I had always been fascinated with the United States of America -- a fascination that was nurtured during my childhood by such diverse inputs as westerns and other movies and television and "National Geographic" magazine. In 1985, halfway through my degree at the University of Canterbury, I left New Zealand for the US and managed to stay for six months of traveling, though I really only had enough money for one month of reasonable living thanks to massive devaluation of the New Zealand dollar immediately before I left. Being poverty-stricken certainly enhanced my experience of this multi-faceted (sometimes loose) alliance of states, and I had the time of my life, when all was said and done.
I returned in 1987, after completing my degree, and have been here ever since -- becoming a US citizen in 1993. It's a great country, with almost unlimited potential. There is festering badness here, there are threats to the constitution and to personal freedom (not to mention the social and biological environment), but there is more promise than in most parts of the world, and the nation is so diverse that there is bound to be a niche for everyone. And sometimes it seems like everyone still wants to come to "America." Good luck with the INS, if you fall into that category.....
Statistical Abstract of the United States
Isuzuville Scenic Route: Off-Highway Road Trip
National Wildlife Refuge System
NativeWeb...focusing on indigenous peoples, predominantly Native Americans
A Chronology of US Historical Documents
North Georgia Internet Magazine
Northeast Georgia Mountains Page
The North Georgia Journal On-Line
Creative Loafing...alternative press guide to Atlanta
Okefenokee Joe's Natural Education Center
Coastal Georgia Golden Isles Navigator
Rev. Howard Finster Folk Art for Sale
National Audubon Society's Corkscrew Swamp
Unofficial Memphis Home Page...visit the home of Elvis!
1995 Tennessee Vacation Guide: Delta Country
1996 Guide to Raleigh/Wake County
Insiders' Guide to The Outer Banks
Dale Coyner's Appalachian Highways
Asheville and surrounding area...an excellent town in the hills
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
AccessCom - New Orleans Guide - An Insiders Look
Lonely Planet - Destination Hawaii
Day Trip to the North Shore on Oahu
TravelASSIST Magazine - Los Angeles, California
Unofficial In N Out Burgers Home Page...one of the few things I miss about living in Los Angeles (specifically, their chocolate shakes)
The Idyllwild Town Crier's Visitors Guide...up in the mountains -- one of my favorite getaways when I lived in Palm Springs
Big Bear Online...up in the mountains, too - a beautiful escape from Los Angeles
Welcome to Big Bear California
Big Bear Lake...A Place for all Seasons
Cozy Hollow Lodge...my favorite
Virtually San Diego, California...violent as it can be, I love San Diego and spent a lot of time there
HomeTown Free-Press, San Diego
Web-vision's San Diego and California Links
The Local Guy's Guide to San Diego
Virtual Village of La Jolla, CA
Hamel's Action Sports...gives a taste of life on Mission Beach, San Diego, where I lived for a while
The San Diego Aerospace Museum
San Diego Zoo..one of the very best
San Diego's Boll Weevil Restaurants...home of the Boll Weevil burger, an impressive piece of culinary engineering (though I frequented burrito stands like Alberto's and Roberto's more than anything else)
Pictures from a short trip to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Isuzuville Scenic Route: Anza Borrego
Virtually San Francisco, California
San Francisco Underground Travel
Northern California HI Hostels
Hostelling International - Pigeon Point Lighthouse
Marin County Visitor Information
Beyond the Bay Area: The Coast
Mendocino Community Network Home Page
A Guide to Yosemite National Park
A Guide to Mammoth Lakes, California
Lake Tahoe, Shasta, Redding, Mt. Lassen, Sacramento & Northeast California
Welcome to Redding in Northern California
Redwoods Country: Leggett Valley California...one of my favorite places
Arts, crafts, and services in the Redwood canyons
Self-driving day tours around Leggett
Eel River Redwoods Hostel...in the Leggett area
Hostel-hopping the Pacific Northwest
Online Highways - Travel Guide to Oregon
Online Highways - Travel Guide to Washington
Vashon Island, Washington...really nice island in Puget Sound
Sequim's Home Page..Sequim, Washington, and the Olympic Peninsula
Las Vegas Online Entertainment Guide
Photographs of the American West
TravelASSIST Mag - Arizona Utah Colorado New Mexico
New Mexico Travel Guide...truly the "Land of Enchantment"
City of Albuquerque, New Mexico
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Jim Ratliff's Guide to Tucson, Arizona Resources on the Net
Grand Canyon National Park...my favorite hole in the ground
The Grand Canyon, Flagstaff, and Northern Arizona
Petrified Forest National Park
The Arizona Guide - Indian Country
Sedona Chamber of Commerce...Sedona, and nearby Oak Creek Canyon, were backdrop to many a Western movie...
Aquarian Concepts Community - Divine Government...Sedona was a nicer place before it became overrun by rampaging New Agers (doing doubly inappropriate things such as constructing Plains Indians prayer wheels in protected areas)...this is but one example of what Sedona has become...for my money, Joshua Tree and the high plateau of New Mexico feel a lot more like "vortex" sites to me
Park City Utah Convention and Visitors Bureau
GORP: Bryce Canyon National Park
GORP: Rocky Mountain National Park
Texas Lore: tall tales and Texas history..yup, there's a difference!
West Texas...one of my favorite parts of the world (especially with a fast motorcycle)
Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Ft. Davis and the Marfa Lights
Langtry...one-time domain of legendary Judge Roy Bean
Real/Time Communications - Central Texas Info Page
San Antonio...one of my all-time favorite cities anywhere
San Antonio, Texas - Local Information
Welcome to the Heart of San Antonio!
Austin...another great city
Coyote Express Austin Texas Music Heavy Metal Food Recipes Coyote
New Braunfels...and the adjacent hamlet of Gruene
Brenham..home of the Blue Bell Creamery! (excellent ice cream)
Check out these threats to America's collective soul...and the flipside of the American Dream (rather, American Dreams)