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Travel Itineraries: Sanya, China

Part of an assignment to research and create travel itineraries
for destinations all around the world, for different types of travelers.
This installment: Sanya, China.

I’m just happy they kept the word sylvan in the intro text. I’d tried to use it in another (earlier) destination, but their powers that be changed it to something more common. (Which made me determined to use it somewhere else instead.)

Head here for a two-day “Romantic Getaway” piece, and here for a five-day “Family Vacation Fun” itinerary (which let me use “See the Village People” as one of the intros, so of course it’s one of my favorites).

Travel Itineraries: Abu Dhabi, UAE

Unlike the nine other cities in my mega-assignment, I had an assist for Abu Dhabi—a friend who’d recently spent a year or two there. 🙏

Part of an assignment to research and create travel itineraries
for destinations all around the world, for different types of travelers.
This installment: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Unlike the other nine cities in my mega-assignment, I had a friend who recently had spent a year or two in Abu Dhabi, and was able to suggest some suitable places to profile. Such an assist was greatly appreciated.

Head here for a whirlwind “24 Hours In” piece, and here for a two-day “Culinary Tour” itinerary (which is one of my favorites because they left in several of my intros that had fun plays on words, like “Every Day Is Hump Day” for a blurb about a place that serves camel burgers).

Travel Itineraries: Sintra, Portugal

Western Portugal’s enviable wealth of destinations warrants an ambitious itinerary that includes something for every family member who’s lucky enough to explore it.

Part of an assignment to research and create travel itineraries
for destinations all around the world, for different types of travelers.
This installment: Sintra, Portugal. Of all the locations I wrote about, this one enchanted me the most, and I might just end up visiting the area in 2018.

Head here for a three-day “Countryside Pleasures” piece, and here for a five-day “Family Fun” itinerary (which let me use the phrase “It’ll be epoch!,” so of course it’s one of my favorites).

Travel Itineraries: Key Biscayne, Florida

“Key Biscayne’s tranquil waters, beautiful beaches and laid-back village vibe make it a haven for families who can’t wait to dive, figuratively or literally, into the fun. Wade out from lagoon-style beaches or set sail for deeper waters — there are options aplenty, as well as bountiful outdoor recreation for those who prefer to stay ashore.”

Part of an assignment to research and create travel itineraries
for destinations all around the world, for different types of travelers.
This installment: Key Biscayne, Florida.

Head here for a five-day “Family Fun” piece — the opportunity to wear
a real diving helmet sounds cool, but personally I’d spend all day at Vizcaya — and here for a three-day “Island Adventure” (which includes a snorkel/scuba tour of a series of shipwrecks).

Travel Itineraries: Almaty, Kazakhstan

Part of an assignment to research and create travel itineraries for destinations all around the world, for different types of travelers. This installment: Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Part of an assignment to research and create travel itineraries
for destinations all around the world, for different types of travelers.
This installment: Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Head here for a “Perfect Weekend” piece,
and here for a 24-hour whirlwind experience.

At Home in Austin: Dorado magazine

I am an unabashed fan of modern architecture,* so whenever I get to interview homeowners who live in modern houses, there’s always some envy involved. And I always admire how the best architects like David Webber are able to marry an artist’s eye and an engineer’s brain to conceive such a beautiful, functional result.

That said, though, whenever I see a sleek, minimal line of kitchen cabinets, it makes me wonder where the homeowners keep all their paper towels and bottled water when they come back from Costco (especially if their garage is really just an enclosed carport).

Continue reading “At Home in Austin: Dorado magazine”

The Art of Japanese Cuisine

voyage-ritz-carlton-japanese-cuisine“Across Japan, chefs at The Ritz-Carlton consider every component of the dishes they create to ensure that only the finest, freshest ingredients are incorporated into dishes that also pay deep respect to the region in which they’re served.”

Continue reading “The Art of Japanese Cuisine”