Signs of Spring in Washington DC (but no cherry blossoms yet)

In just a few weeks, the branches hugging the rim of Washington DC’s Tidal Basin will be bursting with delicate pink and white cherry blossoms. Yes, the winter of our discontent may be over, at least in the Washington-Philly section of the Northeast Corridor. Birds are flocking the Potomac...

March 9th, 2010 | In and Around DC | Read More

Great Entrances: Philly’s 30th Street Station

First impressions count. And few American cities have as grand an entrance for visitors than Philadelphia’s main rail terminal, 30th Street Station.

March 8th, 2010 | In and Around Philly | Read More

Too much stuff: A traveler’s lament

I’ve spent the past few days surrounded by boxes, as we complete our move from Washington DC to Philadelphia. Believe it or not, I like moving. There’s something cathartic about picking up and heading for greener pastures, of casting off what’s behind you and moving forward into the...

March 5th, 2010 | Meet Chris | Read More

Leslie Sbrocco’s Thirsty Girls

It was hard to miss Thirsty Girl at the New York Wine Expo last weekend: With banners, stickers, attention-getting T-shirts (“I don’t spit…”), the booth manned by high-energy women dispensing champagne was the buzziest corner of the room. Thirsty Girl is the latest brainchild...

March 3rd, 2010 | Other Travelers | Read More

#Travel Tuesday – Fotobabble Talking Photo

It’s Travel Tuesday on Twitter – which means it’s time for my latest periodic feature. Using the new Fotobabble service (available FREE on the web or as a phone app), I’m going to tell a story about one of the photos from a trip.

March 2nd, 2010 | Downtime | Read More

Restless Legs, a NYC reading series for travelers

I’ve been around a lot of journalists in my career, but I have a special love for travel writers. It’s invigorating to be around others who have dedicated their lives to seeing the world. In their company, wanderlust is a virtue. Which is why travel writer David Farley’s NYC reading...

March 1st, 2010 | Other Travelers | Read More

6 tips for enjoying a wine festival

Of all the luck: the New York Wine Expo was going on at the same time as the New York Times Travel Show – in the same building, no less. So after the travel show, I headed to the other side of the Javits convention center for the Expo’s first Grand Tasting.

February 27th, 2010 | Memorable Meals, Travel Tips | Read More

Manhattan morning, Blizzard-style

Traveling is all about getting out of your comfort zone, right? So even though the New York Travel Show happened to fall on the snowiest day of Manhattan’s winter, I let my Minnesota out. Not only did I make it to the Javits Center, I walked.

February 26th, 2010 | On the Road | Read More

Does a snowy winter equal more summer beach bookings?

With yet another snowstorm bearing down on the East Coast, winter-weary travelers may be sparking an increase in summer beach house bookings, several articles report. A Philadelphia Inquirer story today quotes Jersey Shore Realtors saying that the number of bookings for “June, July, and August...

February 25th, 2010 | Travel news | Read More

New product: Fotobabble, for talking photos

This morning, I’ve been testing a new website/iPhone app that adds a new dimension to sharing travel photos. Fotobabble, currently FREE at iTunes and on the web, allows you to record sound to go with your pictures.

February 24th, 2010 | Books & Gear | Read More