Mellow out in Santa Barbara and environs
If you asked Americans where they would live if money were no object, Santa Barbara would be near the top of the list. With a mild Mediterranean climate, wide beaches and excellent wineries just over the mountains, this coastal California city has been called the American Riviera. But visitors don’t have to spend a bundle to enjoy the region’s many charms. In August my wife,... READ MORE
Fall travel: Deals are nearly nonexistent
As suppressed demand surges, fall travel this year is likely to near, or even exceed, pre-pandemic levels. One of the results of high demand is that deals will be harder than ever to find. I’ll do the best I can to point out some of your best bets, but don’t expect to find any “secret” miracle pricing tools. No matter where or how you travel, your trip will be constrained by... READ MORE
Finding companions for older travelers
Dear Savvy Senior, My son is getting married in the fall and would love for my parents to attend. But they’re both in their 80s with health issues, so they’ll need help getting there. Can you direct me to any travel escort services that can help us? —Looking for Assistance Dear Looking, Traveling today can be challenging under the best circumstances, but for seniors with... READ MORE
Cultural treats in small-town Andalucia
The American image of Spain is Andalucia: the home of bullfights, flamenco, gazpacho and pristine whitewashed hill towns. This southern part of the country feels more quintessentially Spanish than perhaps anywhere else. When visiting this area, I always make a point to venture into what’s called the Route of the White Hill Towns (Ruta de los Pueblos Blancos), a charm bracelet of cute... READ MORE
A blast from the past: Jekyll Island resort
Watching HBO’s “The Gilded Age” during the pandemic, I wished I could be part of that era, if only for a short time — to wander through an opulent mansion, play croquet on a grand lawn, and have a drink beside a crackling fireplace. Jekyll Island — one of the Golden Isles of coastal Georgia, midway between Savannah and Jacksonville — seemed like the perfect setting to... READ MORE
The top U.S. city to visit: Charleston, S.C.
From sprawling live oak trees draped in Spanish moss, to horse-drawn carriages clip-clopping over cobblestoned streets, to historic houses in pastel hues, Charleston, South Carolina, transports visitors to another era. A thriving culinary scene and proximity to pristine beaches helped inspire Travel & Leisure magazine readers to choose it as the top U.S. city to visit for the 10th... READ MORE
“Voluntouring” for mind, body and spirit
At nighttime in Botswana’s pitch-black Okavango Delta, I sat astride a 1,000-pound Nile crocodile while a scientist probed the croc’s posterior. A hippopotamus snorted within earshot. Years later, while visiting California’s Catalina Island, I searched the sand on hands and knees for nurdles, plastic orbs the size of a pencil eraser. On both trips, I was helping scientists with... READ MORE
Time to plan fall leaf-peeping excursions
In case you haven’t already started, it’s time to plan for any fall foliage trips you might want to take. Although New England has pushed the idea that it is fall foliage central, you can find good fall foliage viewing throughout much of the U.S. and Canada — maples, oaks and such east of the Mississippi; aspens in the Rockies. Peak times typically move from north to south between... READ MORE
Paradise Coast: Naples and Marco Island
It had been two years since my husband and I had flown anywhere for a vacation. We felt like bears emerging from hibernation — or maybe more like Rip Van Winkle. So, last spring, not quite ready to travel abroad and risk being stranded if we got Covid, we chose as our first venture the “Paradise Coast” of Southwest Florida. Along this 18-mile stretch are a pair of gems, Naples... READ MORE
3 travel lessons I wish I’d learned sooner
Almost every trip I take teaches me something about myself, the world, and what not to do next time. Here are three hard-won travel lessons that may help you learn from my mistakes: Cobbling together flights isn’t worth the savings Whenever possible, I book nonstop flights. Nonstops may cost a bit more, but they avoid the inconvenience of layovers and the stress of possibly missing a... READ MORE
