A sultry breeze ripples across golden marshes swaying them in a low-country welcome as we approach St. Simons Island. Leaving the hum of Route I-95 traffic behind, three scenic bridges wind us across rivers and creeks to the privileged shores of Georgia's Golden Isles. The barrier islands of Sea Island,...

Has your Valentine's Day plan been reduced to grabbing a box of chocolates and a cello-wrapped bouquet of flowers at the grocery checkout line? You're far from alone. In America, romance almost always takes a backseat to our busy lives.

This year, Valentine's Day falls on a Thursday and...

Whenever I allow myself to remember the events of 9/11, I realize that even though we are approaching the 11th anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center, there are still unresolved emotions swirling in my soul. That is why on a trip to NYC last week, despite record...

It's hard to image a town with more joie de vivre than Niagara-On-The-Lake in Ontario, Canada. Hugged by water on three sides, this tranquil settlement has emerged as one of the world's most respected wine-growing regions, yet remains largely undiscovered by oenophiles.

More than a dozen stately wooden tall ship schooners call the harbors of mid-coast Maine home and lovingly carry on the tradition of sailing where the winds and tides demand. These handsome schooners that once carried lumber, granite, fish and ice on routes stretching as far south as the West...

Can we ever get enough of the magnificent pageantry and coveted celebrity-watching that surrounds a royal wedding? Although I pledged not to get caught up in the frenzy of media coverage leading up to the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, there I was at 6:00 a.m., perched...

Private plunge pools, personal butlers, thatched roofed palapas, exotic architecture, extraordinary cuisine, luscious spa treatments... are these the amenities you crave for your next lovers' getaway? You'll find these indulgences and more at a new breed of ultra-luxury resorts in the Dominican Republic.

The Dominican Republic is famed for...

Just why I'm intentionally venturing off to a place with 'death' in the title, I'm not quite sure. The thought of a valley where people suffered and perished in a desolate landscape certainly doesn't promise a light-hearted excursion, but I've had enough of the glitter and false facades of Las...

Oh the pressure of coming up with some imaginative additions to your traditional party offerings when the holidays roll around! We've got the help you need from top bartenders at Ritz-Carlton Resorts. Throughout the world, Ritz-Carlton hotels conjure images of celebration, savoir faire, and indulgence. Bring some of their sophistication...

It's not often that our nation welcomes a new historic museum. Especially one that stands proudly on the hallowed grounds where our nation first came alive. I was honored and privileged to be invited to attend the opening last weekend of the National Museum of American Jewish History...

For centuries, intrepid travelers have roamed the globe in pursuit of longevity, serenity, inner harmony, and wellness. Today we can find a myriad of pleasure retreats around the globe in 4-star hotels and elaborate spa resorts. It is a masterful achievement indeed to reach the pinnacle of all the spas...

I remember the moment exactly when my eyes widened, my mouth went dry and I thought, "OMG this is not what I pictured when I signed us up for a hiking adventure!" Heavy rains of past days had swollen the meandering stream into a chest deep torrent of churning brown...

When the weather turns cool, thousands of thirsty travelers head for the raucous beer halls and Oktoberfest tents of Bavaria. But for me, it's the charm of an old English pub that beckons. Nowhere is a frothy pint so inviting as in an intimate, storied British pub.

Take a...

September breezes bring thoughts of crunchy leaves and savory aromas escaping through open kitchen windows. We rush to pick the bounty springing from our gardens, horde prime morsels like squirrels and preserve the abbondanza for chilly winter days ahead. Communities across the country celebrate their autumn bounty with Food &...

It was a frigid February day as I sat staring at my computer, dreaming of landscapes with no ice or snow, where beaches are pristine and resorts intimate. Where in the world could I run away to, to get lost for a few days, to thaw my chilled extremities and...

For years I avoided traveling to Paris because of stories I had heard about the curt, aloof French. What a mistake. Oh, the fabulous experiences I missed. I have since come to love Paris and appreciate the adroit Parisians who make Paris the elegant and sophisticated city it is. Much...

If there was ever a city to love and admire for its panache and perseverance, it is certainly New Orleans. Our collective hearts ached for the destruction that came with Hurricane Katrina, and our spirits soared when the New Orleans Saints won the Super Bowl. Now just as the city...

The Natural Resources Defense Council has released it's annual survey of water quality at U.S. beaches. You may be astonished to learn that some of America's most popular beaches are also among the most polluted. Results of this year's report show that the Great Lakes earn the dubious honor of...