Over the past decade or so, Palm Springs and the surrounding desert communities have been working hard to change the stuffy image that they have long suffered from. No longer just a haven for the retired, blue-haired geriatric set, the Coachella Valley has broadened its appeal and you’ll now see families and couples of all ages and genders. One of the great spots to visit in the area is The Living Desert in Palm Desert. Founded in 1970, it is a zoo and botanical garden based entirely on the ecosystem of the desert. The Living Desert currently occupies about 1,200 acres of land, is a pioneer in environmental education and native wildlife rehabilitation, is active in captive breeding and plant propagation programs, and sustains itself through an aggressive membership and volunteer program. When you walk around the facility it is […]
Read MoreShopping: C.O. Bigelow’s in NYC
One of my favorite parts of traveling is finding a new discovery. Sometimes that’s a quirky little restaurant, a fabulous museum, a neighborhood hang out, or some place fun for a little shopping. Sometimes the spots is something everyone knows about, and I’m late to the discovery, and sometimes it’s something special all for me. One of my favorite NYC discoveries was C.O. Bigelow in Greenwich Village. Oh sure, I’d seen their products sold in other stores across the country, but there’s nothing like visiting the original store. Founded in 1838, C.O.Bigelow’s is the oldest continually operating apothecary-pharmacy in the country. That’s 170 years! The store still fills prescriptions at the back of the store, but as you work you way back there you’ll pass through goodies galore. There’s a focus on homeopathic products and remedies, along with hard-to-find and […]
Read More6 Travel Destinations for Chocolate Lovers
Culinary and wine travel are popular travel trends, but if you want to drill down into the trends a little more specifically, how about chocolate travel? Chocolate is a universally loved flavor, and there are plenty of great spots around the world where you can give it a taste. Here are 6 Travel Destinations for Chocolate Lovers: We’ll start in my home city of Seattle, where we are no strangers to chocolate. Seattle is home to several chocolatiers, among the more notable Fran’s Chocolates (President Obama is a fan of her salted caramel chocolates), Theo Chocolate, and Boehm’s. Theo’s offers classes and tours and Boehm’s offers public tours. From Seattle, we head south to the San Francisco area, where there are plenty of great food options. Most people have heard of Ghirardelli chocolate and its namesake attraction Ghirardelli Square along […]
Read MoreUSS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor
Honolulu may be known for its sun and sandy beaches, but it is also home to one of the most sobering military history sites that I’ve ever visited — the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor. The Memorial, dedicated in 1962, honors the site where World War II began for the United States, with the bombing that entombed 1,102 crew members on December 7th, 1941. The memorial was designed to span the hull of the sunken battleship, yet never touch it. The structure is 184 feet long, with two peaks at each end, and a deliberate sag in the middle. Alfred Preis, the memorial designer, sums it up like this: “Wherein the structure sags in the center but stands strong and vigorous at the ends, expresses initial defeat and ultimate victory… The overall effect is one of serenity. Overtones of […]
Read MoreNetherlands Carillon Rings Out Over DC
Located on the Virginia shore of the Potomac River, opposite the District of Columbia and bordering the northern end of Arlington National Cemetery, the Netherlands Carillon is adjacent to the Unites States Marine Corps War Memorial. The site is park of the National Park System. Set among thousands of tulips in a park setting, the 127-foot high tower was a gift to the American people from the Dutch. It was a symbol of friendship characterized by a common allegiance to the principles of freedom, justice, and democracy that has weathered temporary differences. The bell carillon was originally installed in a temporary tower in 1954, and was then moved to its current location in 1960. It was officially dedicated on May 5th, 1960, the anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands from the Nazis, meaning the 50th anniversary is nearly upon […]
Read More20 Tips for a Safe Hotel Stay
With so many heightened travel alerts in effect, it seems like a good time to review some basic personal security precautions. It’s very easy to think that once you’re at your hotel that you’re safe. And you generally are. However, it’s still wise to take precautions at your hotel — being proactive decreases the likelihood of becoming a victim. I first wrote these hotel security tips nearly four years ago. They are just as true today as they were then, and I have included a little updated information. Here are some easy, commonsense tips to protect yourself at your hotel: When checking in, make sure that the front desk does not say your room number aloud. If they do, insist on a room change and remind the staff member not to announce the room number. This practice seems to […]
Read MoreLuis Tiant: Lost Son of Havana
The Lost Son of Havana is, ostensibly, a baseball movie. It’s the story of the life of former baseball pitcher Luis Tiant. In 1961, the Cleveland Indians brought Luis Tiant to the United States to play professional baseball. The young pitcher followed in the footsteps of his father, also a pitcher, who played in the Negro League for the New York Cubans. While living out his dream as a major league player, Tiant received a message from his parents back in Cuba – “don’t return home.” The rise of the Castro regime made returning back to Cuba an unwise decision. Tiant heeded the advice of his parents, but it would be 14 years before he saw them again. And even longer before he was able to return to the island of his birth. Castro eventually allowed the elder Tiant’s to […]
Read MorePaul Revere House in Boston’s North End
In Boston’s North End you’ll find the small wooden home that was the starting point for Paul Revere’s infamous ride. He lived in the home with his wife, five children, and mother, remaining in the home long after the ride that made him a legend. The house was eventually sold around 1800. The Paul Revere House still stands today and is downtown Boston’s oldest building. The home was opened as a museum in 1908, one of the first historic house museums in the country, and today it is one of the few buildings remaining from the colonial era. Although it has been renovated substantially over the years, about 90% of the building is original back to 1680. Some of the original items include two doors, three window frames, and portions of the flooring and rafters. The heavy beams and large […]
Read MoreDriving the Crookedest Street in the World
For one block, San Francisco’s Lombard Street is the crookedest street in the world. You may have seen that one block in photographs, movies, or on television, but the full length of the street is much more than just that one block. The street runs east and west, and starts at The Presidio, runs through Cow Hollow, Russian Hill, Telegraph Hill, and finally ends at The Embarcadero. For much of that distance, it’s a pleasant, but relatively boring street. That one crooked block between Hyde and Leavenworth Streets (on Russian Hill), however, is what’s made Lombard Street famous. The crooked block is paved in brick, and has eight S-turns, in a switchback design, and was originally designed to ease the natural grade of the street. Houses and townhouses line both sides of the street, and despite the incredible driving and pedestrian […]
Read MoreThe Famous & Exclusive Avenue des Champs-Élysées
If the thought of a beautiful bag, a decadent pair of heels, or the luxurious feel of the fabric of a finely crafted suit make you swoon, then an afternoon on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées in Paris may be your definition of heaven. The Champs-Élysées is not only one of the most recognized street names in Paris, but in the entire world, and is lined with luxury and specialty shops, theaters, cafes and restaurants. The street itself is a little over a mile and a quarter long, running from the Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe in the 9th arrondissement. The name translates to “Elysian Fields” a reference to the “place of the blessed” in Greek mythology. With the prices you’ll see at most of these shops and cafes, you’ll need to be blessed, indeed, to make […]
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