Tokyo is a city always on the move and always changing. This wasn’t my first trip there, but it had been three years since my last visit. I was most familiar with the Shibuya neighborhood where I had visited numerous times. But Shibuya is much more than a neighborhood; it’s … Read more
Located near San Francisco in the North Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area, Benicia is one of the oldest cities on the West Coast. It was once the state capital. This bustling arts community sports a beautiful waterfront and top-notch shopping and dining. Hundreds of artists live and … Read more
Charming Füssen, the southern end of the Romantic Road, is framed by snow-covered peaks and an idyllic lake district. Only an hour south of Munich, many travelers stop here to visit the royal palaces of Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau a little over two miles away. While the stunning Königsschlösser are arguably … Read more
Few places in the world are as intrinsically tied to a beverage as the Scottish island of Islay, home to the world’s finest collection of peated single malts. Sure, you can visit Champagne and pop into the esteemed maisons, but it’s no major challenge to get to that region just … Read more
Central Norway’s Trøndelag county is home to an abundance of culture and charming communities. From the timber-built fisherman warehouses flanking the sides of the Nidelva River in Trondheim to the spectacularly scenic coastal islands of Hitra and Frøya, and the UNESCO World Heritage town of Røros, there’s much to discover.
The Serengeti is world famous for the wonderful wildlife, and in particular, the annual migration of the animals, specifically millions of wildebeest and zebras crossing the Mara river with crocodiles and other predators ready to pounce on the opportunity to catch abundant prey. An Adventurous Journey To get to this … Read more
Arguably Germany’s most famous federal state, Bavaria’s image is that of men in Lederhosen, cowbells, fairytale castles, and picture-perfect mountain scenery. Yet, this is only a tiny snippet and travelers who care to go beyond the cliché will discover so much more. Bavaria is made up of four distinct regions, … Read more
When I told my friends that I was planning to visit Colombia, the question I kept getting was “Why?” Most asked if it was safe enough and one or two reacted with a ”How interesting.” Had I said Rio or Buenos Aires, I think the reaction would not have been … Read more
They say St. Lucia is shaped like a mango, and certainly it is ripe with natural riches. Two majestic peaks, Gros Piton and Petit Piton (Big Point and Little Point), tower over the lush landscape on the southern end of the island, rising out of the ocean like natural sentries. … Read more
A big fig tree standing dead center leads the way into the dining room of OFA. It’s a connection to nature, so important in Brazilian culture. Hanging ferns and a lush garden patio out back reminds you that in Miami it’s all about the outdoors. But indoors tactile surfaces abound … Read more
I remember my father waking me late at night and driving me to Bradford Reservoir—the darkest place he could find in Bucks County, Pennsylvania—to try to show off the Perseid meteor showers to a 7-year-old me in the early 90s. He tried again each August and, as exciting as it … Read more
With jaw-dropping Camelback Mountain as a backdrop and an artistic community that rivals Santa Fe, Phoenix is the quintessential desert hub. America’s fifth-largest city still has cowboys and red-rock buttes and the kind of cactus most people see only in cartoons. This is the heart of the Sonoran Desert where … Read more
Some destinations are worth the trouble of getting there. Named for the vast curve of the Rio Grande River in the far…far…far southwest of Texas, Big Bend is one of those. While all the National Parks are amazing, Big Bend brings something special to the table. It’s not just the … Read more
At first glance on a visit to Quebec City most eyes spy a towering cliff, Cap Diamant (the promontory overlooking the St-Lawrence River on which the town sits) and the very top of it where history sits. Enter the Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac, an icon, a landmark, a beacon on … Read more
You’re in Tokyo and pumped up on all the adrenaline the city has to offer; but don’t forget about getting outside the locus. Consider a day trip to Nikko. Passengers depart from Tokyo’s Asakusa station via the Tobu Railway, and the smooth, Limited Express train journey takes just under two … Read more