A 5th Century city of canals where romance oozes from the ornate buildings, Venice is a dream destination for most of us. I’ve visited many times (I even run wine tours from Venice). And each time I fall more in love with the floating city. With 118 islands lying across a web of canals, linked … Read more
Pizza is a big deal in Chicago. So big that the windy city even has its own Chicago style pizza. What is it? Deep pan, with a pie-like bottomed crust, stuffed with layers of cheese and crushed tomato sauce, with a thick layer of mozzarella cheese on top. It’s an institution in the city. And … Read more
Santa Teresa in Costa Rica holds a special place in my heart. I first visited all the way back in 2011 when it was a dusty dirt strip with a scattering of cafes and bars. Of course, progress marches us ever onwards and this laid back beach town has sprung up with a whole host … Read more
From hot orange sunsets to the glittering turquoise of The Sea of Cortez to sea lions, whale sharks and powder soft sands, La Paz in Mexico is a dream vacation destination. Add in tacos galore, great hotels and the fact that it’s one of the friendliest Mexico beach towns I’ve ever been to, and it’s … Read more
It’s a rare thing to be able to stand with one foot in each hemisphere on a line that straddles the north and south of the globe. Yet, that’s exactly what you can do at Mitad del Mundo. Located near Quito in Ecuador, Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World in Spanish) is a wildly … Read more
I stand at that top of a volcanic tuff ring that was formed over 49,000 years ago and look down at the glitter of green-golden sand. I’m about to step foot on something extraordinarily rare, and suddenly the 17-hour flight, 2-hour drive and 1-hour hike seems completely worthwhile. Carefully, slowly, surely, I pick my way … Read more
Sitting on the east coast of Mexico, Yucatan State is one of Mexico’s 31 states and it’s one my favourites. From world-famous Chitzen Itza to colonial cities like Valladolid and beautiful swimming holes (cenotes), there’s every reason to visit this corner of Mexico. In this guide I’ll share everything you need to know about the … Read more
According to Mark Twain, Hawaii is “The loveliest fleet of islands that lies anchored in any ocean.” I couldn’t agree more. But there is more to the Hawaiian islands than most of us realise. For example, did you know there are actually 137 Hawaiian islands? I didn’t, either, until I spent 4 months exploring Hawaii. … Read more
Hawaii – the north pacific’s beautiful tropical islands filled with swaying palm trees, hula dancing, big wave surfing and flaming sunsets. And where there is tropical weather, there are exotic fruits. From the medicinal noni juice to world-famous Maui pineapples, there are a lot of Hawaiian fruits to sink your teeth into. Some of them … Read more
Downtown Los Angeles, or DTLA as it’s know to locals, is usually missed by tourists but it should absolutely be on your itinerary when you’re exploring LA. I get it, Hollywood, Beverley Hills and the beautiful coastal spots of Santa Monica and Venice Beach are the big draws, but if you want to get beneath … Read more