Big Sur Foragers Festival If you reside in California that is! The magical Monterey Peninsula is a feasible destination for any Californian who can drive and enjoy our countryside road trips. The beauty of the Pacific Coast is unparalleled, and makes a few hours behind the wheel a rather pleasant price to pay for a wonderful weekend in Big Sur, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Pacific Grove, and practically any little town of this blessed land. Big Sur Foragers Festival is a popular annual event at end of January that serves as a fundraiser for the Big Sur Health Center, a non-profit community organization ..read more

By Emma Krasov. Press images courtesy ADLER Spa Resort SICILIA For American vacationers of any age, marital status, and psychological type, Italy presents an enormously appealing destination with any amount of unbeatable attractions from climate and natural beauty to historical significance, and from high art and sophisticated fashion to rustic cuisine. Unlike our European counterparts, we in the U.S. rarely indulge in lengthy time off, and don’t even mind it that much… in other words, we still have plenty to learn about that work/life balance! No month-long lounging on a beach for us, or two ..read more

By Emma Krasov. Photography by Yuri Krasov. An opulent Nick’s Cove Legacy & Renewal Celebration unfolded on the last Sunday of August on the shores of Tomales Bay in West Marin, California. Nick’s Cove, a well-known historic inn and restaurant, founded almost a century ago in the town of Marshall, marked a successful completion of a comprehensive renovation that included its 12 overwater cottages, bar and restaurant as well as branding and website. Reopened to much fanfare, and presented with multiple hospitality awards, the beloved coastal retreat, managed by Palm House Hospital ..read more

By Emma Krasov. Photography by Yuri Krasov. A town of Calistoga, at the northernmost tip of Napa Valley, has a distinct and inimitable character. Despite being a part of the ultimate tourist destination – California Wine Country – Calistoga remains a charming h ideaway, less crowded, less commercialized, and more open to leisurely pursuits of honeymooners, romantic couples of all ages, and other deserving vacationers. A historical anecdote relays how the geyser town in the foothills of Mount St. Helena got its name. An early settler and founder of Calistoga, one Samuel Brannan, wanted to make ..read more

By Bonnie & Bill Neely Tryon Equestrian Center at Mill Spring, a town of 1,700 residents in Southwestern North Carolina, offers so very much for family fun every day throughout the year. This amazing horse center was in early building stages in 2014 when Mark Bellissimo spearheaded the project to be completed in time to host the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games, an International Equestrian Olympics event which takes place in a select location somewhere in the world every fourth year. This is one of the largest and most prestigious competitions in any sports calendar in the world! The tiny t ..read more

By Saul Schwartz My wife Fern and I met my brother-in-law Paul and sister-in-law Karen for a very pleasant weekend in Wilmington last August.  With 73,000 residents, Wilmington is Delaware’s most populous city.  Over the weekend, we learned how Wilmington was shaped by the Du Pont’s gun powder mills in the early nineteenth century, then turning the city into today’s industrial and financial hub. Downtown Wilmington We had a lovely stay at the Hotel DuPont.  Set in the heart of downtown, this 1913 luxury hotel is a city landmark.  The hotel features a lavish lobby with an el ..read more

By Bonnie and Bill Neely Whether it is your first time or you are veteran kayak or raft enthusiasts, THIS is the adventure for you!  Smoky Mountain Outdoors is located just 45 minutes East of Gatlinburg in Hartford, TN.  The company has been guiding people safely down the Pigeon River since 1993 and has one of the highest safety records in the South East.  The upper river trips offer class 1-4 white water rapids full of excitement. The lower river has class 1 and 2 white water, so it is a gentle float to enjoy the beautiful scenery of these incredible mountains with thick forest ..read more

By Saul Schwartz With a population of about 1.7 million, the Hungarian capital may seem imposing at first.  However, the historic areas within Buda and Pest are contained within a manageable geographic area.  These now united “twin cities” are divided by the Danube River.  My wife Fern and I spent more time on the flat Pest side during our four day stay, as we had previously spent one day in Budapest during a cruise, focused more on the hilly Buda side.  Budapest is one of Europe’s most spectacular capitals. Highlights on the Pest Side Hungarian Parliament The Parliament is ..read more

By Emma Krasov, photography by Yuri Krasov The largest hotel in Sonoma County, located in the heart of California Wine Country, Hyatt Regency in Santa Rosa is definitely more than just a place to stay. Recently renovated with brand new and updated guestrooms, a just-opened Brasserie restaurant, a lush garden with a wall waterfall feature, a swimming pool relaxation area, and a green courtyard used for wedding ceremonies and other festive events, this hotel provides all imaginable necessities and conveniences for both leisure and business travelers. Spacious, yet cozy and inviting, the hotel lo ..read more

By Linda Oatman High For travelers who love both the bustle of city life and the laid-back relaxation of the beach, the Seastreak Ferry makes it easy with two stops in Manhattan (Wall Street and Midtown)  and two in New Jersey (Highlands and Atlantic Highlands). The Highlands location offers free overnight parking (a few blocks from the terminal), and the boat ride is a comfortable hour. Some of the best hotels in New York City are those to be found in the Library Hotel Collection. The Hotel Elysee and the Casablanca provide comfortable respites from the busy city, with quiet rooms, free ..read more