San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

After a morning of wandering the hilly, cobbled streets of San Miguel, I was quite tired and on the lookout for a nice spot for lunch. I ended up in the Jardin, the central square that is the heart and soul of this Spanish colonial town in central Mexico. I … Read more

Providence, Rhode Island

  PROVIDENCE – less is more! A Round-Up of the City’s Best Your mom always said that first impressions count.   When I hailed a taxi at Amtrak’s Providence, R.I. station the striking neoclassical dome of the State House beckoned in the night sky.  Would the smallest state’s “creative capital” (as … Read more

Maine, New England

Maine is such an idyllic spot that visitors seem to get nostalgic for it even if they haven’t visited it yet.  Indeed, as you cross the Piscataqua River marking the border between New Hampshire and Maine, you’ll pass a sign alongside the highway that reads “Welcome to Maine: The Way … Read more

Lima, Peru

  Lima, “The City of Kings”, is the fifth largest city in Latin America and was once the capital of South America.  Straddling the coast of the Pacific Ocean, it’s known for its’ Incan ruins surrounding modern urban enclaves built during Spanish colonialism. Striking baroque architecture from that period abounds … Read more

San José, Costa Rica

San José, Costa Rica   Do you Know the Way to San José? San José is not always on the receiving end of favorable mentions in travel reviews, and maybe this is due to the fact that, with so much to see, when reviewers really start gushing about their recent … Read more

Gallatin and Park Counties, Montana

A Place for All Seasons “Montana,” so the popular slogan says, “is the last best place.”  Call me biased, but if that’s true, then Montana’s Gallatin and Park Counties are truly the last last best places.  Small slivers in the shape of states, the counties huddle against one another in … Read more

New York, New York

TO SEE OR NOT TO SEE –  Celebrities on Broadway The famous towers of Midtown Manhattan. Photo: Ben Dwork I recently saw Dr. Frasier Crane on Broadway. Well, actually Kelsey Grammer is on Broadway, but it’s hard to tell him apart from the zany psychiatrist he made famous during 20 … Read more

Los Angeles

  LA Local: A Tale of Six Neighborhoods Sunset Boulevard, Rodeo Drive, the Hollywood Hills—it’s all quite glamorous.  It’s also your typical LA story. As a new resident of Southern California, I owed it to myself to dig a bit deeper. What I discovered is that the real stars of … Read more

Playa del Carmen, Mexico

One of the hottest destinations in Mexico plays host to Culture and Sunshine   Located about 40 minutes south of Cancun, Playa Del Carmen is fast becoming one of the hottest destinations in Mexico. Playa, as the locals call it, is a beachside city on the coast of the Caribbean … Read more

Coffee Triangle, Columbia

  If you mention going to Colombia to almost anyone be prepared for a long pause and then a grimace.  While the country has had a reputation for being dangerous in the past, it’s just that…in the past. With a beautiful countryside, cosmopolitan cities and first class accommodations, Colombia is … Read more

Hot Springs, Arkansas

  An hour from Little Rock lies a gem of a city, the Ouachita Valley land of peaceful waters, Hot Springs, Arkansas. Steeped in history and exuding an inviting southern charm, it’s home to horseracing, the baths, and the blues. Blushing when in festival mode, this small city shares the … Read more

Staten Island, New York

  When most people think about New York, they think of Manhattan, or maybe even Brooklyn. But there is another borough that is worth checking out: Staten Island. Staten Island may share the “718” area code with Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx, but it distinguishes itself with its own unique … Read more

Hong Kong, China

Beyond Hong Kong, What a Difference a Day Makes Soaring skyscrapers plastered in neon, 24-hour nightlife, fabulous shopping that ranges from the suspiciously cheap to the seriously glamorous, and some of the best Chinese food in the world. For most visitors this is Hong Kong, and to be fair, it’s … Read more

Chile, South America

  Lush Valleys to Snowy Peaks From my front-row seat at “Pure Energy, Pure Chile” – a multimedia light show celebrating Chile’s Bicentennial – the presidential palace in the capital of Santiago was a spectacular site, illuminated in vivid purple. The building became the backdrop for a visual history lesson … Read more

Los Angeles, USA

LA Local: A Tale of Six Neighborhoods Sunset Boulevard, Rodeo Drive, the Hollywood Hills—it’s all quite glamorous.  It’s also your typical LA story. As a new resident of Southern California, I owed it to myself to dig a bit deeper. What I discovered is that the real stars of Los … Read more