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.
The Merchant’s House is the only 19th century home in New York City that has been preserved intact with the family’s original furniture and objects. I have lived in NYC for decades, and I only recently found out about this place! How did that happen?
Fewer tourist rentals in Spain, orcas sink a boat, an ancient city is discovered in Peru, Delta and Aeromexico will no longer be allowed to partner … and more.
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.
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.
A fatal funicular crash in Portugal. Which U.S. city has the most bed bugs? New requirement for travelers to Bali. No more flight disruption compensaion in the U.S. And more!
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.
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.
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.)
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...
I’m well-traveled enough to know that a city like Tulsa, Oklahoma is cosmopolitan, but I admit I had no idea how much culture and history is available in this part of the country.
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.
As I begin to write this, it has only been a couple of days since I returned home from Churchill, Manitoba, Canada, and so far, I’m still high. I don’t often write in such superlative terms, but wow, what an experience!
This autumn, there will be lots of film and TV stars doing plays and musicals on and off Broadway. Here are the ones you can see if you visit NYC:
Read the latest travel news – how a hotel employee tried to break into a room, the use of AI by airlines and car rental companies, new Amtrak high-speed trains, an Airbnb cautionary tale, and more!
Read the latest travel news: new TSA developments, the latest flight accidents and debacles, new tourism fees, a mountain lion attack, and much more.
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.
Switzerland is one of the most diverse countries in the world with regions that borrow their languages and culture from Italy, Germany, and France. The southwestern region of Switzerland is the French-speaking area of the country, and it offers stunning vineyards, majestic lakes, and medieval architecture.
Check out the latest travel news: tourism crackdowns in Europe, volcanic eruptions in Indonesia, bad passenger behavior causes flight disruptions, 2 Delta debacles, tourists killed by elephant, and more.
Here are our favorite Groupon deals in Paris and London that will save you money while still allowing you a luxury experience! (Full disclosure: these are affiliate links.)
Middle East airspace shutdowns, more overtourism demonstrations, a travel advisory in India, the #1 hotel in the world, a new lounge at JFK, and more!
Many of us have had Moosewood cookbooks on our shelves for years. Well, I finally got a chance to sample the famous restaurant itself in Ithaca, New York recently.
Yes, if you’re on an expensive trip, you should always purchase travel insurance. But I’ve just learned that there’s a new membership called Delay Defense that offers more than just monetary compensation.
Did you know the country of Georgia has been making wine for 8,000 years? I didn’t until recently. At a site that’s still being excavated, clay pots from that period were found with remnants of winemaking.
A deadly Air India plane crash, Mount Etna eruption, an earthquake, the collapse of the Dutch government, and lots of new overtourism restrictions around the world.
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.
Lots of airline news from different check-in times to increased solo flight prices to Hawaiian Airlines’s crackdown to things to NOT ask a flight attendant.
Deciding where to go next? Check out these five curated deals currently on Groupon using our affiliate links.
Groupon has a lot of wine deals going on right now that could help you stock up for summer and beyond. Click on the headline of the deal you’re interested in and use our affiliate links to save money.
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...
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...
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.
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.
Lots of airline news. Which airline is starting free WiFi? Which one had a recent plane fire? What European landmark is instituting a selfie-free zone, and where’s the world’s busiest airport?
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.
If you own a boat, it’s time to prep it for spring. Captain Sandra Yawn, star of Bravo’s “Below Deck Mediterranean,” offers her checklist below to make sure you’re all ready for the warmer weather.
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...
Obsession Wines of Northern California kindly sent me a sample bottle of their white Symphony 2023 wine, along with a kit to make their suggested foods to pair with it.
Shelfy CEO and Co-founder, Paolo Ganis, has provided us with these simple tips to optimize food storage in your fridge.
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.
Lots of news this time! Raffle for pieces of Notre-Dame de Paris, Google trouble, news about Mallorca, Hong Kong, Arches National Park, and more…
ETIAS postponed for travel to Europe, Air New Zealand wines, a WWII bomb in Paris, an advisory for Turks & Caicos, Southwest rules changes, and more…
Check out the latest travel news – air collisions and accidents, a Trekkie cruise, a Gatsby hotel suite, airline layoffs and lounges, and more…
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.
There’s a new restaurant in Grand Central Station called Grand Brasserie. It’s located in the Vanderbilt Hall just inside the entrance at 89 East 42nd Street at Park Avenue in Manhattan.
There are buildings that stand and watch as the environment surrounding them changes … and changes again. Many of their neighbor buildings come and go, and their neighborhoods fall, become insignificant, and rise again. Such is the case with the Brown Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky.
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.
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.
Overtourism strikes again with cruise ship bans and extra fees! JetBlue and Air New Zealand news, and more…
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.
Istanbul is, without question, one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Here are some of my favorite images that I took during my stay in Turkey.
The latest travel news! Florence, Paris, airline news…
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...
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.
It’s a massive understatement to say that the Appenzell region of Switzerland has character. It’s exactly how you hope the German part of Switzerland will be. Well-known among the Swiss as the most traditional area in the country, its inhabitants remain astoundingly true to their roots.
