Blogs

Maine is well known for its lobster, lighthouses, mountains and Martha Stewart. A standout among these and many other State of Maine bright spots is our restaurant community. Maine's chefs and restaurateurs have developed a stellar reputation. Dining scene accolades started flowing in years ago and thankfully, buzz about Maine as a place for good food has not slowed. National newspapers and culinary publications have no shortage of positive things to say about our chefs, brewers, specialty food

There are several things that are expected when one lives in Maine and not necessarily in a good way. Take winter for example. We know it's going to be cold (this morning it was 2 whole degrees) and that snow will be involved at some point. In the last few days we've received a foot and are told to expect another major storm within the week.

Snow is so pretty to look at, especially the light fluffy stuff that has settled on the tall spruce and fir trees. This morning's bright blue sky makes the p

Here in Maine, we know alcohol. Of course the best known Maine alcohol would be "Allen's Coffee Brandy". Someone, somewhere, probably having to do with ice-drinking fishing, decided that Allen's goes well with milk, and the drink went viral.  Young men refer to the drink as LPR (liquid panty remover); all I know is what I've seen--too many years of whole milk and Allen's makes for a mighty large woman. Thus, the other name for milk and Allens (fat-ass-in-a-glass).

We also know potatoes, and ever

Winter Sun Hot Spots – great getaways this winter With the golden beaches and warming sun easily accessible nowadays, it’s easy to travel anywhere to escape the cold British weather and head off to some welcoming sunshine. In fact, even more of us are expected to jet off this winter than ever before. But where are the warmest, hottest places at this time of year?

Well firstly, here are a few short haul ideas if you’re thinking about escaping to somewhere warm this winter...

With seven islands to c

As the winter season approaches where scenes of stranded cars and trucks and poor souls wrapped in more layers of clothing than an Inuit´s baby are played out day after day, does the question arise at some freezing “Aha!” point of why spend my life fighting mother Nature and her Winter Wrath?  After spending many seasons in what I knew as “Sunny California”, I had no idea that there was a place called the City of Eternal Spring, Well, I did know something about this town from the stories often t

From NMT Images

Untroubling Tunisia: Waiting for Travel and Democracy

The thirty or so countries that make up the Arab world are not known for enlightened or progressive  leadership.

But it was not always so.

In the Middle Ages when Europe was groping its way through the darkness in abysmal societies. Southern Spain, Andalusia,  was a beacon to the world.

Here, from 711 to 1492, under  Moorish/Muslim rule, Andalusia (from the Arabic Al Andalus) dazzled  with art, science, architecture and religious 

If wildlife Holidays india pushes your adrenaline level into high gear, visit the enchanting Bandhavgarh National Park in Madhya Pradesh. It is located in the Umaria district and is famous for tigers, leopards and several other wildlife species. The most propitious time to visit this destination is from November to June. Sprawling over an area of 437 sq km, it attracts wildlife buffs from across the globe. It is surrounded by the Vindhyan mountains ranges which make it look picturesque. It is am

Some random thoughts about random events occurred to me today…

People ask me why I don’t like cruises or go on packaged tours.  Then I wonder why people in my area with limited time continue to spend every vacation they have getting drunk in Vegas and losing all their money.  I guess the answer for me is that I don’t travel to be pampered, act out, or see a postcard view.  I really want to experience something different every time I step out the door and wonder why other travelers settle for less

Paul Hogan (AKA Crocodile Dundee) promised to “slip a shrimp on the barby” for us and Americans and others flocked to Australia in record numbers. Will Oprah Winfrey have the same impact on Australian tourism?

We’ll soon find out. The four shows she taped down under will air January 18 -21, and rumor has it that she waxes lyrical about the place and touts its many attributes.

Of course, I couldn’t agree more. For ten years I wrote and revised Frommer’s Australia, which meant that “Oz” became my

by Max Pesling

A2-1/2 to 3-hour drive from Marrakesh, one of Morocco’s jewels is theAtlantic port city of Essaouira, built by the Portuguese as thefortified town of Mogador in the 18th century and today a UNESCO WorldHeritage Site. Here in this mix of traditional and hip alternative vibe(along with some nearby beach resorts), as elsewhere in Morocco, themost atmospheric places to stay are the riads (traditionalhouses) converted into inns. A good example, starting at just overUS$100/night, the 10

Our House Grounds

By Roy Heale

No visit to Brazil can be considered complete without a visit to Armacao de Buzios which is just a short two hour drive from Rio de Janeiro. This fabulous peninsula was discovered in the 1960s by French supermodel and movie actress Brigitte Bardot when during a vacation she was trying to escape from the paparazzi in Rio. Since that time Buzios has earned a reputation for its beautiful scenery, over twenty beaches, laid-back attitudes, and very gay-friendly welcome

Machu Picchu has been on my bucket list for a long time, but the thought of being herded around like a tourist has kept me from booking a flight to Peru. I’d love to see this UNESCO World Heritage site but, until now, I didn’t know how to do it in a way that felt personal and authentic.

Enter Nina Fogelman of Ancient Summit, who lived in Peru for 27 years and found its pulse through total immersion in the culture and local way of life.

Nina plans every trip herself and has experienced staff on the

Trips from Bohinj ( Julian Alps ) - Slovenia :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esg655sxK4I

From Bohinj you can go through  valley of river Sava Bohinjka
to Bled ( castle ) , drive past Lesce to Radovljica
( museum of beekeeping ) or you can go
through  valley of river Sava Dolinka till  Planica ( ski jump )
by Kranjska Gora.  Between Kranj and medieval town
Kamnik is the airport.  This is all in Upper Carniola.
Ljubljna - the capital of Slovenia. In  Inner Carniola
is an interesting intermittent Lake C

Where are La Jolla’s best restaurants?

Our eclectic food and wine scene can be a bit overwhelming for the first time visitor, but Shira Wiseman will be happy to help you get the lay of the land.

This local foodie offers culinary walking tours of the village and, in the process, helps fellow San Diegans and out-of-towners find our best food and wine gems.

Her three-hour excursions include four to five stops, including local restaurants, a purveyor of chocolates, and a little-known source for gourme

Tlaquepaque is an old oasis within Guadalajara's modern big city sprawl. A small village that has been able to hold on to olden times and lifestyle. It is Mexico's premiere Arts and Crafts capital and your visit will certainly bring you to discover breathtaking works in ceramics, iron, blown glass, leather, wood and many other materials. Many of these creations are authored by local artisans and artists that live in this enclave and show and sell their works to you directly, many times from thei