Category Archives: North America

Austin, Texas

Heading to Austin? You’re probably going for a festival. This year’s South by Southwest may be over, but Texas’ capital always seems to be celebrating something. Music, film, food and wine, books, boats, flowers, and even chocolate. This quirky–hey, they use the slogan “Keep Austin Weird”–enclave along the Colorado River is liberal, laid back, and welcoming. So the last thing you’ll want to do is stay in a generic chain hotel. Luckily, there are three hotels that perfectly capture Austin’s independent spirit.

Photo: Heywood Hotel

The city’s newest boutique hotel is the Heywood Hotel, located in up-and-coming East Austin. And it’s next door to a funeral home. But don’t let that stop you. The hotel’s seven rooms have pine floors, internet radio, and local beer in the mini bar. French press coffee, freshly baked cookies, and bikes are available. Zelda, the community hen, may wander through the property. Borrow beach towels and head to Barton Springs. Grab breakfast tacos at the food truck down the street. Sip a rattlesnake or a suffering bastard at Weather Up. Plus you’re within walking distance of 6th Street.

Photo: Hotel San Jose

In the hip SoCo neighborhood, Hotel San Jose is a funky hangout a few blocks from Lady Bird Lake. The dog-friendly bungalows have concrete floors, kimono bathrobes, and bottled rainwater. A DJ spins old records in the lounge, where you can enjoy a Shiner Bock or a glass of Rioja with a cheese and salami plate. Across the parking lot, Jo’s offers Cuvee Coffee and pulled pork sandwiches. And the shops, restaurants, and clubs on South Congress Ave are just steps away. Botticelli’s for rustic Italian food. Amy’s Ice Cream for hot fudge sundaes. The legendary Continental Club for live music.

Photo: Kimber Modern

Just a few blocks away, you’ll find the smaller, quieter Kimber Modern. The design hotel’s minimal rooms have platform beds and lots of natural light. Local artwork, Eames furniture, and egg chairs fill the common room. Bagels and freshly squeezed juice are offered here in the morning, and later, you’ll find wine, beer, and snacks. Look for hidden treasures at Uncommon Objects. Try on cowboy boots at Allens Boots. Eat a bison burger and truffle fries at Hopdoddy Burger Bar. And then grab a chilled glass of white wine at the hotel and head out to the courtyard, a treehouse-like deck surrounded by Texas live oaks.

You’ll feel right at home at whichever hotel you select. Just don’t forget to make an appearance at that festival that lured you here in the first place.

Charleston, South Carolina

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With a handful of long weekends approaching, it’s time to make some travel plans. Craving a little Southern hospitality? You probably remember Charleston for its antebellum mansions, overly polite people, and hearty seafood. Well, the architecture is being restored and the restaurant scene is exploding. And the people do continue to have impeccable manners, but since when is that a bad thing? So it might be time to explore South Carolina’s oldest city again.

Photo: Zero George Street

First, move into Zero George Street, your Charleston home. Really, it will feel like home. Three historic buildings, plus two additional carriage houses, have been turned into studios and suites with heart pine floors. Wicker and wrought-iron furniture fill the piazzas, where breakfast is served. Ceiling fans and sea breezes will cool you down later in the afternoon, as you sip rose and nibble on cheese before your dinner reservation. The hotel is only a few oak-lined blocks away from Liberty Square, the Battery, and East Bay Street. You’re in the middle of everything.

After breakfast, start your morning at Fort Sumter, where the first shots of the Civil War were fired, before it starts getting humid. Take a carriage ride through Rainbow Row, the 18th century line of stately houses. The scent of jasmine seeps from the overflowing gardens. And elbow your way through the Charleston Farmers Market in Marion Square. Your mouth will start to water. It’s time to eat. Virginia’s on King serves classic Southern comfort food: fried chicken or shrimp and grits. Or Amen Street Fish & Raw Bar offers oysters from all over North America.

