He has traveled to over a hundred countries and visited more than four hundred cities and regions. Borders of countries change but a city stays put for its life with few exceptions. He was born in San Francisco He lived in Europe while in the Army, stationed in Nuremberg.  He lived there for a while after his term of service was complete so he could explore more of Europe. This was his first taste of international independent travel.

Travel became important to him after seeing some of Europe, but he still backpacks solo to many places. He numbers among his greatest travel experiences, opportunities of staying with locals to understand local and national customs. Opting for a home stay whenever possible, he’s had that pleasure in over thirty cities around the world.  Hostels rank high for the camaraderie and interactive friendship that he has earned from other travelers hailing from all parts of the world.

He has traveled through up the swampy jungles of Borneo, down the Amazon as the sole passenger of a riverboat, crawled through the Cu Chi tunnels of Viet Nam, trekked to the peaks of Machu Pichu, walked the holy sites of Jerusalem, spent an evening with a Masai tribe in East Africa, wandered through the battered walls of Sarajevo, rode a camel around Petra and skirted gunfire in Kosovo, Recently he lifted a glass of Guiness in Dublin pubs and rode past the heavy gates that separate the now quiet city of Belfast. He rode a mokoro dugout canoe up the Okavango delta in Botswana and ate a meal with the Himba tribe of Namibia. These are just a few of the fantastic experiences that have made him into a world traveler.

Mike has explored every country of Europe and all fifty American States plus several of its territories. Asia and Africa have been favorites to see because there are still many beautiful places that are largely unexplored. The rugged beauty of the Americas and the stately charm of Europe still attract him.

He has a number of close friends who have had broad travel experience too. It is from such travelers that the advice and guidance, encapsulated here, has been distilled. Using his experience as a traveler he has lectured to students about the pleasure and life-enriching experiences of travel.

Often his wife, Marcy, will join him. When she does they usually change gears and stay in five-star lodging and enjoying five-star meals whenever possible. She has a fine palate for food and wine. Her adventurous nature has led her, with Mike, to raft the freezing rivers of Denali in the upper reaches of Alaska. She discovered a five-star cave hotel in Urgup, Cappadocia, Turkey and many other bizarre, exotic, and often romantic settings, with a fondness for cruises.

They currently live in Agoura Hills, California with their dog.