Long Beach Island is exactly as the name implies...an 18-mile-long narrow barrier island off New Jersey's central coast complete with sugar soft beach the entire length, body surfing, and plenty of frozen custard and grill joints to fortify you along the way. Upon crossing the causeway on the Manahawkin Bay Bridge, your options are simple. Turn left (north) and hit quieter more residential beach communities crowned by Barnegat Light at the tip or turn right (south) onto Long Beach Boulevad where

Recently tthis month, even as we head toward the end of the year marking the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act, I found myself visiting America's oldest continuously occupied city, St. Augustine, for the first time since a long-ago trip with my family as a kid. I expected to find some of the same things - the massive old Castillo San Marcos fort and the historic downtown, of course, plus a whole raft of new amenities and attractions. And that I certainly did. But I also found somethin

The scariest night of the year, when ghouls and goblins roam the streets, and otherwise sane adults dress to depress while children trick or treat for candy some likely may not won’t even be allowed to eat for fear of tampering. Yes, Halloween is a strange holiday (then again, many of them are, when you think about it), but it’s also mighty fun, and these days you can find a zany celebration just about anywhere you happen to be on this fearsome feast.

As fate would have it, in recent years I’v

Kallithea

Halkidiki lies roughly one hour from Thessaloniki and is a beloved summer destination for many people from all over the world. The beaches of the region are picturesque, accessible and well set up for tourism - and the nightlife is just as appealing, with plenty of restaurants, Greek tavernas, bars, and clubs.

Ouranoupoli

The last station in Halkidiki before the visitor takes a ride with the boats that sail around Mount Athos. Coastal place, beautiful, with azure waters, Ouranoupoli cons

by Doug Bardwell

 Got a special holiday coming up? Chances are you plan to document your every move with a healthy collection of travel photos (who doesn’t these days?). As a professional photographer who’s been at this game for quite a few years, I’ve learned a thing or two along the way about what makes a shot truly memorable. For your edification, then, here are a dozenphotography tips distilling my hard-earned wisdom, whether you’re shooting with acamera phone or an expensive DSLR. Even if a

Coming face to face with a giant manta ray is the thrill of a lifetime. They are amazing and curious creatures. People are fascinated by their opposite-seeming natures -  ominous looks, but sweet dispositions.

The Sheraton Kona Resort on the Big Island of Hawaii pays homage to these gentle giants by providing a viewing area for visitors at the resort’s Rays on the Bay restaurant. 

From the restaurant’s lookout, the magnificent and mysterious creatures can be seen gliding in the night ocean far bel

Part mountaineering and part rock climbing, but in reverse, with the added challenge of pounding water, the waterfall rappelling extreme sport of canyoneering is the latest top popular adventure tour in Costa Rica.

One of the best places for canyoneering, also called canyoning, is by the Arenal Volcano in Costa Rica. The rugged, mountainous rainforest around the popular volcano is ideal for canyoning in Costa Rica.

Operated by Desafio Adventure Company, the Lost Canyon Canyoning Tour at Arenal

I am an evangelist of all that is "Cretan," especially in the off season. This is largely true because I often visit there after or before the humongous crowds arrive. This majestic, friendly, and ultimately charming Greek island under the sun, it's so much better to take in beyond the noise. At least this is my view.

Let's face it, as social as we may be as creatures under the sun, living wondrously often means living in peace, harmony, and with the ability to drink in life. Such is the case on

The historical and imperial Rome unfolds around the Roman Forum and the world’s largest amphitheater, theColosseum, where gladiators sacrificed their lives for the emperor’s favor and the bloodthirsty spectators delight. The archaeological interest of Rome lies buried in the catacombs along the Via Appia Antica and the abundant life is hidden behind the villa-facades of Villa Borghese.

But where the modern, jazzy Rome with bohemian bars is hidden? Read our guide to Rome‘s buzzing life.

