image | U.S. Federal Government
I'll say upfront, I'm horrified by the nightmare this country is installing in the Executive branch of our government, and wincing at the massive damage we're going to be taking over the next four (and hopefully only four) years. So it's all the more worth noting that given the outsize world influence of this country’s chief executive, travellers seeking insights into both U.S. and world history will find intriguing and often first-hand information at the librar
If you are thinking about spending a nice vacation in the Dominican Republic, there is a place you have to visit, especially if you’re traveling with children: the fabulous Manatí Park in Bávaro, part of the Punta Cana resort area. It is a huge park with many games and shows throughout the facilities.
Manatí Park is a source of wealth that has made the Dominican Republic an appropriate destination for a vacation in the Caribbean. It stands out especially for its tropical plants and exuberant flo
El Toledo Organic Coffee Tour & Farm in Atenas, Costa Rica shows you all about coffee from bean to cup.
Christmastime is the peak of coffee picking season in Costa Rica. All over the green mountains of Atenas, in Costa Rica's Central Valley, you can find workers (mostly Nicaraguan) carrying their plastic baskets filled with red coffee berries to collecting trucks. The sweet-sour smell of coffee beans being washed and processed is prevalent at the beneficios de café, or coffee processing plants
Is Executive Club level worth it? It depends. The first thing to do if you are considering it is to join the hotel’s customer loyalty program. There are certain benefits such as free internet, preferred check-in, late check-out and often “member-only” rates. One of the very best Executive Club Levels I have had the pleasure to enjoyed have been at the Pan Pacific’s Pacific Club and Park Royal’s Orchid Club. Their Executive Club level is well worth it extra cost to upgrade.
One of my favorite
Surrounded by mountains and numerous topographical features resulting from a turbulent geological past, France's Roussillon wine region is cradled in a massive amphitheater-like bowl nestled in the South of France between Spain and narrow valleys spidering outward among the Pyrenees and Corbières Mountains to the Mediterranean Sea. Distinct micro climates, many of which have earned their own AOP certification, receive more than 320 days of sunshine per year balanced by heavy autumn rains. Combin
Have you ever thought of replacing the boring city skyline that greets you to work with something more fresh, natural, and scenic? Consider visiting Costa Rica, the country where the mountains, forests, waters, and wildlife create a symphony you will treasure forever. If you love meeting exotic animals, Costa Rica has that too. The rain forests alone are home to 230 or more animal species. A vacation villa in Arenal Hills in the beautiful Arenal gives you access to a lifetime of fun and adventur
Arizona is home to desert valleys which makes it ideal for bicycling; however, it’s mountain range is also the perfect place to go mountain biking. Below you can find the best places to go mountain biking and bicycling in Arizona. Be sure to bike safely, always wear a helmet.
Arizona Trail
This trail is one of the most beloved in Arizona. It begins at the Coronado National Memorial, which is around the Mexican border, and expands up until the Rincon Mountain further north. The region contains s
There was a time when Dubai was a small fishing village and now it has transformed itself into a global city. Dubai, the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has emerged as a global city and business hub of the Middle East.
Here are the five best things that are a must do while holidaying in Dubai:
The Burj Khalifa
No trip to Dubai will be complete without a visit to the tallest man-made structure on the planet. The Burj Khalifa is one of the most admired and explored t
by Cristóbal Ramírez
Almost all of Argentina’s big, bustling capital is vibrant, vivacious, and colourful, but in its oldest precinct, San Telmo, with its colonial-era buildings and cobblestone streets, locals also seem to take special delight in the small pleasures. For example, here in particular, taking coffee seems to be a ritual at least as soothing as the psychoanalysis of which porteños are so inordinately fond.
Spots where this happens include the Café del Árbol (Plaza Dorrego), Café d
If you want to make this winter special for your kids, take them to Nepal. Nepal is one of the most soothing places on earth, attracting tourists with its exquisite natural beauty and simple life style. Checkout what your kids can do here this holiday.
