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It was a warm, balmy early summer evening as I was sitting outside among the flowers and palms near the pool. What could be better? Toss in some Wine Council friends, some very special wines served with delectable food pairings along with a couple of creamy cheeses, and you have the recipe for a magical evening.

The first wine our group sampled was a dry white from Spain called Cal y Canto Dry White 2012 ($18). This wine is a great summertime wine that engaged us with its crispness along with g

It doesn’t lead anywhere, but takes you to many destinations along the way – and then you are back on the circle again! Vienna’s imperial Ringstrasse turns 150 years old – 1865-2015 – Bev Malzard takes a stroll . . .

"Except that it is a windingly ambitious street, breath-catchingly imperial in scale. It is so big that a critic argued, when it was built, that I crated an entirely new neurosis, that of agoraphobia. How clever of the Viennese to invent a phobia for their new city."
               

Although it’s true that combining sightseeing and a busy nightlife is not an easy task, everyone can find the time to enjoy an evening drink and then who knows how things might liven up later on! It’s important to remember that in Budapest people tend to have dinner fairly early on – around 8 p.m. -, so by 9 p.m. nightspots including discos, pubs and clubs and so on are normally open.

After dinner, there can be nothing better than taking the time to admire the magnificent views of Budapest by nig

When better than the USA’s Independence Day to visit the city (a couple of hours by road and rail from New York City) the locals fondly call Philly, where this country came into being in 1776? The evolution of the “City of Brotherly Love” founded by Quakers in the 17th century has in the centuries since endowed it with a huge, vibrant menu of offerings, from that historic colonial core to vibrant multicultural neighbourhoods – and some pretty trendy ones, too.

What most visitors come for, of c

Is it possible for a Courtyard by Marriott to actually be a boutique hotel? Lately, it seems that mainstream chain hotels are strategically inserting themselves into prime urban locations walkable to top amenities rather than buried in the anonymity of suburban strip development.

Marriott's Courtyard Stamford Downtown exemplifies this trend with a sumptuous lobby wrapped with floor-to-ceiling windows affording sweeping views of surrounding architecture and street life. Its 70-minute train rid

by Will A. Davis and Mary Gallagher

We have visited Greensboro, North Carolina a number of times, and each time I leave, I say "Gee, I really like that city". Of course, the next thought is usually self-interrogation:" Why is that?".  The answer is that Greensboro has just about everything, while at the same time not having too much. It's more than anything, I believe, a fun city. Start with the name - easy enough. The "Greens" comes from Nathaniel Greene, a Revolutionary War hero who actually l

The proud capital of Philippines, sprawling across southern Luzon island, Manila is a bustling hub of commerce as well as home to the country's most historic landmarks. Manila is ruled by several countries, so influence of them is still visible over its culture and architecture. The architecture of the city reflects American, Spanish, Chinese and Malay influence, with architects of significant buildings such as the city hall, the Manila Metropolitan Theater, and the Central Post Office including

If you’re coming to Costa Rica on vacation, chances are you are going to visit at least one or two of the country’s beautiful tropical beaches, possibly a volcano, and probably one or more of this proud nation’s national parks. The destination you may or may not have in your travel itinerary is the capital city, San José.

Most travelers – either on the recommendation of others or simply due to short vacation time and so much to see – rarely spend more than their first and last nights in San José

In almost every nook and corner of Myanmar - not just in Yangon (Rangoon), Bagan, or Mandalay - at every turn you will encounter a Buddhist temple.  No wonder most visitors think of this country as the “Land of Temples”. But lovely as they are, when you find yourself are visiting temples again and again, it can get a little old. Fortunately, there are many other things to do here, as well, from beaches to local communities to thrilling adventure activities.

There are plenty of beaches, river tr

by Ed Salvato

When it comes to LGBT travel, few experiences are as rewarding as travel to Europe. There’s such an amazing variety of cultures, environments, climates, and experiences – all on the most liberal continent on the planet, thanks to the encouraging social (r)evolutions of the 21st century, making most of Europe an ever more gay-friendly destination. There are hundreds of welcoming cities large and small, as well as towns and rural areas, which I could steer you to, depending on your

Apart from Santo Domingo and its lovely colonial zone, in general the Dominican Republic is better known for its spectacular beaches than for its historic architecture – though over the years I’ve certainly come across some fetching examples scattered hither and yon. Happily for lovers of quaint and charming towns, San Felipe de Puerto Plata is an exception that proves the rule.

This city of around 200,000 up on the DR’s north coast, just a hop and a skip over from Playa Dorada, the zone wher

With four-wheelers and two-wheelers carrying “GP” on their number plates, Johannesburg was once dubbed “Gangster’s Paradise”. Ages ago, this city had a reputation of being a crtime-ridden jungle , but it’s only in the last few years that Johannesburg experience a rebirth and it became one of Africa's most attractive tourist destinations. Nowadays, you may hear the city being referred with names like Jo'burg, Jozi, J’burg or Egoli, and many residents now proudly extol the excitement and beauty o

Xian was the start of the Silk Road and at one time the largest city in the world.  Today the city of eight million is booming, and still home home to the famous "Terracotta Warriors" and other great attractions. Here are its do-not-misses:.

1. The Terra Cotta Warriors: The sight of thousands of life-size terra cotta warriors in formation does not disappoint.  It is part of the tomb of Qin Shi Huang who, 2,220 years ago, united the various areas of China and named himself First Emperor of China.

Rajasthan, the dessert state of India is not only known for its beautiful and picturesque tourist destinations but also for its cultural heritage that is depicted by the numerous temples in the state. The temples of Rajasthan are in fact some of the most excellent tourist attractions of the state. While some of them were built more than a few centuries ago, there are many that boast of amazing architecture too. Here is a quick look at some of the interesting temples in Rajasthan.

Pushkar Temple

Th

After living in Australia more than 20 years, I can say that there are still aspect of Australian cuisine that I find worth exploring and learning about. What defines food of the country I now call home? Traditionally a lot of meat, but since the whole continent is surrounded by the sea/ocean there is an abundance of seafood. That is what I loved about Australia: fresh, healthy variety of the seafood platter. Add some original brands of wine and good beer and you have a recipe for success in eve

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Story/photos by Mary Gallagher and Will A. Davis

Seven weeks ago, the eyes of the world were again on Louisville as the 141st running of the Kentucky Derby produced a winner, American Pharoah [sic] with major buzz to go on to win the first Triple Crown since 1978 - which he did in fact do. 

But besides the famous racetrack where it all happens, Louisvile has many reasons to put this city on your bucket list - all no-hassle sights that will definitely pay off big dividends if you are a history

Tucked between the Osa Peninsula and the southern Pacific region of Costa Rica, the “Sweet Gulf” of Golfo Dulce is the perfect destination for nature lovers and adventure-seekers.

Circling the warm blue waters of Golfo Dulce is a tropical rainforest with secluded beaches and amazing biodiversity. Here you can encounter all four species of monkeys – white-faced Capuchin, spider, howler and the endangered squirrel monkey, scarlet macaws, toucans, coatis, wild pigs, exotic snakes, ocelots and jagu