Mountain City's Travel Blog

 The Four Seasons Resort Tamarindo recently opened in one of the most unique and rare locations: along a pristine, 6-mile stretch of coastline, part of a 3000-acre nature reserve on Mexico’s Pacific coast. Just 2% of the landscape will be developed, with the resort company saying it’s committed to preserving “the natural landscape, celebrating Mexico’s rich heritage and providing the...

A hundred years after the discovery of the tomb of the Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun, “King Tut” remains the most famous of all of ancient Egypt’s rulers – and one of the biggest attractions on a trip to Egypt. Tutankhamun only ruled for 10 short years until dying at the age of 19 in 1325 BC. But he became a celebrity...

American Cruise Lines is the oldest U.S. cruise line exclusively sailing along the rivers, waterways and coasts of America, with 2023 marking a half-century of operations. The cruise line visits only domestic ports of call along both the U.S. East and West Coasts, Alaska to Florida, and the major rivers in-between, from the Hudson to the Mississippi to the Columbia...

In a world of over-exposure, St. Barthelemy retains its luxe mystique as one of the most exclusive, most chic islands in the Caribbean. Off the beaten track, and with French flair, this tiny island has an outsized reputation and appeal for those in the know. Maybe it’s partly because of its (several) names. The French Caribbean island’s long and formal name...

“We Paint” is a group of painters that gather weekly at Centre 64. In a fun and rather zig-zaggy way they came to learn of my recent adventure to Antarctica.  Before you knew it, these painters embarked on a journey of painting these delightfully wonderful flightless birds.The fun, and zig-zagging continued, and before you could say “The 7th Continent” an evening...

In 2023, the game changing troupe that redefined ‘circus’ and became every couple’s must-do evening on the town in Las Vegas celebrates three decades in the city that put it on the global entertainment map. Cirque du Soleil started it all in Sin City in 1993, with the high-energy acrobatics and evocative choreography of Mystere at Treasure Island Hotel &...

If you ask past guests what they remember most about their Seabourn cruise, chances are that caviar will come up. Complimentary caviar has been a signature of Seabourn since its earliest days, and the delicacy has become woven into the tapestry of the luxury Seabourn lifestyle and some of the most memorable moments of any Seabourn cruise. Here are some...

 Planning a romantic escape with your sweetheart to Europe? This new list of the continent’s most romantic cities may help you narrow down your list – or add a few unexpected entries. A European yacht-charter company has analyzed data showing how many ‘romantic’ hotel and restaurants per capita can be found in a list of European capital cities to determine...

National Margarita Day is February 22, but Margaritaville resorts has declared the whole month of February Margarita Month. It’s launched an annual, month-long event that celebrates the (un)official cocktail of the laid-back. If a light-hearted, flip-flop wearing tropical escape is on the agenda to reconnect with your loved one, Margaritaville resorts are the place, and of course, a frosty margarita...

February is one of my favorite months of the year.

 Kung Hei Fat Choy! Millions of people around the world join in as many Asian countries celebrate the arrival of the Lunar or Chinese New Year, with colorful traditions designed to help ensure health, prosperity and good luck in the coming year. This Year of the Rabbit is ‘lucky’ indeed, as Hong Kong has just recently reopened for travel! Our...

There’s enjoying tropical rum cocktails when you’re in the Caribbean on vacation… then there’s becoming an actual “RumMaster.” Now you can spend a day with kindred ‘spirits’ immersing yourself in the history and the practice of rum on an island with a rich rum history and a growing unconventional rum scene. St. Kitts Tourism has launched its “Kittitian RumMaster” program...

The New Year comes with the anticipation of another exciting 12 months of new ship inaugurals, which will introduce design, technology, cruise lifestyle and environmental innovations that will shape the future of how we cruise. In 2023, $11 billion worth of new ocean ships alone will debut around the world, adding close to 40,000 new berths to the global cruise fleet.Here's...

Move over corn mazes! The winter version of the classic fall countryside activity is the snow maze. And one ski resort has laid claim to the highest alpine snow maze in the world. Colorado’s Copper Mountain snow maze opened mid-January, and with a base elevation of over 9700 feet, the snow maze’s location on the mountain next to one of...

Waldorf Astoria hotels’ name and hospitality still reflect its founding family, the legendary Astors, who for more than a century were the pinnacle of American high society. The Astor legacy of good living is expanding worldwide and especially in Latin America, where three new Waldorf Astoria hotels and resorts are setting new standards in travel style.  CANCUN, MEXICO  The Waldorf...

Europe is banning short hopper flights in a battle against emissions. The move is sparking a rail revival – and particularly a renaissance of night trains. This is something to celebrate, if you love rail journeys as much as we do. Not just for the reduction in greenhouse gases; although Eurostar says that flying from London to Paris emits 14...

Viking Neptune, the river and ocean cruise line’s newest ocean ship, has been ceremonially named by her godmother, retired NASA astronaut, aquanaut and artist, Nicole Stott. The ship’s naming ceremony was a highlight for its World Cruise guests.  Viking Neptune arrived in Los Angeles on the morning of January 8 and departed for Honolulu following its naming ceremony, continuing its...

Will it soon be named the Perfectly Ordinary Tower of Pisa? Will the Tuscan city whose claim to fame is an off-kilter tower fall into obscurity without tourists keen to snap photos of themselves pretending to prop up the Tower of Pisa? Those are the questions we’re asking ourselves with the news that the so-called Leaning Tower of Pisa is...

Break away from the beach and inject the wonder of history into your next vacation! Mexico’s ancient past comes alive at archaeological sites around the country that allow you to walk in the footsteps of the inhabitants of highly evolved societies who built pyramids, elaborate cities, and culture rivalling any ancient civilization in the world. Pre-Columbian (the era prior to Christopher...

The Caribbean flamingo is an iconic symbol of the tropics, with its vivid pink plumage standing out against a backdrop of turquoise waters, green palm leaves, and pastel-colored buildings. In the Bahamas, where it’s the national bird, flamingos have made a strong comeback thanks to conservation projects. The Islands of The Bahamas may be one of the best places in...