ArcaMax

By Nicola Bridges

Do you dream of attending a meditative retreat in a faraway Zen destination such as Bali or Costa Rica but can't afford the cost or time off? Then do what I did and create your very own home staycation retreat that you can go to again and again and forever -- and for a fraction of the cost. All it takes is a quiet space...Read more

By Victor Block

Last winter, Ben Keenan packed a suitcase, told friends he was departing and left Seattle, Washington, for a warmer destination. His goal: to learn whether he could live for a month at an all-inclusive resort for what it cost him at home.

On a monthly basis, Ben spent about $4,000 for rent, utilities, food and other ...Read more

By Victor Block

If you love history, I have a trail for you. Are you more of an architecture admirer? Maybe your preference is following a path to favorite foods. You're also in luck.

An extensive choice of driving and hiking paths around the country delve into a variety of interests and hobbies. From architecture and art to waterfalls ...Read more

By Bonnie Neely

Clinton, South Carolina, is the home of Presbyterian College, founded in 1880. The classic Southern campus is complete with stately brick buildings and decades-old trees. This is perhaps why it was selected as the site for filming some of the thriller movie "Sleeping With the Enemy."

Clinton used to be a mill town and is...Read more

By Margot Black

Ibiza holds a special place in my heart. My first encounter with this eclectic island was when I studied abroad during college. It was my American and Spanish friends who introduced me to this beautiful Mediterranean isle, known for its bohemian spirit, lively nightlife and stunning beaches.

Back in the 1990s, Ibiza, the...Read more

By Margot Black

Visualize waking up to the sound of gentle waves lapping against the harbor walls and opening your window to a panoramic view of the sparkling Mediterranean Sea. This blissful tableau can become a reality on Mallorca, which boasts a rich cultural heritage, blending influences from its Roman, Byzantine and Moorish past.

...Read more

By Victor Block

As I was perusing the menu at a restaurant while visiting Cologne, Germany, an English-speaking resident of the city seated at the next table asked if she could see my bill of fare. Glancing at the prices, she showed me her menu and pointed out that the cost for the same items was quite a bit lower. She was nice enough to...Read more

By Fyllis Hockman

I'm sitting on the beach doing nothing. I did the same thing yesterday. I also did nothing sitting on my hotel balcony. OK, I was listening to the waves, but doing certain things is allowed -- reading, for instance. I have a couple of days left to my vacation, and I plan to do nothing in them also. But I'm finding that ...Read more

By Margot Black

Barcelona, the capital of the Catalan region of Spain, is the all-you-can-eat buffet of city visits. There are so many things to see, do and taste that it's a crime that you can't try them all. This heady mix makes it the ultimate destination for family adventures, and even our arrival happened on a turbocharged note as ...Read more

By Margot Black

At the heart of Spain, dynamic Madrid effortlessly combines Old World charm with vibrant modernity. I spent time studying in the city during my college years and had long wished to return with my husband and teenage son. Our recent trip didn't disappoint: The city remains a captivating blend of old and new, offering ...Read more

By Margot Black

The amount of words written about New York could fill Central Park a hundred times over, but there's always something fresh, fanciful and fun to discover. Growing up on the East Coast, I consider the city to be part of my DNA, but on this trip, I fell in love with it all over again.

I traveled across the country from Los...Read more

By Nicola Bridges

If you're looking for a very special, imaginative, enchanting and entertaining place to enthrall your kids when traveling in San Diego, California, there aren't many children's museums or contemporary art spaces quite like The New Children's Museum. Located close to San Diego Bay's harbor, NCM is a collaboration with ...Read more

By Athena Lucero

It's a fact: Cheese makes you happy. So that explains why partygoers hover around the cheeseboard. Whether made from the milk of cows, buffaloes, sheep or goats, this phenomenon has been studied by scientists around the world (more on this later).

Considered an ancient food, cheese made its way to California when ...Read more

By Nicola Bridges

San Diego Botanic Garden is an urban oasis for plant-loving adults. Four miles of trails meander through 37 acres, featuring more than 5,000 plant species in 29 uniquely themed gardens representing more than 15 different domestic and worldwide habits.

For children, it's a natural wonderland, home to three children's ...Read more

By Nicola Bridges

No matter how much you like to travel, there are times when boredom kicks in and you need to keep your children -- or your adult traveling companions -- entertained. Some of my best memories from childhood travels are the card game sessions of Old Maid, Go Fish and Kings in the Corner. Cards are such a compact game to ...Read more

By Victor Block

I took an architecture appreciation class years ago, and the instructor gave me two suggestions that have stuck with me ever since. The first was: Look up. Adhering to his advice, during my travels around the Unites States and the world I have admired and enjoyed features on buildings I would otherwise have missed -- ...Read more

By Candyce H. Stapen

Sharing favorite pursuits with the family's youngsters is one of the many pleasures of a multigenerational vacation. Snorkeling with them above blue tang and purple and pink dappled parrotfish at Buck Island Reef National Monument off St. Croix proved a highlight, even if everything didn't go as planned.

We chose St...Read more

By Bonnie and Bill Neely

Universal Studios and Walt Disney World are certainly the top attractions in Orlando, Florida, but we're glad we included some others when we took our 17-year-old grandson for his birthday. He is a born naturalist, and his favorite creatures include all the creepy-crawly species.

Gatorland wildlife park is a ...Read more

By Sharon Whitley Larsen

Whenever my husband, Carl, and I arrived early for dinner in the main dining room on the Holland America Rotterdam, staff members in the reception area would enthusiastically smile and wave. It always made me feel like royalty. I could forget the world's tragic problems, relax and have fun, and be served a ...Read more

By Victor Block

If the word "castle" conjures up images of turreted medieval strongholds scattered around Europe, that's no surprise. Beginning in the 11th century, rulers there built fortresses to demonstrate their wealth and power and provide safety from attack.

An estimated 25,000 such citadels still stand in Germany, about 11,000 ...Read more