Going Glam, not Groovy, in Portland Oregon
Golden Era films set the tone in the lobby of the Hotel deLuxe Green, not glam, is the word usually associated with Portland these days. The city has become nationally known for its ethic of creative reuse, which permeates everything from clothing designers to restaurants. A form of reuse that’s too often overlooked is historic [...]
Tis the Spa Season: The 5 Best Spas In Napa and Sonoma
It seems lately like every hotel is suddenly a “resort” or at least includes a spa offering the latest herbal-infused therapies. But if you’re hoping for a truly therapeutic approach to relaxation or, better yet, some relief for your aching back or racing mind, that’s not so easily found. With my back and shoulders perennially [...]
Going Green in Napa At Long Last
The Napa Valley is known the world over for wine making and grape growing, but oddly, it’s never been a particularly environmentally enlightened region. For one thing, growing grapes requires a great deal of water and — unless they’re organic — quite a lot of pesticides, too. Not to mention that the sheer number of [...]
In Portland, Even the Food Is Progressive
Three days in Portland can be summed up like this: 2 Thai restaurants, 2 eclectic fusion cafes, 1 waffle shop, 2 organic fruit markets, 5 amazing coffee houses (all serving Stumptown coffee), countless vintage and junk shops, and the best used bookstore bar none. Names to remember: Pok Pok, Bread & Ink, Laughing Planet, My [...]
Clean Lines and Green, Local Philosophy Characterize Cavallo Point Lodge
I live in Marin County, California, so there’s really no reason for me to “vacation” here. There’s only one place exceptional enough to tempt me, and that’s the new Cavallo Point Lodge, which repurposes the elegant officers’ quarters of 19th century Fort Baker. Positioned to take full advantage of the most dramatic San Francisco views, [...]
In Costa Rica, Protests Against Shark Finning Gaining Momentum
Here on the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica, where I’m spending a blissful few days, the health of the ocean is key. I just heard about an enormous controversy raging here; it’s about shark finning in the area around Cocos Island. Shark fins are a delicacy popular in China and other Asian countries as an [...]
Live Large in Loreto – And Not in a Gringo Condo Village
It’s finally possible to stay in central Loreto — right on the Malecon, mind you — in a hotel worthy of this gorgeous city. La Mision Loreto, which just opened this winter, takes full advantage of its gorgeous setting. Every room overlooks a tranquil courtyard and the island-studded bay beyond, while from the halls and [...]
