Articles by

Melanie Votaw

Elephant Green Chili Chutney

Elephant Green Chili Chutney

Recently, I’ve been into trying recipes from Southeast Asia, North Africa, and the Middle East. So when I received an invitation to try a sample of Elephant Green Chili Chutney™, I gratefully accepted.

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Dark Sky Tourism: Traveling to See the Stars and Lights

Dark Sky Tourism: Traveling to See the Stars and Lights

During the last few years, the Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis has been more in the news, as the lights have been more prominent, frequent, and even showing in the southern U.S. This has increased the interest in “skywatching” travel or “astrotourism.” I have to admit that I’ve become more interested and even ventured to arctic Norway in 2022 to see the Aurora. It did not disappoint!

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Hotel Review: Round Hill Villa Resort, Montego Bay, Jamaica

Hotel Review: Round Hill Villa Resort, Montego Bay, Jamaica

Round Hill Villa Resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica could easily be pictured in the dictionary next to the word “luxury.” Spending a few days at this resort was definitely an experience of the proverbial good life, so it’s no surprise that Round Hill caters to the likes of Paul McCartney, Demi Moore, and Elizabeth Taylor. The main bar carries the name of Ralph Lauren because he designed it, as well as the resort’s hotel rooms, and he owns a villa on the property.

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The Many Charms of Oklahoma City

The Many Charms of Oklahoma City

When the opportunity to visit Oklahoma City came my way, I had no idea what to expect. My first night involved an event at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum – not exactly my cup of tea. Suffice it to say, I did not have high hopes that I would enjoy the venue much. I was dead wrong. The museum as well as Oklahoma City as a whole are both spectacular.

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Taking Your Pet on the Plane

Taking Your Pet on the Plane

These days, most U.S. airlines and many international airlines will allow you to take your pet in the plane’s cabin with you depending on their age and size. Here are some more tips to make the journey easier for both you and your pet.

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Time Traveling in Quebec City

Time Traveling in Quebec City

I needed assistance to be “tied” into my corset-style brocade dress with petticoat and layers of skirts. I was even provided with a hairdresser to give me an up-hairdo to go with my new … I mean, old look. I was among a small group of journalists visiting Quebec City for its annual New France Festival (Les Fêtes de la Nouvelle-France), held in August, which includes reenactments, parades, and lots of people dressed in 17th and 18th century costumes.

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Tips for Travelers to NYC

Tips for Travelers to NYC

Although not a native New Yorker, I have lived in NYC for decades. For travelers, it can be an intimidating place. It’s fast, dirty, energetic, and exciting. This article includes my tips for not pissing off New Yorkers, getting by unscathed, and making the most of your visit.

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Vienna: Majestic Architecture, Grand Balls, and City Vineyards

Vienna: Majestic Architecture, Grand Balls, and City Vineyards

Vienna is one of the most regal of Europe’s great cities. The mostly Baroque architecture creates high drama throughout the streets with imposing statues, green patina domes, and intricate detail work. In fact, the word “grandeur” in the dictionary should be illustrated by pictures of the city center – a legacy left by the Hapsburgs after their 640-year rule.

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A Traveler’s Cautionary Tale

A Traveler’s Cautionary Tale

In September 2025, I left New York City for a dream trip to Kenya and Madagascar. Before leaving, I alerted the U.S. State Department of where I would be, which meant I would receive emails about issues in either of those countries. Well, shortly after arriving in Kenya, I began to get emails about political unrest in Madagascar. There were numerous demonstrations, and the State Department urged travelers to be careful.

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Sommelier Ron Bronfman of London’s Claro Restaurant Shares His List of Rhone Valley Wines

Sommelier Ron Bronfman of London’s Claro Restaurant Shares His List of Rhone Valley Wines

Ron Bronfman is the sommelier at Claro Restaurant in London’s St. James area. Serving Mediterranean cuisine, Claro was recently added to the Michelin Guide. For December, Ron has launched a regionally focused wine selection from the Rhône Valley, designed to introduce guests to regional stories, thoughtful producers, and expressive bottles that sit outside the usual London lists.

