Travel Stories, Cruise Reviews, and Cultural Adventures

A fine place to start your tour of Madrid is at the Royal Palace, where nearby is an 8th Century Arab wall. STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS...

Toledo stands proud on the plains of La Mancha, a testimony to the possibility that three cultures can coexist in peace. HISTORIC CITY IS...

Donkey Tours of Barcelona boasts one of the most engaging guides two veteran travelers have experienced in decades of globe trotting. ...

The glories of the Amalfi Coast come alive with Can't Be Missed Tours, known for intimate exposure to the landscape. The personalized...

Each room of Filoli is artfully decorated for the holidays. This one showcases a painting of the flower-loving second owner. UNIQUE...

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

With her sails unfurled, the world's oldest still functioning sailing vessel will soon take to San Diego Bay. WORLD'S OLDEST STILL...

The Dukes of Dixieland have been around New Orleans for decades. They specialize in traditional New Orleans jazz. THE BIG EASY SURVIVES...

The view from a high room at Harvey's Lake Tahoe is stunning. Snow remains on the mountain tops most of the year, and that will increase...

Internationally known sculptor Mark Di Suvero 's brightly colored "Proverb" has a pendulum element that moves. Happy after a recent...

Elliana Broscious, eight, had never touched a cello, but was making a pleasant sound by the end of an impromptu lesson. FAMILY CONCERTS...

AS THE CANNES FILM FESTIVAL GEARS UP, A LOOK AT THIS SEDUCTIVE, SUNNY, PRICEY CITY Water is central to life in Cannes, and every manner...

The Bluewater Boathouse, near Hotel del Coronado stands stately on a recent rainy evening. The restaurant mimics the beautiful Hotel Del architecture, lovely by day or night. Hornblower Cruises offers a lovely dinner cruise, passing under the majestic Coronado Bridge with a view of The Del and the Boathouse. Consider Hornblower for its popular Sights and Sips. 'THE ISLAND' HAS CHARM, EXCITING DINING, GREAT THEATER, A CLASSIC CALIFORNIA HOTEL STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS

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.

San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge is known worldwide for its dramatic bridge towers. Since 1941, it has been featured in a wide range of movies -- from suspense dramas to family fare and science fiction. WORLD'S MOST FAMOUS BRIDGE CELEBRATES 81 YEARS WITH DOZENS OF FILM APPEARANCES -- CAMEOS TO STARRING ROLES Tourists and locals alike traverse the bridge on foot, by car, bike and even aboard a vintage fire truck. Hollywood has shot many pictures on and around her. 'San F

Step onto the sacred island of Delos, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where mythology, ancient ruins, and Aegean beauty converge. Wander through marble streets, crumbling temples, and the legendary birthplace of Apollo, just a short boat ride from Mykonos.

Malta's famed Blue Grotto is an enchanting series of caves accessed by small boats to the delight of worldwide tourists. Mesmerize: to...

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.

The Spanish mission-style structure is the crowning jewel of a charming downtown which includes galleries, museums, bistros, taverns and a performing arts center. The inn is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is a State of California Historic Landmark, and is a member of Historic Hotels of America. Tours of the property are available through the Mission Inn Foundation, which operates the enterprise.

The Ahmanson Theater in Los Angeles is the perfect venue for a beautifully staged "Bright Star," with a bluegrass band on stage, and a full pit orchestra in the traditional place below. The show is spectacularly staged. MUSICAL EARNS BRAVOS, STANDING OVATIONS IN ITS TOE-TAPPING REINCARNATION Carmen Cusack's lovely leading lady role makes the audience laugh -- and cry -- in "Bright Star." The actress played the role of Alice on Broadway. STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By B