TRAVEL

The Burke Mansion in Macon

The Burke Mansion in Macon is a luxurious bed and breakfast hotel that takes you back to a Victorian age of elegance and style. The mansion used to be the home of the Burke family, a Victorian merchant who became extremely wealthy from selling home improvements, and by all accounts they were also obsessively private people. An invitation to the Burke Mansion in those days was very coveted, but now you can experience this all for a reasonable price and you will want to return. More>>>

Eden Rock Hotel — St. Barths

In 1945, the first plane to touch down on the island of Saint Barthélemy was piloted by the eccentric and celebrated adventurer, Remy de Haenen. He later would create the infamous runway in Saba, which remains the shortest commercial runway in the world.

Erected in about 1950 on a rocky promontory on St. Jean Bay, Eden Rock was built as de Haenen's private home and became a bolt-hole for his Hollywood friends. In its heyday in the fifties and sixties, he was visited by Greta Garbo, Howard Hughes, Robert Mitchum and other colorful guests, including the Rockefeller and Rothschild families who became so... More>>>

The Mystique of Mustique

There is just a sense that ‘all is okay’ from the moment your feet hit the ground on this rather unique and tiny Caribbean island. At only 1.5 miles wide by 3 miles long, it is a getaway for a privileged few—a sure sign that you have arrived. Situated off of the Venezuelan coast in the West Indies nation of St. Vincent and The Grenadines, and encompassing only 1,400 acres of surprisingly lush terrain, Mustique is a haven for the well-to-do. Maybe it’s the extremely unusual presence of the large vein of quartz that was recently discovered, but one thing is for sure—Mustique has a magical quality unlike any I have experienced.

With arguably the highest concentration of wealth on the planet, Mustique is a More>>>

Hawaii’s Kohala Coast - Trade Winds, Sandy Toes and the Pursuit of Opulence

Known by few, loved by many, Hawaii’s golden Kohala Coast is a pristine slice of paradise that rambles down a sparsely populated, gorgeous shoreline, enriched with powder-soft white sand. Amidst sparkling black lava fields, four ‘master resorts’ were plotted for development and a gorgeous playground for the ‘well to do’ has sprung like a phoenix rising from the flames. I decided to embark on a detailed exploration of this area after hearing that during the busy season, private More>>>

My Apartment in Florence

We returned to Florence for our semi-annual visit as we have for the past 30 years. Like a second home, Florence has been a centerpiece of our lives. Among a plethora of incredible experiences through this period, my wife and I have seen the magnificent renaissance palaces, explored the many markets and extensively sampled the elegant Tuscan cuisine.

Accommodations have never been an issue; for many years we relied on More>>>

T he Antigua Kiss

The draw of Antigua’s 43rd Annual Sailing Week and the sheer desire to lay my eyes on this Caribbean treasure sent me winging my way southward out of New York City. One of the premier sailing regatta’s in the world, Antigua Sailing Week welcomes participants from all corners of the globe, competing for the chance to win this prestigious race. Six challenging days of racing in some of the best sailing conditions in the world, combined with the famous Antiguan hospitality make this regatta the one not to miss. More>>>

Greenville Food and Wine Festival Gains in Status

Five years is only a short time for a Food and Wine Festival to be in existence, but the Greenville festival in South Carolina has reached a point where expansion s probably not that urgent or even wanted. Whilst many of the big food festivals such as Pebble Beach, South Beach, New Orleans and Scottsdale are now too big and impersonal, Euphoria in Greenville is staying small. With all the action taking place close to each other over three days in the charming downtown area, the Non Profit event known as Euphoria has raised over $200,000 for local charities, and has also More>>>

Warren County, NY - An Outdoor Wonderland for All Seasons

I want to talk about hospitality. I want to talk about history. I want to talk about great food, wine and hotels. I want to talk about the unspoiled, pristine quality of the Adirondack Mountains. I want to talk about all of these things -- so let’s talk about Warren County, New York. On a cold winter morning we set off from Manhattan for a three and a half hour journey to Warren County. Situated in the eastern portion of New York State and most well known for the illustrious Lake George, in 1813, Warren County was split off from Washington County, receiving its name in honor of General Joseph Warren, of the Revolutionary army. More>>>

The Magic of Cape Town

Cape Town is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, with the stunning Table Mountain dominating the scenery, and some of the most wonderful beaches you will see anywhere in the world. Since the collapse of Apartheid, the city has seen rapid growth in tourism, which is now the largest industry in South Africa . A drive from the airport does take you past the shanty towns which remain a blight on the overall rosy picture being painted, but as soon as you get to the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront area and the Cape Grace Hotel, you are in a sophisticated and More>>>

Keswick Hall

Keswick Hall in Charlottesville is a country club/resort/golf club that just happens to have a restaurant called Fossett’s that is dedicated to Thomas Jefferson’s (1734-1826) personal chef Edith Fossett (1787-1845) during his retirement years at Monticello. This African American women must have been really good, because her creations are still available at the classy restaurant, and her portrait adorns the dining room looming over the proceedings. She learned the art More>>>