Considered by travelers to be amongst the best attractions for getting a glimpse into the culture and history of a place, museums also are an excellent measure of the economic climate of an area, as they have far-reaching impact beyond their own walls and draw the “creative class” to a city....
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Author Mark Twain famously said, “Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the Earth all of one’s lifetime.” Nowhere is this sentiment more true than cultural travel. UNESCO World Heritage Sites provide the perfect roadmap to cultural travel in Latin America and beyond....
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You may think it’s too soon to start planning for Latin America’s 2016 Carnival season, but accommodations fill up quickly around what’s widely considered to be the biggest party of the year across Central and South America. So much so, tourists often pay inordinate amounts of money to stay in a local home on little more than a cot surrounded by other tourists who were tardy to the party....
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They say music is the universal language, and the surge of music festivals across the globe seems to confirm the age-old adage. More than ever before, people are traveling away from home to enjoy destination weekends with friends that hinge on these popular musical extravaganzas— sometimes to locations they might never have considered otherwise....
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There are few things on the planet more mesmerizingly awe-inspiring than a waterfall. What is it about them that draws our collective attention and admiration? Why do travelers cross the world in search of them? Some say the aesthetic beauty invokes a sense of calm, others say the sheer power and magnitude awakens our inquisitive nature, still others claim humans associate waterfalls with clean, fresh water and, as such, with life....
Continue readingOn a recent trip to the North Georgia wine country for a friend’s nuptials, I had the pleasure to spend one crazy night in our fine state’s “Golden City.” Dahlonega earned this nickname not--as you might have imagined--for its modern day attractions where kids pan gold flecks and semi precious stones on weekend outings with mom and dad, but because it was the site of the first major American gold rush. These days, the area’s natural beauty, abundant wineries and rich history attract approximately 2 million visitors annually. But for a city that relies heavily on...
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Continue readingI’ve often thought of writing a series of travel books called, “Have Kid. Will Travel.” Why? I’m glad you asked. While I wouldn’t necessarily call myself a jet setter, I have done a bit of globetrotting in my day. But, whether hitting the cobblestone streets of London solo or kayaking with friends atop the second largest barrier reef in the world, I rarely take my son along for the ride. Still, he’s never been very far from my mind on my travels, and there are plenty of trips I’d like to retake with him. Now, I...
Continue readingInstead of succumbing to the usual Thanksgiving helter skelter, I jetted off with my parents and my son to Herron Hill Villa on Great Exuma, Bahamas (thanks to my pal Scott Lowman for the use of his place). Another stamp in the passport, another round of vacation related injuries, and I’m back in time for the holidays only a little worse for wear. As usual, I came back from the trip with a few lessons learned, a few friends made and a few days of recovery time ahead of me. As poet Moslih Eddin Saadi...
Continue readingFormer Top Chef contestant and Pura Vida chef Hector Santiago has the ideal excursion for Atlanta foodies...
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