Reel & Read
Reviews of film, music, literature, and travel — plus reflections on teaching and creativity, by William Edward Villano.
recent posts
- Joshua Tree National Park Travel Review — Desert Landscapes, Rock Climbing, and Cactus Candy | by William Edward Villano
- If— by Rudyard Kipling: A Poem of Strength, Balance, and Moral Compass | by William Edward Villano
- Blackbird (2007) Album Review — Alter Bridge’s Soundtrack of Youth, Memory, and Loss | by William Edward Villano
- Saving Private Ryan (1998) Review — Sacrifice, Courage, and Spielberg’s War Masterpiece | by William Edward Villano
- Hidden Gems of Hawaiʻi’s Big Island — Green Sand Beach, Rainforest Paths, and the Hilo Farmers Market | by William Edward Villano
about
Category: Travel Reviews
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In 2019, my wife and I took a trip to California that included some of the usual highlights — the bustle of Los Angeles, the stars of Hollywood, and a day at the San Diego Zoo. But what has stayed with me the most wasn’t the city lights or the animals. It was a drive…
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When my wife and I traveled to Hawaiʻi’s Big Island in the summer of 2022, the highlights weren’t just the famous sights. They were the places tucked out of the way, the “hidden gems” that felt like discoveries we made on our own. Three of them, in particular, have stayed with me — reminders of…
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In the summer of 2023, my wife and I traveled to Alaska, and Denali National Park quickly became one of the highlights of our trip. If I close my eyes, I can still picture that endless bus ride — nearly six hours through rugged wilderness — each mile a reminder that we were entering one…
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When I tell people I’m from New York, they almost always assume I mean the city. Skyscrapers, subways, bright lights — that’s the image most people carry. What they often forget is that New York is also home to mountains, lakes, forests, and trails that stretch into quiet horizons. The Catskills are proof of that,…
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In the summer of 2022, my wife and I traveled to Hawaiʻi for our honeymoon. The Big Island welcomed us with its contrasts — lush forests, black sand beaches, and, most striking of all, a landscape built by fire itself. Our visit to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park remains one of the most unforgettable experiences of…
Reel & Read 