Clothing-optional vacations are like all other vacations, except many of your companions will not be wearing clothing. Stripped down to its essentials, clothing optional means just that: clothing may or may not be worn at an individual’s discretion. The related term “nudist” has a somewhat different meaning. At nudist resorts,…

With a super long Adriatic coastline, over 1200 islands and islets, beaches lapped by crystal clear waters, and dozens of scenic coastal towns, the best way to see Croatia by far is by boat. Forget what you think you know about cruise ships. A much more comfortable and convenient way…

More than 15 years after it was enacted, the number of Americans with driver’s licenses or identification cards that are REAL ID-compliant remains low. The enforcement deadline for the REAL ID Act is drawing near. Starting May 3, 2023, the Transportation Security Admission (TSA) will require travelers ages 18 years…

With almost perfect temperatures the whole year, the Canary Islands are a popular getaway for travelers. Particularly Tenerife, the most populous island in the chain. Picturesque sand beaches stretch along the coasts surrounding cloud-covered mountains, and small villages once lost to volcanic explosions have been born anew. A flourishing culture…

A free service with the potential to speed up entry at a number of U.S. ports and airports, the Mobile Passport Control app (MPC app) should be on your radar. The program essentially generates the required customs form on your Apple or Android iPhone and expedites your processing time when…

For three days each year in August, more than 20,000 people converge on Killorglin in Kerry in Southwest Ireland for the coronation of a goat. But not just any goat. No sir. That is King Puck on the stage in the center of town overlooking the river Laune. It is…

Is it really possible that less is more? If you are talking about small ship and niche cruising, the answer is a definitive “Yes!” Whether you want to cruise on a tall-masted ship, sail the Amazon, visit small, secluded islands or see Antarctica up close and personal, niche cruising offers…

St. Petersburg is a city that has made one of the most remarkable urban turnarounds in American history. I used to travel to St. Petersburg occasionally on business in the late-90’s. Back then, it seemed a somewhat nondescript small city without a bustling business scene…but with an aging infrastructure and…

Tracing your cultural heritage and family genealogy is a fascinating undertaking. Family origins have an interest that goes beyond mere intellectual curiosity. We feel bound by our connections to the past, by archetypal respect for all that has come before us. The mystery of your family’s origins is waiting to…

According to the Icelandic Ministry for Foreign Affairs, a small volcanic eruption occurred in southwest Iceland, approximately 20 miles from Reykjavik and 10 miles from Keflavik International Airport. A YouTube livestream of the eruption showed lava pouring from a fissure reported by the Iceland Monitor. According to the Icelandic Ministry…

New York City has The Hamptons. Los Angeles has Palm Springs. Denver has Aspen. For many years, the vacation playground for the rich and famous in Chicago was Lake Geneva.  This Wisconsin resort town, only about an hour from the Windy City, has since evolved as a destination accessible for…

The first time I visited Santiago five years ago, I loved it so much that I thought it could be fun to live there for a while. It felt big enough to be lively and small enough to manage, with stunning scenery and a cosmopolitan flair. Now I’m sitting on…