Long before Frozen’s Elsa of Arendelle warmed her way into our hearts with her icy architectural skills, the Hôtel de Glace (Ice Hotel) had been imagining a frozen wonderland in Québec, Canada. This year marks the hotel’s 20th anniversary as the only ice hotel in North America and they’re honoring … Read more
Kyoto’s charms lie in its hidden alleys, majestic shrines and the careful preservation of traditions more modern cities like Tokyo have lost. And there’s no better way to experience the old-world charm of the city than in a ryokan, a traditional inn in one of the city’s old wooden houses. … Read more
I’ve been living in Manhattan across the Hudson River from it for 19 years, but like most New Yorkers, I never visited Jersey City, not even once. And then I finally did. Boy, was I missing out. Jersey Gloire Poor JC. It has the history, food, architecture, culture, art and … Read more
Every year from March 1-19, Valencia goes boom! The streets of Spain’s third-largest city erupt with fireworks, cultural celebrations and artistry honored on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List. What is the Las Fallas Festival? For starters, it’s the biggest party of the year, attracting more visitors to Valencia than any … Read more
Ambling around New Orleans’ French Quarter is an immersive experience replete with live music on every block, historic architecture from the mid 18th century, tap dancers, fantastically costumed revelers no matter the month, amazing food and Mardi Gras parades every Sunday all year long. Let’s not forget the voodoo culture, ghosts … Read more
Dubai is synonymous with many words – tall, glamorous, futuristic, to start. Evolving is another one. Dubai will be the host city for Expo 2020, from October through next April. Other upcoming openings extend to The Museum of The Future, to celebrate technological advancements; Meydan One Mall, which plans to … Read more
As much of the northern hemisphere tackles winter in the early months of the new year, some residents dream of tropical vacations. Instead of hitting the beach, how about a desert destination for a winter getaway? Scottsdale, Arizona enjoys daily average temperatures in the low 70s during winter. Clear, sunny … Read more
Between the European capitals of Madrid and Lisbon lies a region of rolling hills with Medieval castles that have found new lives as “Game of Thrones” locations, villages that are honoring Spain’s Jewish history and 2,000-year-old Roman architectural marvels that are still thriving today. The Extremadura region of Spain is … Read more
While it’s unlikely you’ll see any 10-feet tall, blue-skinned, sapient humanoids (aka Na’vi), the picturesque, awe-inspiring movie Avatar was filmed here on earth in the Hunan Province – not in Pandora. Wulingyuan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992, is the magical land of sandstone pillars and jagged granite peaks … Read more
I’m gazing at downhill racers traversing beautifully down the lower “Little Nell” run from a ringside seat inside SO Café, an aerie-style eatery on the rooftop of the Aspen Museum. I’m thinking the stubby lower trail looks a bit on the steep side but upon studying one skier after another … Read more
The small town of New Paltz, founded in New York’s Hudson Valley in 1678, is home to historic Huguenot Street. It’s also the site of the State University – New Paltz campus and has an astounding number of international restaurants. Steeped in the lore and legend that attends a place … Read more
Peru suddenly popped onto every culinary traveler’s map in the last ten years – its exciting cuisine and incredible variety of ingredients propelling the city of Lima into the limelight. So how did Lima do it, and more importantly, where should you eat? Internationally Influenced Cuisine Anyone who has visited … Read more
When it comes to dreamy vacations, it’s hard to compete with sailing on a chartered yacht. And the Croatian coastline offers a course that’s ripe for discovery. Home to more than 1,000 islands, islets and reefs strewn like sparkling jewels off its coast, Croatia provides an Adriatic paradise for adventures … Read more
With deep narrow fjords flanked by majestic mountains displaying ribbons of cascading waterfalls—there’s no question Norway’s landscapes are spectacular. Beyond the landscapes, though, Norway’s cities offer a blend of culture, luxury and culinary excellence. Trondheim, Norway’s third largest city, exemplifies this. The cultural center of the Trøndelag region, this picturesque … Read more
When temperatures drop, the Caribbean’s trifecta of sun, sand and surf are a balm for the winter-weary. But how do you decide which tropical island is right for your getaway? With so many beautiful beach destinations, is finding the perfect match as difficult as finding true love on Tinder? One … Read more