The South Beach neighborhood of Miami Beach, Florida is known the world over for its tropical climate, white sandy beaches and clear, aquamarine waters. What also comes to mind are pastel-colored art deco buildings and a happening nightlife. There’s always something going on in South Beach, making it a true vacationer’s paradise. Here’s my list […]
Museums can be intimidating. They often house thousands of works of art and you might only have a few hours to take it all in. Something I like to do is swing by the gift shop first. They almost always sell postcards (or calendars or coffee table books) showcasing what the museum considers to be […]
The quintessential American beach hotel, the Hotel del Coronado enjoys an idyllic location on the sandy shores of Coronado, just across the bay from downtown San Diego. Built back in 1888, the Hotel Del is a Victorian architectural marvel. It was the largest resort hotel in the world when it opened, as well as the […]
Pretty much everyone travels with an iPod these days—whether it’s a nano, iPod touch, video iPod, or even an iPad. What I find useful (and fun) is to download podcasts about the destination I’m visiting before I leave home. Then, I listen to them on the airplane, train, or while sightseeing when I get there. […]
One of the most sublime images of Rio de Janeiro is the imposing granite monolith, Sugarloaf, jutting authoritatively from the shores of Guanaraba Bay. The summit of Pão de Açúcar (as it’s known in Brazil) is reached by ascending in two separate gondolas, each affording 360-degree panoramic views of the glamorous city, undulating mountains, and broad, […]
Historic Oak Alley Plantation is located in the tranquil community of Vacherie, about fifty miles outside New Orleans, Louisiana. Twenty-eight majestic live oak trees were planted in dual rows over 250 years ago, their tangled limbs now forming an intimate canopy overhead. One end of this “alley” leads to the antebellum mansion (built many years […]
This week’s travel tip comes in the form of my very first product endorsement!* I first used Pack-Mates™ on my trip to Europe this past May. Basically, they are like giant Ziploc bags, only they have one-way valves on the bottom. What you do is place your folded clothing inside, zip it shut, and then slowly […]
One of the most iconic images of California, the Bixby Creek Bridge in Big Sur is a sight to behold. Its graceful concrete structure nicely complements the scenic vistas along California’s rugged central coast. Located between San Simeon and Carmel, this section of Highway 1 is loaded with hairpin turns making for a very slow journey. […]
If you’re anything like me, you can never remember how to calculate exchange rates when you travel abroad. On my recent trip to Europe I had to keep track of three separate currencies and their exchange rates against the U.S. dollar. Something I found useful was to print out a miniature pocket guide like this […]