Vegan and French cuisine sound like quite the mismatch, but Delice & Sarrasin in Manhattan’s West Village makes it work. There aren’t that many vegan fine dining establishments, even in NYC, but this qualifies. The location is elegant but not fussy.
Read the latest travel news! New FTC rule, free city tours during layovers, the Maya train, the Rubin museum, the Trevi Fountain, the world’s steepest cablecar, and more.
If you’re going to a show at New York City’s Carnegie Hall in the near future, you may wonder where to have dinner. There are countless restaurants in the area, but here are my favorites.
Read the latest travel news! UK’s new ETA requirement, new Alaska Airlines routes, no more cruises in Amsterdam?, Virgin Voyages news, and more…
I had occasion to visit Yosemite National Park in California recently. The only downside to seeing the park in fall is that it’s quite dry, which means the famous waterfalls are almost nonexistent. You have to be there during the spring to see the falls in all their glory. Still, there’s plenty to love about Yosemite year-round.
Bullet hits Southwest plane. A Southwest Airlines plane was struck by a bullet on November 15th at Dallas Love Field airport. The plane returned to the gate and was taken out of service, and there were no injuries. Spirit Airlines bankruptcy. Spirit has filed for...
Ghost Hill Cellars is a fifth-generation farm in the Yamhill-Carlton District of Willamette Valley, Oregon. The land was purchased by the Bayliss family in 1906 and started as a dairy. Then, it became a sheep farm, followed by a cattle farm. Today, the combination of the Bayliss and Bower families is devoted to wine, but they do rent a substantial amount of the property to other farmers.
lmost daily in Facebook travel groups and Broadway show fan pages, people ask where to eat in Times Square. Part of the problem is that there are so many restaurants that it can be hard to choose. So below are nine restaurants that I personally recommend. All are mid-range in terms of price, so these aren’t luxury, nor are they bargains. But they’re all good and in the Times Square theater district.
If you’ve always thought Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice was missing a bikini-clad, pole-dancing Portia, cast members in Batman masks, and puppets fellating each other, the Arlekin Players Theatre production at Classic Stage Company will be tailor-made for you.
When my friend told me he was leaving New York City for the much smaller city of Norwich, England to take over his dad’s fish & chips shop, I couldn’t imagine why. Wouldn’t he get bored? Then, I visited him in his idyllic town with a population of just over 200,000 and an excellent location near the central eastern coast of the country.
This 4-star property is located on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan between East 30th and East 31st Streets. That makes it’s a stone’s throw from the Empire State Building, Madison Square Garden, Penn Station, Macy’s, and the West 34th Street shopping district. It’s also quite close to Times Square.
Apple AirTag news, gunfire in the air, new Chase airport lounges, canned air from Lake Como, a Wicked inspired hotel suite, and more.
Liverpool has plenty of Beatles memorabilia to lure you, but you might be surprised to learn that it has much more to offer the traveler – even those who aren’t fans of the Fab Four. An old city with both new and historical architecture, Liverpool is big enough to give you plenty to do but small enough that you don’t have to endure London-like congestion.
The Langham Hotel in London is as close to perfect as you can get. A 5-star property that could easily be given 6 stars, my experience there – from the facilities to the staff – was nothing short of exquisite. And I don’t use such words frivolously.
Notre Dame reopening in Paris. After the devastating fire in 2019, the famous Notre Dame cathedral in Paris will reopen December 8, 2024! Notre Dame in Paris. Photo by Melanie Votaw. Las Vegas Sphere news. You might have heard about The Sphere in Las Vegas. Well,...
The Delta Sky Lounge in the Kansas City airport is fairly new – opened in February 2023. The entire airport was refurbished not long ago, and this is its only lounge. The space spans more than 11,000 square feet to hold 200 guests, but the Monday morning I was there recently, it was virtually empty. I have to admit that was a treat, as most of the lounges I’ve visited in other airports, whether Delta or otherwise, have been packed.
Read the latest travel news from new borders being drawn in Europe, to new high tech trains in Spain to new United Airlines routes to new Einstein museum and more!
This beautiful 4-star hotel in Kansas City is located downtown right across the street from the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. It’s surprisingly large for an inner city hotel with a sprawling lobby that contains many comfortable seating options, including a partially enclosed space with a fireplace.
News from Delta, SAS, American Airlines, JetSmart, JetBlue, British Airways, and Eurostar.
Most tourists stay in midtown when they come to New York City, but even if you’re not in town for business, you might want to consider staying in other areas of Manhattan, including the Financial District. This area is where you’ll find the current World Trade Center and Trinity Church, where Alexander Hamilton among other luminaries is buried. You’ll also find the Artezen Hotel, dubbed the newest 4-star property in the Financial District.
Unfortunately, bedbugs are a reality these days, and they can be very difficult to get rid of them. But don’t panic! I even got them in my apartment (presumably from a package that was delivered, as I hadn’t traveled recently), and spraying killed them.