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Temecula Wine Pros Reveal What They Bring To Holiday Parties

Temecula Wine Pros Reveal What They Bring To Holiday Parties

For your holidays, we have the ultimate source of stress-free entertaining advice: the winemakers of Temecula Valley in southern California. Pros from Wilson Creek, South Coast, Baily, and more offer their recommendations below for host-worthy bottles, their go-to holiday food pairings, and their secrets to keeping gatherings joyful and genuinely relaxed.

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Ladyboys: Elizabeth Waterman’s ‘Unseen Thailand’

Ladyboys: Elizabeth Waterman’s ‘Unseen Thailand’

Thailand is now the first nation in Southeast Asia to legalize same-sex marriage and Is considering a Gender Recognition Bill. Over the past several years, Los Angeles–based photographer Elizabeth Waterman has traveled repeatedly to Bangkok and Pattaya, photographing “Ladyboys,” commonly referred to as Katoeys, across nightlife, entertainment, and performance venues.

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Hotel Review: Hotel Alfonso XIII, Seville, Spain

Hotel Review: Hotel Alfonso XIII, Seville, Spain

The Hotel Alfonso XIII is not only considered “the” place to stay in Seville, Spain, but it’s listed as a historical site for non-guest tourists as well. And there’s a good reason for this: architecturally, the building looks like a Moorish castle. Built for the King’s visit to the fair in 1929, the hotel’s decor is traditionally Sevillian with classic archways, marble columns, and beautiful mosaics in rich colors.

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The Caubleist’s 10 Exceptional Wines to Elevate Your Holiday Season

The Caubleist’s 10 Exceptional Wines to Elevate Your Holiday Season

The holidays are a time for celebration and enjoying those closest to you. There is no way better than connecting with someone than over a glass of great wine, with great food on the table. These are some of my favorite wines and producers to drink this holiday season which, for me, in terms of price to quality, are some of the best on the market. All of these wines are available on our new online store at thecaubleist.com.

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Want to See the Cherry Blossoms in Japan? Consider This Instead…

Want to See the Cherry Blossoms in Japan? Consider This Instead…

Travelers rush to Japan in spring to see the cherry blossoms, and for good reason. They are truly stunning. But the crowds at that time of year can be particularly oppressive. In fact, if you haven’t made plans already for late March to early April 2026 when the cherry blossoms are in bloom, it might already be too late to get hotel reservations.

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Puppy Events: The Feel-Good Chemicals We All Need

Puppy Events: The Feel-Good Chemicals We All Need

In New York City, my personal favorite is Puppy Jam. Held in a photography studio near Union Square, it includes a glass of wine, a live musician, and of course – puppies. You get to spend about an hour with the puppies, and the groups of people are small. This allows for a lot of play time.

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Africa’s Amarula Cream Liqueur

Africa’s Amarula Cream Liqueur

Since Amarula is a cream liqueur, you can drink it by itself on the rocks or use it as a substitute for Kahlua or Bailey’s for a different flavor. Or add it to any drink that includes Kahlua, Bailey’s, or another cream liqueur. Some people like it in grasshoppers.

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Things To Do in Nairobi, Kenya

Things To Do in Nairobi, Kenya

Nairobi is a vibrant, busy, and cosmopolitan city with much to offer the visitor. During my short stay, I managed to visit many of the city’s most popular tourist attractions, and with the exception of one, I found them all to be worthy of my time.

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Travel News and Advice – October 15, 2025

Travel News and Advice – October 15, 2025

Airline News Iceland's PLAY Airlines. The low-cost carrier in Iceland ceased operations at the end of last month and cancelled all upcoming flights. Akuyeri in northern Iceland. Photo by Melanie Votaw. Delta plane collision. Two Delta planes collided at low speed at...

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Hotel Review: Entim Safari Camp, Maasai Mara, Kenya

Hotel Review: Entim Safari Camp, Maasai Mara, Kenya

A 30-minute flight with SafariLink from Wilson Airport in Nairobi dropped me at an airstrip near the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya, where my guide for my stay, Jamlick, picked me up and drove to Entim Camp, a luxury safari accommodation within the Reserve. We drove through some bumpy terrain, including a couple of creeks. “Sorry for the Africa massage,” he said, laughing.

