Your Hotel Room Can Do WHAT?! Super High-Tech Amenities

June 18, 2014, 1:54 pm

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It seems that every week a new tablet device has launched or a new robot is being introduced to do the work of a person -- and hotels that know what's up have made sure to stock up on these new technologies. Although summer vacations are traditionally meant for getting away and unplugging, we can't help but love these super high-tech hotels that boast some of the coolest geek-friendly amenities we've ever seen. From Bond-like retina scans to robots (yes, robots), these 10 hotels have some pretty awesome technology.

-- Oyster.com

Fingerprint Scan Room Entry at Alma Barcelona



A smartly designed luxury boutique hotel, the Alma Barcelona has 72 quiet, upscale rooms with flat-panel TVs and free Wi-Fi. Unlike the nearby Majestic, the pool here is indoors, but the rooftop terrace has first-rate views of the Eixample and Sagrada Familia. Style here has a starring role: design elements include fingerprint swiping instead of room keys, and architectural features such as a minimalist light-filled atrium.
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The Yobot at the Yotel, New York City



If this futuristic hotel wasn't cool enough, the folks behind Yotel in New York City took their technology to new heights by introducing Yobot, a 15-foot automated luggage handler. Essentially, the robot selects and moves luggage from a very large luggage rack in order to organize all of the pieces received each day during check-in.

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Touch-Screen In-Room Consoles at The Halkin, London



This 41-room boutique hotel exudes luxury -- and spares no expense when it comes to catering to their guests. Sumptuous and spacious rooms literally offer convenience at the touch of a button, as all have wall consoles for calling the butler and other services including light switches and temperature controls.

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Retinal-Scan Room Entry at Nine Zero Hotel, Boston



While the Cloud Suite at Nine Zero could set you back a whopping $20,000 for a two-night stay, the hotel makes sure your every wish is taken care of and that no stone during your stay is left unturned. Private jet transportation is offered, champagne and caviar are always at beckon call, as is the on-site chauffeur. And you never need to worry about losing your room key -- the retinal scan ensures you (and only you, besides the staff, duh) have access to your pricey space.

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Infrared Body Scanners at Hotel 1000 - Seattle



Upon entry into a room at Seattle's Hotel 1000, the electronic doorbell silently scans the space with infrared sensors to detect body heat so that the staff knows when you're in and out of your room -- and thus never disrupts you during your stay.

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Smart Room Service Carts at The Jefferson, Washington D.C.



Hello, room service carts of the future! When, after you're done eating, you place your cart outside your door, a microchip inside the cart alerts housekeeping to come collect it.

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Tech Butlers at The Ritz-Carlton New York Battery Park



When your technology goes awry on vacation, normally you'd be forced to seek out the nearest electronics store. But at the Ritz-Carlton Battery Park, you can just pick up the telephone. The hotel offers a "tech butler" for any hardware or software problems you might have while at the hotel. Bonus: If you're astronomically inclined, most rooms come with a top-notch telescope for catching views of Lady Liberty and beyond.

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iPad Digital Concierge Service at Hotel Beaux Arts Miami



Rooms at Hotel Beaux Arts Miami come equipped with iPads with digital concierge services. Rooms also boast rotating flat-screen TVs, iPod docks, bathrooms with TVs in the mirror, and illy Espresso machines.

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Apple TV at The Geejam, Jamaica



Aside from the 42″ flat-screen TVs, iPod docks, dimmer switches, and DVD players, all rooms in this uber-luxe Jamaican resort feature Apple TVs. Each comes pre-programmed with an impressive mix of reggae and soul music, as well as three dozen movies. Bonus: You receive a pre-programmed cell phone on arrival with all of the hotel's customer service numbers already stored inside.

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All-in-One Entertainment Unit at The Mira Hong Kong



From the pool to the rooms to the spa, everything here has an almost futuristic touch: Think colorful lighting, straight lines, and a sleek design. Most rooms are decent-sized by Hong Kong standards, and all feature Bose iPod docks, LCD TVs, wireless keyboards, and entertainment units that incorporate computers and Blu-Ray DVD players.

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Not Even Brain Cancer Could Come Between This Couple's Unwavering Love

June 18, 2014, 2:29 pm

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A month before her wedding, Mari Mckinstry underwent her fourth of seven surgeries in her battle against brain cancer. The procedure left her unable to walk, so just two weeks before the big day, she was in rehab learning the skill all over again.

But at her April 5 wedding to Nathan Lazur in St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands, Mari was glowing and full of life. Looking at the happy couple, you'd never know all that the pair has been through.



Joy Marie Smallwood, Mari's cousin and wedding photographer, told HuffPost Weddings that the most emotional moment of the celebration was when the bride came walking down the aisle.

"Nobody knew if she would be able to walk by her wedding date or even be in a condition to make it to the wedding," she said. "So when we all saw this beautiful girl walking down the aisle, everyone was in tears!"



Mari and Nathan's relationship started as a friendship several years ago when she was his personal trainer. They went on their first official date (a visit to Seattle -- Mari's hometown -- for a Seahawks game) in the fall of 2011. In April 2012, Mari was diagnosed with brain cancer. By Christmas of that year, the couple was engaged.

Joy Marie said that Nathan has been incredibly loving and supportive since day one -- a picture of unconditional love.

"Nathan had said that he felt like he was put on this earth to take care of Mari," she said. "I can't even type that without crying because that is exactly what he has done. He sleeps by her side in the ICU. I know I speak for our family and all of those who love Mari when I say that I am incredibly grateful for Nathan and I really do believe he is an angel. The selfless love and care that he has given Mari is beyond anything I have ever witnessed."

Below are more photos from the couple's beautiful and emotional celebration.




As for Mari's health of late, Joy Marie told HuffPost Weddings that the bride began a round of chemotherapy this week. A friend of the family has set up a Go Fund Me page to help offset the high cost of medical expenses and full-time care giving. You can make a donation here.

Check out the slideshow below for more wedding photos.



Keep in touch! Check out HuffPost Weddings on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. Sign up for our newsletter here.

