Contributor to US News & World Report Travel and to Panorama: The Journal of Intelligent Travel. Writer addicted to sunlight and road trips. Aspiring novelist. Always curious.
The Culver Hotel: A Contemporary Time Capsule
Flatiron buildings aren’t common in Los Angeles, a city more known for horizontal mid-century sprawl than for the 1920’s desert boomtown at its true core. A few weeks after relocating from the New York City area to Culver City, a neighborhood next door to Santa Monica and a brief drive south of Beverly Hills, I was stuck in traffic—in true Southern California fashion—and found myself in the shadow of a very vertical flatiron building that looked like a slice of old New York. It stood out to m...
Wallaby and Green Ants: A Culinary Odyssey in Australia’s Northern Territory
One of the best meals in my life to date occurred when I was so jetlagged that I poured a little wine into my lap because my brain and arm had miscalculated the distance between the glass and my face. Thankfully, forkfuls of food got where they needed to go. Despite fatigue and confusion about not only my current time zone but also my hemisphere, my taste buds knew what they knew: This meal was like no other.
After three flights involving about 25 hours of travel, my first trip Down Under bro...
The Roxbury Motel: Imaginations Unleashed in the Catskills
The beauty of walking into the Catskills’ Roxbury Motel is that whatever was weighing you down that day—money, parenting, traffic—vanishes instantly. Roadside lodging rarely offers jaw-dropping moments, but as soon as you slide that key into one of the lime-green doors and step into your assigned room you’ll have one, and be too enchanted to wallow in your daily stresses.
And it doesn’t matter which room you walk into: MaryAnn’s Coconut Cream Pie (room 27) or Miss Kitty’s Saloon (room 22) or ...
Alkina Lodge: Embracing Nature in Style
There are advantages to receiving an itinerary late and not knowing where you’re going or spending the night. After an unforgettable, astonishingly beautiful drive along Australia’s Victorian coast, my group turned inland onto a winding road in Wattle Hill, and then we were in a driveway attached to what looked like a bunch of Legos. We got out of the van and were enthusiastically told by our hosts that dinner would be ready soon.
Then we went inside the hotel and saw our rooms.
Alkina Lodge ...
Aside Macau’s Casinos, a Thriving 16th Century City
Ask a resident of Macau where to buy the freshest egg tart or enjoy a phoenix egg roll, and you’ll likely get an answer you can’t plug into Google Maps. The response may begin with something along the lines of: “Turn left at the McDonald’s, walk a few blocks, make a right, maybe another block or two, look for that church, St. Dominic’s, there’s a street off that,” which might leave any visitor at a loss.
That’s because the Macanese don’t follow official street names, which are written in both...
Obsessions: Hotel Pools
My essay about my lifelong obsession with hotel swimming pools around the world.
Bellfire Tipi: A Fine-Tuned Twist on Glamping
We arrived in darkness, late because of Friday night traffic on I-87 North, everyone escaping Manhattan at the same time for someplace quieter. With a few stars not really lighting our way, we used our iPhones as lanterns as we were guided through a field towards the edge of some woods. Here, in Roxbury, New York, in the heart of the Catskills, our hosts maintain a tipi. We slept in it that night, but didn’t truly see where we were until the following morning. Trees. Charm. Birds singing. It ...
I only had one child. It was the best decision I've ever made.
There's something about holding someone else's baby that makes people ask you if and when you're having a child of your own. And if you already have a kid, they want to know when you'll be having another.
Open: Alive Among Italy's Dead
Less than 9km from Mount Vesuvius, near the entrance to Pompeii, a vendor sells bottles resembling penises. The corked bottles are red, white, blue, and yellow and painted with kissy faces or with sad or surprised expressions.
Top Ways to Save on Your Next New York City Vacation | U.S. News ...
Take a bite of the Big Apple without breaking the bank.
5 Top Places to Enjoy a Slice of New York City Pizza - Locals' Picks ...
Whether you crave a pie with extra cheese or something more avant-garde, New York's got you covered.
5 Rooftop Bars With the Best Views of New York City - Locals' Picks ...
There's no better way to take in New York City's famous skyline than from above with a cocktail in hand.
Travel and Adventure | GEICO
America’s National Parks: Celebrating An Incredible First 100 Years
The holidays aren’t a big, happy family celebration for everyone. And that’s okay. - The Washington Post
The holidays aren’t a big, happy family celebratio...
5 Can't-Miss Museums in New York City | U.S. News Travel
Some of the world's finest museums housing vast collections of art, history and modern memorabilia can be found in New York City. Whatever your interests, the Big Apple likely has a museum dedicated to it.