With the Agriturismo trend in full swing (a style of vacationing that allows travelers to sample the bounty of rural life in the Italian countryside), it makes sense that the proprietors of the Kenwood Inn and Spa would create their own version of it at an urbane Italianate farmhouse in … Read more
Planning and booking a trip is a serious time investment; it’s practically like adopting a new hobby for a couple months. Guess what? The hours spent researching everything can be cut down, so that you actually can adopt that new hobby. Enter TrustYou, a website that does exactly that, specifically … Read more
Centuries of history, celebrated French cuisine, a towering cathedral on the river … Paris? No, I’m talking about Lyon, a city steeped in history and the home of Paul Bocuse, a culinary legend who changed French cooking forever. Compact and eminently walkable – you’ll need to burn off the calories … Read more
Are you thirsty for some action and a bit of intel? It’s time to get reacquainted with everyone’s favorite British spy over a drink starting October 25th. In advance of the opening of the new James Bond film “Skyfall”, The Draycott, a landmark hotel in London will be offering guests complimentary … Read more
These days the most fashionable address in Prague is the aptly-named Pařížská or Paris Street. Located in Old Town near the Jewish Quarter, Paris Street is home to the top designer shops in the world. Long gone are the days of communism. The city’s shopping scene now goes beyond Czech … Read more
Do the holidays have you feeling jittery? Well, if it’s not due to downing all those Peppermint Mochas at Starbuck’s, then you must just be nervous about your holiday plans – or the lack of them. It’s time to get started on your getaway! Escape to a tropical island, feel … Read more
Japan remains for me “the trip of a lifetime” and even though I am there frequently, its magic makes each visit memorable and instructive. I learn something new every time. On a personal level, my time there has led me to think more about the group than myself; to be … Read more
What do you get when you pair a cool boutique hotel in the heart of San Francisco with the earth’s first soft drink? Well, you get a little greener, bubblier and definitely more refreshing! We’re talking about The Perrier Lounge at Hotel Diva. Do you sometimes feel like channeling your … Read more
At the entrance to Azul in the stunning Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Miami, a dazzling white marble open kitchen catches your eye. Here is where you can observe true culinary art at work. The remarkable ambience with floor to ceiling windows showcasing the romantic Bay of Biscayne is fitting for a restaurant … Read more
I’m in a “junk” boat navigating mystical waters where thousands of craggy outcrops rise up like humps on an enormous underwater dragon. The mounds are shrouded in mist, making the scene surreal. A floating village suddenly appears as though it rose from the depths. Dogs bark on the docks and … Read more
If you’re one of those folks who tunes in regularly to the Food Channel and gets excited at the thought of attending one of the many Food & Wine Festivals held regularly across the USA and Canada, take my advice and head for Calgary, Western Canada’s latest destination food city … Read more
From a hot dog in New York City to a taco in Mexico, street food can easily make an impression on a growling stomach and not on your wallet! Street cuisine is as much a part of the local culture as the people and if you want to feel like … Read more
Are you curious about where that liquid libation you enjoyed at last night’s Happy Hour originated? From sugarcane in the Caribbean, the agave plant in the Mexican desert, Russian potatoes or malted barley from the American Heartland, when it comes to spirits the scope is vast. Puerto Rican Rum The … Read more
Full disclosure: I was a daily walker, not a hiker. Give me a pair of Jimmy Choo’s with 4 ½ inch heels and the directive to cross Manhattan’s Midtown and consider it done. But put me in a pair of hiking boots and I’m out of my element. So, when … Read more
The chief would be proud. The Wickaninnish Inn, named after the First Nations chief of the local Clayoquot people at the time of European contact in the 1770’s, is a world class Relais & Chateaux property that manages to offer a completely luxe experience in a wilderness setting. Owned and … Read more