If You Like Staying in Italian Castles, You'll Dig This Hotel

June 18, 2014, 2:29 pm

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Do you like Italy? Do you like castles? If you answered yes to either of those questions (and if you didn't -- seriously?), you'll probably be into the gorgeous Castello di Monterone in the rolling hills of Umbria. This 13th-century castle has an impressive degree of preserved medieval character, and offers a romantic setting for a true getaway. One of our Italian investigators only just visited this stunning property, and we spent quite a while ogling it in the office. You can expect gorgeous stonework, breathtaking views, battlements, and even a suit of armor (of course -- this is a castle, in case we didn't make that crystal clear). It's almost hard to believe that these insanely beautiful photos are not remotely Photoshopped (if you're new here, that's kind of Oyster's whole thing). Just be careful not to drool on your keyboard. Pinners, get ready.

-- Kelsey Blodget, Oyster.com











See (Way) More Photos of the Castello di Monterone >>

Beer Tour Alert: 9 Craft Beer Hotspots in Munich to Visit on Your Beer Trip to Germany

June 18, 2014, 2:55 pm

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The best beer in Munich is not at the Hofbräuhaus. Beer awesomeness awaits you, but not necessarily at the places you've heard about.

Mormons gravitate to Salt Lake City, Muslims to Mecca and Catholics to the Vatican. For beer-lovers across the world, true north is Germany, the global home of beer and brewing greatness. And within Germany, Munich is widely regarded as Beer Central.

Which is why international beer-lovers and tourists in search of the perfect beer adventure flock to Munich.

But there's only one problem. They tend to lavish their love on the city's big breweries and the Oktoberfest, so they miss out on sensational off-the-grid brews.

Big Beer

With seven huge breweries, this city is high on brewing muscle, but low on diversity. A skull-flattening 6 million hectoliters, or 158 million gallons, of beer gush forth from the Augustiner, Hofbräu, Paulaner, Hacker-Pschorr, Löwenbräu, Spaten and Franziskaner breweries every year. Much of it is Helles (a light lager) and Weizen, the wheat-based beer that Bavarians love.

That's all good if craft beer is not your thing. But the big breweries suck up all the oxygen. They overshadow the valiant small breweries and craft beer pubs in Munich that are swimming against the beer tide. If you come to Munich in search of beer greatness, you may not even know they exist.

Oktoberfest

Likewise, the Oktoberfest, that unrivaled global magnet for beer fans that is the stuff of legend. Go if you will. But surrender your executive functioning at the gate and shed your dignity. All manner of beer-fueled lunacy lies ahead.

This is a mass event like no other, where locals and tourists join forces in a sacred mission: to down torrents of beer in a single-minded quest for the ultimate rush.

An epic 6.7 million liters, or 1.77 million gallons, of beer lubricated partygoers at the Oktoberfest in 2013. Let's just say things can get a little crazy when beer is consumed in quantities like this.

If you're tempted to participate, you can rent a bosom-lifting dirndl or a pair of clingy lederhosen to blend in with the crowd. But however you dress, know that you'll be rubbing shoulders with -- count 'em -- over 6 million other uninhibited, thigh-slapping partygoers. The count was 6.4 million in 2013.

Really?

Think of it as a marathon beer-storm. It can be fun if you're in the right frame of mind. But it's not where you go to experience authentic regional beer culture, encounter the diversity of native Bavarian beer or connect with the people who brew it.

For all its buzz, charm and hip cultural highlights, Munich is an irresistible destination. But since the beer scene is dominated by big-gun breweries and driven by the Oktoberfest, if you want to unlock the authentic German beer experience, you have to look hard.

Alt-Beer in Munich

Somewhere outside of Munich's mega-breweries and beyond the Oktoberfest, lies a beery divide that separates the mundane from the transcendent. You can't find the exact tipping point on a city map, but it's real and you'll notice that the beer definitely starts getting more diverse and flavorful when you get off the official beer grid.

Want to forage Munich's alt-beer scene for really good brews? Here are some tips.

Weisses Brauhaus

A wheat-beer champ that is a fraction of the size of Munich's big beer-makers, Schneider Weisse brews its beer in Kelheim and operates the venerable Weisses Brauhaus in Munich at a site where beer has been brewed and served since 1540. A warm atmosphere, sturdy food and memorable beer await you. Try Schneider's Aventinus, Nelson Sauvin, Porter Wheat and Eisbock if they're available when you visit and thank your lucky stars if they are. Schneider Weisse is still owned and operated by the Schneider family and some of their beers are exported.

Tal 7
80331 München
Tel. (089) 2901380

Giesinger Bräu

The Giesinger brew-house was born in a garage in a working-class Munich neighborhood and started out life as a nanobrewery. Owner Steffen Marx captured the beer Zeitgeist, used word-of-mouth and guerilla marketing to win converts and has written a new chapter in Munich brewing history in the process. He makes unfiltered, unpasteurized Märzen, wheat beer, Helles and dark beer in small quantities and will open a new brew-house in September. Until then, buy his beer at the brewery or get it at one of Munich's craft beer shops.

Birkenaustrasse 5
81543 München
Tel. (089) 65114911

Crew Republic

Bearded dudes with tats, standing around the mash tun. Portland meets Munich. Mario Hanel and Timm Schnigula invented "Craft Beer is Not a Crime" as their motto. They run a pioneering craft brewery with an outsider vibe, which leaves no doubt that they see themselves at odds with the beer establishment. They're charting new ground with a range of outsider brews that would have been unthinkable in Munich a few years ago. Try their Foundation 11, a pale ale. They also do an India Pale Ale, Stout, Summer Beer and a double IPA. It's beer-glazed grunge-glam at its best! New brewery and brewpub set to open in March 2015. Until then, the hippest venues to enjoy their beers are the Burritto Company, Augustenstrasse 74; Upper Eat Side, Werinherstrasse 15; or Goldene Bar, Prinzregentenstrasse 1 (all in Munich).

Fraunhoferstrasse 9
80469 München
Tel. (089) 411471290

Brauerei im Eiswerk

A must-visit beer destination, the Brauerei im Eiswerk is a sweet microbrewery located in a repurposed, turn-of-the century icemaking plant. Craft beer purists may balk because the brewery is operated by the Paulaner beer company, one of the city's large beer-makers. But the brewers apparently have a free hand and have been rolling out interesting, unorthodox beers, including a triple-fermented Bourbon Bock, a new twist on traditional brown beer called Josephs Spezial, and a strong fruity wheat Bock they call Weizenbock Mandarin.

