escapes

So a couple of years back I took a cruise with Atlantis…2300 gays (and like 12 girls?), tons of fun, and only a fraction of the sordid, drug fueled, orgiastic shenanigans I expected.  Just as many gays came with friends as came solo; the experience is set up to make mingling easy, to give the [...]

I had no idea that a World Cup of Paragliding even existed, let alone the fact that it was held in Macedonia (Krushevo) this year. I suppose I sort of misunderstood the sport to begin with – it’s really not about falling or screaming or an extreme rush of energy (the exception being aerial acrobatics competitions). It’s [...]

Hiram Bingham luxury train Cusco to Machu Picchu  |  Cusco to Machu Picchu, Peru  |  I know there are many ways to follow the Inca’s path from Cusco to Machu Picchu, but there is only one way to do it in style, surrounded by an exclusive and sophisticated atmosphere, in comfortable cars and with breathtaking [...]

Machu Picchu and Wayna Picchu  |  Aguas Calientes, Peru  |  Two of the main vestiges of the Inca Empire, located twenty five minutes away from the town of Aguas Calientes and approximately four hours away from Cusco. I came to Machu Picchu with lots of expectations, and to be honest not with much knowledge, and I [...]

PART ONE: THE STORM BEFORE THE STORM So, these past few weeks have been crazy for all of you!  I hope you are back to normal after reading this, that your home is safe and dry, you have power, wifi and your president is not evil! As you know, I usually report on adventures and [...]

I was reminded of something very important on a recent adventure outside the small town of Santiago in Baja California: It’s not always the scenery itself, it’s how and when you see it. That’s obviously a twist on a quote about music, but I think it rings true all the same. The desert area surrounding [...]

On September 6th, Andaz 5th Avenue unveiled their second year of TBD Art, a series that focuses on the art and culture of New York City.  Featured this year is resident artist Daniel St. George whose beautiful work will be featured on the doors of the downstairs bar at Andaz 5th Avenue.  In order to [...]

Last week, California’s Death Valley was officially recognized as the hottest place on earth. Weird thing about that: The recognition was not the result of any new data. Yeah, there wasn’t a celebration or anything. Scientists apparently determined that the former record for hottest reading on earth – 136.4 degrees Fahrenheit somewhere in remote Libya [...]

Despite what common sense might tell you, biking and beers do mix, and it’s one hell of a good time. Oskar Blues Brewery, located about an hour north of Denver in both Longmont and Lyons, is famous for being the first brewery in the United States to put craft beer in a can. This November, [...]

Despite environmental concerns surrounding increasing popularity and about a dozen dead cow carcasses, I had one hell of a time at Conundrum Hot Springs in Aspen a few weekends ago, the highest elevated natural hot springs in North America at 11,200 ft. It’s a trek – the springs are 9 miles from the trailhead – but [...]