A Day Out in San Juan Capistrano

Southern California is dotted with many small towns, from beach hangouts to hiking spots in the hills. One town is just an hour south of Los Angeles and is one of California’s most historic places: San Juan Capistrano, which claims is home to California’s oldest standing building, as well as several shops, restaurants, and a museum. It’s well worth a day trip, especially on a sunny day. Let’s explore the highlights if this cute town. The Mission The mission in San...

January 11th, 2011 | Baby Boomers, Los Angeles | Read More

Top 5 Things to Do in London’s Covent Garden

London’s a big place, so when I say something is at the top of my list, that’s saying a lot. And the hip, trendy, bustling square called Covent Garden (map) is one of my personal favorites. Typical of many things in London, it is very busy, but I just love the unique vibe here – the square is one of a kind and you will not find anything like it elsewhere. Here are a few highlights of what you’ll experience when you visit. A busker performing in the square. That’s...

January 9th, 2011 | London | Read More

Top 5 Manhattan Parks that Aren’t Central Park

One of my favorite things about visiting New York is being outside – strolling down those avenues with skyscrapers on either side, stopping into cafes along the way for a piping hot cuppa to go. Every guidebook will highlight the “obvious” place to go for an outdoor stroll, Central Park (map). And that is a wonderful park – great for people watching, and it’s super easy to get to, partly due to the fact that it is huge. Enormous is perhaps a better word. I’m...

January 7th, 2011 | New York | Read More

San Diego Spotlight: La Jolla

San Diego is a stunner – it’s blessed with a great seaside location and plenty of things to do. Beyond the high rises of the bay and the Gas Lamp district, I always head for my number one favorite neighborhood in San Diego: La Jolla. Pronounced la hoy-yuh, it’s got beautiful cliff side views and a unique atmosphere you will not find elsewhere in the city. Locals are of mixed opinions about the origination of the name “La Jolla” – in Spanish it could be the...

January 6th, 2011 | San Diego | Read More

A Foodie’s Day Out in Paris

The City of Light! The City of Love! Paris has many names, and one of them should be the City of Gastronomy. If any town or destination could be described as delicious, it would be Paris. I’ve been many times, and next time I might just do a foodie trip. That is, if every other previous trip didn’t kind of turn out that way. It was by accident, considering how much tasty places exist in the city. Here are a few things you can do on your next day out in Paris. Caffeine &...

January 5th, 2011 | Paris | Read More

The Royal Residences: Buckingham Palace

London has no shortage of Royal venues, but out of all of the, perhaps Buckingham Palace (map) is the most prestigious. And if the long queues in summer are any judge, it is also one of the most popular. But for good reason; my visit to Buckingham was an almost overwhelming set of one amazing, priceless piece of furniture/art/cutlery set after another. The Palace is the official residence of the monarchy in London, and has been since Queen Victoria took up home in 1937, although this building was...

January 4th, 2011 | London | Read More

Barcelona Daytripping: Figueres

While I love Barcelona, if you have several days there, you may find yourself itching to explore further afield. Figueres is my top recommendation. Less than two hours away on the train (barring construction delays), it is home to one of the country’s most popular museums, as well as a charming town that exposes some traditional Catalonian atmosphere that I think might be drowned out by Barcelona’s hustle-bustle. Here are the highlights, as well as some tips on getting there and...

December 26th, 2010 | Barcelona | Read More

Tasty Tapas in Barcelona

It’s no surprise that food is one of the highlights when visiting Barcelona – it is perhaps the number one reason to go, with the great weather and atmospheric culture running a close second. One interesting thing that I’ve found in my subsequent Spanish travels is that “tapas” really is a catch-all phrase that really just means food. In some cities, tapas can be a snack, like nuts, or an entire meal. But more interesting is that the types of dishes can vary a bit...

December 20th, 2010 | Barcelona, Culinary Travel | Read More

Roosevelt Island: Peace and Quiet in NYC

New York City – Manhattan – is a place of lights and loudness. It’s sometimes brash, as so many different types of people all fill a tiny island space. It’s one of my favorite cities in the world, but a little goes a long way. One thing I try to do when I visit New York is to look for the open spaces where locals go. If I lived here, where could I go and hang out to relax that isn’t a cocktail bar or a restaurant-with-a-view? Central Park is the obvious choice...

December 12th, 2010 | New York | Read More

Paris Day Tripping: Chartres

Made your way through most of Paris’s museums? Looking to get out of the city and see something new? Then I’d like to suggest Chartres (map), a popular tourist spot but often overlooked or forgotten in the rush to make it to the next Parisian cafe or art gallery. Here’s an overview of how you can get there, and why you should go. Chartres Cathedral. Stunning. Chartres Cathedral The cathedral (map) really is the center of attention in Chartres – you can’t miss it,...

