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...
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...
Revered for upholding culinary tradition, the esteemed Rosebud Restaurant Group debuted its Mia Rosebud restaurant location in the heart of Downtown Boca Raton, Florida in 2024. This addition signifies a tasty achievement for the group as it represents their first...
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...
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, for getting by unscathed, and for making the...
One of the first things to notice is the stunning surroundings with the tall Wasatch Mountain Range as a dramatic backdrop to Salt Lake City. These mountains with their white capped peaks have been a historic thoroughfare for many individuals seeking a better life out...
It didn’t surprise me at all that the venerable Sunset Magazine recently featured an article on the newly restored Murrieta Hot Springs Resort (including a cover story and inclusion in its travel destination list and travel directory). It’s a thermal spa...
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...
Nestled within an upscale residential neighborhood, just a short five-minute drive from Puerto Vallarta airport, the AAA Four Diamond Casa Velas stands as a serene, adults-only boutique resort exemplifying standards in the luxury all-inclusive sector....
Visiting the San Diego Zoo is an experience that blends adventure, education, and pure enjoyment. From the moment you step through the gates, the atmosphere is alive with excitement and the promise of discovery. Our day at the zoo was filled with unforgettable...
In the summer of 1870, no visit to New York was complete without a trip to see the city’s newest marvel, a pneumatically-powered subway that ran for 300 feet under Broadway between Warren and Murray Streets. Built by Alfred Beach, publisher of Scientific American...
Those looking for a SoFlo escape exuding art, culture, and timeless sophistication need look no further than the National Hotel Miami Beach, where the city’s vintage glamour meets contemporary coastal luxury. Perfectly situated in South Beach’s iconic Art Deco...
The lush, picturesque Valle de Guadalupe in Ensenada, Baja California, has come into its own as one of the leading wine destinations on both sides of the border. The valley is located 80 miles from San Diego, California, making it easily accessible by car to Southern...
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 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? A staircase in...
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...
Jamaica Inn, a hotel that sits on a six-acre beachfront garden, is an institution in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. The iconic Inn has been around since 1950, and the same family (the Morrows) has run it since 1958. Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller stayed there in the 50s, and...
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,...
Tucked away in the Bahamas Out Island of Eleuthera is Yellowbird Estate - an expansive private villa that stands as a beacon of coastal charm and tranquility. With its idyllic oceanfront location, this unique vacation rental captures the essence of island living,...
Tucked into the ever-evolving culinary corridor of Manhattan’s Murray Hill, Leonetta is reshaping the narrative of what Mediterranean dining means in New York City. This refined, design-forward restaurant - opened in late 2024 by acclaimed chef Ed Cotton - delivers a...
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. An art deco sign in Tulsa. Photo by Melanie Votaw. If you’re like me, you’ll be...
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...
Born from the Union Stock Yards where cattle cars rumbled into the city like thunderheads, Chicago’s steakhouse tradition has evolved from feeding industrialists who built this city on beef into something far more sophisticated. Chicago's carnivorous temples have gone...
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! First of all, Churchill is like no other place...
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: Tom Hanks. This is probably the biggest star to grace the season, but Hanks won't be on Broadway. He'll be at a...
While traveling through the French West Indies, my final night in St. Martin culminated in one of my most memorable dining experiences at Le Pressoir in Grand Case. (See my review of Grand Case Beach Club.) Entering the beautifully restored 1871 Creole house that is...
Nestled in the embrace of the turquoise waters of the Caribbean sits Snaresbrook Manor, an impeccable luxury vacation home in the Governor’s Harbor of Eleuthera, Bahamas. Perfectly situated on a panoramic pink sand beach and with premium appointments from top to...
Tucked just steps from Times Square and the bright lights of Broadway, Gallaghers Steakhouse stands as more than just a restaurant - it’s a living piece of Manhattan history. Having originally opened in 1927 as a Prohibition-era speakeasy, the iconic 52nd Street spot...
The day began as many perfect days do - with the scent of sea salt in the air and the soft sound of waves lapping the shore. A refreshing sea breeze, just enough to ripple the surface of the water and stir the anchored catamarans offshore, wafted gently through the...
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.) London The Dilly, London. Photo courtesy of Groupon. The Dilly in London - $354.20: Near...
Centuries-old live oaks draped with Spanish moss line the winding road to Brookgreen Gardens. The foliage announces that we are in South Carolina’s Low Country. Live oaks and their wispy shawls of moss command the scene throughout Brookgreen’s nearly 1,000 acres. The...
Nestled adjacent to the Atlantic shoreline, the 4-star Sonesta Fort Lauderdale Beach offers more than just oceanfront accommodations. It delivers a full-spectrum retreat that merges wellness, coastal sophistication, and Caribbean-American flavor....
It’s summer in the suburbs, and we enjoyed an outstanding dinner in a garden setting, fragrant with meats grilling on the large open-air grill! The Spring House in Tenafly is a Northern New Jersey restaurant located in a majestic old house with a large back and side...
