The great cruise liner Queen Mary has faced many challenges since her keel was laid in 1930. Now she is part of a new effort to beat an unprecedented enemy as she helps the world get back to business. Here's a little more of her inspiring story.

The ship has been part of southern California's treasures since the city of Long Beach acquired her in 1967. Long Beach then spent several million dollars to prepare her for the waiting public. Her grand California debut was on May 8, 1971.

The Queen Ma

Located at the northeast coast of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, this L-shape resort island, alongside a city home to hundreds of thousands of Mexicans, many of whom work in the tourism industry, was essentially created by the Mexican government in 1974. Its core appeal has always been its beaches and nightlfe (along with the chance to take day trips to incredible Mayan archaeological sites; there's even a tiny one right here, called Ruinas del Rey). And over the years many other options have evolv

Honeymoon trips are always among the most memorable, and after our wedding I wanted to splurge a bit and make our honeymoon as enjoyable as possible. My soon-to-be husband and I love beaches, so we chose was the tropical islands Andaman and Nicobar, in the Bay of Bengal. Filled with a number of pristine beaches offering the best view of nature and the sunset allowing the travellers to explore the best of the marine life Andaman was one perfect honeymoon destination that comes under the union t

When you're backcountry camping in the woods away from the amenities and utilities of commercial camping resorts, food and water are both critical, of course, but you can survive longer without the former than without the latter, so after shelter, water may be the single most important factor on your outing. And if you're not carrying a sufficient amount with you (which for multiple days may get quite heavy and unwieldy to manage), you will need to purify the water you will find there. Water fro

Switzerland's second largest city, and capital of Romandy, the French-speaking region that makes up a quarter of the country, is a handsome, elegant, and affair with a gorgeous lake- and riverside setting, cosmopolitan cultural and dining scene, and majestic views of the soaring French Alps (more or less three hours away, if you love skiing or snowboarding) and just an hour from another wonderful Francophone Swiss city, Lausanne.

Geneva has plenty of great places to visit, including the co

jim.henderson

For many around the world (and even in the United States), New York City is essentially synonymous with its central borough, the island of of Manhattan, which hogs much of the wealth, glamour, and attractions of this metropolis. And of course in recent years the borough of Brooklyn has also been winning a measure of reknown for its hipster, cultural, and dining scenes. But there are three other boroughs that have much to offer but are less well known, or known for the wrong rea

A Halong Bay Cruise


In Vietnam's northeast, a 3½-hour drive from Hanoi through the verdant rice field of the Red River delta, “Descending Dragon Bay” has been twice recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site of Vietnam. First was in 1994 for the outstanding beauty of its seascape, covering more than 1,500 square kilometers of more than 1,600 towering, jungle-clad, vertical limestone islets, hiding many cave such as Sung Sot and "Surprise Cave" - all of it a breathtaking sight any time, and

Honeymooning in Australia is wonderful, and you may have considered spots like Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Great Barrier Reef, Phillip Island, the Blue Mountains, perhaps the Yarra River or Byron Bay. There are a lot of places in Australia that get a ton of honeymoon buzz, but there are also quite a few other picture perfect and romantic destinations - some of which may not have occurred to you - that deserve to be on your bucket list. Here are ten examples:

Hamilton Island

Year after year, Hamilt

Our Southern California Wine Review Council recently enjoyed wines made with Italian grapes from both Italy and New Mexico.  Reviewers were assigned wines and then tasked with creating food pairings to share with the group (we often find food pairings selected for one wine are paired as well or better with another wine). As wine reviewers, we discuss and decide which wine garners our most appreciation, although I think we’d all agree the true enjoyment is found in the gastronomic journey and th

If this was not in fact the highest point in Dublin, it certainly felt like it. After climbing the 198 steps to the top of Glasnevin Cemetery's Daniel O’Connell Tower (below) -  Ireland's highest round tower - I was able to gaze over the entire city, laid out almost like a map. It stretched from the western limits, past the airport to the north, by way of the Hill of Howth, the Irish Sea and the Liffey River mouth round to the Dublin Mountains in the south. This amazing revelation was the culm

