London

Steeped in tradition and history, London is the undisputed capital and crossroads of the Western world, the heart of an empire and heartbeat of a generation.



Stay at - The Capital Hotel, just a stone's throw from Harrods in Knightsbridge

Eat at - The Capital Restaurant at The Capital Hotel
Borshtch 'n' Tears (Russian, 46 Beauchamp Place, Knightsbridge)
The Tate Gallery Cafe

Go shopping - Harrods

Take side trips to - the English countryside

Be sure to visit - Buckingham Palace
The Tate Gallery

Best time of year to go - mid-April through June, and late August to mid-September

Best things to buy - China, crystal, lace, linens, tea, biscuits, gourmet, books

Best indulgence - Walking through the Food Halls in Harrods

Fly into - London Heathrow (LHR), Gatwick (LGW) or Stansted (STN)

Transportation - London taxicabs are excellent, as is public transport. Take the tube (Underground) and buses, and walk where you can.

San Antonio

Take equal parts Amsterdam and California Mission, and you have the lovely city of San Antonio, with it's splendid Riverwalk, an enchanting jewel of Texas.


Stay at - La Mansion del Rio

Go shoping - On the Riverwalk

Eat at - Las Canarias at La Mansion del Rio
Boudro's on the Riverwalk

Take side trips to - the San Antonio Missions

Be sure to visit - the Riverwalk

Best time of year to go - April or May

Best things to buy - Mexican souvenirs on the Riverwalk

Best indulgence - Having dinner by candlelight aboard a boat on the river

Fly into - San Antonio (SAT)

Transportation - taxicabs, walking

Carmel-by-the-Sea

Hidden jewel of the California coastline, Carmel nestles itself snugly between beach and hillside with picturesque cottages, antique shops, dog-friendly dining and magnificent night air.

Stay at - The Highlands Inn

Go shopping - Downtown Carmel

Eat at - Pacific's Edge Restaurant at The Highlands Inn

Take side trips to -Monterrey
Big Sur
San Francisco

Be sure to visit - Carmel Mission
Pebble Beach

Best time of year to go - late April or early May

Best things to buy - Antiques, collectibles, tableware, linens, gourmet, dog couture

Best indulgence - Dinner a deux at La Boheme Restaurant (which sadly, has now closed)

Fly into - San Francisco (SFO)

Transportation - Rent a car and drive down the Pacific Coast Highway through Monterrey to Carmel

Orlando

Home to world famous theme parks, Orlando is only an hour from both east and west coast beaches of Florida and the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, and can be a destination worth considering even if you are not enamored with cartoon mice.


Stay at - Portofino Bay Hotel

Go shopping - Mall at Milennia
numerous outlet malls in the greater Orlando area, including on International Drive
specialty shops in Downtown Disney, Universal's Citywalk and inside the theme parks

Eat at - Bice in Portofino Bay Hotel
The Brown Derby at Disney MGM Studios
Le Cellier Steakhouse and The Rose and Crown Pub at EPCOT

Take side trips to - the Space Coast
Busch Gardens in Tampa
Tampa/St. Petersburg

Be sure to visit - World Showcase at EPCOT
Disney's Animal Kingdom
Sea World

Best time of year to go - November through April
(EPCOT holds a Food and Wine Festival annually in November and a Flower and Garden Festival in April)

Best things to buy - Designer products at Millenia, theme park souvenirs, country-specific products in World Showcase in EPCOT (the Japanese pavillion particularly has an impressive array of Japanese products)

Best indulgence - Sitting outside at sunset at Portofino Bay and listening to Musica della Notte, then taking water taxis by moonlight

Fly into - Orlando (MCO)

Transportation - Rent a car or take a taxi to your hotel and use shuttles to and from the parks

Canadian Rockies

Stay at - Banff Springs Hotel
Chateau Lake Louise
Jasper Park Lodge (all part of the Fairmont Hotel chain, formerly Canadian Pacific Hotels)

Go shopping - in the gift shops of the hotels and in downtown Banff

Eat at - The Waldhaus Restaurant and Pub (Banff Springs Hotel)
The Banffshire Club (Banff Springs Hotel)
Bow Valley Grill (Banff Springs Hotel)
The Fairview Dining Room (Chateau Lake Louise)
Tom Wilson Steakhouse (Chateau Lake Louise)
Walliser Stube (Chateau Lake Louise)
*Edith Cavell Dining Room (Jasper Park Lodge) (if you have only one meal, have it here, and always ask for window tables in the dining rooms that have a view, including this one)

Take side trips to - Calgary (stay at the Fairmont Palliser if you need to overnight)

Be sure to visit - Lake Louise, even if you don't stay there
go rafting on the Bow River

Best time of year to go - mid-June through early September

Best things to buy - geodes, crystals, art work, photography, clothing

Best indulgence - getting a spa treatment at the Banff Springs Hotel overlooking the Bow River

Fly into - Calgary (YYC)

Transportation - Rent a car, or take a guided tour (Maupintour is excellent, and some Canadian Rail tours and Grey Line include the Canadian Rockies)

New Orleans

New Orleans is the gracious lady of the Mississippi, where Cajun, Creole and riverboats collide. With jazz in the French Quarter and stately homes in the Garden District, this is the Crescent City, the eternal home of Mardi Gras, where lassez les bon temps rouler finds poignant meaning in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. She is the ultimate survivor.



Stay at - The Windsor Court Hotel

Go shopping - In the French Quarter and on Canal Street

Eat at - Commander's Palace
The Gumbo Shop
Cafe du Monde

Take side trips to - Algiers
Biloxi

Be sure to visit - the Garden District by streetcar, Bourbon Street, the New Orleans Zoo

Best time of year to go - late April during Jazz Fest, or during Mardi Gras

Best things to buy - Antiques, furniture, beignets, pralines, gourmet

Best indulgence - any meal at Commander's Palace, breakfast at St. Ann-Marie Antoinette

Fly into - New Orleans (MSY)

Transportation - taxis, streetcar, walking

The West of Ireland

Stay at - Dromoland Castle, County Clare
The Old Ground Hotel, Ennis
Ashford Castle, Cong

Go shopping - in any of the villages

Eat at - Dromoland Castle
Any local pub

Take side trips to - The Burren
The Cliffs of Moher
The Ring of Kerry
Adare
Galway

Be sure to visit - Knock

Best time of year to go - May through September

Best things to buy - Belleek pottery, Waterford crystal, antiques

Best indulgence - Being at a local pub until the wee hours listening to local music and drinking Guinness

Fly into - Shannon (SNN)

Transportation - Hire a car and driver for day trips into the countryside