Hot dogs, the “dachshund sausages,” as they were initially called because they were thin and long like the eponymous breed of dog, were first sold with sauerkraut in the 1860s from street pushcarts in Manhattan’s East Village neighborhoods around St. Mark’s Place. At...
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. Established in 1973 as "worker collective," the restaurant self-published its first cookbook in 1974....
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...
Deciding where to go next? Check out these five curated deals currently on Groupon using our affiliate links. Experience 5-star Luxury at Ocean Eden Bay Hotel in Coral Spring, Montego Bay, Jamaica! All-Inclusive Stay with Dining and Entertainment! Get this Groupon...
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...
North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina has the beautiful beaches, splendid sunrises, and dawn-catch seafood with one delightful difference: the Spring Break crowd doesn’t party here. This is just how the locals and discerning visitors like it. Think fine wines, not beer...
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 does the restaurant allow larger parties than many NYC establishments, but the prices are more reasonable than many...
A few months ago, we wrote about That Supper Club, a prix fixe set menu at a quirky restaurant with very good food in Park Ridge, New Jersey, a town near us. They change dishes on a seasonal basis, depending on what’s fresh and good on the market. They let us know...
Even standing in the pouring rain (im)patiently waiting for the massive wooden doors to open could not diminish my anticipation of walking through those doors into the newly redesigned Frick Museum, housed in the magnificent Beaux-Arts mansion on Manhattan’s upper...
I was lured to Sea Life Park by the idea of a Sea Lion Encounter … up close and personal with these adorable playful animals - a fellow-finned cousin of the seal. At the time, I was in Honolulu in search of a beach break. Even the glorious Pacific Ocean beaches can,...
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,...
Barbara and I decided to visit relatives we had not seen for a number of years. They live in a community near Trenton which is almost a 2-hour drive from us. A friend who lives halfway between us and our relatives told us about a new restaurant - Harpoon Willy’s of...
True crime is all the craze these days, but it might surprise you to learn that dark tourism in general is trending, with people indulging in travel to cemeteries (necro tourism), jails (prison travel), and paranormal travel (ghost tours, etc.). To cater to this...
In the sea of hospitality options lining the Fort Lauderdale strip, Pelican Grand Beach Resort—part of the Noble House Hotels & Resorts portfolio—stands out as a boutique oceanfront hotel blending classic Florida charm with a touch of coastal sophistication....
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...
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. Grand Central Terminal in midtown Manhattan at Christmas time. Photo by Melanie...
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...
Near Miami’s luxe hotels is a place that drew me in with all my senses. I was in Miami, but was I really? This was Little Havana - authentic and easy. Miami has more than a million people of Latin origin who live and work there. It’s an American city with a...
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...
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...
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...
We found a rather quirky but unique restaurant with exceptional food in the Northern New Jersey township of Park Ridge at 7 Hawthorne Avenue. Longtime restaurateur Tommy Greco, along with cousin and partner Chef Nicolas Pescatore, returned to their New Jersey roots...
It’s a shame that so many tourists think only of visiting beach destinations like Cancun when they travel to Mexico. 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,...
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 place qualifies. The ambience is elegant but not fussy. The...
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...
Fegato alla Veneziana is a fried calf’s liver recipe that is probably one of the best known dishes of La Serenisima, together with risi e bisi (rice and peas). Walk around Venice, and you’ll see it on most restaurant menus, from lowly bacari to high-end luxury hotel...
Almost 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 10 restaurants that I personally recommend. Most are...
This 4-star hotel, Le Meridien Fifth Avenue, is located on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan between East 30th and East 31st Streets. That makes it a stone's throw from the Empire State Building, Madison Square Garden, Penn Station, Macy's, and the West 34th Street shopping...
In an organization known for its spectacular displays and events held both indoors and outdoors, the New York Botanical Garden’s display of “Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail” is over-the-top spectacular. Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before...
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...
Yearning for both a fun and a delicious dining experience to usher in the upcoming Halloween season, we opted for a visit to the Sugar Factory Restaurant in the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. This was our second visit to a Sugar Factory eatery. Last...
This beautiful 4-star Loews Hotel in Kansas City, Missouri 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 800 rooms and suites and a sprawling lobby that contains many...
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...
If you've ever watched the TV show, The Zoo, on the Animal Planet channel, you've been 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...
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...
I’m sure you know about Harriet Tubman, who famously saved many enslaved people during the Civil War 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,...
I was aboard a small boat at the Cuero y Salado Wildlife Refuge - 35,000 acres near the Caribbean coast of Honduras. From our boat, we could view the jagged top of famed Pico Bonito Mountain, peeking through the clouds. This quiet treasure of mangroves and waterways...
I have found that many tourists are unaware that they can often see some of their favorite Broadway stars up close and personal in small cabaret rooms in Manhattan. The likes of Betty Buckley, Patti LuPone, Jeremy Jordan, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Audra McDonald, Sutton...
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! I recently took a cruise from Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn with American Princess Cruises, where we saw seven humpback...