Accommodati

The Serra de Tramuntana in Majorca is dotted with beautiful towns and a special charm, but if there were one town on the Costa Nord (North Coast) which you must not forget in your trip through the region, it would without doubt be Valldemossa.   This small town is beautiful at any time of the year, but it is perhaps best enjoyed in wintertime when tranquility invades its cobbled streets decorated with potted plants or colorful tiles in honor of Saint Catherine.  In fact, if you are lucky enough

Whoever built that hut meant it to last. Four-square and stolid, it stood on the mountain, defying anything the elements might throw at it. This was a real chalet, a world away from the tacky ‘shally’ of the holiday camp.

It was still used for its rightful purpose, too. From within came a lowing, and the dull ‘tong’ of cattle bells. In former times, there’d have been accommodation on an upper story for the herder and maybe his family, for it’s a long, hard climb from the village. But, today, if

Are you looking for outstanding Mediterranean landscape combined with coastal mountains plunging into deep waters and picturesque Italian towns? Let us tell you: the stunning Amalfi coast will offer you all of that and much, much more!  

As well as the sheer beauty of the region, you will be able to uncover some wonderful secrets of Italian cuisine while exploring charming Sorrento. But that’s by far not everything. Read on to see our top ten favourite things to do in splendid Amalfi!  

1. Try som

Our image of Spain never fails to include a few of the following: flamenco dancers, paella, controversial bull fights and copious amounts of blood red sangria. Travellers come from all over for La Sagrada Familia, to eat tapas in Barcelona, or to visit one of the famed festivals such as the Tomatina or running of the bulls in Pamplona. 

There are, however, other, largely undiscovered festivals that the tourist guide books and websites have yet to fully uncover. I'll tell you about a few...

First u

Each year, the Greenwich Wine & Food Festival proves that it represents so much more than a celebration of premier food and wine tastings. As a baseline of activity, nearly 100 wine and spirits vendors, local restaurants and artisan food producers share their goods under The Culinary Village Tent in Roger Sherman Park overlooking Greenwich Harbor and Long Island Sound.

This year you had highlights like Stella Artois pulling glasses of their opulent Belgian Pale Lager and Cidre into take-home souv

by Jorge Guardia/VaDeAviones

Spectacular aircraft photos abound all over the Web these days–shots taken on runways, in hangars, taking off/landing, at cruising altitude. And many of us who glance at them, sometimes think, “how cool,” and move on.

And then… there are the planespotters, along with their closely related–and sometimes overlapping–cousins, aviation geeks (aka “avgeeks”). These gloriously obsessed souls are a dedicated breed in love with aviation and airlines, follow industry news an

Rainy season in Costa Rica is the best time to visit the Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge. Known as the “everglades of Costa Rica”, its 25,100 acres have been designated a “world protected area” by conservation groups like the Ramsar Convention, for being home to some of the world’s rarest plant, animal and bird species.

Located near Costa Rica’s northern border with Nicaragua, by the small town of Los Chiles, Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge is one of the best places for bird-watching in Costa Rica. The

by Rusty Rae and Sheila Hunter

There is another “Greatest Generation,” although mostly long forgotten — the 300,000 men, women, and children who made the 2,200 mile trek from Independence, MO to Oregon’s Willamette Valley and beyond between 1846 to 1869. You can experience the trials and tribulations of these Americans by visiting the Oregon Trail Interpretative Center five miles east of Baker City, Oregon, off I-84 in the state's northeast corner.

Located in the middle of scrub desert on a hill j

Of the more than 10 million visitors to Japan, destinations like Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima. and Okinawa obviously rank among the better-known names. But there are small cities and towns spread among the beautiful islands of this singular country which are off the beaten tourist track, which show a less familiar, slower paced, in many ways more traditional side to this country. The charming small city (pop. 54,000) of Hagi, up the Yamaguchi prefecture in southwest Honshu, is a superb example.

A c

Itapuã is a legendary beach in Salvador de Bahía, one of the last before the city´s perimeter was extended to Lauro de Freitas, which is famous for being the great bohemian stronghold of the 70s. Vinicius de Moraes and the great Bahian singer-songwriter Dorival Caymmi both sang about it. Caetano Veloso also paid tribute to it in his beautiful song Itapuã, with the lyrics: “She was my guide when I was happy and young”.

Praia Itapuã has calm and warm waters, crowned with reefs that keep the waves