The Phoenician may be known for its seven pools and magnificent spa in the shadow of Camelback Mountain, but it also has something special and unique to the desert landscape in its oasis, a desert garden where one can go to ...Read More

Growing up in the 80s, one of my favorite TV shows was Cheers, where "everybody knows your name". Moving around as much as I have, and with the constant desire to travel, that kind of place was always reserved for ...Read More

The oldest commercial district in North America, the Rue Petit-Champlain in Old Quebec is a holiday extravaganza during the month of December. At the base of Cap Diamant where the Chateau Frontenac sits grandly overseeing the river and city, the ...Read More

  Three years ago, we did a hile on Scaly mountain on our vacation in North Carolina. The hike wasn’t that difficult, 1.5 miles to the top with a roundtrip of 3 miles. Before we started, I asked Tom if he was ...Read More

Caves have a unique beauty all their own. A secret world filled with unusual landscapes and architecture, a home for creepy night crawlers.   Driving up to the little trailer-size gift shop, you would never know that you were standing on top ...Read More

Banner Elk is smack dab in the center of mountainous country, beautiful, yes, but a lot of up and down, perfect for skiing in the winter and hiking in the summer. I researched different hikes in the area, and many ...Read More

For a little Friday fun, how many brands can you find in this one picture?     Read More

Experiencing local cuisine is usually at the top of a traveler's list. How do the locals prepare a familiar or unfamiliar dish? How is it different from my favorite ethnic restaurant back home? What's special about this particular cuisine in this particular region? Playa del Carmen is known ...Read More

Our first destination after landing in Phoenix was Barrio Cafe. Chef Sylvana was there to greet us at the door. Whether she greets all her clientele or we just had the lucky chance encounter, I don't know, but it was a nice ...Read More

Americans are used to one-stop-discount-shops where they can pop in for all their groceries, electronic and household needs. So as non-native as these bargain warehouses are, it's a really smart idea of Playa del Carmen to cater to the mass ...Read More