Three Days, Three Michelin Stars, and a Birthday Worth the Trip My mother-in-law celebrates her 80th birthday this year, and with family roots in Extremadura, it felt like the right moment to explore a region of Spain I had long wanted to know better. We set off from Madrid for three days filled with history, …
Continue reading Extremadura, Spain: Cáceres, Trujillo, and Dinner at Atrio
There are tennis vacations. And then there are tennis retreats. The difference matters. A tennis vacation means decent courts somewhere warm. A tennis retreat means courts that make you play better, instruction that stays with you, and a resort good enough that you don't resent the hours you spend off the court. I've been sending …
Continue reading Game, Set, Match: The Best Luxury Resorts for a Tennis Retreat in the USA
If the South Island is dramatic and elemental, shaped by ice, wind, and time, the North Island offers a softer seduction. This is where culture, adventure, and cinematic landscapes come together in harmony. There's cosmopolitan Auckland, the geothermal wonder and Māori heart of Rotorua, and the cool, creative rhythm of Wellington. Each is distinct, each …
CANTABRIA: Wild Beauty & Prehistoric Wonder Leaving the Pyrenees behind, we descended into Cantabria - where every curve in the road seemed to reveal a different mood. Cantabria surprised me at every turn with its blend of rugged coastlines, misty mountains, and unexpectedly lush valleys. Here, prehistoric caves open into emerald hills, and charming villages …
Continue reading Northern Spain Part 2: Cantabria & Asturias
The Allure of the Dolomites The Dolomites are, quite simply, a marvel. Rising from the northern Italian Alps in a dramatic collage of vertical limestone walls, jagged cliffs, and deep-cut valleys, this UNESCO World Heritage site is home to eighteen towering peaks, many cresting above 9,000 feet. Spring is especially beguiling. The upper slopes remain …
Continue reading Dolomites in Bloom: Spring Skiing and Alpine Indulgence
Just an hour outside Milan, where the gentle hills of the Alps begin to rise, lies Franciacorta - an enchanting, yet curiously under-the-radar wine region. It’s here, in Lombardy, that some of Italy’s most elegant bubbles are crafted, often compared to Champagne, but with a distinctly Italian soul and a fraction of the global spotlight. And …
The history of Quercus is a delightful, if surprising, story with Quercus Farm founded in 1977 by Duke and Duchess Visconti di Modrone, who fell in love with a piece of heaven in Gay, Georgia while looking to escape a troubling political time in Italy. They wanted to raise their family on a working farm, …
I used to travel to Brazil annually for five consecutive years when I worked for Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. It was a wonderful place to visit and do business, and I made such close friends with so many Brazilians in the industry. I fell in love with the people and the fantastic cities of …
Secret Bay Secret Bay is one of those places that you know if you know. It is off the radar, low-key, relaxing, stunning, romantic, and special all in one! The all-villa rainforest resort experience features secluded clifftop residential-style villas with private plunge pools, dedicated villa hosts, on-call concierge, chefs and guides, and secret beaches. Guests …
Visiting Normandy is powerfully emotional and especially impactful when considering the region's role in changing the course of World War II and the countless souls who selflessly gave their lives for the freedom we enjoy today. What some might not now is that the region of Normandy has impossibly picturesque towns, spectacular culinary delights, and wonderfully hospitable hotels.