Ohlmüllerstrasse 44
81541 München
Tel. (089) 39292 350 or 39292 351

Richelbräu

Founded by Günther Baumann and co-conspirators as a house brewery, Richelbräu may just be the most laid-back, quirky brewery in Munich. It's located in a turn-of-the-century building in the Neuhausen neighborhood and serves as a cultural center and neighborhood gathering place. The brewery can't serve food and isn't even allowed to sell its beer, but "tasting" is allowed. Demo brewing dates are set for July 5 and 19, August 2 and 16, September 6 and 20, October 4 and 18, 2014. You can also visit at other times, but call ahead.

Richelstrasse 26
80634 München
Tel. (089) 132584

Four other fixed stars in the Munich alt-beer scene deserve honorable mention. They're not breweries, but they have a vast selection of small-batch and specialty beers, craft beers and beers from the hinterlands on tap or in the bottle.

RedHot Amalienstrasse 89, 80799 München, Tel. (089) 20 06 17 18

Taphouse Rosenheimer Strasse 108, 81669 München, Tel. (089) 62 23 118

Biervana Hohenzollernstrasse 61, 80796 München, Tel. (0177) 17 04 598

Getränke-Oase Gabelsbergerstrasse 54, 80333 München, Tel. (089) 57 95 36 37




Beer Beyond Munich

It will take persistence, but if you ferret out some of these beer destinations when you're in Munich, you'll be doing yourself an immense favor. But don't stop there. You've only had your first sip.

Bavaria has 626 breweries, and 88 percent of them are small- or mid-size operations, with real people standing at the mash tun who turn out luscious authentic styles. Nearly all of them are located outside of Munich in the region's nooks-and-crannies.

These hidden native breweries have deep roots in the towns and villages where they're located. The beers they brew are loaded with character. They ignite passion and loyalty. Only a few of them are exported, so you have to venture to the hinterlands to experience them.

After a stop in Munich, a guided tour of the back roads of Bavaria should be on every beer-lover's bucket-list. Beer always tastes best where it's brewed, and it's magical in the Bavarian hinterlands.

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Tom Conrad will lead a small band of beer lovers, craft beer enthusiasts and Slow Food fans on a beer and brewery tour to Germany in October. Craft brewers, abbey breweries and independent beer-makers in Munich and the nooks and crannies of Bavaria are on the itinerary..

Info: Treasures of Europe Tours www.treasuresofeuropetours.com

Visit us at Pinterest. Say hello on Facebook and follow us on Twitter at TreasEurTours

Delve deeper with this photo essay about Germany's beer-brewing nun Sister Doris. Read more about women brewers and craft beer in Germany.

Photo credits: Crew Republic, Rainer Kastl/bierwandern dot de; Peter von Felbert; Bierland Oberfranken e.V.; Luber Family; LWL/Maria Tillmann

Wineries to pair with a city break

June 18, 2014, 3:09 pm

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Exploring a new city this summer? We have the perfect accompaniment: wine. Check out six wine regions within driving distance of six great cities. Tip: Steal away during the week when city dwellers are back in the office and you can sip vino without the crowds.

Major city: New York City
Wine region: Hudson Valley (drive time is 1.5 hours)

The bucolic region of New York State is teeming with storybook towns and some of the country's oldest vineyards (winemaking here dates back to 1677). The area has a few wine trails to choose from including the Shawangunk, which sits between the Hudson River and the Shawangunk Mountains. Explore the trails on your own or hop on The Little Wine Bus (it leaves from Midtown Manhattan) and let them do the navigation for you. Use Travelzoo Local Deals in the Hudson Valley this summer to watch polo matches, horseback ride, bike and hear live jazz with a wine glass in hand -- with savings up to 55%.

City to visit: Toronto
Wine region: The Niagara Peninsula (drive time is 1.5 hours)

With 32 varietals over 13,600 acres, the Niagara Peninsula is a diverse wine region with some impressive scenery: It's surrounded by rivers and lakes, and is a short drive from the famous Falls. The area is best known for its ice wine, a sweet wine made from grapes still frozen on the vine. The production process is arduous, making ice wine rare and expensive. But you can try it for yourself during the Niagara Ice Wine Festival in January, when wineries open their doors and the towns are teeming with street festivals and ice bars. Our Local Deals in Niagara include family activities plus the chance to sample the wine making the region famous.

City to visit: Washington, D.C.
Wine region: Loudoun County (drive time is 30 minutes)

Known as "D.C.'s Wine Country," Loudon County in Virginia is filled with rolling hills, farms and more than 40 wineries. Some are found in historic small towns with no more than 100 residents, while others are perched on the Blue Ridge Mountains with beautiful countryside views. Common varietals here include Norton, a dark grape that's a native of Virginia. Sample Norton and others on one of the six main wine trails that run through the area.

City to visit: Austin
Nearby wine region: Texas Hill Country (drive time is 40 minutes)

Texas is the fifth largest wine producer in the country and probably one of the few where the tasting rooms are filled with cowboy hats. The highest concentration of wine can found on Fredericksburg Wine Road 290, a rugged highway with 13 wineries. Those who want to leave their pickup trucks behind should try the Hill Country Bike and Wine tour. It sets tasters up with bikes, a picnic lunch and appointments at the local wineries.

City to visit: Seattle
Wine region: Yakima, Wash. (drive time is 2 hours)

Located in the rural countryside, these Pacific Northwest wineries are some of the oldest and largest in the state. The tasting rooms aren't quite as rural; they're centrally located in the towns of Prosser, Richland and Red Mountain. Visit a few of them along the Rattlesnake Hills Wine Trail. It's conveniently lined with more than a dozen wineries and, despite the name, is rattlesnake-free. Hyatt Vineyards is one of the most popular spots along the trail, thanks to its panoramic views of the Cascade Range.

City to visit: San Diego
Nearby wine region: Temecula (drive time is 1 hour)

Combine the rural landscape of Napa with the laid-back attitude of San Diego, and you'll get Temecula, an up-and-coming wine region 3,500 acres large. The area's unique microclimate (warm midday sun and cool ocean breezes) produces excellent chardonnays, merlots and sauvignon blancs. This ideal California weather can also be thanked for keeping the area's tasting rooms open year-round. With our Local Deals, sample the goods with savings up to 70% at several wineries. And find even more deals on our Featured Destination: California's Wine Regions page.


-- Ashley Hamilton is a deal expert based in Chicago. Travelzoo has over 250 deal experts from around the world who rigorously research, evaluate and test thousands of deals to find those with true value.

Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Swingers Resorts

June 18, 2014, 3:42 pm

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By: Sophie-Claire Hoeller


All images by Adult Vacation Parties

Admittedly, we've taken you on some pretty weird nakations in the past, from nude beaches and nude resorts, to the world's kinkiest festivals, naughty ski trips, and erotic vacations, but even we had to stop for a second upon discovering swingers resorts. Call us sheltered. Call us naive. We assumed they existed, of course, but we just didn't know much about them. Until now, that is. And everything we've learned, we're sharing with you.

More: The World's 10 Best Nude Beaches



So, are they just "adults only" all-inclusive resorts?
Sort of, in the sense that "adults only" means no kids. But no, in the sense that people aren't typically having public sex in your standard Cancun adults-only spots.

Wait, so then they're nude resorts?
Not technically. Though many swinger getaways are clothing-optional, they aren't specifically nude resorts. Which means, you'll have to cover up for meals among other club activities -- like lawn chess.

What is a swinger exactly?
Swingers are generally couples in a relationship who enjoy having "relations" with other people's partners. There are different categories within what people refer to as "the lifestyle", like exhibitionism, voyeurism, soft swaps, full swaps, orgies, and Game of Thrones. Ok, maybe not that last one.



I'm just a single dude who wants to get laid. Cool?
Most swinger resorts are couples-only, though there are resorts that do allow singles. These are ideal for the kind of swinging couples where the woman likes to... play, while her husband watches.

But obviously people are doing it everywhere?
Nope. Even resorts with names like Hedonism have some semblance of etiquette - sex on the beach or in public is still a no-no, although many resorts have outdoor "play areas", like rooftop Jacuzzis surrounded by beds.

What about partying? There is partying, right?
Oh yea, don't worry, there's ton of partying. Most resorts have live entertainment, nightly theme parties (Eyes Wide Shut, anyone?), and discos, as well as bars that pour all night.



Is sex with strangers the only activity offered at these resorts? What do people do all day, other than each other?
Like all resorts, swinger clubs have non-fornicating activities as well, like tours, snorkeling, and the aforementioned lawn chess. The main difference is that swinger resorts have designated sex spots, like hot tubs and playrooms. Most people like to hang at the pool or beach in the mornings, do some sort of athletic or cultural activity in the afternoon, then head to the play areas for a quick romp before dinner and more sexing.

Will I be having sex, like, all the time?
That depends on you, the other couples, the mood... you get the idea. Of course, casual, spontaneous sex is statistically about a billion times more likely to happen here than in your favorite dive bar back home, but there's no guarantee at check-in, if that's what you're hoping for.



Are these resorts nice, or kind of skeevy?
Obviously that depends on the specific resort, but most of them are like any other all-inclusive resort at which you'd vacation.

Can I organize a sex party in my room?
Absolutely, knock yourself out.

Do I have to make a straight trade with another couple or can we mix and match?
Anything goes.



So, are there any rules?
Indeed there are. No cameras, no cell phones, and no sex anywhere you could be seen by someone not on the resort's grounds. That's about it.

What about hygiene?
Fresh laundry and towels are provided in abundance. Like, ABUNDANCE.

Finally, what do I tell my friends and family? I can't very well say I'm vacationing at a place called Hedonism.
Who knows, tell 'em your fishing for marlin off Key West. When it comes to "the lifestyle", though, discretion is the name of the game. Shrewdly, many of these places offer a special, discrete phone number for friends and family to call in order to help conceal where you actually are.

Book your next swinger vacation here:

Hedonism II -- Negril, Jamaica
Opened in 1976 as "Negril Beach Village", Hedonism II (there used to be a I and III) is by far the most famous of the lot.

Desire Resort & Spa -- Cancun, Mexico
Desire, which also has a location in Costa Rica, boasts "sensual jacuzzi lounges", erotic workshops, and "sexy aqua fitness".

Rooftop Resort - Hollywood, FL
This place bills itself as South Florida's premier nudist swingers resort. So there.

Swinger Cruises
Yup, that's right, you can even take "the lifestyle" into international waters. Bon voyage!

More from Thrillist:

7 Of The World's Kinkiest Festivals

The World's Best Party Countries (Other Than The US of A)

Follow Thrillist on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Thrillist

Travel: Why Wait for Milestones?

June 19, 2014, 11:15 am

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It's a convenient way to rack up the celebration of milestones with "We'll do on our five year anniversary, 10 year, 15 year" and so forth. When it comes to treating ourselves and celebrating life as it happens, travel is something that I truly believe adds even more gratefulness to our lives. As Americans many of us subscribe to a culture of working until exhaustion and feeling guilt when we take time for ourselves. Over the years my husband Eric and I have made it a point to enjoy life in the present as opposed to waiting for milestones. It allows us to truly thrive as individuals as well as a couple.



As an American woman who has lived in Europe and lived on a ship for 100 days while studying, at times I struggle with the cliche of a work/life balance...except when it comes to travel. That's where I throw caution to the wind, leave the work at home and melt into the culture for that fixed amount of time. Ironically my reading selection for our recent jet-set was Arianna Huffington's book, Thrive. I never knew how much of a parallel this trip and that book would have for me.

Paris holds a dear place in our hearts. Our first trip to the City of Lights held sentimental value with a proposal four years ago. We didn't feel like waiting another year to celebrate a five year milestone. Our return trip to Paris held the guarantee of long cobblestone walks, sightseeing and champagne, but we wanted to capture moments differently than the usual double selfie photos. We knew that there was another way to capture these moments that we would never get back.



I contacted Catherine O'Hara Photography to document these moments at a sentimental location. We met at the Louvre, scaled the walls (literally), strolled through the nearby gardens and reveled in the moments as opposed to taking quick phone pics this time around. Looking back, this experience on this trip was literally and figuratively right in line with sections of Thrive. Below are three topics from the book that radiated throughout our adventure highlighted in our mini photo shoot.

Overconnectivity: The Snake in Our Digital Garden of Eden. While Catherine told us to simply, "walk slowly, look at each other" as we strolled down the dusty path in the gardens across the street from the Louvre, we truly did disconnect. No iPhones, no Instagram, just us amongst the lush green trees.