Some of the most beautiful rugged coastlines are within striking distance of San Francisco. I embarked on a private tour of Point Reyes with Eric's VIP Tours to have an encounter with the rugged and unspoiled Pacific coastline. Instead of taking the highways, I...
In my desire to taste some of the world's premier wines and savor some culinary specialties, I spent an exciting day visiting the famous grape-growing regions of Sonoma and Napa. My adventure with Tower Tours entailed a Wine Aficionado Tour to two different wineries -...
Friends of ours had invited my wife and me to a three-night stay in Gloucester, Massachusetts. They were housesitting for an old friend whose seafront home was well-equipped and spacious enough to accommodate several guests. We accepted, and embarked on a number of...
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...
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...
If Washington State wines are not on your radar, they should be. It has a particularly ideal climate for winegrowing since it's 46˚ North latitude, which is the same as France’s Burgundy and Rhône regions. It also gets 17 hours of sunlight and has cool nights that...
First, the location: Holbox is a 26-mile-long island off the northeast corner of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, two hours north of Cancun, plus a 30-minute ferry ride - but worth every minute to get to this paradise on earth. Villas Caracol beach lounge. Photo courtesy...
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...
Anybody who knows me well knows that I'm an avid fan of theater in NYC. 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...
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. But I walked away happier with the...
If you’re longing for a European vacation, but it’s not in the immediate future, why not get that taste of Europe by visiting the northeast mountains of Georgia where the tiny hamlet of Alpine Helen will quell your appetite for international travel—at least for the...
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...
As usual, the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) audience was buzzing with excitement and especially so because not only was it Mother’s Day, it was also a much-anticipated performance of the renowned Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, featuring new works by...
The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will be premiering two new works at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC): Amy Hall Garner’s first work for the Company, CENTURY, and former dancer Elizabeth Roxas-Dobrish’s duet, Me, Myself and You, on Mother’s Day...
Monterey Bay Aquarium is perhaps the most celebrated aquarium in the U.S. and for good reason. Not only are there rare animals and other sea life on display, but all you have to do is walk outside and look out on Monterey Bay to see an area that is teeming with life...
It's hard to imagine that there was no museum about the history of Broadway until late 2022, but that's the truth. Thankfully, we now have the Museum of Broadway to commemorate the wonder of New York's theater and located in the Times Square theater district where it...
Even my Lyft driver didn’t know about the Hollywood Cars Museum in Las Vegas, which is just a short drive from the strip. This little-known museum has a host of vehicles from TV and movies, as well as a room filled with cars and costumes once owned by Liberace. A...
Be sure to look up occasionally at the Museum of the American Revolution. There are exhibits over your head, such as this one of a Patriot working to rip down the statue of King George III in New York. Philadelphia’s Museum of the American Revolution opened in the...
New restaurants appear in Northern New Jersey all the time. However, some are just run of the mill eateries serving the same tired dishes that have been served for ages, while a few others are serving food of exceptional quality, rivaling Michelin-starred...
She comes in a tiny package but with a huge voice. Pretty as a picture and full of good humor, Emmy and Tony Award-winner Kristin Chenoweth was in top form strutting her stuff on the NJPAC (New Jersey Performing Arts Center) stage during her recent appearance....
Turks & Caicos Islands (TCI) is considered one of the world’s premier beach destinations, prized for its exquisite sandy beaches, new hotels, all-inclusive resorts, and luxury rental villas. But its history was far less glamorous. The first European visitor there...
I attended the exuberant dance program Deep River created by choreographer Alonzo King for his LINES Ballet dance company. The performance was held at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Rose Theater in the Deutsche Bank Center building at 60th Street and Broadway in New York...
Most of the time, when tourists tell me how much they’ve paid for Broadway tickets, I cringe. Yes, sometimes, you have to shell out the big bucks if you only have a few days in town and want to see shows that are usually sold...
Quebec City has long been known for its innovative and inventive cuisine. Since my early traveling days, visiting Quebec was always a go-to destination for beautiful vistas, old world charm, support of local craftspeople, and great food. On our recent trip, we were...
One of the best American New York City-based chefs, David Boulay, passed away February 12, 2024 from a heart attack. He was a master of creating memorable dishes from simple, many times organic, ingredients with intense flavors. Wherever he cooked, whether at his...
On Sunday, January 21, 2024, the National Building Museum in Washington, DC opened its new exhibition called Building Stories. It will be on display for ten years and is an immersive exploration of the world of architecture, engineering, construction, and design found...
On a cold Sunday evening, we drove into Manhattan to try Anto, a new upscale Korean steakhouse that has opened on East 58th street in the space where “Felidia,” Lydia Bastianich’s temple of Northern Italian gastronomy, used to be. Anto is the U.S. venture of Korean...
The popular Las Vegas eatery, the Sugar Factory, opened on Manhattan’s corner of 8th Ave. and 44th Street. It is considered an American brasserie with a large confectionary component. It’s a large, 2-floor restaurant with a bar and tables on the ground floor and the...