Exploring Sicily’s wide range of pleasures
“You can steal my money, but not my food.” “If lunch or dinner doesn’t have at least five courses, it’s just a snack.” “If you want things to go exactly as planned, don’t come here.” These words spoken by Alessio, our tour guide in Sicily from Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT), say a lot about the island. Because Alessio dearly loves his homeland, his comments also... READ MORE
Share your skills on volunteer vacations
Dear Savvy Senior: My husband and I are approaching retirement and are interested in learning more about volunteer vacations. Can you give us some information on this travel option, and refer us to some good organizations that offer these types of trips? — Love to Travel Dear Love: If you’re looking to do more on your next vacation than relax in the sun or go sightseeing,... READ MORE
A look at new ships and trends in cruising
What’s new in cruising this year? As usual, there’s lots of razzle-dazzle — laser tag, water slides, zip lines and massive LED screens — along with a continued emphasis on healthy lifestyle options, from dining to fitness. But there are also changes underway in ship design, itineraries and who’s cruising. New ships are offering more outdoor spaces and views of the sea —... READ MORE
Taking it easy at three historic Virginia inns
Now is a good time to get out after being cooped up at home during a winter that blasted through the end of March. Virginia’s upper Shenandoah Valley provides not only entry to Shenandoah National Park but also to the 105-mile-long Skyline Drive and, connecting to it further south at Waynesboro, the Blue Ridge Parkway. By mid-to-late May in the valley, the brilliant blossoms of... READ MORE
Look at ratings to avoid the worst airports
With airport ratings, checking out the “best” list doesn’t really matter much. After all, if you want to go to Albuquerque, the fact that Orlando Airport earns better scores doesn’t help much. At the other end of the scale, however, looking at the “worst” airport lists can sometimes help you decrease your risk of problems and hassles: At a multi-airport city, you might... READ MORE
Restoring Richmond’s black American history
Ana Edwards is tackling one of Richmond’s ironies. In the heart of Richmond’s Shockoe Bottom, under the clattering, elevated lanes of Interstate-95 and two railroad tracks, is a desolate, nine-acre parcel of parking lots and an empty field. Buried under layers of asphalt, road construction detritus and the miscellany of 200-plus years of history are the unmarked graves of enslaved... READ MORE
A weight-loss spa with delectable cuisine
I’d never heard of Lo-Wei (low-weigh, get it?), a unique exercise class that combines yoga, strength training and flexibility. But it stretched my body in ways my mind never thought possible. But it is only one of almost three dozen fitness classes offered as part of the dawn-to-dusk workout, weight loss and education focus of the Deerfield Health Retreat and Spa in East Stroudsburg,... READ MORE
How tiny Andorra enchants its visitors
We were sitting on a bench-sized rock in a sunny, mint-green meadow sprinkled with wildflowers, scattered evergreens and granite outcroppings. About 1,000 feet up in the distance, the silhouettes of horses appeared on the ridge — one, two, another, then another — a herd of 50 or so wild horses. They gently picked their way down a twisty mountain path, then to the meadow’s edge... READ MORE
What if your flight is canceled or delayed?
The odds of encountering turbulence in your travel plans when you’re flying are probably lower than you think: In the first 10 months of 2017, 18.4 percent of domestic airline flights were delayed on departure, and 1.6 percent were canceled, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. But when you’re the unlucky passenger stranded at the gate with no plane in sight, knowing ... READ MORE
Understanding new State Dept. advisories
The U.S. State Department recently revised the way it classifies risks you face when visiting other countries. Each country gets a risk rating of one to four, replacing the old “warning” system. In practice, it looks like the new system will provide more useful risk assessments, but the utility of recommended precautions you should take in response to risks is underwhelming. The... READ MORE