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A Golden Spot in British Columbia

A Golden Spot in British Columbia

The scent of sweetgrass wafted past my nose as the wolf raced excitedly down the path. I was hiking in a forest in Golden, British Columbia with two wolves – a singular experience if ever there was one. The wolves are two of six captive animals at the Northern Lights Wildlife Wolf Centre in Golden, which is one hour from Banff National Park and less than three hours west of Calgary.

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Mythical Monterey, California

Mythical Monterey, California

Made mythical by John Steinbeck’s “Cannery Row,” Monterey, California is now a tourism mecca on the unforgettable California coastline. Just outside of the famed Monterey Bay Aquarium, one of the best aquariums in the world, I saw the circle of life unfold right in front of me.

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Hotel Review: Jamaica Inn

Hotel Review: Jamaica Inn

Jamaica Inn, a hotel that sits on a six-acre beachfront garden, is an institution in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. The Inn has been around since 1950, and the same family has run it since 1958. Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller stayed there in the 50s, and Noel Coward was a frequent guest.

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Anne Frank: The Exhibition in NYC

Anne Frank: The Exhibition in NYC

Anne Frank: The Exhibition is a full-scale recreation in New York City of the authentic Anne Frank House in Amsterdam. It opened on Holocaust Remembrance Day, January 27, 2025, and was originally only to remain for a few months. First, it was extended into October, but due to demand, it was just announced that it will be extended through February 1, 2026.

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Photo Essay: Golden Thailand

Photo Essay: Golden Thailand

Thailand’s culture is what draws most visitors, and there’s good reason for that. But beyond the beaches, I think a lot of people miss the beauty of nature in the country. The following images provide an overview of at least some of what Thailand has to offer the traveler.

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Florence and Rome: A Study in Contrasts

Florence and Rome: A Study in Contrasts

In Florence, street vendors sell boxer shorts with an image on the crotch of the genitals of Michelangelo’s famous David sculpture. In Rome, vendors sell shorts with the same image, but enhanced with additional length. For me, these images comically sum up the personality differences between Florence and Rome in a nutshell (so to speak.)

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Travel News and Advice – August 31, 2025

Travel News and Advice – August 31, 2025

Travel Advice Beware phone scams! It turns out that even on Google, you might do a search and get a bogus phone number for an airline or other business. So to avoid being scammed, go to official websites to get phone numbers! Watch upgrade prices! Word is that...

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Visiting Winnipeg and Fort Whyte Alive

Visiting Winnipeg and Fort Whyte Alive

On my way to Churchill, Canada (see my article on that trip), I stopped over in Winnipeg. I didn’t have much time, but I wanted to visit Fort Whyte Alive, a 660-acre reclaimed urban green space in the city with hiking/mountain biking trails, paddle lakes, a visitor center with information about the local wildlife, a restaurant, a gift shop, and … a bison herd.

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Surrender to Salzburg

Surrender to Salzburg

Surrounded by mountains and dotted with patina domes and regal statues, Salzburg is, without question, one of the most beautiful cities in the world. A river snakes through the center, a fortress castle watches from above, and horse-drawn carriages trot through the historic streets.

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Two Days in Atlanta

Two Days in Atlanta

I recently spent a couple of days in Atlanta, enjoying unseasonably cool weather for late May. I arrived in the late afternoon and checked into the 4-star Starling Atlanta Midtown Hotel, part of the Curio Collection by Hilton. There were a couple of issues with my room, but it was overall a good stay.

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What To Do in St. Petersburg, Florida

What To Do in St. Petersburg, Florida

I recently spent a week in St. Petersburg and found a lot of fun things to do beyond the usual "hanging out at the beach" fare. First of all, did you know the city has numerous great museums? I didn't know until I started planning my visit. During my stay, I checked...

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Travel News & Advice – May 15, 2025

Travel News & Advice – May 15, 2025

Newark Airport. The big news this month is all about Newark Liberty International Airport, which has been deemed unsafe for flights because of the lack of air traffic controllers. This has caused numerous delays, and United Airlines has cut 35 daily flights from...