Hurry Sickness and Time Famine: It isn't uncommon to feel that multi-tasking is the only way to get everything done. In an increasingly connected world, it's hard not to have a conversation while updating social media...and not pay attention to anything the person has just said. It was hard to rush when I was in 6" heels trying to scale up (and down) the façade of the Louvre. This little lesson of patience and having fun in the moment was something we will not soon forget! It was also a little lesson in letting go...not easy for a Type A personality such as mine!



Wonder: Blast-off on a Journey to Inner Space: Something so simple as strolling along the Seine and enjoying memory lane was an unexpected journey. While we love to explore different nooks and crannies of the city, simply taking the same steps where a life-change had occurred was a journey to untapped inner emotions as we returned to the source. In those moments we were taken back four years prior and fast forwarded to our lives together today on this journey to inner space.



As we continue on our mission to thrive both on professional and personal levels, we realize how important it is to cherish each day that we aren't guaranteed. While milestones are fabulous to celebrate, not waiting for them gives us such a huge appreciation for life, love and the endless pursuit of travel.

10 Best Taco Stands in the U.S.

June 19, 2014, 11:43 am

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The taquería is a ubiquitous sight in Mexico — businessmen, blue collar workers and students alike pay daily visits to taco stands in order to get their fix of fresh-made tortillas filled with sizzling meats. However, you don't have to travel south of the border for delicious Mexican-style street food. At GAYOT.com's Top 10 Taco Stands in the U.S., you'll find elevated takes on the food cart staple, with tasty favorites like barbacoa and carne asada sharing menu space with less traditional options like smoked pork with spicy jalapeño coleslaw and a tequila-laced barbecue sauce. Whether you're in Los Angeles, Massachusetts or anywhere in between, we suggest making a stop to see what's cooking in these caliente kitchens.

Colonia Taco Lounge
13030 E. Valley Blvd.
La Puente, CA 91746

Chef Ricardo Diaz creates, arguably, L.A.'s best tacos at Colonia Taco Lounge in La Puente. It's painful to decide between guisados (stewed) like pork and kabocha squash or braised lamb barbacoa.

Read a complete review of Colonia Taco Lounge

Big Star
1531 N. Damen Ave.
Chicago, IL 60622

At this mock dive bar-meets-taquería, Paul Kahan (Blackbird, avec, The Publican) serves both stylized and pretty authentic takes on Mexican faves.

Read a complete review of Big Star




Read the complete list of the 10 Best Taco Stands in the U.S.

MORE ON GAYOT.com

10 Best Mexican Restaurants in the U.S.

10 Best Barbecue Restaurants in the U.S.

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Ten Insider Things To Do in Newport, RI

June 19, 2014, 11:44 am

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You've done the Cliff Walk, you've seen the mansions aka "Summer Cottages." You may have even taken a harbor tour. But here's a list of ways to experience Newport RI like a tycoon, a rum smuggler, or America's Cup crew in ways you never could before.



1. See craftsmen (and women) at work restoring the Gilded Age yacht, Coronet, at the IYRS (International Yacht Restorers School;449 Thames St.). It will take years, but it will be done right.

2. Dive into the lives of "Summer Cottage" servants at The Elms on the Servant Life Tour. You'll hear stories from actual employees and see their third floor living quarters, kitchen and coal cellar. Pair with a viewing of Downton Abby on Netflix for comparison.



3. Arrange to play a game of tennis on grass, the way the moneyed set did. Or go up to the "Royal Court" observation galley to watch players bat a traditional felted cork ball across the net at the International Tennis Hall Of Fame. An engaging museum covering tennis and players from the mid-1800s to present day is just icing on the cake. Love Love. Court time $80 per half hour for two players, one hour $120.



4. Learn about "hooch" smuggling during Prohibition on the swift Rum Runner II, a newly restored 1929 Elco Motor yacht, aka a "bootlegger." Take either the 75 minute narrated "East Passage" tour ($20) or the "not-narrated" Sunset Cocktail Cruise (with rum drinks, of course), $30. Leaves five times a day in season from Bannister's Wharf.



5. Charter an America's Cup Winning Yacht for private sailing or public group sunset sails. America's Cup Charter maintains a fleet of six yachts, four of which won the America's Cup during its glory days (prior to going catamaran), including Ted Turner's famous American Eagle.



6. Sail your own boat, if only for a few hours. Rent a J-22 or Rhodes 19 for as little as $73 for 3 hours on a weekday, $85 on weekends (providing you pass a proficiency test) from Sail Newport, the public sailing center at Fort Adams State Park.



7. Visit America's oldest Jewish house of worship, Touro Synagogue. Touro was the impetus for George Washington's famous letter "To the Hebrew Congregation at Newport." After visiting in 1790, Washington wrote, "every one shall sit in safety under his own vine and figtree, and there shall be none to make him afraid. For happily the Government of the United States gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance."



8. Enjoy a lazy Sunday afternoon with Bloody Mary and Fries on the rooftop of the Vanderbilt Grace Hotel ($18). The VG's Rooftop Lounge also offers Tuesday Cigar Nights 6pm-8pm, which for some reason provides Gentlemen with a cognac to accompany their favorite cigar, while Ladies get a glass of Rose Champagne with which to "savor the live saxophone tunes and beautiful Newport Harbor views." What if the "ladies" want a cigar and cognac?



9. Book a "Beach House" suite steps from Grace Kelly Beach, where the Royal Hollywood star hid out while on film shoots. About three miles from the downtown Newport, the Castle Hill Inn, on a promontory overlooking Narragansett Bay, serves as serene escape from the maddening crowds and is the only Newport resort with its own private beach. The former home of "the father of Marine Biology," Alexander Agassiz, Castle Hill also has it's own saltshaker lighthouse, and a massive, Yacht-Club-like lawn that serves as a small plates and wine restaurant on balmy summer evenings and cheering platform for the start of the "Bermuda Race."



10. Stay in a Lighthouse where you can choose to be a Keeper for a Night or A Week. Or not. Out in the middle of the harbor, you have to get to the Rose Island Lighthouse by boat, make your bed every morning (it's a museum), pack a cooler with food (no restaurant), share a pump-toilet and possibly do chores (if you sign up to be a Lighthouse Keeper for the night or week). But, oh, the view.

Daily Life In Cambodia: Photos Reveal Country's Stunning Beauty

June 19, 2014, 12:10 pm

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Welcome to Daily Life! Each week HuffPost World will transport you to one of the corners of the Earth through images that expose the beauty and tragedy of worlds you may have never before seen.

