Search Results: Garden Tours (78)

Just a stone’s throw north of Tampa on Florida’s Gulf Coast is Tarpon Springs—an enclave that, with a hint of imagination, mirrors the charm of distant Mykonos. The town’s fortunes started in 1887 with the arrival of railroad service north all the way to New York, but sprang to life at the dawn of the 20th century by the discovery of rich sponge beds just offshore. The arrival of Greek sponge divers in 1905 from …

Amsterdam is the beautiful capital city of the Netherlands. It is a city steeped deep in 17th-century history through its buildings, streets, and canal ways. It is home to windmills or windmolen as they say in Dutch – the language of Holland. There were once 10,000 working windmills in this region which have withered down to a mere 1000. They were once used to produce flour, mustard, and oil and are an inherent part of …

The coast of Portugal’s southernmost region, the Algarve, is a chain of old fishing villages that have, over time, transformed into charming resort towns adorned with steep cliffs, secret caverns, and wonderful sandy shores. One such beach town was just named the “best in the world.” The accolade was bestowed upon Praia da Falésia, a name that aptly translates to “cliff beach” in Portuguese. This beach is beautifully positioned between the towns of Albufeira and …

Thirteen minutes—that’s all it took to arrive in Barcelona and encounter one of its greatest claims to fame—the slickest pickpockets in Europe. If you’re going to hit, best get hit by a professional, I always say. And they’re at their slickest and quickest on the underground trains at Barcelona Sants railway station. Barcelona treats its notoriety as a pickpocketer’s playground with a zesty inverted snobbery, with the landlord of the apartment I was renting cheerfully …

If I ask you to describe a sommelier, you’ll almost inevitably picture a man. White and middle aged, perhaps a little portly, and with a slightly intimidating air.

The exact opposite of Karla Abarca, who gives a huge grin as she swirls some wine around in her glass, raises it up with her tattooed arms, and takes a big, appreciative gulp. She’s a tiny powerhouse, young and lively, cheeky and irreverent, and she giggles when …

The San Juan Islands afford visitors to the greater Seattle area the opportunity for a quick overnight or weekend connection with the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest. On these islands, which are located about three and half hours from Seattle, nature lovers can unwind sans the kitsch that characterizes those seaside island communities marketing themselves to the tourist trade.

The first part of this journey is getting to the islands. While 172 named islands …

Green Bay, Wisconsin, is not well known beyond the legendary Packers who call it home, but a AAA Four Diamond hotel and a growing complex of food and fun are helping to make it a place everyone wants to visit.

The Full Packers Experience…

In full disclosure, I am not a football fan. I will go to an Illini college game to support my local team, but you’ll never catch me tuning into an NFL …

Rwanda. The Land of a Thousand Hills and the horrific genocide of 1994. One of the most rapidly developing countries in Africa, where still one-quarter of the population is illiterate. A country with many faces, which after years of turmoil, has risen and is becoming an increasingly popular travel destination.

What should you know before visiting Rwanda?

First and foremost, Rwanda is very safe! Over the last 30 years, the country has made huge progress …

It’s no coincidence that some of the most pristine places in the world are also the most inhospitable.

If a place is easy to reach and nice enough to stay, people flock there in droves, settle down, and gradually destroy the beautiful scenery that attracted them in the first place. It’s far better to have a hostile climate if you want to protect nature. Forgive the philosophy, but those are the things you ponder when …

Recoleta Cemetery in Buenos Aires, Argentina, is not only a place of rest for the deceased but also an important cultural attraction in the city. Cementerio de la Recoleta in Spanish, is a famous burial ground located in the heart of Buenos Aires. The cemetery has a rich history and is considered one of the most beautiful and important cemeteries in the world.

 Recoleta Cemetery was first opened in 1822. At the time, the cemetery …

Portugal’s enchanting second city, Porto, has gained much attention over the last few years, and it’s easy to understand why. From hip bars to ancient cobbled alleyways, Porto has finally hit the travel headlines and become one of Europe’s hottest destinations. The architecture is diverse and eye-catching, whether it’s the colorful, intricately designed tiles (azulejos) or the abundant ornate churches.

Located on the hills of the Douro River, the city retains a gritty quality that …

The poor waiter looks terrified as our group of 10 descends on what our tour leader assures us is a restaurant. The shabby building looks more like a motor mechanic’s workshop – a suspicion that’s reinforced when we have to carry in spare chairs and tables to make a place to dine. Still, a menu appears that we take turns reading, and we thirstily order drinks. A long time passes before they arrive, then the …

Brrr, it’s getting cold outside! The temperatures are dropping, the days are getting shorter, and keeping warm inside the house has become a top priority. But fortunately for travelers who are seeking a winter vacation, there are destinations where temperatures are well above freezing. 

So, where can you go? Well, there are five continents to choose from that can easily fulfill the two essential components of a good winter getaway: sun and beautiful beaches. Here …