Walk off lunch along the Battery’s promenade, the art galleries of the French Quarter, or the shops on upper King Street. Visit the Charleston Museum, the Footlight Players, and the Dock Street Theatre. Watch guys playing a trumpet and a saxophone jam on the sidewalk. Sip a harbor breeze at the rooftop Pavilion Bar. Or better yet, on a sunset cruise around the harbor. Dinner will be your hardest decision of the day, but all of your choices focus on fresh, local, Southern cuisine. Soft shell crabs and Riesling on tap at FIG. All ingredients sourced below the Mason-Dixon line–including amazing cornbread–at Husk. Or go all out with the tasting menu and pre-Prohibition cocktails at McCrady’s. It’s so hard deciding where to go. Good thing you’re here for a long weekend.

Minneapolis, Minnesota

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It’s finally stopped snowing in the Midwest. For real this time. Hopefully. That mean peonies and Russian sage are starting to grow, the Twins are playing barely above .500 baseball, and the people who live in Minneapolis are starting to thaw out. It’s also the time of year when the city’s Skyway is abandoned. Everyone wants to be outside. Especially by the glittering water.

Photo: © Calamityjohn | Dreamstime Stock Photos & Stock Free Images

Known as the City of Lakes, Minneapolis has 22 of them just within the city limits. Take sailing lessons on Lake Calhoun. Stop at The Tin Fish for walleye tacos and homemade lemonade. Canoe or kayak on Lake Nokomis. Spread out on one of Cedar Lake’s beaches. Climb the trees around Lake of the Isles. Or grab an ice cream cone and a blanket, and head to the bandshell at Lake Harriet. Need a little more shade? Hike through nearby Fort Snelling State Park. Or, if you’re in need of air conditioning, check out the Asian collection at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts or more contemporary pieces at the Walker Art Center.

For an elegant dinner, make reservations for the five-or-eight course dinner at La Belle Vie. For a more casual meal, head to Spoonriver. Start with an elderflower martini or a Mill City fizz. The accommodating kitchen uses locally sourced, sustainable products. Not that you’ll care once you bite into the Moroccan-spiced Spoon burger. And the restaurant is across from the renowned Guthrie Theater, which overlooks the Mississippi River. The Guthrie is the heart of the theater district, in a city with so many theaters it’s called the Mini-Apple. Whether you’re looking for Broadway shows, Shakespeare, or experimental performances, Minneapolis has it all. Plus a great live music scene. See up-and-coming bands at 7th Street Entry or jazz at the Dakota Jazz Club. As you sip a Dakota Cup, you’ll almost feel as though you’re in New York City. Almost.

St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands

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So you’ve been all over the Caribbean, huh? Nassau in the Bahamas. Samana in the Dominican Republic. Montego Bay in Jamaica. Sorry, cruise ship ports don’t really count. Especially if your island time was spent at duty-free shops and American fast food restaurants. It’s time to ditch the massive ship and hoards of people. It’s time to see the real Caribbean.

Photo:
© Justintroupe | Dreamstime Stock Photos & Stock Free Images

Head to the peaceful, quiet island of St. John, in the U.S. Virgin Islands. There isn’t an airport on the island, so a boat is your only option. After landing on St. Thomas, and passing by Charlotte Amalie’s mall-like cruise port, head to Red Hook to catch the hourly ferry. It’s a quick trip–you can see St. John from St. Thomas. The views from the water–of crescent-shaped lagoons and white-sand beaches–are a great introduction to the small island.

You’ll arrive at Cruz Bay, St. John’s largest city. Make that largest town. Open-air taxis await arrivals. Small shops and restaurants fill a few streets. Stop at Jake’s for breakfast–any time of the day–and a harbor view. Or Joe’s Rum Hut for a Virgin Islands Mango Pale Ale. You’re on vacation, after all. Grab picnic supplies at Starfish Market. And then head out of town. The best beaches are on the north shore. Caneel Bay. Hawksnest Bay. Trunk Bay. Cinnamon Bay. It’ll be difficult to pick a favorite. Swim with parrotfish, groupers, and sea turtles. Snorkel the underwater trail. Try to find Honeymoon Beach–it’s only accessible by foot or boat.

