With all the uncertainty about the diamonds in jewelers’ showcases, it’s nice to know there is at least one diamond you can be sure did not fund killing in a third world country. That diamond comes from Polar Bear Diamonds, in Quebec, Canada. The Northern Lights diamonds cut at the Polar Bear Diamonds cutting facilities…
Garfield flies high in NYC. Photo by Sue Frause. Living with a turkey farmer has resulted in many a memorable moment. But flying with one of our homegrown birds from Seattle to New York City was an all-time high. First, a clarification. My husband is not a full time turkey farmer. He owns a public…
Cavalia, the spectacular equestrian odyssey, is heading to Las Vegas as part of its North American tour. Now on the road for three years, the spectacular show will be presented under its familiar White Big Top at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino. The show opens November 16, 2006 for a multi-week engagement. I saw…
Children of Chief Mukuni’s Village. Photo by Sue Frause. Author’s Note: My family and I recently returned from Africa. The three of us visited South Africa, Zambia and Botswana and I’ll be sharing some of my stories and photographs from the road with Vagablond readers. It was an amazing adventure! VICTORIA FALLS, ZAMBIA — Yasim…
Oregon Wine Country is a scenic and romantic destination for wine tasting. And fall is the perfect time to escape to the Willamette Valley. Every year at Thanksgiving, Oregon’s wineries host special events during the long holiday weekend. A number of wineries that don’t usually open their doors and cellars to the public welcome visitors…
The elections may be over, but you still have a chance to vote! American Style Magazine, an upscale arts lifestyle publication, is giving art lovers the opportunity to vote for their favorite arts destinations. The magazine is selecting the Top 25 Arts Destinations in a readers’ poll. Last year, New York City won top honors…
If you’ve ever dreamed of being a rock star, here’s your chance. The Vancouver Marriott Pinnacle Downtown Hotel is offering Live Like a Rock Star packages that include tickets to the Rolling Stones concert in Vancouver, BC on Nov. 25, 2006. The Live Like a Rock Star package includes: Two floor seat tickets to see…
It’s always tempting to try one of the hot, hip hotels in New York City. But for a touch of Zen and some serenity, The Kitano New York is an excellent choice. Located at Park and 38th, The Kitano opened in 1973 as NYC’s first Japanese owned hotel. Today, it’s still the only Japanese hotel…
If you’re headed to Vancouver, BC this fall and winter, the Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver has bundled up the seasons with a trio of packages for family fun, shopping and mountain escapes. The Family Getaway package starts at CDN $285 for two rooms, and includes kids’ tee-shirts to take home, child-sized bathrobes to use during…
This was my third visit to the Louvre. I remember the first time I got busted by a security guard for snapping a photo of The Mona Lisa. That was years ago, and on this most recent visit, Ms. Mona had relocated to her own space in the Salle des Etats. The lines to see…
*Autumn is Spectacular in Quebec! Although the New England states get plenty of fall foliage attention, there are other wonderful leaf peeping places on the planet. One of my favorite autumn destinations is Quebec. Not only is La belle province a feast for the eyes, the cuisine and accommodations are memorable, too. The Laurentian and…
A new book featuring UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites is slated for publication in October 2006. The World Heritage, by Patrick Bonneville and Philippe Hemono, is the most complete work to date showcasing the sites. The compilation lists 830 sites from 138 countries, including the 18 most recent additions made at the 30th Session of the…