By name, England's Alnwick Castle isn't that well known. But by sight? That's Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry you're looking at. Well, in real life it's the entrance to the state rooms at Alnwick Castle, a still-inhabited Medieval castle in Northumberland. But to Harry Potter fans, it's the ultimate destination as the castle's exterior […]

I watched Manchester United beat West Ham today at Old Trafford. It was a great experience, joining the cheering red masses at one of the most famous stadiums in the world. There's only one problem: I'm still not sure whether I saw a football game or a soccer game.

I saw 1,000 naked people at The Lowry (pictured above) in Manchester on Sunday. Well, I saw photos of them at least. In honor of the tenth anniversary of The Lowry, New York-based photographer Spencer Tunick came over to Manchester and convinced 1,000 locals to pose in the buff. The "Everyday People" exhibit runs through […]

At first glance, walking down Deansgate in Manchester, we thought it was a church. And once you're inside, at times you could easily make the same mistake. But no, this is John Rylands Library, and it's never been a church. Enriqueta Rylands commissioned this library in memory of her husband John Rylands in 1889, and […]

When I arrived in Manchester, England, this morning, I was expecting plenty of beautiful Victorian architecture with along with some striking modern structures. Well, they definitely have that there — a great mix of old ornate buildings with some shiny and new. But what intrigued me the most as I wandered around the city jet-lagged […]

I love New York City. I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. (Except for maybe Barcelona, London or Rome.) But as much as I love New York, there are plenty of weekends when I just want to get away. All New Yorkers do — getting out of town is a sport we take seriously. I’ve […]

Since I love going to the beach, I’m on the perpetual quest to find a great beach that’s close enough for a day trip from my home base of NYC. (Bay Head, NJ, my favorite nearby beach is tough for a day trip, although it can be done if you’re motivated enough.) For years, I’ve […]

Grandpa Capilano sounds like a character from The Sopranos — like a menacing patriarch you would not want to show any disrespect. Well, Grandpa Capilano does have an imposing presence and he does deserve your respect. But he’s not going to put a hit out on anyone anytime soon — he’s a Douglas Fir who’s […]

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 […]

A few months ago, I wrote a post about five fantastic Jersey Shore towns that are nothing like Seaside Heights, the boozy boardwalk where MTV’s first season of Jersey Shore took place. While those five towns are good choices for a guido-free weekend at the beach, one of them is my clear favorite: Bay Head, […]