December 9th, 2010 | Baby Boomers, Paris | Read More

Maritime Culture in Wellington

Know much about Wellington, New Zealand? Maybe you’ve heard of it, maybe you haven’t. If you ask someone the capital of New Zealand, they’ll mostly tell you Auckland. I’m not sure if that’s because it’s the largest city or because they have that fireworks bonanza every New Year’s Eve which gets everyone’s attention. But Wellington (map) is indeed the capital. It is located in the southern portion of the North Island, and from here you can catch...

December 3rd, 2010 | New Zealand | Read More

Finding Your Muse in Giverny, France

Exploring your options for day trips outside of Paris? Well, I’ve got another that is well worth your time and effort: Giverny (map). It is like many towns in the French countryside: charming, cute, quaint, peaceful. But it’s in Giverny where painter Claude Monet found the inspiration for his wonderful impressionist paintings. Come for a visit – perhaps you too will find your muse in Giverny. Monet’s Garden Without a doubt, most folks come to Giverny to visit Monet’s...

December 2nd, 2010 | Baby Boomers, Paris | Read More

Sunny Skiing in St Moritz

One of the most popular ski areas in Switzerland is St. Mortiz (map), in Graubunden, the country’s eastern and most mountainous province. It has over 300 days of sunshine a year, making it one of Switzerland’s sunniest ski destinations. It’s also the terminus point for one of the country’s popular panorama trains, making it fairly easy to get in and enjoy the sunny, snowy fun. As a two time Olympic city host, St Mortiz has always been en vogue. Here are the highlights...

November 26th, 2010 | Ski & Snowboard, Switzerland | Read More

12 Royal Places in London to Celebrate the Royal Wedding

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you likely heard the big news from Britain that Prince William will be marrying the now soon-to-be Princess Kate. It’s no surprise that William has finally made the announcement – he’s been seeing Kate since 2003 and she’s been seen at many “official” affairs over the years. He’s always been a favorite of the British public, perhaps partly due to his boyish good looks or perhaps a diversion of energy from...

November 23rd, 2010 | London | Read More

Cruising Huntington Beach by Bike

Known as “Surf City,” Huntington Beach (travel guide) is one of several smaller towns just south of Los Angeles that make up what are known as the “beach cities.” They’re pocket-sized communities built along the Pacific shore. Most people zoom by on their drive down Route 1, the coastal road that takes them from LA down to San Diego. But I’d like you to consider a stop, or even an entire visit, where you can relax and enjoy Huntington Beach’s sunny...

November 18th, 2010 | Orange County | Read More

Walking Around Tampa’s YBor City

On central Florida’s west coast is the city of Tampa, one of my favorite stops in the state. Often overlooked for the glitz of Miami or the theme parks of Orlando, Tampa is a destination in its own right. There’s the stunning beaches of Clearwater, but for me, the best thing about Tampa is YBor City (pronounced ee-bore, not why-bore). This neighborhood is the hub of nightlife, but it also has a lot of history. Join me in a day of walking around this area’s best attractions. A...

November 17th, 2010 | Baby Boomers | Read More

A Day of Gaudi in Barcelona

One of the highlights of a trip to Barcelona is the works of Antoni Gaudi. Gaudi is a Catalonian architect born in a small town outside of Barcelona, and for much of his childhood was very ill. In his isolation came the inspiration that was later his architectural career. Gaudi began his career during the age of Gothic architecture, and this is the base from which he worked to create his works, which become more and more outlandish as he aged. From the beginning, Gaudi was ridiculed, and even...

November 16th, 2010 | Barcelona | Read More

It’s an Adventure in Queenstown

Gorgeous, eh? That’s the view from the hills above Queenstown (map), New Zealand’s adventure capital that’s tucked far, far away in the south west corner of the country. From the hiking in summer to skiing in winter, Queenstown is popular and busy year round, and adventure seekers will find it hard to leave given the great food, unique atmosphere, and tons of options for things to do. Here’s an overview of some of the most popular adventure options, which are mostly...

November 12th, 2010 | adventure, New Zealand | Read More

Loving Las Ramblas

La Rambla (or Las Ramblas, as it is more commonly known) is a central boulevard that cuts through Barcelona, and is the city’s most famous street. You’ll no doubt find yourself along it during your visit, and you might end up staying nearby! Rambla roughly means a water flow or an intermittent water stream, and that’s kind of how you’ll feel walking down it – things move at a slow yet enjoyable pace. It’s overwhelming because it is one of those streets that...

November 10th, 2010 | Barcelona | Read More

Nelson: New Zealand’s Sunny Spot?

If you visit New Zealand, either for the rugby or just for the country’s incredible outdoor scene, you’ll no doubt hear about or come across Nelson (map) at some point. For one, it’s the closest town to New Zealand’s geographic center (though the large monument at the top of the hill is not the actual center, but more of a map marker). When you arrive in Nelson, you’ll be greeted with signs: Welcome to Sunny Nelson. That’s because it is widely considered to...

November 8th, 2010 | Nelson, Rugby World Cup | Read More