Chicago's Signature Sculpture is Now 'Spilling the Beans' on the Best Ways to Visit
Chicago’s ‘The Bean’ sculpture is already one of the most popular attractions in the city.Officially titled ‘Cloud Gate’, the massive, stainless steel sculpture anchors Chicago’s lakefront Millennium Park. At 33 feet high, 42 feet wide, 66 feet long… and about the weight of 15 elephants! the abstract work of public art dominates the cityscape and is one of the largest outdoor art installations in the world.Almost every visitor to Chicago finds themselves taking in the awe-inspiring reflective surface of The...
2 New Airport Lounges That Make Us Want to Miss Our Flight
They are a calm oasis in the heart of the hustle and bustle of an airport, and among the few places where air travel retains a sense of ceremony. Certainly, they are the very best places for people who love to remind themselves of the romance of travel by watching planes take off and land. Airport lounges have gone beyond generic luxury living rooms / bars for first-class passengers. The latest in lounges reflects the culture of the airline as...
This Old Ship is the Caribbean's Great New Dive Destination
Sunken wrecks aren’t just fascinating destinations for underwater exploration or fantasies of pirate ‘days of yore’. Properly and carefully submerged, wrecks enhance natural reef ecosystems and provide new homes for marine plants and creatures.A new submerged ship is about to become a prime diving attraction in the 2nd-largest barrier reef in the world. It will also contribute to sustainability in a number of ways.“The Wit Concrete” ship is a 375-foot long, 58-foot wide, and 38-foot deep ship originally built during WW2, one...
Tips for Traveling with Your Pet
A survey by a North American hospitality company reveals that over half of pet owners say they plan to travel with Fido or Fluffy in the coming year.And while a surprising one-third of respondents say they have a special music playlist for their beloved animals, less than 10% have prepared for their trip by doing online research about traveling with their pets.Well, we’ve come to the rescue.If you just can’t bear to leave your animal companion at home while you...
Rum and Cigar Festival Elevates St. Barts to New Levels of Luxury Island Lifestyle
It’s a tiny island with a big reputation as one of the most chic destinations in the Caribbean. Legendary St. Barts combines French ‘art de vivre’ with a lush tropical setting and an exclusive atmosphere. If you’ve been waiting to discover – or re-visit – this jewel of the islands, there may be no better time than November. That’s when the Caribbean Rum Awards bring island luminaries and rum and cigar VIP’s from around the world together to celebrate two island...
Where to Find Mexico’s Most Famous Art Scene
While it was founded in the 1500’s by a monk, and its colonial center has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, San Miguel de Allende as a famous art colony dates from the Second World War. Just half a day’s drive from Mexico City in the Colonial Highlands, San Miguel is 6000 feet above sea level in Mexico’s high sierra, with cool, comfortable temperatures and clear mountain air year round. After the war, US veterans covered by the GI Bill started...
4 Things You Must Do in the 'Canoe Capital of the World'
Canoes have become the ultimate symbol of Canada’s sub-Arctic indigenous people. Living where there are more freshwater lakes and rivers than anywhere else on the planet, they became one of the great inland water travelling cultures of the world.European arrivals quickly came to appreciate the indigenous people’s mastery of building and navigating their canoes. ‘Voyageurs’ and trappers adopted indigenous peoples’ perfectly adapted vessels to explore Canada. Canoes became entrenched into Canada’s history, culture and lifestyle from its earliest years.Peterborough and...
Celebrate World Elephant Day Watching this New Film About Rehabilitating Elephants to the Wild in Kenya
Whether African or Asian, elephants around the world are revered for their majesty, intelligence, and as an example of astonishing sensitivity in one of the world’s largest creatures.Seeing elephants in their natural setting remains a touchstone of travel for many who have African safaris on their bucket lists.August 12th is World Elephant Day, which celebrates these magnificent creatures. It also asks people the world over to come together to conserve elephant habitats in the wild, and protect them from threats...
These Famous Spa Destinations are Now UNESCO Sites
In 2021, UNESCO created a new, transnational World Heritage site: 11 towns in 7 European countries that collectively make up The Great Spa Towns of Europe.All of the towns developed around natural mineral water springs, many of which were used therapeutically from Europe’s earliest history. Together, the Great Spa Towns of Europe represent the international European spa culture that grew between the early 1700’s and 20th century, leading to the development of grand international spa resorts with buildings and rooms dedicated...
Discover the Mystical 'Blue Holes' of The Bahamas
There are more ‘Blue Holes’ in The Bahamas than anywhere else in the world, as well as the deepest Blue Hole on earth. From the surface, they can appear mythical, and in fact, Blue Holes feature in a number of Bahamian marine legends. But these distinct circles of dark blue water surrounded by an ocean of brilliant cerulean blue are not portals to a mystical netherworld. They are the entrance to aquatic sinkholes and underwater caves. Exploring Blue Holes is a highlight...