It called to me … a lone hammock gently swaying between a knobby 15-foot tree bereft of branches and a small cluster of reedy siblings. Its perfect placement grasped the few wisps of clouds drifting overhead. Settling into its cocoon-like embrace, I felt unified with nature. To my left, a … Read more
Esperanza, an Auberge Resort perched dramatically on the bluffs of Punta Ballena (Whale Point), overlooks two private coves on the Sea of Cortez in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. A magnet for Hollywood celebrities, this award winning, luxury spa is renowned for its restorative treatments that incorporate botanical plants, sea greens, … Read more
To celebrate another new year of skiing, I ventured down British Columbia’s Powder Highway for the first time to see if it truly was the skier’s ultimate pilgrimage. The numbers make a strong case: the circular route links 8 ski resorts in interior British Columbia that average 50 feet of … Read more
Sometimes mistaken for a run of the mill desert town, Phoenix is in fact anything but. And while the sky may be bluer, the mountains sharper and the lifestyle simpler than most urban centers, its lack of worldliness has given the nation’s sixth largest city a bad rap. But look … Read more
The world is full of amazing destinations but one of the sweetest is right here in the good ole’ USA. In Hershey, Pennsylvania the smell of chocolate permeates the air. Avenues have names like Cocoa and Chocolate and street lamps shaped like Hershey’s Kisses light up the town. This is … Read more
A truly unique and exotic transport back in time awaits at Tribeca’s secret underground escape, Aire Ancient Baths. This debut outpost of Groupe Aire from Spain is a bi-level, 16,000 square foot thermal baths located in Manhattan’s hip Tribeca. The 1883 building exudes an ancient ambience with brick walls, Greek-style … Read more
To help you get buffed, polished and primed for the Hamptons summer season, there’s a hot new salon and spa in East Hampton … Salon Bar. Perched on the second floor in the heart of East Hampton village, Salon Bar is a luxury day spa that offers respite from the … Read more
Coffee, rain forests, eco lodges, zip lining, and lizards. These are typically what come to mind when one thinks about Costa Rica. As someone who has traveled to this beautiful country half a dozen times, those used to be my thoughts, too. However, a recent stay at Los Altos De … Read more
Famous for its pristine beaches and glamorous nightlife, Miami’s star hasn’t lost any lustre; in fact it’s brighter than ever. Once equated with crime and retirement, the city has staked its claim as a venerable tourist mecca anytime of the year even when the sizzling dog days of summer … Read more
While trying to plan a girls’ getaway for a milestone birthday, we came to a crossroads … we wanted to make the most of our time off but our busy lives had made it so difficult to get away. Everyone agreed a spa weekend was the answer to escape from … Read more
Sometimes small can be a good thing … like in smart phones, petits fours and hotels, of course. Nestled on a charming cobblestone street in historic Old City, Philadelphia, within seconds of Penn’s Landing on the riverfront and with a view of the baby blue Benjamin Franklin Bridge over the … Read more
“My tastes are simple; I only like the best.” (Oscar Wilde) I like the best, doesn’t everyone? With that in mind, it was during my quest to uncover the Dominican Republic’s finest that I discovered Puntacana Resort and Club’s Tortuga Bay, a private enclave of beachfront villas within the expansive … Read more
Warm coral walls accented by soothing sand beige drapes are immediate eye candy as the scent of mango candles and the sound of a soothing water wall almost put you in a trance at the entrance to the Ritz Carlton Spa on Key Biscayne, Florida. Every detail here has been … Read more
Natural mineral hot springs have been a source of healing and relaxation for centuries. One example of this geothermal phenomenon, where the water temperature is above body temperature, is the Boyes Hot Springs in Sonoma, California. The Native Americans of Northern California were the first to identify the underground … Read more
When one thinks of visiting a family owned resort, what first comes to mind is an intimate, cozy weekend escape with personalized touches and time-honored traditions. Mohonk Mountain House in upstate New York, a National Historic Landmark owned and operated by the aptly named Smiley family for over 140 years, … Read more