Photo:
© Nyphotoboy | Dreamstime Stock Photos & Stock Free Images

And finally get out of the turquoise water at Francis Bay to start hiking the trails of Virgin Islands National Park. Thanks to Laurance S. Rockefeller, more than 60 percent of the island is protected, ensuring the land will never be developed. Eventually you’ll reach the ruins of Annaberg Plantation, which produced sugar. Tour the remains of the stone-and-coral slave quarters and the windmill. Don’t miss the views of Jost Van Dyke and Tortola before heading down to Miss Lucy’s, outside of Coral Bay, for dinner on the beach. Ignore the chickens and the goats roaming around. If it’s a full moon, there will be a party with roasted suckling pig. Otherwise, eat conch chowder, Miss Lucy’s famous paella, and a side of okra fungi.

As you order another round of drinks, you’ll notice a huge cruise ship lit up as it departs from St. Thomas in the distance. And, for the first time, you’ll be glad you aren’t on it.

Nashville, Tennessee

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Feeling a little bit country? Oh, come on, we’ve seen you singing along to the song that you’d never ever ever admit to liking. How could you not know the words to these catchy tunes? They’re every third song on the radio. So maybe it’s time to embrace the banjos, the harmonicas, and the fiddles–and head to Music City.

Photo: The Hermitage Hotel

Check into The Hermitage Hotel, which has been welcoming guests with Southern hospitality for more than 100 years. Named after Andrew Jackson’s estate outside of Nashville, the Beaux-Arts building has views of Tennessee’s State Capitol Building and War Memorial Plaza. The Capitol Grille serves sustainable Southern cuisine–vegetables from the hotel’s period garden and heritage-bred beef from a nearby farm. Freshly squeezed lemonade and cookies are offered in the lobby, which has stained glass ceilings. And fried pickles and granny’s deviled eggs pair with cocktails at the Oak Bar. Best of all, the hotel is just a quick walk from Second Avenue and Broadway, where the music plays 24 hours a day.

Start at the Country Music Hall of Fame, where you’ll find Elvis’ golden Cadillac and Johnny Cash’s guitar. Visit country’s most famous stage, the Grand Ole Opry. Slurp raspberry-lime popsicles from Las Paletas. Shop for vinyl at Third Man Records. Sip coffee at CREMA. Take in the view of the Cumberland River and the city’s skyline on the Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge. Feed the ducks at Centennial Park. Have a chocolate shake at Elliston Place Soda Shop. Eat BBQ, macaroni and cheese, cornbread, and banana pudding. This is not a calorie-counting day. Tour the Yazoo Brewery. Shop for cowboy paraphernalia. You must be in the mood by now. And then go take a nap. You’ll be out late tonight.

Make dinner reservations in advance. Don’t miss the chance to eat at The Catbird Seat. Watch up-and-coming bands at The Bluebird Cafe. Learn the two-step at The Wildhorse Saloon. Drink a whiskey ginger at No. 308. See live music at The Station Inn or Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge or Legends Corner. And cap off the evening with a late-night cheeseburger at Paradise Park Trailer Resort. You should be feeling more than a little bit country by now.

Baltimore, Maryland

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Baltimore. You’ve probably passed through or around it more times than you can count. Heading north on I-95, south to D.C., or southeast to cute, little Annapolis. It used to be mentioned in the same vein as Philly or Boston. And then it seemed to shut down. Businesses closed, neighborhoods were boarded up, and the Orioles stopped winning games. But slowly–seemingly at a snail’s pace, at times–the Baltimore waterfront has awakened from its long slumber. Baltimore is again becoming a place you’ll want to visit, not be forced to visit.

Situated along the Patapsco River–which eventually empties into the Chesapeake Bay–Baltimore was once one of the country’s largest immigration ports. Now the Inner Harbor is filled with water taxis and seafood restaurants. Watch the dolphins at the National Aquarium. Take in the 360-degree view from the World Trade Center. Board the USS Constellation or the USS Torsk. Eat crabs–steamed or caked. Sample fudge. Shop at Harborplace. Dance at Power Plant Live! Explore Canton, Fells Point, and Federal Hill. And don’t miss dessert at Vaccaro’s.

