9 Fitness Retreats to Whip You Into Shape for Summer 2013
With less than two months to go till swimsuit season, it’s time to start thinking about working off that winter chub and getting back into trim, fit and fighting form.
Touring Reykjavik, Iceland: Museums, Shopping, Dining & More
Imagine walking over charcoal black volcanic stone with miles of untouched landscape in front of you, while hand-in-hand with your sweetheart. Imagine gazing
Stockholm is one of the most desirable destinations on Baltic and Northern European cruise itineraries for good reason. Most cruise ships dock right in the city center, but you won’t fall into a tourist trap. Indeed, this city is anything but...
Snowmobiling, a nighttime husky sled safari, traditional Finnish smoke saunas and dinner at an historic reindeer farm—that’s after a full day of driving Bentley's hell-for-leather across the frozen wastelands of Finland at speeds that would give...
Over the past decade, Shanghai has regained its stature as one of the world’s most cosmopolitan, fast-paced and connected cities. With world-class hotels catering to travelers of all stripes, unparalleled luxury shopping, and a nightlife scene that...
Some people like to celebrate Halloween in scanty costumes; others like to indulge in sweets; and then there are the ones who want to scream, be utterly grossed out, and have nightmares for weeks afterward. For the last group, this author thinks...
Bucket list aside, this magical Mexican colonial town, San Miguel de Allende, looks too good to be true, but isn't. Superlatives lack descriptive power to express the palpable joy that a simple stroll, or chance encounter will evoke in this...
Italians love to celebrate their heritage (With the last name Imperatore, I know this quite well). At the heart of the culture is the desire to bring people together over an enormous spread of food, good wine and lots of laughter. Though Italians...
From the minute coffee shops put their "Pumpkin Latte" signage up, we all knew that autumn had arrived...and while some people mourn the shortening of days and incoming cold weather, most of us also anticipate fall’s many delights. Autumn brings...
Fall brings our nesting, comfort-dining instincts to the fore—which is why the friendly farmhouse inns of New England have such a magnetic effect. From the 5-diamond comforts of Relais & Châteaux to a homespun cottage on a working farm, these...
What happens when you want to immerse yourself in the culture and cuisine of your luxury vacation locale and your companions want to soak up the sun? Head for Huatulco where everyone will be happy. Located on the Pacific coast of Mexico, in the...
Santa Barbara has long been crowned with the title of our American Riviera. From the recent English royalty who graced the nearby polo fields, to the many celebrities, including Oprah, who call it home, this is a place to be. Anytime of the year...
Apparently people are climbing over one another these days to be a volunteer. Why? Many say it’s a life changing experience. I suppose that's reason enough. Unfortunately, traveling abroad can get expensive, so Volunteer Forever has developed a new...
In a country where simple ingredients like corn, potatoes and chili peppers are staples of the cuisine, you wouldn’t necessarily think it would be worthy of epicurean high praise—but you’d be wrong. According to the Daily Mail, Peru was just named the ‘Leading Culinary Destination’ in South America at the World Travel Awards. Peru’s traditional cuisine has evolved over the centuries, developing as far back as the rule of the Inca Empire. It sees many different cultural influences ranging from Chinese to African to Japanese, and most prominently Spanish with the incorporation of rice, wheat and protein like beef and pork.
Fortunately, no one needed to bring goats found in northern coastal dishes, alpacas for in recipes made in the Andes, or piranhas used in the local jungle cuisine, since those critters are all indigenous to each region. And you health freaks out there that have recently jumped on the quinoa wagon, you’re way behind—Peruvians have been enjoying its blandness for years. It's normal to be nervous about traveling to an exotic country and trying its different flavors though, so perhaps it's best to start with dishes containing ingredients most familiar to you. If someone offers you cuy chactado and you’re not feeling too adventurous, just say “no fried guinea pig for me, thanks.”
