Weeekend Inspiration: Life on the Caldera

Santorini, Greece [Photo by Wolfgang Staudt/flickr]

Greece Anyone? Happy Weekend!

Flying the Pet-Friendly Skies

Photo via PetAirways.com

If your furry bundle of joy is a little too large to accompany you on an airplane, and you just can’t bear to make him ride in the cargo hold, Pet Airways may be the perfect solution for you. The brand new all pet airline just started flying last week, and currently serves several airports in the New York area, along with the Washington DC/Baltimore area, Chicago, Denver and Los Angeles.

Ticket prices start at $149 each way, and pets fly in style in the air-conditioned main cabin of a turbo-prop aircraft, constantly monitored by a trained pet attendant. Rumor has it snacks get handed out every 15 minutes or so. Sounds like Pet Airways customers have it better than most frequent flyers of the two-legged variety.

For more pet travel tips, check out my recent article over at examiner.com.

Weekend Inspiration: Underwater World

Hawaiian Sea Turtle [Photo by Jurvetson/flickr]

When I go to a tropical destination, I always try to at least do a little snorkeling to check out what's going on underneath the surface. Sea turtles are some of my favorite sightings. I just love this pic. He looks so happy and relaxed. Then again, he's in Hawaii. How could he not be? Happy Weekend!!

Enchanting Beach Read: Audrey's Bio

Who doesn't love Audrey Hepburn? Her style and grace has captivated audiences for decades. But did you know that, as a young girl, Hepburn endured incredible hardships, seeing family members murdered and nearly starving to death while living in Nazi-occupied Holland? As a teenager, Hepburn even acted as an operative for the resistance, collecting money and delivering secret messages for the Dutch Underground.

In Enchantment: The Life of Audrey Hepburn, author Donald Spoto explores the deeper side of the glamorous legend, offering wonderful insights into Hepburn's personal life and her illustrious career. The book is star-studded -- Gregory Peck, Fred Astaire, Gary Cooper and Cary Grant are just a few celebrities that get a mention -- and you can't help but come away loving and respecting Hepburn even more.

Wake from the Packing Nightmare

[Photo by Coco Rina/flickr]

So, you're going somewhere fabulous for a week-long getaway. You've got a closet full of dresses, at least 5 pairs of shoes and a pretty substantial jewelry collection that absolutely have to come with you -- not to mention the hair products. Guess you'll have to check that bag and waste precious vacation time waiting to retrieve it when you reach your destination. But wait, there may be another way! The packing expert at onebag.com has spent years learning "the art and science of traveling light." The site has a wealth of information on what to pack, what to pack it in and how to pack it. You may just find a way to fit all your necessities in that carry-on after all.

Happy Bastille Day

Eiffel Tower, Paris [Photo by Ka13/flickr]

Two hundred and twenty years ago today, angry mobs gathered in Paris to storm the Bastille prison, sparking the beginning of the French revolution and, eventually, the end of the French monarchy. The occasion is being marked in France with a parade through Paris (India is this year's country of honor), and a slew of parties and exhibits across the country (check out BBC photos of the festivities here). On the blog, we're paying homage to Bastille Day and the lovely country of France with a few beautiful pictures from a particularly beautiful part of the world...

St. Cirq- lapopie [Photo by Fr Antunes/flickr]

Colmar, Alsace [Photo by Fr Antunes/flickr]

Montreuil-Bellay [Photo by Fr Antunes/flickr]

White Cliffs of Cap Griz Nez, Wissant [Photo by **Maurice**/flickr]

Happy Bastille Day!

Africa Remixed

You'd love to pick up a new bikini for that upcoming trip to the beach, but you're feeling a little guilty about all the shopping you've been doing lately. Weren't you planing on doing more for those less fortunate this year? Enter Bantu. The Bantu swimwear line is made entirely in Africa, providing jobs, sustainable improvements and a sense of empowerment to poor African communities -- and the styles are amazing...

Using traditional African wax cloth prints on modern, versatile Lycra, the suits are a beautiful, modern twist on African tradition. The folks at Bantu call it "Africa remixed."

All photos from Bantu Women's Swimwear via bantuwax.com

Weekend Inspiration: Viva Mexico!

Today, I'm starting a new tradition for the blog. Every Friday, I'll post an "inspiration photo" from a beautiful place around the globe. The idea, of course, is to inspire great ideas for planning your next escape!

