Abandon the Cube Travel Journal

America, Featured, Ground Travel, politics, travel

Remember the Alamo! This saying had little meaning to me until recently, when we visited the Alamo in San Antoino, TX. This was a prime turning point in the battle between non-Mexican residents of Mexico and the Mexican government that ultimately resulted in the independent Republic of Texas (recognized by the US government, but not [...]

Books, Featured, Reviews, backpacking, travel

Chuck Thompson is an infamous name in the travel industry. He has been a long-time critic of how Americans perceive the rest of the world, that is to say – as a series of isolated resorts in various exotic locations ripe for development and full of charming tanned locals. Thompson’s uniquely bitter tone throughout the [...]

America, Featured, Ground Travel, Mexico, travel

Having visited Progreso several times this winter, and Matamoros only once, it is safe to say I’m a bit skewed towards the former destination. Nevertheless, I have rational reasons for enjoying Progreso more than Matamoros. For anyone living along the East Coast of Texas, this will be vital information for you if you are planning [...]

Equipment, Featured, Random Thoughts, Reviews, Transportation, backpacking, politics, travel, updates

America, Featured, Ground Travel, Mexico, backpacking, travel

I suppose reading the blog might have been confusing recently for some of our more attentive readers. We posted blogs from Canada and Chicago nearly simultaneously, one praising the Olympic ski runs at Whistler, the other lauding a drive from North Carolina to Chicago. Meanwhile, posts from Mexico and Texas are also popping up. [...]

America, Ground Travel, Mexico, politics, travel

Palo Alto and the Mexican-American War

Posted on 02 March 2010

If you live or vacation in Southern – Central Texas, this is especially important to all the winter Texans, take a short drive North of Brownsville to visit the Palo Alto Battlefield. Easy to find and only taking an hour or so see, the Palo Alto Museum was a refreshing overview of sometimes forgotten American, [...]

America, Ground Travel, Transportation, travel

Texas!

Posted on 28 February 2010

Texas! The only state in the union that considers becoming its own country on a daily basis and was an independent nation from 1836 to 1845. Texas! Known for the highest number of executions per year. A place so exciting and fast paced it took the armadillo as its state animal. Texas! The lone star [...]

Asia by Land, Books, Reviews, travel

Book Review: The Ridiculous Race: 26,000 miles, 2 guys, 1 globe, no airplanes, by Steve Hely and Vali Chandrasekaran

Posted on 26 February 2010

Steve and Vali made a deal with each other. The first one to circumnavigate the globe by land would win a bottle of the most expensive scotch they could find in California. So, they purchased a bottle of scotch, poured two glasses and set them dramatically on the dining room table. Then they said their [...]

America, Charity, accomodation, politics

Habitat for Humanity

Posted on 22 February 2010

Being unemployed, we decided to try to make ourselves useful to society in a way that doesn’t include posting comments on various websites. We decided to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity in Texas. Texas is a remarkably transient place. In the winter, all the snowbirds from up north evade the winter chill by vacationing in the [...]

America, Books, Europe, Reviews, backpacking, politics, travel

Book Review: The Geography of Bliss, by Eric Weiner

Posted on 20 February 2010

If you are interested in social psychology and how the conceptual understanding of happiness varies between cultures, then The Geography of Bliss: One Grump’s Search for the Happiest Places in the World is for you. Weiner travels across the globe trying to find the world’s happiest locations. He travels to the Netherlands, Switzerland, Bhutan, Qatar, [...]

America, Ground Travel, Mexico, travel

South Padre Island Texas

Posted on 18 February 2010

For the past month we have been sheltering ourselves away from the massive cold front that has left the Midwest covered in snow and ice. We journeyed south, like the Winter Texan snow birds, to South Padre Island, TX, a tiny sliver of land only three blocks wide and roughly 15 blocks long, surrounded by [...]

America, Asia by Land, Central Asia, Ground Travel, Photography, Random Thoughts, Silk Road, Transportation, backpacking, travel

Top Ten Travel Websites

Posted on 30 January 2010

So its 2010 and to celebrate we’re looking for the top ten amateur travel sites on the internet. Help us find them! We’re looking for competitive, comprehensive, totally awesome amateur travel sites that are more than mere narratives of people’s personal adventures overseas. We’re looking for sites with country information, maps, and relevant info and pictures [...]

America, Ground Travel, accomodation, backpacking, travel

The Mount Washington Hotel and Resort

Posted on 28 January 2010

Also known as Bretton Woods, the Mount Washington Hotel is the one of the last remaining “Grand Hotels” of New Hampshire’s White Mountains. Since it was built by Joseph Stickney in 1902, for a mere 1.7 million dollars, it has been host to a variety of historical events, politicians, and celebrities. The Kennedy’s were known [...]

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Lonely Planet Featured Blog

Good news for travel buffs, Lonely Planet now has a program that features great travel blogs. This program has exploded in the travel community and you can now see select posts from ATC on related Lonely Planet destination pages. Now Abandon the Cube is part of this great endeavor to make travel information more accessible. If you found our site from Lonely Planet, welcome to ATC! Subscribe to the RSS feed for weekly blogs sent to your email, or you can follow us on facebook and twitter. Alternatively, check out the photo album, our guides, newsletters and info on the 2010 Mongol Rally.