Hailed as the last Shangri-La, the country of Bhutan is now becoming more accessible to the outside world. Having previously been closed to visitors, tourism to Bhutan started in the 1970’s and has been growing ever since. The country’s isolation had preserved Bhutan’s unsullied landscape giving it a direct and … Read more
It’s a summer evening in Fira, Santorini, after sunset. Music is booming out of every open doorway signaling that the evening has officially begun. Crowds of people are lining the narrow walkways of the largest village on the island. Climbing up the steps past the whitewashed buildings towards one … Read more
On my last visit to Florence, I made sure to see all of the city’s most famous attractions, from Michelangelo’s David in the Accademia Gallery, the Uffizi with its gallery upon gallery of Renaissance treasures from the masters like Botticelli and Titian, along with the city’s most famous landmark, … Read more
It’s been said that the island of Santorini was created by a famous earthquake about 1500 BC and that it may be a remnant of the legendary lost continent of Atlantis. While this is true, there is another side to the mysterious island. Writers throughout history have already dedicated countless … Read more
A few months ago, summer seemed so distant. July was an empty playground to be filled with hikes, sailing on the lake, driving with the top down and barbeques with all your friends. But sneaky June has come and gone, leaving you in panic mode. Where did the time go? … Read more
When I lived in West Germany before the fall of the Berlin Wall, cities across the border in the Communist East Bloc seemed a world away. Any travel to East Germany was especially restricted, and the red tape required for visiting wasn’t worth the hassle. But all that has changed, … Read more
Barbados, situated in the southern Atlantic, is the most easterly of the Caribbean islands, set off on its own as though wanting to be different. It surely is, this “Little England,” as some call it. After more than 300 years of British rule, Barbados, independent since 1966, is a delightful … Read more
Travel assumptions can often be misguided and my recent trip to Macau is one such example. But a happy surprise is a traveler’s true gift. Although I thought I knew the characteristics of this island, I was glad to discover a deeper and more complex, hybrid culture. While many of … Read more
If Lisbon is one of those places lower on your list of “must see in Europe,” re-think your rankings. Portugal’s capital city is a lively urban center chock full of attractions from medieval to modern. Whether you’re a history buff, a gastronome, a power shopper, or all three, you’ll … Read more
If you’ve been to Flanders—Belgium’s northern reaches—chances are you’ve explored Brussels, from its gourmet restaurants and chocolate shops to its Manneken Pis, or Petit Julien, one of the world’s most beloved statues. Possibly, you’ve toured Bruges, where mists rise moodily over canals plied by flat bottomed barges and lined with … Read more
So you’re going to Quebec City – now what? Luckily, here’s Quebec City Tourism’s new mobile app to the rescue. Remember the old craze for magic eight balls? Your questions about life, answered. Well, this new iphone app is definitely better than that, with comprehensive answers to your most important … Read more
Copenhagen is very much having its moment. Its culinary scene, led by Chef Rene Redzepi of top-ranked Noma restaurant, is world-renowned, and its design scene is always at the forefront of setting trends. But there’s plenty more going on in the Danish capital to entice visitors, especially in up-and-coming … Read more
It’s become increasingly popular in recent years – so much so that it’s now spread out over two weekends instead of one — and there’s nary a celebrity who would dream of missing the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival in Indio, California. You name them, they’ve been: Twilight’s Kristen … Read more
Looking to be the next Bill Cunningham? So is everyone else. Get a leg up on the competition and check out the best places to bring your camera in 2012. New York, NY When you’re walking in New York, one block can make the difference between a quaint, gentrified … Read more
It’s the perfect blend of east meets west. With the sounds and smells of the Middle East but the shopping of Western Europe, you simply can’t go wrong in Istanbul. Call it what you will – Byzantium, New Rome, Tsarigrad, Constantinople, or Istanbul – it’s a place where you can … Read more