Photo: Henderson’s Wharf

Fells Point is where you’ll find the Inn at Henderson’s Wharf. The brick inn is located down a cobblestone street on the waterfront. Outside rooms face the marina; interior rooms look out over the quiet courtyard, where you can eat breakfast and read the newspaper in the morning. Rooms have incredibly comfortable beds and a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon awaiting your arrival. You’re close enough to walk to the nearby Irish pubs, but far enough way to get a good night’s sleep.

So, who’s next? If Charm City can pulled off the near impossible, then other gutted downtowns must be able to do the same. We’re rooting for you, Detroit.

New Orleans, Louisiana

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Heading to New Orleans for Jazz Fest? Lucky. The music, crafts, and food showcase the best of The Big Easy. See huge stars on the main stage. Listen to brass bands at Jazz & Heritage. Zydeco at Fais Do-Do. Or hang out in the jazz, gospel, or blues tents. Stuff yourself with Cajun jambalaya, crawfish beignets, and alligator sausage po’ boys. Return for a muffelatta and a cochon de lait later. Don’t worry, you’ll dance it all off.

After the final encore, head back to the French Quarter. The music at the Fair Grounds may be over–for the day–but the party is just beginning. Jazz Fest draws one of the city’s largest crowds, second only to Mardi Gras. There are after-parties at Preservation Hall and the House of Blues. The sound of trumpets and saxophones from small clubs. Eat oysters and gumbo. Drink a hurricane or a Sazerac. Get lost in the crowd on Bourbon Street.

Photo: Hotel Le Marais

No matter how early or late you decide to crash, you don’t have to go far to find your bed. Hotel Le Marais combines classic NOLA style, like wrought-iron balconies, with comfortable, modern rooms. Swim in the salt-water pool. Have a Fleur de Lis massage in your room. Sip a violet pear martini in the courtyard. But eventually get some sleep, there’s so much more to see and do, plus hear and eat.

Begin the next day with a jazz brunch at The Court of Two Sisters. Or coffee and beignets at Cafe Du Monde. Shop at the French Market. Wander around Jackson Square. Watch a wedding party emerge from St. Louis Cathedral, the oldest cathedral in the country. Ride a riverboat. Or a streetcar. Visit the National WWII Museum. Make a dinner reservation at Commander’s Palace or Emeril’s or August. Stroll through the Garden District. And Lafayette Cemetery. Drink a gin fizz when it gets too humid. If you didn’t head back to Jazz Fest for day two, that is.

Santa Teresa, Costa Rica

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You’ve been stuck inside, staring at the same walls day after day. Fresh air means running outside to grab lunch. Exercise, if at all, has been limited to a treadmill. It’s time to trade the buzz of your cell phone and the glow of your computer screen for the calls of howler monkeys and a starry sky. Your commute will be walking down a path to the beach. And your dinner will caught daily. Destination: Santa Teresa.

Photo: Latitude 10

On the south tip of Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula, you’ll find Latitude 10, the exact opposite of what you’ve been cooped up in. There are no windows–or even locks–on the almond-wood casitas. Just open-sky bathrooms, and a porch with a hammock and ocean views. Coconuts filled with sand and tea lights are lit at night. Yoga classes begin when the sun rises in the morning. Breakfast burritos and Costa Rican coffee provide an energy boost for the day’s activities. This is not an idle vacation.

Santa Teresa was originally a sleepy Pacific fishing village. Then surfers discovered the swells and miles of deserted beaches. As the roads improved, people began exploring the dramatic landscape where the mountains seem to tumble into the ocean. Learn how to surf. Or stand up paddle board. Sea kayak in the Curu Wildlife Reserve. Go deep-sea fishing for wahoo and tuna. Snorkel at Isla Tortuga. Exhausted yet? Go horseback riding on Playa Carmen. Hike the Montezuma waterfalls. And zip line through the Malpais canopy.

