It was a hot, humid February 13th in Fajardo, a port town on Puerto Rico’s eastern shore, the day I boarded the 1:00 PM ferry to Vieques Island with my friend Gillian. The last time I’d been on the open sea was during a family vacation to Mexico when my … Read more
Zak Pelaccio is well known for the curveballs he’s tossed at New York City’s discerning palates, having brought Asian accents to barbecue at Fatty ‘Cue and explored the cuisine of Malaysia at Fatty Crab. His latest twist comes from taking the current trend of farm to table back to the … Read more
I’ll never forget my first day skiing at Whistler Blackcomb. Freshly laid-off from a seasonal job in northern British Columbia’s oil and gas industry, I headed south to Whistler with no goal other than to lose myself in the snow for the remainder of the winter. It was snowing the … Read more
Haven’t decided on a place to celebrate winter yet? Look no further! Even though Switzerland is perfect for skiing and snowboarding, there’s still many activities to choose from that don’t require goggles. Here are ten good reasons why your next vacation destination should be Switzerland! 1. The Matterhorn You’ve seen … Read more
Rising out of the sand of the Mojave Desert is a fantastical oasis, one of neon and bling, entertainment and indulgence; a city of sin where gambling and extravagant nightlife are king. It’s a place where world class restaurants and designer shops are found practically around every corner. Year after … Read more
As summer merged into a chilly fall, we desperately were needing an escape and chose a luxury oceanside getaway in the coastal village of Watch Hill, Rhode Island. Built in 1868 on the bluffs overlooking the ocean, Ocean House was once the darling of this resort community in the 1920’s … Read more
Nestled in Florida’s panhandle is a place seemingly untouched by time – a place where fishermen head out each day for the perfect catch and communities have country music worthy names like Apalachicola and Alligator Point. This is Franklin County, Florida’s forgotten coast, home of the world’s smallest police station, … Read more
Known as “La France profond,” (profound France), the Auvergne in central France, the country’s least populated region, may not rank high on the typical tourist’s itinerary. But for anyone who wants to discover the “real” France with tiny, picturesque villages, magnificent Romanesque churches, interesting towns, more than 300 kinds of … Read more
The Squire has had a lifelong fling with SushiSamba, so much so that people were beginning to talk. How much further would things go? For the uninitiated, Sushi Samba is a distinctive collection of restaurants that celebrate the culture and cuisine of Japan, Brazil and Peru. In a word or … Read more
It’s no accident that I call the Alberta Rockies home. I didn’t even have a job lined up when I moved to Jasper, Alberta; I just knew I wanted to spend my days skiing the Rocky Mountains. The region is so beautiful that it inspired the first two Canadian National … Read more
Can one tire of chateaus? That’s the question you ask yourself as you crisscross the Loire Valley, stopping to gawk at the legendary domiciles of French kings and the aristocracy. Invariably though, at the end of the day, most visitors to the region retire to (you guessed it) a chateau. … Read more
What if my shuttle driver isn’t there to pick me up? What if I can’t make friends? Would the camp be safe? These were some of the thoughts running through my head as I waited for my bags at the tiny Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport. While I was excited about … Read more
“Milan is one of those cities that you need to know and have rifled your way through, like a good book,” said Kristen Scott Thomas, the prolific British/French actress. I rifle through as much of Milan as I can, trying to pack the long and short of its story and … Read more
No doors, no keys and no worries? Yes, it’s true. andBeyond Mnemba Island Lodge is the quintessential private island paradise and a barefoot one too. After wading ashore from our speedboat, staff in camel shorts welcomed us, taking our sandals, and we never needed them again. For tiny Mnemba Island … Read more
Oak Tavern Miami’s Design District is full of surprises. Oak Tavern is just one of them. A large open space with masonry walls and custom floor lamps fashioned from tree trunks feels like something out of London’s East End with a natty mahogany bar and snazzy leather banquettes. It’s got … Read more