Tea in the Sahara? Well, I didn’t have tea, but I did enjoy myself in the remarkable desert of Morocco. It was a landscape out of the movies, and the bright colors of the guys leading the camels just made it all the more beautiful.
If you’ve ever watched the TV show, The Zoo, on the Animal Planet channel, you’ve seen behind the scenes at the Bronx Zoo, which is currently celebrating its 125th year. Covering 265 acres, it’s one of the largest and oldest zoos in the United States. But did you know that you can go there and have an in-person experience behind the scenes?
American Airlines and Delta Airlines news, the truth about plane safety, what’s up with free Wi-Fi on planes, a new tourism tax in Greece, and an iceberg collision.
There is a lot to love about Monastero Santa Rosa, the luxury hotel on the Amalfi Coast of Italy. It’s the gardens that are my favorite part of this property, however. They’re spectacular, and I don’t use that word frivolously.
I’ve seen the Rockies, the Andes, and the Himalayas, but honestly, Morocco’s Atlas Mountains may be the most beautiful range of them all. Judge for yourself!
I just published a piece about the Harriet Tubman historical sites in Auburn, Cayuga County, New York, including her home, church, and gravesite. Besides visiting the numerous wineries in this Finger Lakes region, there are many wonderful restaurants where you can sample some truly special cuisine.
I’m sure you know about Harriet Tubman, who famously saved many enslaved people during the Civil War Era by personally transporting them through the Underground Railroad. But I’ll bet there’s a lot you don’t know about her, such as the fact that she settled in Auburn, New York in Cayuga County and lived there until her death in 1913.
Tourists are often unaware that they can often see some of their favorite Broadway stars up close and personal in small cabaret rooms in Manhattan.
A lot of visitors and locals aren’t aware that you can watch whales from Manhattan and Brooklyn in NYC. And I’m talking some major whale watching!
Want to see North Korea? Will Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines merge? What new international routes have just begun? What airport has the worst TSA experience? How can you know if you’re too close to an animal in a national park? Read our Travel News to find out.
I just discovered a new service called Bounce that has a luggage storage network around the world. They work with local businesses that are willing to hold your bags for a set period of time.
Dispute with a travel-related company? Whenever you have a problem with a travel-related company that you're struggling to resolve, check out the contact information for executives in Christopher Elliott's handy list. Don't waste more time - go right to the top!...
Check out our latest travel news. How did Delta mess up after the power outage? How can you avoid the worst turbulence and stay safe in extreme heat? Where are bedbugs showing up these days? Would you have a robot massage?
I have dreamed for decades of seeing a blue whale – the largest animal that’s ever lived (as far as we know at least). When I first investigated the possibility, the only places to see them were remote and usually in very cold waters. Since then, they have become much more widespread, increasing in numbers in southern and northern California.
Conde Nast Traveler has named its top 100 restaurants in the world, and Nuema in Quito is number 61. Nestled in the Illa Experience Hotel, I had the extraordinary opportunity to experience this restaurant firsthand.
The 5-star Illa Experience Hotel opened its doors in December 2017 by Latin Trails in the historic part of Quito just a few blocks from the Plaza Grande and surrounded by artists’ workshops.
If you’re looking for something fun to do in New York City this summer, try the One World Observatory, which boasts the highest observation deck in the city with three floors and 360-degree views (sorry, Empire State Building). And this summer, it’s collaborating with the Museum of Ice Cream so that you can buy a single ticket for both.
Read the latest airline news, find out the cheapest place to visit in the world, look into helicopter flights between the Greek Isles, discover why you shouldn’t fly at night in summer, and much more.
If Washington State wines are not on your radar, they should be. It has a particularly ideal climate for winegrowing with 17 hours of sunlight and cool nights that help maintain the acidity of the grapes.
When I want a fine dining experience in Manhattan that's still within reason from a price perspective, La Grande Boucherie is my go-to restaurant - and has been for years. The French menu changes periodically, but everything we've ordered has been excellent without...
I see almost all shows on Broadway (some more than once), and I can rattle off the names of numerous Broadway creatives from actors to choreographers to ensemble dancers to composers and more. I also used to photograph the Tony nominees every year for another publication. So I thought you might find it useful to hear my recommendations for Broadway shows to see this summer if you’re coming to New York.
I sat down to watch the Tony Awards Sunday night, June 16, with trepidation. It had been a particularly stuffed season, especially with musicals, which is my favorite genre. I expected to be disappointed by some of the decisions.
Read the latest travel news from a new hiking trail in Italy’s Dolomites to why you shouldn’t drink the water on airplanes (including tea and coffee) to the new cheese museum in Paris and more.
When you think of Louisville, Kentucky, you probably think horses and bourbon, but the city has a great deal to offer the traveler at any time of year – not just during the Kentucky Derby. You might be surprised to learn that it’s a large metropolitan city with a long tradition of supporting the arts. It has its own award-winning orchestra, opera, and ballet companies, as well as one of the country’s top regional theatres, Actors Theater of Louisville.