Planet Whitley

The invention of baseball – and the Abner Doubleday myth

Desperately trying to get some kind of understanding of baseball, David Whitley heads to Boston’s Fenway Park and Cooperstown, where the game was supposedly invented. Hunched over the bar, faintly jet-lagged, the statistics blizzard fired past. I had, I quickly realised, no idea what any…

baseball, Boston, Massachusetts, museums, New York, sport, USA

Experience the magic of night kayaking in Puerto Rico

Kayaking through Puerto Rico’s Laguna Grande, every paddle stroke ignites glowing bioluminescence, transforming the water into a shimmering, starlit spectacle. Gliding Through the Mangroves: A Mysterious Journey The light from the front is faint as we glide through the mangroves. A picture builds of dimly-lit…

bioluminescence, kayaking, Puerto Rico

101 things to do in Las Vegas besides gamble

Circus shows, hiking trails, desert adventures, ziplines and gluttonous buffets are amongst the many options for visitors who want to stay away from the casino floor in Las Vegas. Las Vegas is perhaps incorrectly known as the gambling capital of the world (it’s not –…

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Why the scarlet macaw has returned to the ruins of Copán, Honduras

A breeding programme is bringing back the scarlet macaw – once held sacred by the ancient Maya – back to the Copán ruins in Honduras. To skip the story and book your Copán tour, head here. Mayan Ball Game in Copán, Honduras Amid the ancient…

Central America, Honduras, wildlife

Visual trickery at the Museum of Illusions, Las Vegas.

Museum of Illusions Las Vegas – review

The Museum of Illusions in Las Vegas is fun, but gets overshadowed by competitors offering similar attractions at a grander scale. Visiting the Las Vegas Museum of Illusions Sometimes an experience is coloured by what comes before it. In my case, that’s certainly true for…

family travel, Las Vegas, museums, Nevada, reviews, USA

The Moser Glass Factory in Karlovy Vary, Czechia.

Moser glass factory tour, Karlovy Vary | Review

On a tour of the Moser glass factory in Karlovy Vary, it’s possible to find a love for the Czech art of glass. How expensive is Moser glass art? Entering the shop, there really is a temptation to buy. Even for someone not overly inclined…

art, Czechia, Karlovy Vary

Berlin to Munich train: Ticket prices, timetable & journey time

Berlin to Munich train ticket prices are much cheaper when booked in advance. There are 26 train services per day, but the journey time is realistically too long for a day trip. Berlin and Munich are two of Europe’s greatest cities, offering a very different…

Berlin, Germany, Munich, public transport, trains, transport

How to get into the Sydney Opera House without buying concert tickets

The way to get into Sydney Opera House without buying concert tickets is to book a guided tour. However, you need to make sure you pick the RIGHT tour. Sydney Opera House: A working arts venue The Sydney Opera House has quickly become one of…

Australia, New South Wales, Sydney

Spear fishing on Aitutaki, The Cook Islands

A fishing trip on one of the most beautiful islands on earth is harder work than expected. A fishing trip with a difference Mike from Black Pearl Fishing Charters takes one look at the afternoon’s current forlorn haul, and turns towards the cabin. “If the…

Aitutaki, Cook Islands, fishing, Pacific Islands

The cross-island trek on Rarotonga, the Cook Islands.

Hiking across Rarotonga

In the Cook Islands, a trek through the rainforest is a refreshing antidote to lazy lagoon life. Walking with Pa There are few things more humiliating than panting your way up a heart-attack inducing mountain, only to be passed by a bare-footed man in his…

Cook Islands, Pacific Islands, Rarotonga, walks

Planet Whitley

What happens when an airline breaks your suitcase

Türkiye vs Turkey: When do you start using a country’s new name?

Why Rome is a brilliant city for solo travellers

Why leaf-peeping is not just for old people

Some random observations about driving in the US

Revisiting Chicago – and why the third visit to a city is often the best

The day I decided to walk to France

Montreal is Canada’s best city: Here’s why…

Muri, Rarotonga: The perfect holiday town?

Why booking a family holiday is horrible – and how to improve it