It’s been five years since I last sailed on AmaMagna. Back then, I was blown away by her size, as she sits at twice the width of traditional river cruise ships. But after half a decade of river cruising for the site and stepping aboard more river cruise ships than ever, I can confidently say that her size stood out even more this time around. And her size isn’t just a novelty. It makes life …
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When you think of US destinations that embody the “travel as a living classroom” theme, Washington DC is undoubtedly at the top of the list. With back-to-school season here, there’s no better way to enhance your child’s education than with a fun and enriching family getaway to our nation’s capital this fall. From the Lincoln Memorial to the Capitol Building and beyond, it’s an experience filled with countless teaching moments. Beyond the iconic monuments and …
The New River Gorge National Park and Preserve encompasses over 70,000 acres along the New River. The park, the most recently established US National Park, offers a wide array of easily accessible recreational opportunities for visitors, including white water rafting, fishing and rock climbing.
The New River is among the oldest rivers on the continent, flowing northward through deep canyons that it has carved over millions of years. The waterway has sculpted a rugged terrain, …
As iconic as New York City is to the USA, Mumbai is to India. This Alpha city is India’s financial powerhouse, one of the world’s top ten centers of commerce, and one of the most populous urban regions in the world. It’s the country’s fashion capital, entertainment HQ, and the trigger point of religious tension. It’s also home to one of Asia’s biggest slums, yet has some of the world’s most expensive real estate. Above …
One of my most enduring memories from our winter cruise on the Danube is from the morning we spent passing Dürnstein. We were making our way to Weißenkirchen, cruising on AmaMagna, when the fairy-tale-like town came into view, easily identifiable by its blue-and-white tower, known as Dürnstein Abbey. I had never seen Dürnstein so quiet and mystical, but then again, it was February – when few tourists wander the picturesque town.
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Have you ever finished a book and wished you could step inside its world? Perhaps walking through the rolling hills of Jane Austen’s England, sipping coffee in the Parisian cafés where Hemingway wrote, or standing on the windswept moors that inspired Wuthering Heights? Literary tourism is the a way of bringing your favorite books to life, adding a dimension to the internalization of the novel. It allows travelers to visit the places that shaped their …
When you think of the country Ireland, the color green may instantly comes to mind, as do its green patchwork and grassy hillsides. Officially known as the Republic of Ireland and nicknamed the Emerald Isle, its magical scenery attracts visitors from around the globe to gaze at the jaw-dropping landscapes and to delight in the taste of its signature drink, Guinness. A trip to Ireland is truly an inspiration.
The Ring of Kerry
Known as …
The small village of Tortuguero is tucked away in the northeastern corner of Costa Rica, within a vast protected national park. It is one of the most important nesting sites for sea turtles in the Western Hemisphere. Each year, thousands of endangered green turtles arrive en masse to lay their eggs on the long, isolated stretches of beach. Here, you can witness one of nature’s most marvelous ancient reproductive rituals.
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I arrived in Brussels with a half empty suitcase, a few dozen Euros and a mission: to scour the Belgian capital for the best chocolate money could buy and to fill my suitcase with the rich, creamy fruits of my labor.
With dozens of shops, workshops, tastings and an even an entire museum devoted to chocolate, however, Brussels can be a bit overwhelming— even for serious chocoholics. As it does with most things, the city …
The chilled seaside city of Essaouira lies a mere three hours away from Marrakech by bus. A perfect antidote to the chaos of the metropolis, its atmospheric and bustling medina is magnificently located next to a long stretch of sandy beach and the crashing Atlantic Ocean. Essaouira offers an ideal combination of beach life and Moroccan culture and is also an excellent destination for a winter break, with daytime temperatures remaining balmy throughout the year.…
Everything can happen in just a day on Little Cayman, and then again nothing much may happen at all. Along the way, either experience becomes something to savor. Just a short flight from Grand Cayman, this corner of the western Caribbean remains one of its quietest. For those usually in a rush to do it all, be prepared to adjust quickly to the luxuriant pace of Little Cayman time–where the speed limit is usually 25 …
As the home of Mount Fuji, there’s already an expectation that Shizuoka will be a scenic delight of any trip to Japan. But outside the shadow of Japan’s highest mountain is a cultural heritage, beaches, and fresh seafood cuisine.
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Anyone who has seen any footage of the recent fires in Southern California has to have been terrified. It looked as though Los Angeles, long seen by the world as a heavenly place, had been turned into a flaming inferno. The spreading, engulfing flames carried by high winds were beyond any human efforts to resist. It defied belief and still does. The situation is literally beyond comprehension.
California has suffered one of the worst disasters …
A Mississippi River cruise has been on my radar for a while, but 2025 might actually be the year I stop talking about it and actually do it. Europe always entices me, with its beautiful landscapes and rich history, but why do I tend to forget about the river cruise experience that’s just a short, single-connection flight away?…