August 1st will mark 10 years since my husband and I first met at a club in Ibiza, Spain. (He's a Brit, and I'm all American, originally from Atlanta, Georgia.) So, I'm trying to convince him to head down to Mexico for a few days to mark the occasion in style. Just for a little extra nudge to the hubs, today's inspiration photo comes to us from Riviera Maya...

Tulum, Mexico [Photo by lightmatter/flickr]

Happy weekend!!

A Perfect Day in NYC

After a particularly rainy and chilly start to summer, the weather in New York has been absolutely gorgeous the last couple of days. My husband and I decided to take advantage of the sunshine; we spent some time hanging out at the new Highline Park (read all about the park in my article over at examiner.com), took a stroll along the Hudson and topped it all off with some mojitos and dinner at one of our favorite neighborhood restaurants, Sea. (You can't beat $10 for a Thai curry in the middle of the Meatpacking district -- and it's right across from an entrance to the Highline!). A few snaps from the day...

I love that the Highline design incorporates lots of lounge chairs for taking in the sun. It's a beautiful place to spend a lazy summer afternoon.

You can still see the old tracks in many areas of the park.

And, since the park is elevated, you usually get a nice breeze...and a great view over Tenth Ave. (yep, that's me!).

I need a sailboat...This one looks so beautiful, gliding across the Hudson. You get this kind of view all the time from Hudson River Park.

The mojitos at SEA are amazing...and large. This one lasted me well into my meal, and, believe me, I can usually make quick work of a mojito!

The outdoor seating at SEA, with the Highline in the background -- a perfect location!

Above photos by James Lloyd :)

Scentsational Dreams

Photo by ***j9***/flickr

If you have trouble falling asleep in unfamiliar hotel rooms, Sleep Scentsations have you – or, ahem, your pillow – covered. The adhesive-backed pillow liners contain essential oils to induce a restful mood. Just place them right on the pillow, underneath the case, take a deep breath and drift off to sleep. Choose from a range of scents with charming names like Day at the Beach, Relaxing, and My Boyfriend’s Shirt. Each one comes individually wrapped, so it packs away easily in your suitcase.

Endless Vacation

It's always hard to leave a great holiday weekend behind. No matter how you chose to spend the Fourth of July (Our crew opted to watch the NYC fireworks from the rooftop at Soho House and take in a late-night swim. Who needs a swimsuit when you have a perfectly good dress?), drudging back to work can be a real drag.

If you're still finding it hard to say goodbye to your vacation time, check out earthtv.com. Not only do they have interesting footage of Fourth of July events from all across the U.S., they show live streaming video of beautiful places all over the globe. So, even though you may be stuck at your desk, the vacation's never really over.

screenshot from "The World Live" on earthtv.com

Above photos taken by James Lloyd.

Getting Color in Florida

When I was recently on assignment in Florida, I had the pleasure of staying at the WaterColor Inn and Resort. This lovely complex features 499 acres of planned neighborhoods, parks and bike trails, along with a particularly charming inn located right on the beach. Nestled between Grayton Beach State Park and Seaside on the Northwest Florida coast, the beach at WaterColor is arguably one of the most beautiful in the U.S., with sugar white sand as far as the eye can see...

Not much of a beach person? The pool areas are equally impressive, with an "adults only" pool (this is a family resort, so adults only areas come in handy if you're not up for sharing swim space with toddlers) located just outside the inn...

And when you're ready to head back to your room, there's plenty of space to relax. Particularly impressive: a walk-in shower with an ocean view. (What can I say? I take long showers. I like to have a nice view while I'm cleansing.)

Travelers' Tales

On the hunt for an appropriate father's day gift (obviously, this was a few weeks ago, but, of course, I couldn't post this till after the big day), I came across A Sense of Place: Great Travel Writers Talk About Their Craft, Lives, and Inspiration (Travelers' Tales).

In A Sense of Place, author Michael Shapiro sits down with some of the best travel writers in the business -- Bill Bryson, Peter Matthiessen and Arthur Frommer, to name a few -- and finds out what makes them tick. The result, according to reviews, is a highly enjoyable and uplifting read for anyone who appreciates the life-changing power of travel. I can't wait till Dad's done with it so I can borrow and read it myself!