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On Oregon’s Coast: Lewis & Clark and the Holidays

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First Time Travel to Europe - Your Six-Month Planning Guide

So, you’ve decided that you want to travel to Europe within the next year. Fantastic! Your trip is sure to be an exciting learning experience. This article will discuss the key plans you’ll need to make before traveling to Europe, starting from six months outwards.

Traveling to Europe - Six Months Before You Go

Get a passport now, if you have luggage that will make the trip, cameras with adequate film, the right currency in your pocket, gear to keep your valuables safe, an electrical converter (if required, think … Read the rest

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On safari in South Africa: readers’ travel writing competition

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Janette Smith won a stay at the Shamwari Game Reserve in South Africa in the accommodation category of the 2011 competition. Here she tells how the trappings of luxury did not detract from a wonderful wildlife experience

Janette Smith and boyfriend Tony encounter a family of elephants on safari in South Africa

"Keep an eye out for John Travolta!" laughs our driver, as we peer out of the taxi window, hoping to spot a warthog or two in the African bush. We are on our way to the swish Shamwari Game Reserve in South Africa's Eastern Cape, one of the world's leading luxury safari destinations, and occasional retreat for various species of celebrity.

Shamwari … Read the rest

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Amansara, Siem Reap, Cambodia

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Amansara used to be the guest villa of King Norodom Sihanouk, so you know you’re in for private luxury.
Amansara, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Located a mere ten minutes away from the magnificent Angkor Wat, the largest Hindu temple in the world, the 24-suite hotel features swimming and lap pools, a spa, a rooftop terrace, high-end gallery gift shop, library, and gorgeous outdoor dining room, which offeres both traditional Khmer and western cuisines. The aesthetics are simple, with a focus on clean lines and muted tones; the rooms are done in grey terrazzo, dark timber and ivory. It’s just the retreat you need to … Read the rest

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All Roads Lead to Wythe Avenue

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Alongside the predictable ripped Acne denim and thrift-store T-shirts, the guys donned an unkempt preppy uniform of crumpled button-ups from Steven Alan and frayed cutoffs from J. Crew. The hipper gals wore Alexander Wang tops and Isabel Marant dresses, while some women showed up in Coach bags and kitten heels, fashion choices more commonly associated with Midtown than Bedford Avenue.

A symphony of foreign tongues could be overheard, too: tourists from Portugal, Japan, France, Spain and, yes, Manhattan, all seeking the idealized Williamsburg je ne sais quoi. One gentleman, rocking back and forth on his skateboard, disparaged Le Bain, … Read the rest

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9 Sublime Health Retreats Across the U.S. (PHOTOS)

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Everyone has their own reasons to feel completely worn out. The holidays, children, work, and what happens on "The Bachelorette" are stresses that can really break just about anyone down. That's when you know it's time to book a week-long retreat where your greatest concern will be whether to go on another hike, take a seaside yoga class, or attend an organic cooking demonstration.

Situated in some of the most serene, scenic parts of the country, these health retreats range from strict detoxification to a calming week of vegan food and Pilates. Regardless, the goal is to leave with … Read the rest

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