You won’t find Broadway shows, expansive swimming pools, or numerous theme restaurants on the yacht “Safari Quest” with Un-Cruise Adventures, but that’s just the way the passengers on this small luxury yacht like it. With cabins for just 22 passengers and crew, the yacht is the perfect size for comfort … Read more
It’s hard to miss Wynwood Kitchen & Bar as you drive around the nondescript streets of Miami’s Wynwood in search of the place. You’re in the off the beaten path warehouse district, full of galleries and pop-up shops, and all that seems to be missing (at least from a New … Read more
The world is full of amazing destinations but one of the sweetest is right here in the good ole’ USA. In Hershey, Pennsylvania the smell of chocolate permeates the air. Avenues have names like Cocoa and Chocolate and street lamps shaped like Hershey’s Kisses light up the town. This is … Read more
The largest repository of Americana in the country makes its home in Shelburne, Vermont on a forty-five acre campus complete with historic buildings, a lighthouse and a 220 foot-long steamboat. Wait. What? Welcome to the Shelburne Museum, the result of one woman’s passion for all things American occupying a verdant … Read more
It was like a magic carpet ride. Except that I was riding a rolling blue tapestry of three mighty waterways in Norway – the North Sea, the Norwegian Sea and the Barents Sea. Heading south along the coast from Kirkenes near the Russian border to the old Hanseatic city of … Read more
Good news for all you film fans. The annual Bergen International Film Festival (BIFF for short) held in Bergen, Norway is getting ready for its close-up. Showcasing international films, the event gets off the ground at the end of October (23rd) and runs just a little over a week until … Read more
These days, the big word in Norwegian drink circles is actually pretty small. It’s mikrobryggeri. “We’ve had microbreweries in the U.S. since the 1980s,” you scoff. True, and after three decades we’ve got upwards of 2,000. But consider this: The Vikings were among the first to brew hand-crafted beers. And … Read more
The turquoise blue coastline of Clearwater, Florida has much to offer its residents and visitors, but perhaps the beach’s most celebrated aspect—beyond its water, which really is clear—is its sand. Affectionately called “sugar sand” by the locals, it’s been lovingly rolled in, sunbathed on, and walked along for ages. But … Read more
In Grand Cayman you can snorkel with stingrays; Costa Maya, in Mexico, attracts thousands of cruise passengers for kayaking and windsurfing; and in Barcelona, wine tasting and Basilica tours take center stage. These are just the tip of the iceberg (glaciers, fjords and rainforests, too) as far as the assortment … Read more
My first trip to the Caribbean was memorable for many reasons, not the least of which was the hotel. It was in Ocho Rios, Jamaica’s tourist and cruise ship hub, a little over an hour’s drive from Montego Bay yet a world away. The property was enveloped in a jungle-like … Read more
The small island of Taketomi, with only 323 inhabitants, is known for having the most well-preserved culture of ancient Okinawa. People here live their lives based on traditions from the past. Knowing this, you may be surprised to hear that it’s home to a contemporary luxury resort, HOSHINOYA Okinawa, where … Read more
It’s safe to say that great cities have great architecture … Sydney’s Opera House, Paris’ Eiffel Tower, Spain’s Bilbao Museum. These few brilliant examples have certainly put these cities on the map. But beyond that, great buildings have a personality of their own and don’t just meld into a place … Read more
I’m in Norway, a place that in summer is part of the “land of the midnight sun.” But I’m visiting in the dead of winter, embarking on an 11 day cruise headed toward the Arctic Circle. Is my timing off? Not at all. I’m on a hunt — a hunt … Read more
It’s been over 150 years since the King of Norway entered a proclamation declaring, “From 1854 onward a yearly market shall be held in Røros, commencing the second to last Tuesday in the month of February, and lasting until the following Friday. When the King speaks, Norwegians listen. In February … Read more
Norway’s capital is chock full of unique sights and attractions waiting to be discovered and its tourist friendliness is a big plus. The city is not only a manageable size but many of the monuments and museums are within walking distance of each other. Even so, take it from us, … Read more