Visit Kathmandu's Durbar Square
This is one of the most happening spots of Nepal. The place comes with old shrines with tiered roofs and the dogs are decorated with marigold flowers. The place looks celestial with illuminated butter lamps while Bud
‘Have you come for the concert?’ asked our taxi driver, as he took to our hotel from the station. He explained that, every year in July, Maastricht was packed tight with people who had come to see the André Rieu Homecoming Concert.
‘The man’s a genius!’ he went on ‘If it wasn’t for him, this town would be nothing’
I’ll agree wholeheartedly with the first part, but I’m not sure if his second opinion is a general one. Although I would say that, if not for the concert, I wouldn’t make a special tri
Some of the world’s best bird-watching is in Costa Rica, especially in the Caribbean region at Veragua Rainforest.
This time of year is a special time for birdwatchers. Equipped with binoculars, bird guides and checklists, avid birders throughout the Americas brave snow, wind, rain, and even tropical sun, to take part in the annual Christmas Bird Count.
Costa Rica holds the record in Central America for the highest number of birds counted in a 24-hour period, during the Christmas Bird Count on
Once upon a time, maybe only ten years ago, sending a postcard from Italy (for example) was a well thought out undertaking designed to share your experiences and to mischievously remind your friends and family that you were “here” and they were “there”.
It was a time-tested ritual that has unfortunately gone out of fashion due to the advances in technology.
Is that a good thing or a bad thing?
In the “Old Days” the postcard process went something like this…..
Imagine you are strolling through a pia
Hilly terrain running roughly 37 miles from Dijon to Santenay in the Bourgogne region of France defines a patchwork of more than 1000 climats (microclimates) producing a wide variety of mostly Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays. The sheer diversity of terroir and wines often make understanding the region daunting. The popularity of their renowned Grand Cru A.O.P. also gives many the perception that Bourgogne wines are pricy but in reality, 52 % of bottles from this region are Regional A.O.P.s represent
For the Thai, an ethnic group living mainly on wet rice cultivation, the new rice festival is one of the biggest ceremonies in the year. Held in lunar August after harvesting time, the rite, called Worship, marks the end of a production cycle and prays ancestors’ blessing a bumper crop.
Its politics kerfuffles notwithstanding, for visitors South Africa renmains one of the continent's most exciting destinations. The "rainbow nation” is a remarkable mix of world-class ecotourism, wine tourism, history, beaches; and cultural and foodie scenes. Here’s a look at the highlights. Woza!
South Africa’s “Mother City” is a vibrant, progressive, multicultural metropolis with fantastic historic sights, dining, hotels, entertainment, and shopping, all against a one of the wor
To ring out the old and ring in the new, partying and fireworks are common in most European countries. And in addition, a few have their own little twists on New Year’s Eve (also known as St. Sylvester’s in some countries since it’s that saint’s day on the Catholic calendar) and New Year’s Day - some conventional, some rather quirky indeed!
Traditional foods for New Year’s Eve supper include boiled cod, stewed kale and cured saddle of pork (though fancy steaks and sushi have also become
For many in Brazil, the New Year in Brazil is closely linked to the sea. While many of us in the northern hemisphere celebrate New Year’s Eve warmly clad to shelter ourselves from the cold, Brazil chooses its beaches as the most emblematic place to commemorate this festivity. Every city and every region have their own way of celebrating it but the famous feast of Réveillon is especially spectacular in Rio de Janeiro and Salvador da Bahia.
The fireworks on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, wh
It’s that time of year again: la vendimia, the harvesting of grapes in various parts of Spain, from Jerez to Rioja and Rías Baixas to Penedés. And north of Madrid, winding 115 kilometres (miles) through the heart of the region of Castile-Leon (and of the entire Iberian peninsula, for that matter), the Duero River traces a route through not only some of Spain’s finest vineyards, but some extraordinary cultural, historic, and natural heritage. In short, a European wine country package par excelle
If you want your travel photos to stand out there are a number of tips that you should consider. Not all of these tips will work for you, but it is best to know about them.
Do Things Differently
To make your travel pictures stand out you should try something different. There are certain attractions where everyone does the same thing and you should push the boundaries. When taking your pictures consider the lighting, other people, objects, composition and what you are looking to take away from t
