Having lived in the San Diego area for decades, I’ve traveled across Southern California’s Mexican border countless times. And on each occasion, it has been the same. Though less than an hour away, the minute you enter Mexico – you feel it. It’s diverse, exciting and so foreign that I’ve … Read more
Japan is renowned for its hot springs, or onsen, which have been part of Japanese culture for centuries, initially associated with religious purification practices by Buddhist monks. Over time, they became integral to samurai traditions and later evolved into popular communal spaces during the Edo period. Since then, an entire … Read more
North America is a diverse natural playground for thrill-seekers, from towering peaks to rushing rivers and icy frontiers. Adrenaline junkies looking for the next great American adventure should ask what they’re looking for in their next destination – strenuous mountain hiking in the Rocky Mountains? Tranquil iceberg kayaking in Alaska? … Read more
All Photos Credit Cynthia Dial A land of lakes and streams, forests and wildlife, the Continental Divide and the Colorado River – meet Grand County, Colorado. Some back story: I’ve visited several of the Centennial State’s destinations over the years, but I kept missing Grand County. That changed. After landing … Read more
Beach resorts can have a generic quality—wherever you are in the world, there’s an infinity pool surrounded by canopy beds and a swim-up bar serving mai tais. The Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa features those familiar luxuries, but the resort also has a deep sense of place informed by … Read more
All Photos – Credit: Cynthia Dial When I received an invitation to participate in Run Barbados, my reaction was a resounding “yes” – until I remembered – I don’t run. So, how does one make the most of an organized run when you’re not ready for a relay? For on-the-go … Read more
Suffice it to say there will be no shortage of visitors to Normandy this summer … what with an 80th year anniversary D-Day celebration the likes of which the region had probably not seen for at least five years thanks to the COVID travel interruption and its aftermath. On a … Read more
“It’s easy,” I was told of the San Diego/Tijuana’s CBX (Cross Border Xpress). As a San Diego resident, what I remember was a long ago flight from this Mexican border town which was preceded by a search for the long-term dirt parking lot then a taxi to the neighboring country’s … Read more
Picture this. Ascending the Vienna State Opera House’s marble staircase beneath gilded gold embellishments to attend a performance of Mozart’s Don Giovanni – mere days after toasting with a straight-from-the-barrel-drawn beer and sharing an oversized pretzel at Salzburg’s Augustiner Brӓu beer garden. Welcome to a week in the life of … Read more
Most visitors to Palm Springs, California never think to venture beyond its fringes. Definitely the jewel in the crown of the famous Coachella Valley, it is only the tip of the iceberg so to speak. If you’re on a little road trip to the California “desert” as its affectionately referred, … Read more
I’d been to Oslo before, but when I step foot on a floating sauna in the Oslo fjord, it’s a whole new thing. These pint-sized spas are the latest craze here, and I’m booked in a shared sauna, joining random strangers in a very hot experience. But they’re not strangers … Read more
As a repeat visitor to Glacier Country, I’m unashamedly enamored with the area. I almost envy its unabashed pride and recently learned that, here, seasonal changes aren’t month to month or even day to day, but minute to minute. On my most recent visit I happily spent 7,200 minutes (i.e. … Read more
Wrapped in cozy clothes and sitting atop a honed tree stump at the most welcoming of dinner-on-the-beach settings, I was definitively in what could only be called a travel trance. Positioned at a weathered wooden table with a blossom-filled pitcher at center, I sipped a glass of naturally chilled Arctic … Read more
As I stepped onto the sun-kissed shores of Nassau Paradise Island, I was filled withanticipation for a gastronomic adventure at the 1 st annual Nassau Paradise Island Wine & Food Festival, 2023. The vibrant colors of the Bahamas served as the backdrop to a weekend that promised fun, sun, and … Read more
I think the secret may finally be out. The little town of Paso Robles on California’s Central Coast is shining big in the foodie landscape, and it seems it’s having a moment. “Paso”, as it’s nicknamed, has long been lauded for its top wines, with over 400+ wineries that have … Read more