Published inBATW Travel Stories·PinnedYosemite Ranger Shelton JohnsonBringing America’s Buffalo Soldiers to life in a California national park. By Erin Deinzer For just one moment, imagine what our country would look like had we not set aside our natural treasures—no Grand Canyon to glide through on clear blue water beneath towering limestone cliffs, no Great Smoky Mountains…Yosemite National Park7 min readYosemite National Park7 min read
Published inBATW Travel Stories·PinnedHop Aboard The Polar ExpressExperience the magic of Christmas on a very special train ride. — “All aboard,” the conductor cried out. I ran up to him. “Well,” he said, “are you coming?” “Where?” I asked. “Why, to the North Pole of course,” was his answer. “This is the Polar Express.” Story by Erin Deinzer When Chris Van Allsburg published The Polar Express in 1985, the book became an instant…The Polar Express5 min readThe Polar Express5 min read
Published inBATW Travel Stories·PinnedLas Vegas Outside the BoxVenture beyond the “usual” & discover 10 fun & fabulous spots in & around Sin City. — Story by Erin Deinzer Undoubtedly, there are many people who’ve never been to Vegas. If you’re one of them, then by all means — get thee to a Cirque de Soleil show and an endless buffet. …North American Stories7 min readNorth American Stories7 min read
Published inBATW Travel Stories·PinnedMush PuppiesDogsledding with a team of huskies brings a rush of winter excitement. By Erin Deinzer You might not be familiar with the names Togo and Balto, but undoubtedly you’re familiar with their accomplishments: In 1925, a fatal epidemic threatened the lives of children living in Nome, Alaska, and the only way to stop…Dog Sledding4 min readDog Sledding4 min read
Published inBATW Travel Stories·PinnedSevierville, TN—A Smoky Mountain AdventureTennessee’s Sevier County offers entertaining animal encounters (and so does Dollywood!) — Story by Erin Deinzer Not far from Gatlinburg, TN lies the town of Sevierville. Mention it as a destination in-and-of-itself, and people will likely give you a quizzical look. …Great Smoky Mountains4 min readGreat Smoky Mountains4 min read
Published inBATW Travel Stories·Oct 2Rays of LightSwimming with manta rays off Hawaii’s Kona coast. — By Erin Deinzer Before the arrival of Europeans, the Hawaiian Islands were truly a paradise on earth. With no indigenous plants or animals that were poisonous or deadly, and no large land animals to worry about outrunning, the ancient Hawaiians pretty much had it made. Still, Hawaii is a series…Kona6 min readKona6 min read
Published inBATW Travel Stories·May 31, 2022Movie Magic Outside Hollywood in…RomaniaDiscovering cinematic wonders in an Eastern European country. — Story by Erin Deinzer Last night’s rainfall saturated the road that ran through town, keeping dirt to a minimum. Nevertheless, my boots stuck to the mud-caked planks as I made my way across the street from the saloon to the general store. From somewhere in the distance, I heard the whinnying of horses in…Castel Film Studios3 min readCastel Film Studios3 min read
Published inBATW Travel Stories·Updated Apr 5Along Chuckanut Drive — The Emerald State’s Big SurExploring Washington’s 1st State Park — Two roads diverged in a wood and I — I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference…Robert Frost Story by Erin Deinzer In 1915, Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken” was published in The Atlantic Monthly. That same year, on the other side of the continental U.S., …Washington5 min readWashington5 min read
Published inBATW Travel Stories·Jun 2, 2021Spanish DancersAndalusian warhorses are transformed into beings of grace & beauty in Southern Spain. Story by Erin Deinzer The lights in the arena dim as flamenco music fills the air—castanets punctuating the beat of the song. I sit in my bleacher seat surrounded by hundreds of other visitors to the arena…Cádiz4 min readCádiz4 min read
Published inBATW Travel Stories·Mar 31, 2021The Driving ReignFrom noble wines to regal raptors on the “Castle Road” of France. Story & photos by Erin Deinzer Like many an obsessive “Game of Thrones” fan, I’m entranced by the idea of life in medieval Europe—including fairy tale images of castles, and the raptors that carried messages back-and-forth between them…Raptors5 min readRaptors5 min read
