In Finland, sauna is more than a stress-buster. It's more than a medical miracle, too, though saunas can ease a range of complaints, from high blood pressure to poor circulation. In Finland, sauna is practically a religion—an integral part of the Finnish "circle of life" since the Stone Age. Saunas were once used for childbirth, to cure the sick, to celebrate bridal showers, and, finally, to wash the dead. Even heroes of the Kalevala, Finland's national epic, took saunas. Today, there's at least one sauna for every one of five million Finns. Families and friends meet for weekly saunas in homes and apartments. Or they congregate in public establishments like Helsinki's Kotiharju Sauna, the city's oldest wood-fired sauna, or Tampere's Rajaportii Sauna, Finland's oldest, built in 1906. In summer, Finns head to their lakeside or seaside cottages to hunker down in rustic outdoor sauna houses and cool off in fresh, clear waters. They frequent villages and islands where sauna-bathing is the central activity, like Saunasaari, just off Helsinki's coast. Or they journey to the far north, to Lapland, to take saunas in traditional wood Sami huts, or aboard the world's only gondola sauna high above the Ylläs ski resort.…

It’s Always Hot A friend called the other day and said, not without a soupcon of sarcasm, “So is Miami cold yet, you know, in the low ‘70s?”  In fact, tropical paradise that we are, we do occasionally get a cold snap in the winter months. (You know the temps have dropped when the fashionistas are sporting thigh high leather boots and tourists leave their flip flops in their bag).  Another friend called to offer his sympathy: now that Art Basel Miami Beach was over, wasn’t I bored? No way!  There’s plenty to do in Miami beyond the beach, bikinis, and Basel … even when the temperature heads south.   Besides the myriad of museums and collections, there are the historic venues, such as the stunning Biltmore Hotel and Vizcaya Museum & Gardens, great shopping, ranging from outlet to vintage, world class dining and entertainment and endless sports events and activities. I’m pleased to report that January and February both offer an almost endless array of events with something for just about everyone’s taste. Here’s my comprehensive round-up.   Art Deco Weekend from January 13 through 15 Last year more than 200,000 Deco devotees from all over the world converged on…

Charming Charlevoix The Charlevoix region in the province of Québec (Canada) is a 6,000 square kilometer protected UNESCO World Bisophere Reserve, rich in forests, streams, and wildlife. It's also flanked on the north shore by the mighty St. Lawrence River, portions of which are designated as a marine conservation area, making it one of the best places in North America for whale watching. Fresh and salt water mix where the Saguenay and St. Lawrence Rivers meet, making it a perfect playground for several different species of migratory whales, including belugas, minkes, humpbacks, fin whale, and the mighty blue whale. The opportune time of year for catching glimpses is May to October, and there are many local operators providing everything from boat cruises and zodiacs, to kayaking and even snorkeling for those so inclined. The area also has seals, sea birds, caribou, wolves, and many other animals unique to this region. Pioneers of Tourism In 1864, Hotel Tadoussac opened its doors, marking the beginning of over a century of providing memorable vacation experiences. Today its whitewashed walls, red roof, and maritime colors still make it a must for visitors to the area, and the perfect base for whale watching excursions. The…

"J'taime, Bonnehomme Carnival!" Every kid who visit's Québec City's magnificent two week celebration of winter comes away knowing that phrase. By the end of a five day visit, I came away saying it myself. I'm not sure if the guy in the Bonnehomme Carnival mascot costume expected an adult man to express his love with such sincerity, but it was all in good fun. And fun with a snowman—and everything snow—is what this winter party is all about. While the majority of Canadians (and Americans in winter climates) hunkers down and grumbles their way through winter, the people of Québec's capital happily pull on their parkas, caps and mittens, then go outside and play. Over the last 50+ years, they've created the world's largest winter festival. Held each February, Carnival now attracts upwards of a million participants to a city with a European feel where the cobbled streets nearly drip with wintry magic. The centerpiece of Carnival is a magnificent ice castle, standing across the street from Quebec's main government building. Bonnehomme shows up there at specified times, and at night it's beautifully lit. Several magnificent snow sculptures stand nearby, and more can be seen around the festival area. Quebec…

It's not too late to take a Caribbean vacation—low season lasts until December 15th, which means prices are super affordable until then. If you haven't booked a vacation yet, take this chance to try out one of these luxury resorts available at a fraction of their winter season price. While these days are indeed sultry, the nights are delightfully breezy and there's nothing better than a gorgeous, sunny beach getaway in paradise during the last days of summer. The Island: Anguilla Why Go: This tiny island is known for its peace and quiet and great food. Many people do little more here besides moving from their beach chair to the gin-clear waters and back again. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Must Do: a day trip to Sandy Isle, a tiny island surrounded by a coral reef. One can go snorkeling and swimming there then follow it up with lunch and drinks at the beach bar and restaurant. Where to Stay: The whitewashed villas at the five-star CuisinArt Resort & Spa have front and center views of the turquoise Caribbean Sea. The hotel is not only known for its top-level service, but also its restaurants where many of the…

