A historic walking tour of Cigar City in Tampa, Florida, reveals the genius of Vicente Martinez-Ybor, quite possibly America’s first Hispanic entrepreneur who, in 1886, orchestrated the development of Ybor City, now Tampa’s Historic Latin Quarter, and Florida’s first industrial town. Being in Tampa for only three days in early January, in the midst of […]
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Eureka Springs: The Halloween City
Celebrate Halloween in true haunted stye with a stay or visit to America’s Most Haunted Hotel, the historic Crescent Hotel, built in 1886 and perched on a hilltop overlooking the picturesque town of Eureka Springs, Arkansas. 1886 Crescent Hotel | Photo credit: Harrison Sutcliffe Photography Imagine a quirky village in Northwest Arkansas as ground zero for […]
Denver and the American West: Visit These 5 Historic Spots
The allure of the Wild Wild West lives on in Denver and while you’re in the Mile High City, history buff or not, it’s fun to get a feel for what epitomizes Denver, the American West: whether it be myth or half truths, the aspirations and ambitions that drove cowboys, roundups, gold boom outlaws and […]
Gems of the South: North Carolina’s Crystal Coast 2-Day Itinerary
A visit to North Carolina’s Crystal Coast is much more than a beach vacation, even with 85 miles of pristine shoreline seducing you to stay and play. Often referred to as North Carolina’s Southern Outer Banks – the Crystal Coast is full of opportunities to languish beachside, toes in sand; enjoy a multitude of water […]
Gems of the South: Beaufort and North Carolina’s Crystal Coast
This not so hidden gem of a coastal city has been racking up accolades in such noteworthy travel publications as Travel and Leisure, Budget Travel, Yachting Magazine and Coastal Living in the past five years. Could all this be true about Beaufort? America’s Favorite Town” Travel+Leisure Magazine 2014 USA Today’s Charming Small Towns […]
Hot Fun in the City: Weekend in Nashville
A weekend in Nashville is not nearly enough time to see and eat all that Music City has to offer, but here are some highlights that will certainly prove you gave it your best. What food is synonymous with Nashville? Why HOT CHICKEN, of course! Here’s a little background on the rise of this red-hot […]
Cabot Creamery and Visitors Center Among America’s Top Food Factory Tours
Fall officially arrives with the autumnal (fall) equinox on September 22nd. This auspicious date also heralds the arrival of leaf peeping season – my favorite time of year! The dramatic New England fall foliage starts in the northern New England states (Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire) typically in late September and moves down to the southern […]
Top 5 Date Night Spots in Huntington Beach
With stunning sunsets over the Pacific Ocean as a back drop and a fun-loving, surf and sand worshiping, beach sports mecca Huntington Beach is the perfect destination for an evening out. As a long-time resident of Huntington Beach, aka Surf City USA, and one who eats and drinks around town far more than I probably […]
Fresh Seafood and Hemingway in Key West #FLKeys
This post is sponsored by the Florida Keys and Key West, which I happily accepted believing that visualization is key to realization. A romanticized vision of Key West, utterly inspired by Ernest Hemingway and the movie “Key Largo”, has placed it high on my list of 1000 places to see before I die. What did Hemingway love […]
Holiday Cocktails for Bourbon Lovers
Entertaining tip #1: Welcome your guests with a distinctive cocktail that sets the tone for what’s to come. One that refreshes and tantalizes the tastebuds, but not too strong because you want your guests still upright for dessert. Leading off with a Bourbon Mai Tai presented by Chef Ouita Michel, Chef-in-Residence at Woodford Reserve, at a […]