Picture the perfect trip to New Zealand; stunning scenery, amazing food and wine, and a luxury lodge in the truest sense. Wharekauhau Country Estate is all that and then some. From Auckland (see Part I) we flew to Wellington and then boarded a helicopter for a short ride along the coast to Wharekauhau, set on 5,000 acres fronting Paliser Bay.
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Situated on Mexico’s Pacific Coast is the Riviera Nayarit, a vacationer’s paradise with nearly 200 miles of award-winning beaches and some of the finest resorts in the country. On a recent visit I stayed on the Punta Mita strip at the luxury Iberostar Playa Mita as well as Marival Residences in Nuevo Vallarta. Both offer a great stay for different reasons.... Read More
The snow has melted, the Alps now dons its summer coat of green, and a new world awaits summer visitors. The extensive mountains are a magical place to be this season, taking on a new life and character under the warm sun. If you’re headed to Europe, here are the top three resorts (in ascending order), that offer the best in outdoor activities, dining and experiences.... Read More
For me, a great journey begins with a great jacket. Especially where several stops are involved and weather varies in each country, the right item of outerwear is essential.... Read More
Imagine that you’re in a classic Mercedes-Benz for a top-down, wind-in-your-hair ride through the Black Forest. Your route overflows with castles, cuckoo clocks and cobblestone alleyways. In short, it is fairytale perfect. Where, you might ask, is this scenario? The answer: Baden-Württemberg.... Read More
“Dubai may be home to the world’s most outrageous skyline but Dubai’s desert dunes and historical creek are where you’ll find its soul,” writes filmmaker Rob Whitworth when discussing his three-month exploration in the UAE city. With help from Dubai film, Whitworth created a three-minute video entitled Dubai Flow Motion which captures the sights and sounds of the destination through hyperlapse and infinite-zoom techniques.... Read More
A picture is worth a thousand words; so it follows that videos are even more valuable. Recently, STARGAZE Production published a film on Vimeo entitled Landscapes of Malta in 4K resolution. Starting off with aerial views from inside an airplane, the video moves onto the Xwejni Salt Pans, Żebbuġ in Gozo and across five other locations within the first minute. The 3:10-minute snapshot of Malta’s three islands captures the beauty of the Mediterranean archipelago in beautifully-crisp and clear images filmed through time-lapse footage.... Read More
Shouts of one-million protestors vibrated through the air, anti-government supporters on horseback marched onto Tahrir Square demanding President Mubarak’s resignation, and black armored vehicles filled the streets—this was the scene in Egypt in 2011. Known as the Arab Spring, or the Arabic Revolutions, this wave of demonstrations, civil wars and protests lasted from December 2010 until early 2014.... Read More
Germany is known for many things—amazing beer, The Berlin Wall, Oktoberfest, exceptional engineering and craftsmanship, and of course, the Autobahn. Historic castles dot its landscapes, high-end car brands call the country home and hundreds of fine-dining restaurants are scattered throughout its cities.... Read More
Umbria is quite possibly my favorite region of Italy. Having lived in Milan, Umbria could not be a greater contrast. Milan is productive, fashionable, hurried and formal. But in Umbria, the pace is slow, the people are inviting and warm, and the food is simple and sumptuous.... Read More
Napa is home to some of the best wineries in the nation, and those who own vineyards in the area are some of the wealthiest and most affluent residents in California. In fact, to purchase land and open your dream winery takes millions of dollars just to start. In Napa, it’s not just about who you know, but how well you can keep up with the Joneses by hosting charity events, private dinners and securing memberships at the valley’s top country clubs.... Read More
