Top Stories
Flower Tourism: Where to See Beautiful Blooms in the U.S.
Last month, I covered dark sky tourism. But what about flower tourism? Turns out it's blooming in the U.S., with more than 90,000 people travelling to Ennis, Texas each April to experience the city’s famous bluebonnets and its three-day Bluebonnet Trails Festival. But...
Undiscovered Bulgaria
Ancient civilizations, mysterious cultures, remarkable art, spectacular natural scenery, mythical caves, natural mineral springs, friendly people, charming traditional villages, nine UNESCO World Heritage sites, great food, and even better wine. Yes, I’m talking about...
Bayfront Views with Urban Energy Abound at Hyatt Centric Brickell Miami
Miami rewards location. In Brickell, location can define the whole stay. You are either plugged into the district’s pace or watching it from the sidelines. Hyatt Centric Brickell Miami gets that distinction right. Opened in 2018 on Brickell Bay Drive, the 208-room...
Viewing a Half Million Sandhill Cranes in Nebraska
You read that number right. When I visited Wood River, Nebraska in late March, there were at least almost a half million sandhill cranes in the area. It's the largest migration of these large birds in the world. An eagle flies over the sandhill cranes roosting on the...
Travel News and Advice – March 31, 2026
Shutdown and ICE at airports. I traveled by air toward the end of the month, but right after my trip, things got bad in the U.S., as TSA agents either quit (more than 450) or called out since they're not being paid during the government shutdown. This has made TSA...
Dance Review: Hubbard Street Dance Chicago at The Joyce, NYC
Once again Hubbard Street Dance Chicago is holding court at The Joyce Theater in New York City. This astonishingly gifted company grew out of the Lou Conte Dance Studio when in 1977 Conte gathered together an ensemble of four gifted dancers to perform community...
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Destinations
Flower Tourism: Where to See Beautiful Blooms in the U.S.
Last month, I covered dark sky tourism. But what about flower tourism? Turns out it's blooming in the U.S., with more than 90,000 people travelling to Ennis, Texas each April to experience the city’s famous bluebonnets and its three-day Bluebonnet Trails Festival. But...
Hotels, Resorts, Spas
Hotel Review: Mandarin Oriental Conservatorium Hotel, Amsterdam
After flying from New York to Amsterdam, we were collected at Schiphol Airport and driven to the Mandarin Oriental Conservatorium Hotel in a luxurious black limousine-sized car. It maneuvered through Amsterdam’s tiny streets - more suited to bicycles than limousines -...
Food, Wine, Spirits
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. The chutney was developed by mother-daughter business partners,...
Cruise & Sail
Boating Safely on July 4th
Have you ever watched the July 4th fireworks from the deck of your boat? What could be better, right? A clear view of the over-the-water fireworks show. A sky filled with colors. Before you watch the display, you might fire up the grill for hamburgers and hot dogs....
Museums, Entertainment
Carnegie Hall Unveils Judy Garland’s “Lucky Jacket”
I had the privilege of attending a special event at Carnegie Hall on April 16, 2026 to celebrate the return of a jacket Judy Garland wore during her legendary April 23, 1961 concert at the venue that has been called the greatest concert of all time. Many luminaries...
Travel Advice, News
Travel News and Advice – April 15, 2026
TSA staff being paid again. Now that TSA workers are getting paid again, wait times at airports are mostly back to normal (thankfully). Increased baggage fees. Pretty much every U.S. airline has increased their baggage fees by $10, with American and United charging...