Founded on Florida's Gulf coast in 1888 - and, yes, named after the famed Russian city (on a whim of one of the city's founders, who actually flipped a coin to decide the matter with his co-founder) - "St. Pete" has fairly little in common with its larger Slavic namesake. But one major exception is that in both you could spend days on end exploring a wealth of fascinating museums. In addition to the classic Florida sun and nearby beaches that it's known for, the ever growing arts scene and art

Flc1980

The last time I visited Buenos Aires, one of the most memorable days of the trip, was spent, ironically enough, in Uruguay. A comfy, Buquebus high-speed ferry ride away across the wide, murky Río Plata (one to three hours, depending on the ship, as well as a 2½-hour drive from Uruguay’s capital Montevideo) lies a small city that's home to the loveliest Spanish colonial old town in South America’s Southern Cone (and one of the most fetching on the entire continent, well deserving of its

Instants

As in Islam, in the Hindu religion there are pilgrimages (yatra) which each of the faithful should complete once in a lifetime to cleanse themselves spiritually and achieve Moksha (salvation). The greatest is the Char Dham Yatra (Four Abodes Pilgrimage), to temples in Puri (Odisha state), Rameswaram (Tamil Nadu), Dwarka (Gujarat), and Badrinath (Uttarhand).

But there is also an important yatra just in Uttarakhand state,  India's northernmost, in the Garhwal Himalayas bordering Nepa

by Tom Bunn

Some who fear flying are concerned about in-flight panic. Others are worried about crashing. A few seriously question whether they will be alive at the end of a planned flight. When someone expresses genuine belief that his or her flight may not make it, I’m surprised. Why would a person have such an expectation?

It’s not based on history. Here in the United States, for example, we’ve gone for years without a crash by a major carrier. In addition to history, experience is a factor. My

Once travel is back on the menu, lovers of the "Old Continent" might want to get a new perspective on a number of beloved countries by experiencing them from the water. A European river cruise can be a dream come true for those of us who want to explore Europe at a relatively slow but steady pace, with typically 50 to 70 cabins (but some up to 200); superior onboard dining reflecting local cuisines; and a plethora of chances to see historic landmarks - either on your own or in organized shore

Medvedkov

Whether if it’s your first or tenth time, a visit to Dubai always brings a sense of joy and ends up being a mesmerizing experience. With all its fascinating modern buildings, awesome beaches, beautiful man-made islands, and massive malls, Dubai still maintains its rich culture, traditions, and heritage. From the desert safari to simply enjoying a musical evening at the world’s largest dancing fountain, there’s a lot to see and do here. Here are the top half dozen musts:

  
The Du

stellalevi

The United States's sprawling, second largest urban area is a great all-round destination for every type of traveller young and old, from fun-seeking singles to parents in search of family fun with their little ones. The kid appeal starts with the theme parks, but there's a lot more for mum and dad to like about Los Angeles, as well. Let's have a look...

Thrilling Theme Parks

Disneyland

But of course the world's most famous just has to top the list! Located in the suburb of Anaheim,

Besides being one of Asia's and the world's premier financial hubs, Hong Kong is also one of their most visited destinations for both business people and leisure travelers. Always teeming with people and full of exciting things to see and do, the city may appear overwhelming to first-time visitors. But especially if you're watching your wallet, this post will help provide some tips on where to stay, where to go, and what to do to make your first trip to this magnificent and unique place easier.

When it comes time to think of the next ski season (which in the Southern Hemisphere's Andes actually starts in early June, though it will likely be altered this year by coronavirus measures), you may find you need new warm clothing for hitting the slopes. And for skiers and snowboarders, gloves are especially crucial, for skiers grasping ski poles and snowboarders keeping hands and arms out for balance (it goes without saying that they're great for ice climbers and other winter-sport practi

Italy's largest island is in some ways like a world unto itself, packed with amazing, art, architecture, history, cuisine, mud baths, and of course lovely beaches bathed in turquoise waters. Sicily's magic has been shaped by civilizations including Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Spaniards, and Norman French, and it's all waiting for you. And though of course a wide variety of accommodation is available, one of the best ways to get the most enjoyment out of your visit is luxury S