Whether it’s your first time, or you are returning, maybe for the umpteenth time, Paris seduces. What is it about this city that makes it one of the most visited places in the world? That makes people pull up stakes and move to the City of Light. What drew painters like Degas, Cezanne and the…
The Dixie Highway was a big deal in its day. Conceived in 1914 to promote commerce and tourism, the pioneering road network ultimately measured some 4,000 miles, in mostly parallel routes stretching from northern Michigan to Miami. Much of it later was absorbed into the interstate highway system, distinguished by numbered shield-shaped medallions. It offers…
I’m crawling on my hands and knees in the cramped and low-ceiling belly of the HMB Endeavour to reach the so-called Great Cabin at the ship’s stern. Imagine calling the 18th century brigantine home for just over three years with one of the few creature comforts being drop-down hammocks swaying at the whim of frothy…
The tuk-tuk driver reclined on a padded seat in the back of his motorized transport, neither a surrey nor a golf cart but something in between. “Hey, bong, nice to see you today,” he said as I passed, using the catch-all greeting so frequently used in this Southeast Asian nation. “Where are you going?” I…
Whether by air, water or land, an African safari can offer some of the most unique wildlife experiences on the planet. Each mode provides a different perspective and distinct species. Change your view to experience the many unique environments of Africa. Africa has some of the most amazing wildlife sightings in their natural habitat anywhere…
The World is a 12-deck residential mega yacht where 150 families own 165 condominiums worth $2 million to $15 million each depending on their size. Owners enjoy an idyllic lifestyle of Michelin-level dining, cocktail lounging, fitness/spa menus and guest lecturers who include Nobel laureates. The World will sail to more than 90-plus ports on six continents in 2024. Residents vote to set the itinerary. A new fleet of ocean-going condos is being built to compete. Could be a great investment…for a millionaire. Read More
Oklahoma is Indian Country. The US Census Bureau says 523,360 Oklahomans – about 13% of the state’s population – are Native Americans. This mainly results from the forced relocation in 1830 of 30 tribes from neighboring states. Their journey on foot commonly is referred to as the Trail of Tears. Today, the areas considered barren lands 194 years ago are oil-rich counties studded with entrepreneurial boomtowns.
The Great Barrier Reef is one of the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet. It incorporates more than 400 types of coral and is home to thousands of sea creatures. A Matisse paint box gone mad, among the profusion of yellow sponges and swaying green sea grass are splashes of pink, red and purple. Small schools of blue tang and pink-hued parrot fish dart about. But large stretches of this coral are white, the bleached skeletal remains of a once vital organism.
Who are all these people who turn down wine in Italy, sake in Japan, cerveza in Mexico and ouzo in Greece? According to Expedia’s research, one out of every four travelers hopes to decrease alcohol use while on vacation. This increased emphasis on nondrinking is starting to influence the sorts of cocktails bartenders are pouring, the nature of hotel wellness activities and the growth of the entire travel industry. Indeed, in one recent study half of respondents said they wanted to stay in hotels that offered easily accessible alcohol-free options like mocktails and nonalcoholic beer. Read More
In Lhasa’s Barkhor Square, the weathered Tibetan woman softly intoning a Buddhist mantra fell to her knees, looked fervently skyward and then lunged face down on the pavement, oblivious to the commercial life surrounding her. After a few seconds of prayer, she rose stiffly, moved two steps forward and repeated the process. Shoppers flowed around her with scarcely a sideways glance because Lhasa residents are used to prostrate pilgrims