What's New in Newport, Rhode Island Maritime Newport, America's first resort, is bestowed with stunning coastlines on the south, east and west. Renowned as a mecca for jet-setters, polo players and yachting enthusiasts, it's a rarefied place with Gilded-Age mansions and gleaming yachts not to mention the place where Jacqueline Bouvier married John F. Kennedy and the location of the Camelot era's summer White House. Understandably, Newport may seem like a place only for a select few. But opportunities to delve a bit deeper into this small enclave, courtesy of recently-transplanted pals, dissuaded me from the notion that Newport is only for celebrity globe-trotters. I discovered it's beyond mere glamour and glitz. On another good friend's suggestion, I checked out Theophilus North, Thornton Wilder's entertaining novel that takes place post-Gilded-Age Newport, 1926. A veritable travelogue that's narrated by Theophilus "Teddie" North, it describes Newport's nine cities (a variation on Troy's nine cities excavated by 19th-century German archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann) including the maritime, military and moneyed ones.   Like Wilder's novel, Newport is multi-layered and more complex than its glittery surface may suggest. Newport's age-old mystery and allure is evident in its historic landmarks, architectural pleasures, awe-inspiring gardens, major musical events…

Losing Yourself in the Ancient Medina Imagine walking down a spiraling cobblestone street, getting closer with each step. Unfamiliar sounds break the stillness - drumbeats and indistinct Arabic words.  Odors wafting in the air are unlike any you’ve smelled before …meats, boiling harira, herbs and spices you can’t distinguish.  Even with your eyes closed you know you’ve reached the medina and this is the beginning of the mystery of Fez.  I’m just passing under Bab Boujloud, one of the monumental gateways to the city’s winding and historic medina.  It’s late, maybe 9 pm, and the cafés are full up with dinner guests.  Young men tempt me with their menus offering lamb tagine, vegetable cous cous, chicken b’stila.  It’s hard not to look but I’m in a rush to settle into my quiet riad.  I follow a winding alley which twists and turns, turn right where the map indicates right then another right.  I’ve always had a great sense of direction but before long I realize I’m lost.  It’s hard not to get lost in Fès where endless streets with no names lead to blind alleys where only an occasional donkey strays.  When I finally find my riad and soothe my…

Walking on The Moon – the Atacama Desert Mars? The moon? The end of the earth? Those were the first three things that popped into my head the moment I touched down in Calama, Chile. It didn’t matter how much planning and researching I‘d done, nothing prepared me for the next four days in the Atacama Desert, the world’s driest desert. Okay, I admit I have little interest in science but I think a little inside info is needed here to geographically explain The Atacama Desert before describing this incredible experience. In Ricky Ricardo’s famous words, maybe “I got some ‘splanin’ to do.”  The Atacama Desert is actually a plateau in northern Chile that covers about 600 miles and is one of the few deserts on Earth that doesn’t receive any rain, being blocked on both sides of the Andes Mountains. This means it’s dry as a bone and some weather stations have reported not a single drop. The area is so dry that mountains that reach 22,000 feet are totally free of glaciers and some riverbeds have been dry for over 120,000 years. Parts of the desert receive a marine fog that provides enough moisture for the limited growth…

A Day in Saint Germain des Prés There are few neighborhoods in the world as famous as Saint-Germain-des-Prés, and even fewer that have managed to maintain an elite status for as long and with as much elegance and style as this one. When I was living in Paris, I was lucky enough to live in a small apartment in a neoclassic building on the corner of Boulevard Saint-Germain and Rue de Rennes. An oversized blue door that still decorates the entrance to the building, between the Monoprix supermarket and the Emporio Armani store and café, was all that separated me from the wonders of Rive Gauche. This is a neighborhood I had been exploring since I was a child, and before I was born my parents honeymooned in a boutique hotel a few blocks away, and even before that my grandparents sipped coffee in Les Deux Magots. That is what makes Saint Germain so unique - the feeling that its sophisticated grace is deep rooted in the past and will continue after both you and I are gone. Timeless beauty characterizes every aspect of this Parisian corner and there is something for everyone to discover.  As an homage to one…

Cologne is a city of contrasts.  Germany’s most catholic city is also one of its most progressive.  Founded along the Rhine River as a Roman settlement in 38 BC, Cologne has managed to stay relevant through more than 2,000 years of history, culture, and artistry.  Germany’s fourth largest city celebrates its distinct “Kölsch” culture by marching to the beat of its own drummer:  drinking its particular beer, speaking its unique dialect, and living its free-spirited lifestyle.  While honoring its rich past, Cologne is a city living in the present and looking toward the future. Considered the world’s largest Gothic cathedral, the Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom) is the unequivocal symbol of the city.  With construction beginning in 1248, and taking more than 500 years to complete, the centuries-long commitment was well worth waiting for. The mammoth structure now covers over 86,000 square feet, and soars an astonishing 515 feet, making it the biggest and most popular tourist attraction in Cologne and one of the most loved in all of Germany.  Typical of Gothic architecture, the cathedral’s giant spires stretch toward the sky to create a landmark visible from almost anywhere in the city.  In Cologne, the Dom is the North Star…