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Restaurant Review: Mama Mia 44SW in NYC

Restaurant Review: Mama Mia 44SW in NYC

Mama Mia 44SW has been a go-to Italian restaurant for me in Manhattan’s theater district for decades. I often recommend it to friends because not only do they allow larger parties than many NYC restaurants, but the prices are more reasonable than many others in the neighborhood. Yet, the food is still excellent.

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Summer Broadway Preview: What Shows Should You See?

Summer Broadway Preview: What Shows Should You See?

While I haven’t seen every show currently on Broadway, I’ve seen most of them. In this article, I’ll give you my honest opinion about the ones I’ve seen, but I’ll only include the news shows. I won’t discuss long-running shows like Hamilton or The Lion King. Here’s my rundown.

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Best States for Birdwatching

Best States for Birdwatching

To celebrate National Go Birding Day (Apr. 26), Lawn Love ranked 2025’s Best States for Birdwatching. They compared all 50 U.S. states across 5 feather-focused categories. They examined the number of Audubon centers and sanctuaries, bird species, endemic bird species, and birdwatching groups, among 21 total metrics.

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Travel News and Advice – April 15, 2025

Travel News and Advice – April 15, 2025

New route for the Orient Express. Belmond’s Venice Simplon-Orient Express has added a new route originating in Paris and traveling through the French countryside and then through Tuscany. Sounds divine. If you do this, please let me know! Another luxury train...

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Greenwashing: How to Spot Deceptive Eco-Claims

Greenwashing: How to Spot Deceptive Eco-Claims

Greenwashing is rampant in the travel industry. It’s when a hotel, resort, or outfitter gives a false impression that they’re making an effort to be more ecologically friendly than they actually are. The terms “eco-friendly” and “green,” for example, mean nothing specific.

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Niagara-on-the-Lake: A Little Ice Wine with Everything

Niagara-on-the-Lake: A Little Ice Wine with Everything

Niagara-on-the-Lake in Ontario, Canada (just over the border from New York State) is a perfect place for a quiet vacation, especially if you love theater and wine. Famous for the annual Shaw Festival in summer, you can catch a musical or a classic play by George Bernard Shaw, and you can visit some of the 26 nearby wineries for tastings, courses, and tours.

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Wine Pairings for Vegetable Dishes

Wine Pairings for Vegetable Dishes

Vegetarians and vegans don’t have to miss out on wine pairings. The kind of wine we serve also matters when meat isn’t on the menu, according to VinoVoss Wine Expert Sylvia Ba. From the earthy undertones of roasted vegetables to the vibrant zest of fresh herbs, each vegetable dish holds a unique flavor profile that, when paired with the right wine, can be elevated via enhancing flavors and overall meal complexity.

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Rocky Mountaineer Train Journey through Western Canada

Rocky Mountaineer Train Journey through Western Canada

Jagged white peaks speckled with pines, stretches of parched terrain alongside vast lakes, glacial blue water sliding into creeks, and black ridges iced with snow. These are among the images that stick with you when you travel through the remarkably diverse landscapes of western Canada. And there’s no better or more relaxing way to see these panoramic spectacles than on board the Rocky Mountaineer train.

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Missouri Wines: A Nice Surprise in the Midwest

Missouri Wines: A Nice Surprise in the Midwest

When you think wine, your first thought is Missouri, right? No? Well, it doesn’t have to be your first thought, but it should certainly be on your radar. I’ve visited a lot of local vineyards around the U.S., and admittedly, I’m rarely impressed. The one I visited in Rocheport, Missouri – Les Bourgeois Vineyards – was a real treat.

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Hotel Review: NYC’s Iconic Algonquin Hotel

Hotel Review: NYC’s Iconic Algonquin Hotel

I have always wanted to spend a night at New York's iconic Algonquin Hotel, and I finally got my chance. Was it all it's cracked up to be? Well ... not exactly. But I still enjoyed my stay. As a writer, the Algonquin holds a special allure because of the famous...

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The Art, Culture, and Food of Mexico City

The Art, Culture, and Food of Mexico City

Mexico City simply has so much to offer and is a relatively safe place. No, you can’t swim or sun on a beach, but you can experience Mexican culture, art, fine food, and wine that you won’t experience anywhere else. For one thing, the city contains more than 150 museums.

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