A weight-loss spa with delectable cuisine
I’d never heard of Lo-Wei (low-weigh, get it?), a unique exercise class that combines yoga, strength training and flexibility. But it stretched my body in ways my mind never thought possible. But it is only one of almost three dozen fitness classes offered as part of the dawn-to-dusk workout, weight loss and education focus of the Deerfield Health Retreat and Spa in East Stroudsburg,... READ MORE
How tiny Andorra enchants its visitors
We were sitting on a bench-sized rock in a sunny, mint-green meadow sprinkled with wildflowers, scattered evergreens and granite outcroppings. About 1,000 feet up in the distance, the silhouettes of horses appeared on the ridge — one, two, another, then another — a herd of 50 or so wild horses. They gently picked their way down a twisty mountain path, then to the meadow’s edge... READ MORE
What if your flight is canceled or delayed?
The odds of encountering turbulence in your travel plans when you’re flying are probably lower than you think: In the first 10 months of 2017, 18.4 percent of domestic airline flights were delayed on departure, and 1.6 percent were canceled, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. But when you’re the unlucky passenger stranded at the gate with no plane in sight, knowing ... READ MORE
Understanding new State Dept. advisories
The U.S. State Department recently revised the way it classifies risks you face when visiting other countries. Each country gets a risk rating of one to four, replacing the old “warning” system. In practice, it looks like the new system will provide more useful risk assessments, but the utility of recommended precautions you should take in response to risks is underwhelming. The... READ MORE
A day spent amidst the Malecon mayhem
So I heard that you could spend from dawn to dusk on the seaside promenade known as the Malecon, in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and never get bored. And I thought, “OK, I’m up for that challenge.” And yes, the Malecon is a 1.5-mile delight, bordered by shops on one side and the Bay of Banderas on the other. I was initially struck by the preponderance of unusual brass sculptures... READ MORE
Why so many keep coming back to ‘PV’
The destination that my wife Fyllis and I were visiting isn’t for everyone. Some beaches consist of more pebbles than sand, and the ocean in places lacks the clarity and multi-hued colors of the Caribbean. Despite those drawbacks, in recent years Puerto Vallarta, Mexico has grown from a sleepy village into a magnet for people who favor it for a variety of reasons. When I asked... READ MORE
Love stories from five Virginia presidents
With Valentine’s and Presidents’ Days approaching, curiosity turns to what U.S. presidents were like as sweethearts and husbands. Readers and travelers can gain insight into five “romantics in chief” from Virginia — birthplace of eight U.S. presidents — by visiting the related presidential sites in the Commonwealth. We’ve also listed some nearby romantic inns if you’d... READ MORE
Try bargain vacations for smaller crowds
Hordes of tourists swarming the world’s most popular destinations can make travel unpleasant. For example, Barcelona and Venice are so crowded that disgruntled residents have staged protests over the influx of visitors. Governments looking for ways to reduce the crowds in Barcelona and Dubrovnik are considering limiting hotel construction or capping the number of cruise ships that... READ MORE
Explore Virginia’s African American sites
Perhaps surprisingly, “Virginia is home to the longest continuous experience of African American culture and life in the United States,” the state’s tourism agency touts. It is a journey of highs and lows, tragedies and triumphs. In a state that promotes its early devotion to democracy and human dignity through numerous Colonial and Revolutionary War sites, the landscape is riddled ... READ MORE
Missions to help heal the world
In the remote village of Cerro Iglesias, in a mountainous region of Panama, Pastor Micah Davis arduously mixed cement by hand and spread it to create bases for huge water storage containers that would pave the way for the village’s first running water. Then, Davis went to a nearby city to pick up supplies when a torrential rain began to fall. “It was just [coming down as] solid... READ MORE
