrook Winery pond and landscaped grounds

Where to Eat in Walla Walla: From Casual Bites to Fine Dining

Walla Walla serves much more than award-winning wine. Explore my favorite places for breakfast, casual meals, farm-to-table dishes, creative cocktails, …
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Bon Voyage Besties podcast with Rachel and Julie

Bon Voyage Besties Podcast with guest Julie Diebolt Price

Cover for Episode 63: Spain, Portugal, and Morocco in 6 Weeks with Julie Diebolt Price podcast – Bon Voyage Besties: …
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Horse run at Rancho de los caballeros

Reader’s Choice REVIEWED 2026 Contributor

“Reviewed has built its reputation on hands-on testing of consumer products by our own experts. We put everyday items through …
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Milwaukee Station and the Station District in Great Falls, Montana

Gourmet Travels – 5 Dining Hotspots That Will Amaze You in Great Falls, Montana

Great Falls, Montana, brings serious flavor to Big Sky Country. This river city blends Western history, wide-open scenery, and a …
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Empty cliff houses, caves and ruins of stone pueblos at Montezuma Well.

How to Make Your Verde Valley Weekend Worth Every Minute

The Cottonwood car on the Verde Canyon Railroad at the Clarkdale station. © Julie Diebolt Price Arizona wine country still …
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Hassan II Mosque exterior wide angle.

Why Hassan II Mosque Should Be Your First Stop in Casablanca

Interior entrance to the Hassan II Mosque. © Julie Diebolt Price The Atlantic pounds below the Hassan II Mosque. The …
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Sunflower at the Flower Fields in Carlsbad, California

Not wildflowers in The Flower Fields!

“Spring does not whisper at The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch. It shows up loud and bright, covered in ranunculus …
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Why You’ll Never Forget Your First Dinner at Rick’s Café Casablanca – Gourmet Travel

Rick’s Café tourist attraction front entrance. © Julie Diebolt Price Rick’s Café gives Casablanca the movie fantasy tourists still chase: …
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Travel Writing Checklist jdp cover

Travel Writing Checklist Updated for 2026

Image of the author with her glass of wine, three modes of travel (plane, train, car), depicting her passion for …
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Triple C Cowboys on stage at Cody Cattle Company.

Choose Cody Cattle Company for Amazing Food and Fun – Gourmet Travel in Cody, Wyoming

Cody Cattle Company gives visitors the West in the order many travelers secretly want it: a full plate, a good …
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Salmon with Fish Shop Rub, seaweed salad, and jasmine rice.

Best Places to Eat in Oceanside: A Gourmet Travel Guide

On my 2021 visit to Oceanside, I sampled several thriving local restaurants that were the best places to eat in …
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