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For most people, Pingyao is far off the radar when planning a trip to China. But this little town packs a big historical punch. It is one of China's most well-preserved ancient towns and for history buffs it is a treasure trove of ancient China. 
 

The city wall of Pingyao, while not as large as the Xi'an wall, has not been altered since the Qing Dynasty except for a small portion near the north gate which was reinforced recently. A walk along the wall offers amazing views of the jumble of alleys

By Shannon Farley

I want to be part of a Blue Zone.

What is a “Blue Zone,” you ask?

It is a place where people live happily and healthily for a very long time.

The term was popularized by author-educator-explorer Dan Buettner in his 2008 book, “The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer from People Who’ve Lived the Longest.” Published by the National Geographic Society, Buettner identified places in the world there is a high concentration of persons over age 100, and there is a substantial disability

We all know Harry and David for their delicious gourmet savories but did you know they're planning to produce their own wine? That’s right, this month the iconic purveyor of vaunted gustatory delights opened their own Oregon winery and now offers seasonal lineups throughout the year.

Partnering with winemaker Linda Donovan of Pallet Wine Company, Harry & David now features 9 different varietals, all made with signature Oregon grapes. Their collection includes five charming red wines: Tempranillo,

By Shannon Farley

A friend of mine is a consummate travel fanatic. She’s traveled all over the world and knows the ins and outs of internet travel websites like nobody’s business. Nevertheless, she still uses a local travel agent whenever she plans her family’s holidays. Going to Ecuador? She contacts a travel expert in Ecuador. Going to the Baltics? She used an agency specializing in the region. Going to Chile? Same thing.

Why?

Hotelmarketing.com and other travel market experts say there has been

Around Hanoi there are many traditional villages. They are the villages where specialized products are made and these traditional works have been preserved by family generations. The products are handicrafts, traditional paintings, wooden furniture, lacquerware, bronze or silk products etc. Bat Trang ceramic village is one of them. 

The 700-year-old Bat Trang village is located 13km away from Hanoi's center. It's an ancient village, which is very famous for making ceramic products. Many of these

Don Village has the long-standing fame for elephant hunters and trainers. All Vietnamese children remember their heart a song about the elephants at this village.

Don Village is located northwest of Buon Me Thuot in Krong Na Commune, Buon Don District, Dak Lak Province close to the Cambodian border, approximately 42km from Buon Ma Thuot. It is built on the Island inside Serepok Rive, home of many ethnic minority groups like: Ede, M’nong, G’rai, Lao, Thai, etc. 

There is Yok Don National Park here

Cua Lo is famous for good accommodation and very delicious seafood. Not far from Cua Lo are three small islands, called Hon Ngu, Hon Chu, and Hon Mat, which are dazzlingly breath taking. Tourists in Vietnam travel can visit more than 350km to Cua Lo from Hanoi by car or train to escape the heat and noise of the city.

Located in the central province of Nghe An about 18km from Vinh city, Cua Lo beach is one of the most popular destinations for  tourists, particularly during the summer. Visitors to

Casa Casuarina becomes The Villa by Barton G.

Casa Casuarina, the former Gianni Versace opulent mansion on South Beach, has a new operator: Barton G. Weiss, flamboyant food and event impresario. It is now an event space, restaurant, and boutique hotel, where the Barton G. adorns the flag that hangs outside of Versace’s bedroom on the third floor.

There are only ten suites, each one of them with its own butler, who will ensure every single desire of the guest. There is no concierge (the personal bu

Sometimes even living in a nation with arguably one of the best cuisines on the planet, I still crave something other than delicous tacos and some of the freshest sea food on the planet. After all, variety is the spice of life.

Table with a view

On Puerto Vallarta's malecón (boardwalk) lies one of the my favorite Italian restaurants in the world, La Dolce Vita.  Yes, I could eat Mexican food on a daily basis if I had to. However, we all have a place that we call home. As pizza and pasta aficionado

By Shannon Farley

Take a deep breath. Now imagine your lung capacity reduced by one-fifth. Find it a bit harder to breathe? What if that lessens?

Now take your focus out to a global view, and you have a clear picture of what is happening in the Amazon Rainforest. The Amazon is the largest contiguous tropical forest in the world, and releases 20% of the world’s life-giving oxygen. Today in 2012, due to mostly slash-and-burn deforestation, nearly one-fifth of the Amazon’s forest has been cleared (Am

Thung Nai is a small commune lying in the heart of Da River of Cao Phong district, Hoa Binh province. Tourists in Vietnam tourism have to drive 25 km from Hoa Binh and nearly 110 km from Hanoi to reach it. Because of its peace and beautifully natural landscapes, Thung Nai is also considered “The second Halong bay on land.”

Traveling to Thung Nai of Hoa Binh province, tourists in Vietnam travel are enticed by romantic water lake and magnificent scenery and enjoy typically fresh air of a mountainou

Traveling to a new destination is about learning more about the culture, by getting to know the locals. And you will mix best with them, by trying to eat what they eat. Unusual and different, trying these local drinks and dishes border with ‘extreme dining’ to many of us. Sure, we all get excited by trying something new and little bizarre, but read on and you tell us where you draw a line.

#1. Birds Nest Soup in China

A nest of twigs and leaves wouldn’t be edible, but the Swift’s nests, made of sa

According to a recent article posted on the economist.com, the perfect airline passengers are single European men, in their 30s traveling for pleasure. 

Once he’s got his airline tickets, it seems the single European man is content to go about his travels, with minimal interaction with airline staff. 

Is that what it takes to be a perfect passenger?

For those we aren't "perfect passengers," listen up to what your problem may be. 

The majority of the complaints listed in the survey on Skyscanner soun

When your child needs to travel alone preparing them well in advance will make the world of difference.  If they know in advance what to expect it will make if fun for them and limit some of the fear or anxiety, especially for TSA.

• You should educate yourself and your child on the policies and procedures.
• They should know what to expect and how they should be handled by the airline and staff.
• Contact the airline for their policies on pricing, age requirements, flight cancellations and delays.
• Try to

By Shannon Farley

One of the most amazing things I’ve learned how to do is scuba dive. It’s the closest thing to flying I’ve ever felt, and given my fear of heights (or, rather, falling from them), it feels a whole lot safer. When you get your buoyancy worked out right, being weightless under water, drifting here and there looking at cool sea life and them looking at you is pretty cool in my book.

If you don’t know how to scuba dive, or don’t have the equipment, snorkeling is just as fun. Besides,

For people in ethnic groups in South West region, they go to the market not only for shopping. The market is also a place for young people to relax, date. People come to the market to see and to be seen.

From Lao Cai central commune, visitors must go 20km of asphalt road by car to Bat Xat district, then from there go 24km of pass way to reach Muong Hum market. Muong Hum market is located under the small valley, behind pure stream, rounded by extremely high mountains. It’s a weekend market near th

Museums in Viet Nam are not appealing enough for tourists, resulting in them being bypassed by agencies organising visitor tours, experts said at a workshop on museum and heritage tourism in the capital on Wednesday.

"Exhibitions are what give a museum its soul, and staff should help tourists understand the value and meanings of the objects on display," said Luu Duc Ke, director of Hanoitourist company. "That's why besides having good exhibits, museums should take care to enhance the capabilities