ArcaMax

By Nicola Bridges

Ice festivals conjure images of castle carvings, igloos and snowmen with perhaps an enchanted ice maze. Far from that man-made carved winter wonderland, however, is a thrilling ice festival of a different caliber where daring ice climbers scale giant frozen mountain waterfalls and ice pillars with just a pair of ice ...Read more

By Bonnie and Bill Neely

We were in Washington, D.C., for a special performance of The Washington Ballet at the Dupont Underground, and as long as we were there, we wanted to take in as much of the nation's capital as we could. There was plenty to do.

Like most visitors, our first stop was the National Mall to visit each of the dramatic...Read more

By Athena Lucero

Of the umpteen Little Italies scattered throughout the United States, San Diego's vibrant 48-square-block Italian neighborhood is the biggest in the nation. Famous for its celebrated dining scene and year-round Little Italy Merkato Farmers Market, it's surrounded by San Diego Bay, San Diego International Airport, Little ...Read more

By Victor Block

Betty Gordon and her husband, Don, were looking forward to a wide range of leisure activities and sightseeing opportunities as they checked into their vacation hotel. When they departed several days later, they had enjoyed everything on their wish list.

They had taken dips in the property's swimming pool and checked out ...Read more

By Victor Block

As a lifelong resident of Washington, D.C., I recently enjoyed a display at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York, that recalled the heyday of my hometown team's only two World Series championships in 1924 and 2019. Artifacts from those games are part of the vast collection that makes the ...Read more

By Fyllis Hockman

The year was 1954. For the first time in six years, the New York Yankees were not in contention for the World Series. But I didn't care. I spent the early school year racing home to watch my heroes on our tiny black-and-white TV set. I knew not only all the players -- Andy Carey on third, Mickey Mantle in center, Hank ...Read more

By Candyce H. Stapen

A bounty of good food awaits at the Delaware shore, a popular year-round escape for Washingtonians and other Mid-Atlantic residents, and the off-season proved to be one of the best times for a seaside culinary journey to the Rehoboth Beach region. The lack of crowds made getting table reservations easy, and the ...Read more

By Jim Farber

On Dec. 16, 1896, a successful mining investor and land speculator named Griffith J. Griffith donated 3,015 acres of land to the City of Los Angeles. Named in his honor, Griffith Park is an LA landmark, home to Griffith Observatory and the Autry Museum of the American West, both of which are hosting exhibits as part of PST...Read more

By Jim Farber

On Sept. 15 the sky above the Los Angeles War Memorial Coliseum (site of the 1932 Olympic Games) exploded in a rainbow of multicolored powder projectiles that burst and blended as they wafted on the wind. Below thousands of onlookers armed with cell phones at the ready looked on in wonder.

Created by artist Cai Guo-Qiang, ...Read more

By Victor Block

At the turn of the 20th century, May Baily's was a brothel in the infamous red-light district of New Orleans. Today that location is the Dauphin Orleans Hotel, which invites guests to "embrace New Orleans' historic haunts and timeless charm." Lodgers at the Dauphin have reported spotting a uniformed Creole soldier ...Read more

By Victor Block

As my wife, Fyllis, and I contemplated our visit to the tiny town of Cassadaga, Florida, the choices we faced were as intriguing as they were varied. Did we prefer to join a healing circle or seek spiritual counseling? Would we opt for a seance or a class in ancient wisdom teachings?

Adding to the appeal was the ironic ...Read more

By Margot Black

It's a small world after all -- especially if you happen to be visiting Los Angeles. Do you want to nurture a child's appreciation for diverse cuisines, cultures and communities? Immersing them in different tastes, traditions and lifestyles from a young age is key. Fortunately, this city serves as a melting pot of global ...Read more

By Candyce H. Stapen

Shenandoah Caverns' aptly named Diamond Cascade entranced 7-year-old James and 5-year-old Charlotte. They gazed wide-eyed at the tall configuration of white calcite crystals that fell in folds, sparkling like a jewel-encrusted frozen waterfall. Exploring the caverns, along with hiking and horseback-riding, rounded ...Read more

By Victor Block

In 1683, Talbot County, Maryland, authorized establishment of a ferry service for "Horses and Men" across the Tred Avon River, connecting the tiny towns of Oxford and Bellevue. A man named Richard Royston was given 2,500 pounds of tobacco a year, worth about $25, to operate the ferry.

Three years later, Royston was ...Read more

By Nicola Bridges

Seekers of sensuous spa experiences can satisfy their cravings at a variety of luxurious locations around San Diego County, California, from sybaritic spa therapies to private and personalized bespoke treatments in sumptuous surroundings. Here are some favorites at decadent locales to check in for a day, one treatment ...Read more

By Nicola Bridges

Do you dream of attending a meditative retreat in a faraway Zen destination such as Bali or Costa Rica but can't afford the cost or time off? Then do what I did and create your very own home staycation retreat that you can go to again and again and forever -- and for a fraction of the cost. All it takes is a quiet space...Read more

By Victor Block

Last winter, Ben Keenan packed a suitcase, told friends he was departing and left Seattle, Washington, for a warmer destination. His goal: to learn whether he could live for a month at an all-inclusive resort for what it cost him at home.

On a monthly basis, Ben spent about $4,000 for rent, utilities, food and other ...Read more