The city of Tel Aviv boasts the best of all worlds, with it's delicious foods like falafel and hummus, mixed with a rich, historical culture, and a laid-back beach atmosphere that makes it an ideal city to live in. One of my top priorities while visiting during the Winter was to be centrally located, while also enjoying a constant view of the Mediterranean, which reminds me of my home in Miami. The Carlton Tel Aviv just does that. Situated … [Read more...]
7 Best California Road Trip Routes and How to Get There Safely
You could just book a plane or a train ticket to your final destination and skip the road trip across California. However, California’s vast landscape is a true thing of beauty and deserves to be mindfully savored. But before you embark on this incredible journey, make sure your vehicle is in tip-top shape. After all, California is a sizable state with roadways that extend for hundreds of miles. You might even want to consider mechanical … [Read more...]
Sea of Galilee and Redemption
The sea, the sea! That was my miraculous view for at least four Galilean days staying in a hotel on the outskirts of the ancient city of Tiberias, Israel. That was the Sea of Galilee or Lake Tiberias or Buhayrat Tabriya in Arabic or Yam Kinneret in Hebrew. This is the sea of abounding stories; biblical, archaeological, economic, political and of personal testimonies. One Night I was awakened by a dream. I was swimming in the sea’s deep … [Read more...]
Three California Roads Less Traveled
It's easy to argue that California is the land freeways and automobiles. And with its massive scale and incredible geographic diversity, there are plenty of scenic routes to explore. We've all heard of the world-famous drives, like the section of the Pacific Coast Highway through Big Sur or Mulholland Drive through the Hollywood Hills. While I have plenty of favorites, I'd like to share three lesser-known routes. There are, of course, many more … [Read more...]
Israel, The Holy Land
There is a magical land located in the Middle East; it is but a relatively small dot on the map, but has played an enormous role politically and religiously throughout recorded history. This is a place described in the Old Testament as the Holy Land, home to the Israelites. This is Israel - a landscape of deserts, beaches and at times, snow-capped mountains. Israel is a travel destination sought out by a diversity of travelers: the foodie, the … [Read more...]
Extra Fancy Sauce: Pebble Beach Food & Wine
I can honestly say that I’ve never been to an event quite like Pebble Beach Food & Wine. Over. The. Top. As I pulled up to the Grand Tasting in my Honda CRV, I giggled at the sign which read, “Free valet parking when you drive your Lexus,” and knew that I was in for something completely different at this tasting event. As I walked from my car to the enormous white tents hosting the festivities, I had a momentary concern that my … [Read more...]
A Guide To California’s Top Natural Beauty Spots
California is pretty amazingly beautiful, so selecting the top 5 spots was pretty tough, but in the name of being succinct that's what I have done for this post. So here are my favourite few places in California - must see spots for any nature lover. 1. Redwood National Park I just love forests, so this was always going to be on my list. The national park is mostly made of dense forest and beautiful (and huge) redwood trees which are sure to … [Read more...]
Escape to Carmel-by-the-Sea
There’s no place like home, but when a trip is ending, I’m always a little sad unless I’ve got the next excursion in mind. Coming home after almost three weeks of having a fantastic time in the Emilia-Romagna and Puglia regions of Italy, I needed to plan a getaway! I found solace in Carmel-by-the-Sea. About a two-hour drive south from San Francisco, Carmel is a convenient getaway for area residents or visitors to San Francisco Bay Area. … [Read more...]
Bees and Lavender in Carmel
Ever want to don a full bodysuit to invade a colony of 60,000 Italian honeybees and extract honey from their hive? Spending a day on bee farm is something I’ve always wanted to do. Maybe it’s because you get to wear a cool suit. Maybe it’s because bees are slowly disappearing and I want to support them in someway. Maybe it’s because I’m totally afraid of them and need to get that out of my system. Whatever, the reason, when I learned you … [Read more...]
Los Angeles, CA – City Parks
As of last count,there are over 600 public parks within the Los Angeles city limits - ranging from tiny green spaces to larger parks tucked away in the Hollywood Hills. We continue to explore the city's public park terrain and will update this page as time permits. Barnsdall Park is located right off Hollywood Blvd in East Hollywood (about 2 miles East of the 101 Freeway) on top of a hill ("Olive Hill") which affords one superb views of much … [Read more...]