Published April 10, 2014 on AOL Travel || The Cherry Blossom Festival is on in Washington, DC, and after a long winter the white and pink flowers are blooming. The blossoms are expected to peak this weekend, and if you visit the Tidal Basin you’ll see more cameras than at a Hollywood red carpet. But you don’t need fancy equipment to capture memorable cherry blossom photos. Here are five tips for taking awesome cherry blossom pictures using only an iPhone. Read more…
Published March 27, 2014 on AOL Travel || After nine seasons, the How I Met Your Mother finale airs on CBS Monday, March 31 at 8 p.m. EST. Because fans are soon going to need another way to fill their Monday nights, we set out to create a legendary HIMYM tour of New York City, the sixth character in Ted, Robin, Barney, Marshall and Lily’s gang.
Could we find the real-life equivalents of our favorite places featured in the show? Challenge accepted!
Published March 4, 2014 on AOL Travel || March weather in San Diego — sunny skies and temperatures in the 70s — makes it a popular spring break hub. While the college crowds may swarm the beaches (or head south over the border), there are things to do all over the city to channel spring break. Read more…
Published February 28, 2014 on AOL Travel || Spring weather in New York may still be a month or two away, but after a winter this rough it’s time to infuse some warm-weather fun into city life. Here are our favorite “spring break” experiences in NYC — that you can even enjoy during another snow day. Read more…
Published February 28, 2014 on AOL Travel || Rio de Janeiro’s famous sites like Copacabana Beach, Sugarloaf Mountain and the Christ the Redeemer statue have been the stuff of postcards as long as people have been sending postcards. Whether you’re traveling here for Carnival, scored 2014 World Cup tickets or are just taking a Brazil vacation, here are five first-timer tips for traveling to Rio. Read more…
Published February 5, 2014 on AOL Travel || Sure, we’re all rooting for Team USA. But in the spirit of Olympic competition we wanted to know: what’s the best part of Team USA?
It turns out that when it comes to producing gold medal-winning winter Olympians, the 50 states are far from equal.
From the snowy beginning — the 1924 games, when speed skater Charles Jewtraw from New York won the first gold medal ever awarded in a Winter Olympics (USA! USA!) — up through the 2010 Vancouver games, there have been 138 winter gold medalists from the United States. Read more…
Published on February 1, 2014 on AOL Travel || From romantic beach vacations to skiing adventures to winter city breaks for a long weekend, here are our picks for places to travel in February. Read more…
Published on January 29, 2014 on AOL Travel || In tonight’s penultimate episode of Top Chef Season 11, the final three Cheftestants say goodbye to the Big Easy and arrive on the Hawaiian island of Maui. There they’ll slice, sauté and serve their way to the final, which airs February 5 at 10 p.m. ET on Bravo.
While on the Valley Isle, the chefs will be living the luxe life in the villas at the new Andaz Maui at Wailea. The hotel, on Maui’s South Shore, overlooks Mokapu Beach, which you can see in the background of this “Last Chance Kitchen” episode. The competitors also will be rubbing shoulders with Hawaiian culinary royalty: Sam Choy and Peter Merriman, two of the founders ofHawaii Regional Cuisine, and chef/owners at some of Hawaii’s most recognized restaurants. (Merriman runs Merriman’s Kapalua, and while Choy currently doesn’t have an outpost on Maui, rumor has it he’s considering a Kaanapali location.)
Following the chefs’ footsteps on Maui is easy and delicious — if you have the bank account to support it. But if you’re traveling here without a Top Chef-caliber budget or palate, and just want some ono grinds (aka yummy food), here are some must-try Maui foods, and where to eat them. Read more…
Published October 24, 2013 on AOL Travel || You’ve chosen your cruise operator and picked which river you want to explore. Your airline tickets are booked and you’re eager to relax with a glass of wine as a dreamy landscape passes by. Before you go, here are five tips to help you make the most of your river cruise adventure. Read more…
Published October 23, 2013 on AOL Travel || A castle looms larger as it gets closer, jutting out over terraced vineyard hills that slope down to the cloudy river water. A crew member appears, clean gray vest buttoned over a white collared shirt, asking if you’d like another glass of wine. You smile, nod, sink deeper into the sundeck chaise lounge and watch as your river cruise ship floats serenely along.
Dream trip, right?
For many, yes. River cruising is hot right now, with more ships and new lines flooding waterways around the world. Smaller ships and passenger loads make for a more intimate experience than ocean liners. It’s arguably more scenic, too, as you’re always close to shore.
But it’s not a one-size-fits all vacation. Read more…