What Factors Make a City Great?

June 19, 2014, 12:11 pm

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We previously asked what makes for a great neighborhood and now we're thinking bigger. What makes a city great? On the surface, it's the people, the food, the outdoor environments and transit systems, incredible art, and architecture. Digging down a little deeper, we discover other nuances that create a better platform for those people and their urban lifestyles. With Localeur, we've developed a pretty keen understanding of how some cities brand or position themselves to cater to creative professionals and local business owners -- and this helps us get a better sense of what makes one city great in comparison to another.


Austin is growing, gentrifying and determining what type of city it wants to be. [Photo courtesy Gary Williams.]

Obviously, economics play a massive part in a city's well-being given that growth is created in large part by urbanization and the desire for new (jobs, restaurants, musicians, etc.). But different economic circumstances and preferences (Texans tend to not like taxes as much as folks in the north, for example) will beget different outcomes. So, as finances vary from city to city, so do opinions on how those finances should be handled. Should they go toward better rail systems and public schools, or to back to the residents to create their own jobs and local businesses?

At Localeur, we've discovered some leading indicators on what is important in making a city great through the eyes of a millennial traveler, and these attributes can be applied to any city in the world.

1. Culture: This is not just about art museums and swanky galleries with world famous artists; it is also about the smaller ones driven by local artists who are just as talented. Are their places, food and people authentic enough to rival anything else outside of that city, or even that country? (South by Southwest in Austin comes to mind.) Culture, of course, is partly made possible by wealth within a city, even in niche categories. For example, if you're able to pay rent as a full-time artist, it most likely means that the basic needs of the city are being met. The economy is healthy enough for a person to survive on the upper class. (In this context, the "trickle-down effect" has worked.) When a city as a whole can invest in cultural assets like design projects and public parks, it's probably succeeding.


Castle Hill Graffiti Wall celebrates Austin artists. [Photo courtesy of Gary Williams.]


2. "Buy-in": Diversity doesn't strictly concern different races and ethnicities within a city, though it is a significant factor. Some cities can be homogenous in one context but might surprise you in others. The real question is: "Who is actually participating in this city and how deep does the participation run in all directions?" Among the many factors considered are relative age and education levels of the participating population; political affiliations; percentage of transplants; and various indicators of cultural conditions. (When publications like Monocle magazine put out their list of top cities, these are all factors to consider, we're sure). Wider, but reasonably balanced, stratification of opportunity and experiences lends to the creation of much better cities. It is therefore critical that you have the "buy-in" of people in the city. People want to be true stakeholders in what happens in their areas. Every citizen should have suitable opportunities for gainful employment and for civic duty -- people able to make a decent wage for their families are much more willing to involve themselves. Cities should offer their citizens inclusive opportunities and a sense of personal pride in the overall infrastructure. Of course, this is all easier said than done, particularly in cities like San Francisco and Chicago where history, the role of the government, and gentrification all play huge factors.

3. Connectedness: This is critical for the advancement of cities, from "average" to those in the "best cities" lists. This connectedness -- through social media, for example -- also creates an outward effect of the city onto others. There is a clear correlation: aggressive usage of social media has proved to give a city a distinct advantage. It means people are in tune with what's going on, are spreading it around, and want to meet. This does not just include the latest restaurant or cool event, but also business information. Ideally, the city should connect first to the region around it, then outward from that point. Washington, D.C. must coordinate with city and state governments in Maryland and Virginia to ensure its Metro rail system is effective, and this collaboration results in one of the nation's leading systems -- whereas cities like Austin are plagued by a lack of support for such infrastructure at the state level.


[Photo courtesy of Gary Williams.]

4. The outdoors: Do you actually want to get out in your city? Do people exercise outside of air-conditioned gyms? Are there spectacular views or architecture? Are there appropriate places where one can go people-watch or meet incredibly interesting and cultured individuals? Does the city -- and the corporations doing business with it -- make smart, environmentally friendly use of the land? Can you walk or get high-quality public transportation at a fair cost?

5. Smart spending: This is a relative term, because not all money is made and spent equally. That said, at ground level, thriving cities are where the Average Joe or Jane can have a great time, whether the person has a lot of money or has very little. When brought back up a level, it is again important to note smart growth actions can make all of this possible for any random person living or traveling into the city. Some of the trickier, infrastructural elements (such as who will pay for a light-rail system) have to be managed efficiently, and with an eye toward the future. Use of advanced technology allows city leaders to gather immediate and long-term data on what is working and what is not. The spending patterns of local governments, after all, are often influenced by the voting patterns of their residents - so if people have money to donate to the arts, that could have a positive or negative impact on those same people's willingness to have their government do the same.


Barkin Springs, a dog-owner's haven in Austin. [Photo courtesy of Gary Williams.]

The most important factor, which is included in all of the points above, is clearly a city's people. Quality city building is primarily about quality team building, as well as staying conscious of the people you intend to serve. Local business owners, artists, creative, and entrepreneurs like the people we seek whenever we expand Localeur into a new city represent some of the most integral people in setting the tone for what a city will be for its residents and visitors alike.

Summer Solstice 2014, Longest Day Of The Year, Arrives Saturday

June 19, 2014, 12:31 pm

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Get set for the 2014 summer solstice! The longest day of the year arrives on Saturday, June 21 at 6:51 a.m. EDT.

The occasion brings celebrations across the Northern Hemisphere, from Swedes who wear wreaths and dance around maypoles to modern-day Druids who flock to Stonehenge to Americans who enjoy their pool parties and cookouts.

But what's the summer solstice all about in celestial terms?

(Story continues below.)


As Earth orbits the sun, it tilts 23.5 degrees on its axis. Our summer solstice occurs when Earth's northern hemisphere faces toward the sun most directly.

Why isn't the longest day of the year also the hottest? Even though Earth's oceans and atmosphere soak up the most rays on the summer solstice, it takes them several weeks to re-radiate that energy back to us.

For those in the southern hemisphere, June 21 marks the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year.

Solstice comes from the Latin words "sol" and "sistere" meaning "sun stands still"--a reference to how, when seen from Earth, the sun appears to pause before its position in the sky reverses direction.

Missing Kitty Found A Month Later, Living At Airport

June 19, 2014, 12:46 pm

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Oh, Chester. You sly kitty.

