All travel buffs are secretly jealous of Santa Claus. Who wouldn’t to travel around the globe in a single night, in a flying sleigh led by nine reindeer. The speed! The comfort! And no baggage restrictions! Plus, he gets to see all of the world’s best Christmas decorations. With Rudolph leading the way, here’s a [...]

— Plaza de Espana (pictured above, and in the slideshow) turned out to be my favorite sight in Seville. It was the Alcazar that earned Seville the second spot on my Lisbon-Seville-Sintra itinerary (sorry Porto — next time). I had always heard about how amazing the Alcazar was, and don’t worry, it didn’t disappoint. But I [...]

In an era of sameness and globalization, it’s amazing how a capital city like Lisbon has retained a truly unique feel. It’s just so well-preserved, and this beauty is definitely worth preserving. There’s so much to love about Lisbon’s looks — red roofs, cobblestone sidewalks, sea views — but my favorite thing is clearly the colorful [...]

Travel seems like a subject that was custom-made for social media, even though of course it predates it. Travel enthusiasts love talking about travel and bond easily over sharing stories and advice. So it’s not surprising that that the travel community has flourished on Facebook, StumbleUpon and Twitter, where it has developed an extensive list [...]

I love flowers. I love museums. So when I heard that Sarasota’s Ringling Museum of Art having a special four-day exhibit (“Ringling in Bloom”, Feb. 3—6) showcasing 24 floral arrangements inspired by the masterpieces, I was instantly intrigued. The results blew me away — the effect was amazing, as it felt like the art had [...]

Well, it wasn’t a White Christmas this year in New York City. But the day after Christmas was white. And so was the day after the day after Christmas. A powerful snow storm (complete with thunder!) pummeled the East Coast, dumping 20 inches on Central Park and 24 inches in Brooklyn. Both NYC and Boston [...]

I’ve got sheep on the brain — and for good reason. I’m taking a trip to the UK at the end of the month, and I can’t wait! I’m going to Manchester and then heading to Scotland. I’m still trying to figure out my itinerary to Scotland, but I know that I’m sure to encounter [...]

As my regular readers know, I don’t usually post photos of myself on Travelogged. But I couldn’t resist this one of me lounging at the brand-new Eloise Suite at The Plaza. No, I didn’t spend the night there — ha, don’t I wish! Yesterday, I went to a press preview of the pinkest room in [...]

Byers Lake (pictured above) is the kind of place you imagine when you think of the Alaska wilderness. It’s tranquil, pristine and beautiful. It’s not one of Alaska’s most spectacular sights — it’s no Yannert icefield, Glacier Bay National Park or even Mendenhall Glacier — but it’s quiet beauty is spectacular in its own way.

Ketchikan, Alaska, was the third and final port on my Coral Princess cruise. On Thursday morning, I left the ship and immediately joined a tour of the Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary, where I walked through dripping greenery for about an hour hoping to see some wildlife. Our guide was knowledgeable about the plentiful plantlife and at [...]