Travel Stories, Cruise Reviews, and Cultural Adventures

Tokyo is a city of contrasts and art, and nowhere did we feel that more than during our stay at Park Hotel Tokyo. Rising above the skyline in Shiodome, this artistic luxury hotel offered a completely different perspective of Japan: modern, elevated, creative, and endlessly inspiring. From artist-designed rooms and sweeping city views to unforgettable evenings exploring Tokyo’s vibrant neighborhoods, Park Hotel Tokyo became our gateway into the contemporary soul of the city.

Blending modern comfort with traditional Japanese culture, Shiba Park Hotel offers travelers an immersive stay in the heart of Tokyo. From curated library collections and local artwork to kintsugi demonstrations and refined dining, this historic hotel places guests steps away from Tokyo Tower, temples, and the cultural neighborhoods that define the city.

WE'RE Big Bus junkies. We've toured dozens of the world's great cities by bus and for our time and money, there's no better tour operation. It's a reliable, pleasant, economical choice. The worldwide company Big Bus Tours offers sightseeing tours in many cities around the globe. We've hopped on and off Big Bus in Sydney, Singapore, London, Paris, New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles and recently in Vancouver.

Planning a summer trip to Mount Rushmore? Discover what to expect, the best times to visit, nearby attractions, and tips for exploring South Dakota's beautiful Black Hills.

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

Planning a day trip from Buenos Aires? Discover why Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay, is one of South America's best-kept travel secrets. Wander cobblestone streets, explore a UNESCO World Heritage Site, enjoy waterfront cafés, and continue your adventure to Punta del Este and other unforgettable destinations in Uruguay.

Sunny, creative, and effortlessly relaxed, Brisbane blends riverfront beauty with world-class dining, cultural districts, and outdoor adventure. From rooftop bars and art galleries to koala encounters and scenic ferry rides, Queensland’s capital offers travelers a vibrant Australian experience without the crowds of Sydney or Melbourne.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb is world famous for its challenge and spectacle. Below: Dwarfed by massive steel, climbers at far right make their way up the side of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Directly in front of the first climber are the steep ladders one climbs to the top

A SAIL like you've never had before. That's the promise that enticed us to book a relaxing afternoon with Adventure Cruises on a recent San Francisco visit. What a way to see the bay! As veteran Bay Area visitors and veteran sailors, we always look for something new -- on the water, if possible.

Oslo is a proud city, which grew from a rustic 9th Century village to a bustling region of nearly a million people.

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.

AS MUSICIANS and artists, we made our first tour stop in Helsinki at the memorial to the famed Finnish composer, Jean Sibelius. Aptly named the Sibelius Monument, it was erected in 1967 by Finnish sculptor Eila Hiltunen. It is a striking abstract sculpture, as impressive to the eye as the dramatic composer's work is to the ear. It can be seen from a half mile away and resembles clusters of organ pipes.

In Naples and this diverse corner of Italy you'll find ancient courtyards and grand staircases, elegant halls and busy streets, buses, busts, scooters, smokers, tourists, locals, dust, wine shops, great museums, majestic cathedrals and irreverent youth. While there, take a drive to Positano up the gorgeous Amalfi coast.

Amsterdam blends centuries of cultural heritage with a vibrant modern lifestyle. From its UNESCO-listed canals to legendary museums and historic neighborhoods, the city offers an unforgettable European travel experience filled with art, history, and atmosphere

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.

More than 135 years after opening its doors, Hotel del Coronado continues to define the Southern California beach vacation. Following a $550 million restoration and as a member of Hilton's Curio Collection, this historic beachfront resort combines Victorian elegance with modern luxury on one of San Diego's most beautiful stretches of coastline

Climbing aboard the San Diego Old Town Trolley feels a bit like stepping into a rolling postcard of the city. The bright orange and green trolley rumbles away from the historic streets of Old Town, its open-air sides letting in the salty breeze drifting up from San Diego Bay. As the conductor shares colorful stories from the city’s past, the route winds past Spanish-era landmarks, Victorian homes in the Gaslamp Quarter, and palm-lined waterfront views near the Embarcadero. Fr

Paris is as intoxicating as a cocktail or a brothel on a Saturday night, as sophisticated as the best-dressed dandy at opera's opening night. It assails the senses like no other city, beckoning one to sip of the elixir, stay a while and let Paris cast its spell.

WE SPENT a few delightful days here, on the northwest edge of Italy's boot," recharging after a week of hectic touring. We jumped ship after a rejuvenating Royal Caribbean sail aboard Brilliance of the Seas, and returned to Monterosso al Mare. Cinque Terre is nestled between the Italian Riviera (Liguria) and the island of Corsica, this quintet of enticing hamlets may be accessed by train or boat from La Spezia.

Chihuly Garden and Glass is an exhibit in the Seattle Center directly next to the Space Needle, showcasing the studio glass of Dale Chihuly. It opened in May 2012 at the former site of the defunct Fun Forest amusement park