DESTINATIONS
Walk through history in Rome
The city of Rome itself is arguably the world’s greatest museum. American expat, Rick Zullo, outlines a self-paced morning walk through history in Rome.
A visit to the Jewish Museum of Ferrara
The entrance to the ancient palazzo that houses The Synagogue and Jewish Museum of Ferrara (Sinagoghe e Museo Ebraico) is tucked amongst a mix of residences and shops on a busy pedestrian street. It’s a few blocks away from the large cathedral (Basilica Cattedrale di San Giorgio) and red brick Castle Estense that dominate the…
Three posh vacation villas in Jamaica
A one-week stay at a five-star, professionally staffed villa in Jamaica doesn’t come cheap –especially during high season, which runs from mid-December to mid-April. But the costs of a sybaritic experience can be whittled down substantially when it’s split among one or more families, or a tribe of friends. Each of these exceptional properties is uniquely steeped in history, offering privacy, security, luxury amenities and great views.
A Perfect Trifecta: Visits to three Scandinavian icebars
Only on a cruise ship can someone effortlessly visit three ice bars in three different countries in just over a week—so we did. The first lap of our Scandinavian trifecta began one day before we were to embark on an 11-day Baltic cruise on the Crystal Symphony leaving from Stockholm, Sweden.
NY loves Emilia Romagna: How you can help
A 6.1 magnitude earthquake and series of aftershocks rattled Emilia Romagna on May 20, 2012, killing 29 and leaving almost 15,000 people homeless. The quake damaged churches and historic buildings, affected farms and factories at the heart of Italy’s food production supply, and took a devastating emotional toll on those living in and around the…
Iconic Fifth Avenue: 10 Things to See
This week, the American Planning Association designated iconic Fifth Avenue as one of its 10 Great Streets for 2012—calling it “expansive and majestic” with a “style and splendor that is virtually unparalleled in the U.S.” Fifth Avenue runs from Washington Square in Greenwich Village to Marcus Garvey Park at 142 Street in Harlem—a distance of…
Discovering Columbus: A unique view of Manhattan
If you are headed to New York City, don’t miss Discovering Columbus, the new temporary public art installation on display at Columbus Circle in New York City. At the invitation of the Public Art Fund, Japanese artist Tatzu Nishi has wrapped an inviting living room around the iconic statue of Christopher Columbus. The exhibit is…
A day in Bologna
Florence is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, renowned for its history and culture. So why would any visitor plan an early morning day trip from there to Bologna? An Italian phrase says it best, Ad essere sinceri, è più forte di me. In English: To be honest, we simply couldn’t resist. Having…
Ostuni, Italy: White City on the Adriatic
OSTUNI, Italy — With pencil and paper, Croci Sisinni sketches street scenes during his walks. Then the sculptor returns to his studio and chops off chunks from a large slab of limestone, their shape suggesting the landscape or streetscape to be carved. “You might call them pieces of Ostuni,” he told us. His tools appear…
The Malatestiana Library in Cesena
CESENA, Italy — If you’re a lover of books and libraries like I am, you’ll get a rush stepping inside what is said to be the first public and monastic library in Europe, the Malatestiana Library. The experience is made even more remarkable when you learn that despite wars and natural disasters, the building, its…
Branson, Missouri, where family entertainment is at its best (Guest Post)
Nestled in the rugged Ozark Mountains in the buckle of mid-America’s Bible Belt, Branson, Missouri serves up a heaping helping of Las Vegas-style entertainment (without a hint of raunchiness), seasons it with a plethora of outdoor activities, and adds generous portions of red, white and blue. If you think “Branson” is all about hillbillies and…
A sybaritic weekend in Paris: Memorable but costly
When our 30th anniversary was approaching, my husband and I realized we had never been to Paris as a couple. We decided that this milestone was a good as any excuse for planning an over-the-top weekend celebration. Paris is so rich and monumental—in terms of history, cuisine, art and culture—that mapping out an itinerary, particularly…
The Diamond Mills Hotel & Tavern: A Room with a View
This Hudson Valley gem is a perfect weekend base for exploring Saugerties and the surrounding region. One of the most memorable parts of any stay at the Diamond Mill Hotel & Tavern in Saugerties (Ulster County), New York is the breathtaking view from your room. In fact, each of the thirty guest rooms of this…
Touring Burgundy by barge
Touring Burgundy by barge a perfect way to savor the region’s foods, wines, and scenery—even for non-cruisers. If you speak to travel aficionados, you may get the impression that the world is divided into two camps: cruisers and non-cruisers. Cruising devotees expound on the relaxation, convenience and economy of cruising–coveting more sea days, more ports,…
A summer weekend at the Harbor View Hotel & Resort on Martha’s Vineyard
In June, the stately colonial homes and more modest cottages of Edgartown are equally resplendent with lush green flowering plants and shrubs. The freshly painted white picket fences scream out to passersby that a new season has begun. Of course, low enough to hop over, they are intended for eye-appeal rather than security. The 100-square-mile…
New to the Napa Valley? Five reasons to fall in love
With its Mediterranean climate, Napa Valley in California is a congenial home to some 400 wineries. But the fertile vineyards and memorable wines of this region often overshadow its reputation as a mecca for sustainable foods and farm-to-table cuisine. The nation’s first agricultural preserve was established here in 1968, and farmers, ranchers and other local…
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West celebrates its 75th anniversary
This year, 2012, marks its 75th anniversary of Taliesin West. If you’re visiting the Phoenix or Scottsdale area, a visit to this property—which served as Wright’s home, studio and architectural laboratory—is a must. It is a living display of his vision, moxie, and tenacity, which never seem dated… [Read the entire article published on NBC…
The midlife travel bug: Over 45, have resources, will travel
Travelers over the age of 45 comprise a whopping 80 percent of the luxury travel market, according to Media Post, an online resource for advertisers. “Boomers have the resources, computer savvy and desire to travel,” says Nancy Shonka Padberg of Navigate Boomer Media. They’re also likely to be healthier and more fit than ever before. Here’s…
Sant’Agata Feltria: On the trail of the white truffle festival
The clouds and fog are hanging so low and the rain so heavy that we can barely see in front of us. We blindly follow the GPS on our rental car up the single winding mountain road that leads to Sant’Agata Feltria, navigating hairpin turns and precarious drops on both sides. With the same focus…
Vancouver, Canada: A visit to the land of bubble tea and dim sum
Chinese Wives Cakes in Richmond, BC Although we’re on the Pacific Northwest coast, the sights, sounds, and smells of Richmond, British Columbia make us feel like we’ve taken a trip to the Orient. We hop off the shiny, driverless, Metro Vancouver SkyTrain at the Lansdowne Station, a legacy of the 2010 Olympics in this city…
Traveling with multiple cameras, we try not to miss any what-once-were Kodak moments. My husband and travel companion, Jerry, took most of the photos on the site using a 
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