North to Alaska

Family foursome explores frigid, fabulous northland

Published on 3/01/09

The 6am wakeup call our first morning aboard ship was a bit of a rude awakening, but we dutifully vaulted out of our beds, threw our parkas over our fleecy PJs, and trotted out on deck. It was cold all right, but we were so stunned by the beauty of towering mountains banded in mist we didn’t much notice. (Besides, we had the always-open coffee-cocoa-hot cider station just inside so we had mugs of hot drinks to warm us.) Read More »

The High Country

On a pilgrimage to Machu Picchu

Published on 12/01/08

At its core, the Peruvian city of Cusco retains the feeling of a rural, ancient village, with its mixed architectural heritage of Incan and Spanish colonial—the conquered and, at least for a while, the conqueror—even though a third of a million people live here. Cusco is the regional capital, located in a high, wide valley in the eastern part of the country. It is also the jumping off point for anyone who wants to visit Machu Picchu, the legendary Incan mountain fortress that the Spanish never found. Read More »

The Five Best Things About New Orleans

Some things never change

Published on 9/01/08

New Orleans—tropical in climate, lush in setting, exotic in architecture, sensual in atmosphere. A place of mysteries—especially at night. Read More »

Whistler Hums With Summertime Fun

A resort for all seasons

Published on 7/01/08

Call me Goldilocks. When it comes to vacation destinations, I’m as particular as that fairy tale gal. So, after successive summer trips to ski resorts in Colorado (too high) and Virginia (too humid), I was overjoyed to find the perfect spot for my active three-generation family: Whistler, British Columbia. Read More »