Photo: Latitude 10

By the time you return to Latitude 10, your muscles will ache for a holistic massage. Have an Imperial beer by the pool as the sun starts to go down. Mahi-mahi is being prepared. Make plans for the next day. Maybe explore Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve. Go boogie boarding. Or have a picnic on Playa Hermosa, one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. It’s going to be very difficult to return home. No wonder there are so many expats here. Hmmm…

Toronto, Canada

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Heading to Toronto? Whether you’re going to check out the exciting food scene or catch a Blue Jays’ game, Canada’s largest city is awakening from its winter slumber. Warm weather brings everyone outside to the waterfront, parks, and nearby islands. Browse local produce and ethnic cuisine at Kensington Market. Listen to live music at Echo Beach. People watch as you sip coffee at a sidewalk cafe. And drink cocktails with a view as the sun begins to set.

Photo: © Shattle | Dreamstime Stock Photos & Stock Free Images

The Rooftop Lounge at the Thompson Toronto is the ideal place for that cocktail. This poolside bar has 360-degree views of the city and Lake Ontario. The CN Tower is front of you. Taste cinnamon sours and lavender sidecars. Munch on Saint-Andre cheese and fig compote. Relax in a cabana.

Photo: Thompson Toronto

The hip lounge is part of the comfortable, food-focused Thompson Toronto hotel. Rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows and dark hardwood floors. Marble bathrooms have heated floors. Yoga and Pilates classes are offered at the spa. The Thompson Diner creates St. Lawrence breakfast sandwiches and spicy Bloody Marias. Scarpetta and Wabora Sushi offer Italian and Japanese fusion, respectively. The living-room-style Lobby Bar offers maple Manhattans and jazz music.

It may seem like you don’t have to leave the hotel to enjoy Toronto, but the surrounding King West Village also deserves exploring. The area is known for art galleries, fashion, and, yes, more food.

Saba

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So you’ve been everywhere in the Caribbean. You’ve explored the beaches of Anguilla and Turks & Caicos. You’ve been pampered at all-inclusive resorts on St. Lucia. You’ve partied in Jamaica. And Trinidad. And St. Thomas. You’ve even gone scuba diving in Bonaire.

Photo: Queen’s Garden Resort

First, no one feels bad for you. This is not really a problem. Second, what about Saba? This former pirate hideout doesn’t have hotel chains or cruise ship docks or duty-free shops. Its only beach disappears when the tide comes in. People go to “the unspoiled queen of the Caribbean” to scuba dive, hike, and relax. Really relax. The Dutch island is full of mango trees, orchids, and palms. Roosters provide an early wake-up call. Tree frogs chirp you to sleep. Mount Scenery, the highest point in the Netherlands, could erupt at any time.

Arrive by ferry or quick flight from St. Maarten. Either way, you’ll need a strong stomach. The sea can be rough; the airport has the shortest commercial runway in the world. The cliffs, rocky shores, and dense vegetation may look unwelcoming to some, but like paradise to others. The Road, the only main one on the island, is winding and narrow. In The Bottom, the capital, buy Saba Lace and Saba Spice. Make jewelry at a glass art studio. Drink Belgian beer. And look up to find your hotel.

Photo: Queen’s Garden Resort

Clinging to the cliffs above The Bottom, you’ll find unexpected luxury at the Queen’s Gardens Resort. Views of the Caribbean Sea and the rainforest. Jacuzzis and L’Occitane products in your room. And massages, too. Yoga classes by the pool. Grilled fish for lunch. Grilled lobster for dinner. Belgian chocolate or gelato for dessert. Live music to go with your mojito at the tiki-torch-lit bar. Sea and mountain breezes.

And if you’ve already been to Saba, it must be time to start exploring the islands of another sea. The Andaman? The Aegean?

Travel Cravings

near. far. everywhere in between.

Category Archives: North America

Austin, Texas

Charleston, South Carolina

Minneapolis, Minnesota

St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands

Nashville, Tennessee

Baltimore, Maryland

New Orleans, Louisiana

Santa Teresa, Costa Rica

Toronto, Canada

Saba

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