The Blue Angels will be roaring over San Francisco in advance of the earsplitting Fleet Week air show this weekend that is sure to wow spectators and rattle some nerves.

The Navy's elite demonstration team will conduct survey flights intermittently Thursday afternoon over the waterfront. The team will practice Friday and perform Saturday and Sunday at 3…

Nick and Andrew, the newest Giants fan

As a  diehard San Francisco Giants baseball fan and native San Franciscan, if there ever is such a thing as a “sports bucket list” especially for a San Francisco native, mine was for the San Francisco Giants baseball team to win at least one World Series in my lifetime. The Giants moved to San Francisco after the 1957 baseball season. The great Willie Mays, quite possibly the greatest baseball player of all time,…

When one thinks of paradise, Panama has to be near the top of the list.

In the 90s Costa Rica fast became the chic eco destination for Americans, Canadians and Europeans.  Many expats started buying land and relocating. In the last ten years, a new nirvana was discovered, Panama.

Countries with both beach and jungle are especially appealing. The world is full of small countries where you can view nature and perhaps surf in the same day. Panama fits the…

Tired of the some old greasy burger, boring sandwich, and looking for something other than a pizza slice?  Tired of antibiotic -fed chicken. Should you be in New York City's Greenwich Village,  there is a unique food opportunity that is gaining fans from all walks of life, Sticky's Finger Joint.

What is…

Trendsetting Ipanema, the place made famous by the '60s song to bear its name, has a long tradition of dictating beach chic to the rest of the world. The beach was, after all, a launching pad for the skimpy tanga bikini, the once-popular crocheted G-string for men, and the unforgettable (if only we could forget) dental-floss bikini.

As expected, the…

Blue Angels over the Golden Gate Bridge brings Fleet Week to Life

Blue Angels over the Golden Gate Bridge brings Fleet Week to Life

As a native San Franciscan I just love the month of  October in the  "city by the bay."  As many a local and tourist can attest to, San Francisco can be a bit overcast, windy and even cold on the 4th of July. But not…

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Is there a better time to visit Italy than in the fall? The summer madness has died down, yet Italy remains warm and inviting. In the town of Alba, in the Piedmont region, in the northwestern corner of Italy, is a food-festival lover's delight. The region is much less touristed than its Tuscan neighbor.



From October 6 to November 18 in the town of Alba, each weekend it's all about truffles. Yes, truffles, the key ingredient of many a gourmet meal. …

The host cities for the 2014 World Cup was announced in 2009 and the blue print of all the stadiums are available. Twelve cities were chosen as the 2014 World Cup hosts and  you can see how the stadiums will look when they are done. Which is your favorite stadium design?

SÃO PAULO

• City: São Paulo
• Name: Arena Corinthians
• Capacity: 68.000 people
• Cost: R$890…

California is blessed to have so many breathtaking  outdoor spaces. One of my favorite places on Earth is Big Sur, the stretch of rugged, California coast line south of Carmel in Monterey County, and heading south for 90 miles entering San Luis Obispo County, along California's scenic, coastal Highway 1. The majestic cliffs high above the ocean waves crashing on the rocky coastline below is quite a spectacle to see.…

Prized for its unbothered natural beauty, gracious hospitality and secluded worlds-away appeal, Little St. Simons Island is a private barrier island just off the Georgia coast. The natural world presides here across 10,000 intrusion-free acres of maritime forests and marshlands, enjoyed by no more than 32 overnight guests at a time. Seven miles of shell-strewn beaches and energizing outdoor activities beckon guests to explore and discover. Accessible only by boat, this extraordinary natural…

When one thinks of downtown Los Angeles, the first thought to come to mind probably isn't one of America's oldest and diverse food markets, Grand Central Market. Besides offering some of the freshest produce, meats, fresh fish and more in Los Angeles, the market is a sumptuous walk through "tasty treat heaven."  Living part of the year near downtown L.A., I'll take a bike ride to sample the various food  eateries throughout the small market. Many people may not know that Los Angeles is one…

Wondering if James Bond would drink here?

Think of where else on earth you can find a bar-club high above in a cave in a cliffs above the ocean below. Clearly, Cova d’en Xoroi in Minorca is not your average bar-club.  Tourist vacationing from near by Minorca, as well as, locals come for recreational activities during the day. As legend has it, the cave served…

Sometimes taking the more difficult route or the road less traveled is simply part of a grand adventure. This would be the case when I made my annual Christmas migration from my native San Francisco to what I call “my adopted country” of Mexico. For the past 12 years, I have been having a not so secret love affair with the country “south of the border.”

Having a deep affinity for “winging it” without much thought I started the journey with a drive from San Francisco to Los…

There are many reasons to travel. Some of us travel to take a much needed break, others simply to take a holiday, maybe one is on a business trip. But one thing for sure. While on your journey, you will need to eat.  Cuisine is an integral part of any local culture. Not liking the locals eats can be a valid reason not to travel to a destination.  As culinary travel is one of the fastest growing segments in the travel industry, here are some of my favorite foodie towns to enjoy one of my…

The Cook Islands are just one of 35 destinations available on the Air New Zealand Airpass

If you wish to travel to more than one destination in a specific region of the world, and can abide by a specified time frame, usually 21 to 30 days, perhaps less, then maybe an airpass is right for you. Thinking of traveling to New Zealand or Australia but let’s…

 Rappelling 300 feet down a cliff into the Black Hole

When the Belize Tourist Board asked me to come to Belize to get a taste of their “slice of paradise,” I gladly accepted. As a scuba diver I was well aware that Belize is the world’s second largest barrier reef, only Australia’s Great Barrier Reef in Queensland is larger. I figured a beach…

Every November, now for as long as I can remember, I spend a week or two, ok, last year three in London for the World Travel Market, London's massive travel show. One of the first things that I do after I park by bags at my digs in Canary Wharf is to hop the tube a couple of stops to perhaps to  the greatest outdoor-indoor food market in the world, Borough Market. Situated by London Bridge, and a stone’s throw from the River Thames, Borough Market is food lovers…

The best beaches, the best activities, the best food, the best cities – you’ve researched it all. You know where you want to go and what you want to do in Croatia – plus, you’ve heard the hype about this hidden gem in the Adriatic. You’ve pictured your days lazing on a yacht or wandering around a quaint little town, but what about those long balmy nights?

Whether it’s pounding a few back on Pag, sipping mojitos in Hvar, or partying in Primosten, Croatia is also well-known for offering…