On May 21, a cat escaped his crate at the Montreal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport in Canada when he was traveling to Vancouver to meet his new owner, Amanda Stewart. Air Canada employees struggled to find the feline over the course of the next month.

As it turns out, Chester the cat was alive and well, likely living at the airport.

The Scottish Fold cat was spotted along an exterior fence Tuesday evening and subsequently trapped by airport workers, Montreal Gazette reports. He was taken to a local veterinarian in Montreal for observation. Chester is apparently a few pounds skinnier, but appears to be in good shape.

(Story continues below.)

Post by Help Find Chester the Cat Lost By Air Canada.

When the kitty went missing in May, Stewart started a Facebook page, asking locals to help locate her lost cat. After a month went by, she feared Chester had hopped a plane somewhere.

"I would have thought by now he would have been found or at least spotted a bunch of times. Makes me think he was taken or somehow got onto a cargo box heading somewhere. : ( where are you Chester?" she wrote on Facebook.

Veterinarians believe the cat survived by eating mice and birds, according to Global News.

Now, Chester just needs to be delivered to Stewart, who lives in Surrey, British Columbia.

"We will be taking care of everything, including reuniting Chester with his owner," Air Canada spokeswoman Isabelle Arthur told CBC News.

Stewart just hopes Air Canada won't be flying the cat in cargo.

(Hat tip, Reddit)

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Flexing Your Integrity Muscle

June 19, 2014, 1:54 pm

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This is the first in a series of short, timely videos called Spiritual Lessons From Life's Travels. This one's a little lesson from one of our tour guests about what it means when we're uncomfortable and how we can help ourselves heal. Over the coming months, I'll be shooting these vlogs (and what a strange word that is!) from Wizarding World in Orlando (it IS my birthday, after all!), London, Paris, Capetown, Johannesburg and at Thula Thula Resort in the African Bush -- I'd love to know what you think!


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On The Hunt For Supercells: Amateur Photographer Captures Breathtaking Storms On Camera

June 19, 2014, 2:03 pm

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Seeing Jody Miller's stunning photos, you might think she's a veteran storm chaser.

"I have only been shooting storms for the last two seasons," the Southern California resident told The Huffington Post. She's been passionate about photography for 35 years, she explained, but only recently has she gotten hooked on shooting extreme weather.

In this short period she's photographed storms in the "Tornado Alley" states of the south-central U.S. along with Iowa, Missouri, and New Mexico. "The Mojave desert has some intense summer thunderstorms to view and shoot, as well as Arizona and New Mexico during monsoon season in July and August," she added.

Miller said the most exciting part of her work is seeing fully-formed supercell storms in front of her when they're backlit by a late day sky. "I cannot believe that I'm really witnessing these, and if I didn't have the photographs to prove it I would wonder afterward if I had really seen the sights that I did."

She said her work hasn't felt dangerous yet, but she recognizes the risk in chasing storms. "We always keep a respectful distance when possible, since the best views and photographs are taken from as much as 20 miles from the center of the storms," she said.

The National Weather Service warns that storm spotting and chasing "is dangerous and should not be done without proper training, experience and equipment." The agency also offers storm spotting classes across the country.

Find some of Miller's storm photos below and visit her website to see even more of her work.

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WWI Battlefield Heirloom Allows Family To Connect With 100-Year-Old History

June 19, 2014, 2:10 pm

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A soldier's military identification bracelet, that was most likely lost on the battlefields of World War I nearly 100 years ago, is now in the hands of his family.

A bracelet, bearing the inscription, "Lt. O. L. Erickson, C of E, 78th Batt. Canadians," was found in a box of scrap silver in Vancouver by military historian Peter Czink, CBC News reported.

Czink discovered that the item belonged to Oscar Erickson, the father of the famous Canadian architect Arthur Erickson. Both men are now deceased, but Oscar Erickson's other son, Don, met with Czink to receive the relic of his father's military service.

"I can't tell you how much this means," Don Erickson told CBC News. "Oh boy. My family will be absolutely thrilled."

The appearance of forgotten or long-lost items is a sweet and nostalgic surprise for many. Take Tita deGavre, for example, the widow of a WWI war hero who was reunited with her late husband's West Point military jacket when it turned up on a New Jersey beach after Superstorm Sandy, or Sheryl Caliguire from Oregon, who was recently presented with lost love letters that her grandfather sent to her grandmother during WWI.

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Hiking in the Alps

June 19, 2014, 2:17 pm

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One of the highlights of our Best of Europe in 21 Days tour was our group hike. As this was pretty demanding--and there was a concern about snow on the trails this early in the season--only the fittest of our group participated. For me, it was a joy not to be saddled with research chores but to simply enjoy half a day hiking in Switzerland with a wonderful group of traveling friends.


We started our day gazing down at this high alp--where the cows spend their summers Heidi-style--from the revolving restaurant capping the Schilthorn in Switzerland's Berner Oberland. Looking down at these high meadows, I'm always tempted to actually hike through them. And that's exactly what we did, taking the North Face Trail from Mürren under the Schilthorn. Coming upon this meadow, high above the tree line, was a delightful reward for the climb.


Assistant Tour Guide Trish and I both love our Sony RS100 cameras. With this angle, she captured how the alpine flowers were a big part of our experience. (Many of the photos on this blog are shot by Trish Feaster. For more of her photos, as well as her take on this tour, check out her blog at www.thetravelphile.com.)


When hiking in the Alps, take layers of clothes, sunscreen, a mobile phone, appropriate shoes, and big smiles. These travelers, the most rugged third of our tour group, were great walkers.


The Swiss organize their firewood like they organize their populace: extremely tidy. It's dangerous to generalize about different nationalities...but I love to. The Swiss are neatly stacked. How would you characterize the Swiss?


A highlight of our hike was venturing under this powerful waterfall called Sprutz.


Our hike had a happy ending, popping out in a flowery meadow at the tip-top of my favorite Swiss village--Gimmelwald. And, as he has for 30 years of visits, Walter Mittler was waiting at his Hotel Mittaghorn. Way back in my student days, I kept our groups in the rustic youth hostel here in Gimmelwald. Walter invited me to upgrade and keep my groups at his place, and I did. Walter symbolizes our leap from hostels to hotels, and the importance of personality-driven hotels and restaurants in our tour program. While we no longer sleep at Walter's hotel, I always drop in to say hi to my old friend. He's 90 years old now...and still going strong.


