Can you imagine a church-controlled town joining forces with one run by capitalists who made millions from tobacco products? That’s exactly what happened in Winston-Salem. Today the historic Brookstown Inn represents that common ground. Old Salem It all began in 1752 when 15 Moravians traveled south from Pennsylvania to North … Read more
“Welcome to Renaissance Esmeralda,” greets Charlie, the bellman with a smile as wide as a fairway and as warm as the temperatures, when we check-in. Upon escorting us to Room 3071, he playfully queries, “Is your last name Marriott?” He explains that our room is one of only twenty with … Read more
Beyond Arizona’s revered Grand Canyon and Phoenix’s five-star destination scene is a small-town getaway within the state’s pristine White Mountains – Pinetop-Lakeside. An area so welcoming and authentically down-home, it provides a much-needed visit to life’s simpler past. Less than four hours northeast of Phoenix and on average 25-30 degrees … Read more
Sidewalks bustle with visitors making shopping choices at owner-operated boutiques, restaurants offer alfresco tropical drinks on their patios, and hotels are booked solid. The onslaught of Modernism Week brings diehard architecture groupies to Palm Springs in mid-February each year. Modernism Week, actually a period of ten days, dives into the … Read more
I’m relaxing in a roomy Adirondack chair on the expansive lawn of Inn by the Sea in Cape Elizabeth on coastal Maine. A few feet away is a boardwalk to the sandy crescent beach that protects the inn from an oft-wild Atlantic. It’s early evening, and a family beside me … Read more
It’s called “Climb to the Clouds,” one of the oldest auto races in America. Cars race toward the 6,300-foot peak of New Hampshire’s Mt. Washington, the highest peak in the Northeastern U.S. Nowadays you can also be challenged by a “Ski to the Clouds”—a combo ski/snowshoe and fat bike 10K. … Read more
The first town encountered while driving along Route 91 north from Massachusetts, Brattleboro serves as the gateway to Vermont. Here, evergreens usher visitors through a vernal curtain of bucolic joy. With a total area of 34 square miles, most of the approximately twelve thousand residents know each other both through … Read more
Imagine this: You’re sleeping in a luxury treehouse, high above the ground. The woods around you whisper in the wind. You’re snuggled up, cozy and warm under an organic linen comforter. Rays of sunlight spill through curtainless windows, beckoning you to rise and greet the day. As you shake off … Read more
Palm Springs brings to mind desert views with palm trees and the iconic San Jacinto Mountains backdrop, mid-century modern architecture, glamorous old Hollywood, and fabulous food and drink. But there’s more! Here are two terrific examples of Palm Springs entertainment for you to explore while visiting this Coachella Valley oasis. … Read more
I’m standing on the “Blue Bridge” over the Spokane River, taking in the waterfalls cascading below and the soaring mountain peaks in the distance. I’m in Riverfront Park, a beautiful Spokane green space. It reminds me of New York’s Central Park with its winding footpaths, fountains and gorgeous vistas. It’s … Read more
Key West exudes a laid-back vibe unlike any other. Situated at the southern tip of the Florida Keys, this little slice of paradise attracts artists, writers, musicians and beach lovers in equal measure. To say Key West has a big personality is a true understatement. Unique? Yes. Quirky? Yes. Fun? … Read more
Chattanooga has changed a lot in recent years, as this outdoorsy capital is starting to be known for more than just Ruby Falls and Rock City. The Edwin Hotel stands out as an example of that evolution. The contemporary structure projects an identity in this officially “cool” city with its … Read more
The Golden Gate Bridge looms large in San Francisco. Visitors come to see this magnificent bridge that is often shrouded in the Pacific Ocean fog. However, many people miss the expansive 1500 plus acre San Francisco Presidio adjacent, whose grounds serve as the anchor for the western end of this … Read more
Eight acres of planted vineyards, two bell towers and a stained-glass chapel: Franciscan monks chanting through the property’s stone tunnel would not be surprising. We’re here in Paso Robles, California, at the Allegretto Vineyard Resort, a luxury Tuscan-style hotel with an old-world aesthetic, but just five years young. The project … Read more
Over 2200 islands off the coast of Maine beg exploration. They offer quaint sailing villages, private homesteads, seals, dolphins, and other wildlife, as well as beaches perfect for a lobster boil. Whether you board the Stephen Taber (celebrating 150 years) or its sister ship, the LaDona (a 1922 racing yacht), … Read more