Travel Stories, Cruise Reviews, and Cultural Adventures

STOCKHOLM is a city of water, museums, street markets, stately squares, lively arts, buskers, pomp and subway art to knock your socks off. It's a city of contrasts, home to the Nobel Prize ceremonies, a museum celebrating the musical group, ABBA, a famous ship museum and a connection to rock legend Frank Zappa. Inhabited for years by the Danes, it has been Swedish territory since 1523 and underwent a renaissance in the 18th century.

Cruising is making a slow comeback, since this popular mode of travel was abruptly halted in the early days of the COVID-19 virus. Here,...

After a closure of nearly three months, Yusupov Palace is again open. Its opulent rooms and appointments reflect the grandeur of royalty...

St. Petersburg's architecture reflects its glory days as a city in Imperial Russia. The Hermitage Museum is home to one of the world's...

Tallinn's Old Town is one of the best preserved of any city in the world. Tourism opens up there this week. A stunning 19th Century...

This sleepy little corner of Guatemala has been promoting many things to do in Lake Atitlan. It's a wonderful place to get away from it all and relax.

Guatemala offers access to the Mayan culture's spectacular archeological sites, where one can actually walk through (and surprisingly "on") some beautiful monuments and ruins.

If the Amalfi Coast calls you, Naples is where you'll likely land first, via airplane or ship. Then on to Positano, or perhaps charming...

New Year's Eve lights are spectacular in Bangkok, from the beautiful hotels and a dinner cruise on the Chao Phraya River. Times Square in...

Italy's Amalfi coast boasts winding roads with lovely views of the bay and water life below. Honolulu's harbor has beauty and history,...

With America's 250th birthday just around the corner, there has never been a more exciting time to visit New York City. The nation's largest city is preparing for historic celebrations, while the annual Fourth of July festivities already showcase the patriotic spirit that makes New York a must-see destination. From iconic landmarks and world-famous museums to spectacular waterfront events, tall ships, and dazzling fireworks over the harbor, New York offers visitors a front-ro

Bromeliad, heliconia, anthurium, ginger, mango, spider lily and more await viewers at Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden. A gecko suns...

The quaint, colorful fishing village of Burano boasts some of the world's finest lace and high-end clothing shops. MINUTES FROM VENICE BUT A WORLD AWAY, A THE LAGOON ISLANDS FORM A QUARTET OF CHARMING ISLANDS BECKONS THE TOURIST STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER "The Carpe Diem Kids" A master craftsman demonstrates his glass-making skills on Murano. WHEN IN VENICE, don't miss the opportunity to take a side trip to Italy's lovely and nearby lagoon islands of Mur

Venice remains one of the world’s most magical destinations, where centuries of art, history, and culture rise from the water. Our visit revealed both the romance of the floating city and the growing challenges of over tourism, including new visitor taxes designed to protect this unforgettable Italian treasure.

The sting rays we swam with were friendly and enjoy people. The creature has one or more large sharp barbed dorsal spines near the base...

Fort Lauderdale's beautifully renovated Hilton Double Tree Gallery One offers all-suite accommodations, gorgeous views of the city's famous waterways, a handsomely designed patio for relaxing and dining, fine contemporary artwork and easy access to the city's famed Water Taxi service which makes a regular stop here. Here's the view from our suite. STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER On a recent sunny day, Fort Lauderdale's popular Water Taxis were enjoyed by an

Norwegian Cruise Line's colorful design carries through inside, with lively contemporary art and many other enticements. NCL's Spirit,...

Flamenco dancers dazzle with their movements and hypnotic footwork. CENTURIES OLD DANCE TRADITION LIVES ON IN ENGAGING SPANISH VENUES STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER The swirling and twirling of scarves is part of the flamenco tradition. AS A YOUNG bride on honeymoon in Granada, I witnessed my first flamenco dance. I was mesmerized. The dancers were a mix of ages and shapes, but all had the expressive moves down pat -- their arms and feet moving in time to

Keller and Cookie 10 days post-transplant at SeaWorld's media day. New Yorker Dr. Jonathan Fisher was chief surgeon for the...

Here in late November, Paris streets are not jam-packed as in the summer. Here, the boulevard by Notre Dame Cathedral is sparsely...