A dusky green sea turtle the size of a manhole cover stared up at me with shiny gold-toned eyes… made of toffee. Walking into my cabin on the Athala II luxury catamaran touring the Galapagos Islands for eight days was always a treat. Martin, the cabin attendant, folded the fluffy towels with origami precision. A…
More than four years after plans were announced for a Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences high-rise in the heart of downtown Denver’s central business district, developers broke ground this week on the $300 million project that is expected to be complete by early 2010. The 45-floor structure will be one of the tallest buildings…
In a tightly packed, hockey puck sized bundle, comes a towel that is not only reusable, lightweight, fast drying and surprisingly durable but it’s also biodegradable. When I opened the Lightload Travel Towels package, it was so compressed that I felt like I was tearing apart chunks of cardboard it as I pulled and twisted…
If it were any higher, you’d be asking for supplemental oxygen. Winter Park Resort in Colorado is installing North America’s highest high-speed, six-person chairlift to quickly move guests to the top of Parsenn Bowl, located at a breath-taking 12,060 feet above sea level. The Panoramic Express, the resort’s third new chairlift installation in as many…
Traveling is fraught with worries. Did I remember my cell phone charger? Will my luggage arrive on time and intact? Security agents confiscated my expensive moisturizer again! Affinia Hotels has added to its guest-friendly reputation by creating new services to help alleviate some of the worries and stress. Their TravelSmart program introduced this month offers…
I’ve had the luxury of viewing Québec’s spectacular fall foliage in three different regions: Charlevoix, the Eastern Townships and most recently in the Outaouais. What, you’ve never heard of Outaouais? Pronounced ooo-tah-way, it’s located at the southwestern tip of Québec along the Ottawa River. I started my journey in Montreal, taking a two-hour train ride…
Several years ago I made my first visit to Sonoma County Wine Country. It was autumn, and it was beautiful. The crowds were gone, the leaves were turning and the temperatures were just right. This year, Wine Country Inns of Sonoma County have put together Experience the Harvest Adventures including fall menus, special winery tours,…
My son was recently visiting from New York City and we were looking for a nice little restaurant after watching the Seattle Mariners play the Los Angeles Angels at Safeco Field one sunny afternoon. One of Seattle’s finest concierges, James Mulvaney of the Washington Athletic Club (named Seattle Hotel Concierge of the Year), recommended the…
Girlyman. What a great name for a group. And what a fun, fresh sound. I so wanted to hear this band in Seattle next month. But I’ll be headed to the SATW (Society of American Travel Writers) national convention in Manchester, England that evening. I recently heard the trio’s new CD, Joyful Sound, and loved…
Sometimes a story really needs pictures. And in the case of Salt Spring Island, British Columbia, I’ve decided that more is better. Salt Spring is the largest and most populated of BC’s Gulf Islands. But don’t let that fool you. With only 12,000+ permanent residents, you’re not going to feel crowded. It’s a bucolic paradise,…
Add some pizzazz to making that morning cup of coffee. The jeweled Clip N Scoop from Cox Creations of Las Vegas will open your eyes long before the coffee’s brewed and keep the bag of beans fresh long after. The innovative kitchen tool comes from designer Gretchen Cox, who makes a variety of funky jewel-…