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...
When I told friends I was planning to tour Alabama, some of them said, “Really? Why?” The belief that the state has little to offer the traveler could not be further from the truth. I found out what the song, “Sweet Home Alabama,” really means. Besides music history...
The Rubin Museum of Art has a new exhibition entitled “Death Is Not the End.” This exhibition, assembled from the Rubin’s own collection, along with contributions from individual collectors and private institutions, is an examination of humanity’s burning...
Indiana might not cross your mind first when you think of wine or fine chocolate, but the state is making a mark in both arenas. Country Heritage Winery & Vineyard in LaOtto, Indiana has developed a partnership with DeBrand Fine Chocolates based in Fort Wayne, and...
The number one spot to visit in Memphis is, of course, Graceland – Elvis’ home. It’s so much more than his mansion, however, or even his estate. There are several exhibits, restaurants, a theater that holds live concerts, a soundstage, and an exposition center that...
“Who’s your favorite blues singer?” Abe Hudson, the owner of Real Delta Tours, LLC, asked me when he picked me up from the Clarksdale, Mississippi Greyhound station. I paused, but it didn’t take me more than a couple of seconds to definitively say, “Bessie...
(Photo of Center courtesy of the Muhammad Ali Center) The Muhammad Ali Center had a star-studded opening in November 2005 attended by Brad Pitt, Jim Carrey, and Bill Clinton, among other celebrities. Of course, now that Ali has passed away, the Center will take on...
In 1992, Mama said “let’s go into the hotel business!” With that declaration, a new concept of museum-hotel was birthed with the opening of Auberge Saint-Antoine, a 5 star luxury property in Québec City, Canada. The “Mama” is Martha Bate Price, the doyenne...
It was a snowy, cold, winter day but the colors, sounds and energy that radiated from the Soweto Gospel Choir turned the day sunny and warm for the cheering, crowded audience. The performance was entitled “Hope: It’s Been A Long Time Coming” and was held...
Located in the heart of Old Quebec City, just steps away from all the activities in this delightful Ville, is the UNESCO Heritage site of Le Monastère des Augustines; a wellness retreat with a story to tell. In 1639, three incredibly brave young Augustinian Sisters...
Nothing could have been more Swedish. Food apart, the cups, the plates, the cutlery, everything came from Sweden - including Orrefors and Costa Boda glassware. Even the dining room had a clean, functional, very Nordic look about it. I’m referring to Björk, the café...
Antigua, the “Land of 365 Beaches” is in the middle of the Leeward Islands of the Lesser Antilles, a few degrees north of the Equator. Its culture has been strongly influenced by the British Empire, of which the country was formerly a part. I visited the island in...
Reaching for the sky en pointe… The artistic programs held at the performance center at Lehman College always draws an eclectic crowd comprised of all ages, races and cultures… sporting all manners of formal, antique, contemporary or just plain weird, dress. The...
I think the promotional slogan of Québec City should be “On mange bien ici” i.e. “We eat well here!” Great food is at the pinnacle of gastronomy in Québec. Absolutely fresh, local, seasonal ingredients are starring in Québecoise kitchens, whether eating at home or in...
Culinary Fireworks! Dining in Québec is a delight but for those that dine it is also very serious business! Modern gastronomy has arrived in Québec and has been influencing in a molecular-gastronomy manner a number of the younger chefs, with kitchens that can rival in...
The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York City is a playground for lovers of aviation, space exploration, and naval history. Besides World War II history, you’ll find the Space Shuttle Enterprise, a submarine, drones, and an array of...
Quebec City’s annual Winter Carnival is what they mean when they use the phrase “winter wonderland.” I experienced it this January, and while the temperatures were frigid, the hospitality was anything but. I attended the Carnival’s opening night ceremony, which...
After an absence of a few years because of COVID, the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux had its yearly tasting at the converted bank hall that is now New York’s Cipriani restaurant on 42nd Street, across from the Grand Central Station. The tasting was organized by...
VIKING really, really, knows how to throw a party! On June 2, 2023 the newest ship in VIKING’s impressive line-up of 100+ ships was named VIKING Saturn ata ceremony held at Pier 88 on New York City’s Hudson River. During the party, raconteur Chairman...
Your Poop has a tale to tell! From the dawn of mankind until our Sun no longer shines upon us, there is one thing that we all have in common… we poop. The Musée de la civilization in Quebec, Canadahas taken the scintillating topic of defecation and mounted...
After all our years of eating in many top restaurants both in the US and Europe and a few in Asia, we have to admit that we’re not easily impressed… but impressed we were during this dinner a few days ago! A new restaurant opened in a town nearby, in Englewood, New...
I wanted to travel south, to be on the ground where the world shifted. I wanted to experience a persevering people—sitting in, standing up, marching, and registering to vote—who, against all odds, put their homes, jobs, land, and life on the line for equal...
Hotel ratings sometimes perplex me. Case in point: Hotel Napoleon in Memphis, Tennessee. This property is listed as 3-star, but it had all of the amenities I’m used to getting from a 5-star hotel, including a plush bathrobe and slippers. Most 4-star hotels...
I’ve been all over the world, but there are few places I love as much as New Orleans – especially the French Quarter. And The New Orleans Hotel Collection has a number of great properties in the city, including the boutique 4-star Hotel le Marais. This...
The Hilton is one of my favorite places to stay in Quebec City. It’s very near the historical section, and it has simply spectacular views from its top floor executive lounge. So if you stay there, I’d say it’s a must to spring for an executive floor room, where...
Now I know why several people have said to me, “St. Lucia is my favorite Caribbean island.” While all of the islands I have visited are beautiful, the drive from the airport showed me immediately that the land and seascapes of St. Lucia are particularly striking. The...