A beer hits the spot after a good hike. Here we sit, in front of Walter's Hotel Mittaghorn, in Gimmelwald...high in the Swiss Alps. Many travelers have fond memories of a nice frosty (or whatever) treat after an exhilarating natural or cultural experience in Europe.


By the end of the day, Trish and I just couldn't stop hiking. So, rather than taking the standard gondola ride down to our hotel, we continued on foot...steeply and through the trees, hearing the rush of waterfalls one after the other all the way. Thankful for the great trail signage, I took a moment to share how the trails are organized for visitors. (Sorry--I misstated the hiking time in the clip. I won't even blame the altitude.) Between the 25- and 40-minute options, we took the 25-minute trail. Remembering to put weight on the balls of our feet rather than our heels when descending for sure-footedness, we got back to the hotel just in time for fondue.

Fondue Fun in Switzerland

June 19, 2014, 2:33 pm

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In Switzerland, it seems the traditional lifestyles have retreated to the high country, where they survive with an impressive vigor. That was clear when Otto, whose family runs the Hotel Stechelberg (which our groups love), gave us a lesson in why his fondue is so darn good.


After seeing how fondue's made, it's only right to dip in. Trish has the technique down just right. (Many of these photos are shot by Trish Feaster, check out her blog at The Travelphile.com.)


Stark concrete structures in Switzerland, which seem like random bus stops, are actually avalanche shelters. While these are no-nonsense bunkers designed to save lives, there's no rule against cheering them up. How about a few butterflies?


As a tour guide, I enjoy how different travelers bring their hobbies on vacation with them. Tour members Dave and Terri enjoy geocaching. It's an impressively extensive network of people playing high-tech hide-and-seek at remote places all around the globe. At each stop, Dave and Terri get out their GPS gadget and search for a capsule hidden by a fellow geocacher. With success, they return to the bus all smiles. Here, at a Stechelberg campsite, they're about to hit the geocache jackpot. How's your experience with geocaching?


Our tour guide, Reid, granted us this photo op.


This tree tried and failed to block our way. Instead, it gave us a photo op begging for a caption. How would you title this shot?

Conservationist Fears 'Unsustainable Rate Of Killing' After Legendary Elephant Falls To Poachers

June 19, 2014, 2:56 pm

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Mike Chase knows elephants are in trouble.

Chase, a conservation biologist and founder of Elephants Without Borders, this year began what will become the most extensive count of great mammals on the African continent ever. In partnership with Vulcan, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen's investment company, Chase's aptly named Great Elephant Census aims to document more than 90 percent of the world's pachyderms in 21 countries. Six months in, the numbers are sobering.

"Depending on what day you catch me on, some days leave me inspired and other days incredibly depressed," Chase told The Huffington Post from Botswana.


Mike Chase.

More than 20,000 elephants were poached in Africa in 2013, slaughtered for their prized tusks that can fetch more than $1,500 a pound. Despite ongoing efforts to curb the ivory trade -- including a new ban in the U.S. and several highly publicized crushes of ivory caches -- poaching will wipe out 20 percent of Africa's elephants in the next decade if current trends continue.

"These are unsustainable rates of killing," Chase said.

Many high-profile names have signed onto the anti-poaching movement, and there's strong support from government agencies in Africa. But Chase said there really isn't an accurate count for how many elephants remain on the continent. Some elephant groups, thought to be thriving, are already doomed, he said.

"Ethiopia's Babile Elephant Sanctuary, which was believed to have had possibly 300 elephants -- we only counted 36," Chase said. There's "one bull left in that herd. Once he's gone, that's it. It's no longer viable. They will be wiped out, the last herd in the horn of Africa."

Several high-profile elephant killings have made headlines over the past few months, including the slaughter of Satao, a famed 45-year-old bull whose tusks almost reached the ground. His face had been so badly mutilated it took nearly 10 days to confirm his identity.

Chase and his team were in Kenya in April, and are believed to be some of the last people to capture the "free-roaming lord of the African savannah" on film. Though the elephant had been a prime target for poachers for decades, his death sent waves throughout the conservation community.



"When I started on this project, hoping that I could leave people inspired and motivated with some good news about the fate of elephants, [now] I feel as though the only good I'm doing is recording the extinction of one of the most magnificent animals that ever walked the earth," Chase said.


Satao, seen in April.

Yet, hope remains, and Chase said efforts to protect these giants should be applauded. Local support to save the elephants is thriving, and he said researchers with the Great Elephant Census have found herds previously unknown to science with viable populations that can still rebound. He said he insists on including local scientists and conservationists in each country to address the poaching crisis -- an "Africa problem" that he said needs local support.

"A big push is to build a coalition of governments, scientists, NGOs, other wildlife champions to come together to reverse this crisis," Kathleen Gobush, Vulcan's senior project developer for wildlife, told HuffPost. "It's difficult to conserve what you don't know."

Some of the most encouraging signs are the men and women on the ground serving as de facto bodyguards to the large mammals under threat.

"These people on the ground who are so devoted and driven, with no financial gain at all, are trying to secure a future for wildlife," Chase said. "Guys who haven't been paid in months, and they're still going out on foot patrol. Their morale is so low, but they go out on a daily basis and are so dedicated and devoted.

"The positives that come out of [something like Satao's death] is that people will say enough is enough, so hopefully we can labor on."

An Open Letter to Travel

June 19, 2014, 2:59 pm

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Dear Travel,

I've been stalking you again.

This makes the fifth time today -- and I haven't even had breakfast yet.

I've had this happy addiction for a while now and it shows no signs of letting up. I'm certain of it -- so certain that I've diagnosed myself with a permanent incurable itch called wanderlust. Everyone around me is self-diagnosing also because it's a pretty contagious addiction. I'm sure you've heard about it before. After all, you're the genius behind this intense desire to see more of the world. What a clever and charming thing you are, travel. You really know how to capture hearts.

Everyday I find myself more consumed by you than the last. I skim through your beautiful photos routinely. From the most far away places that seem out of reach, to destinations that are just a stone's throw away from me. I read about your magical undiscovered places in blogs, magazines and books and I notice inspiring quotes about you that will make anyone quickly realize if they aren't spending their days wandering the globe and taking great risks, they aren't doing this whole living thing right. Lately, my favorite thing to do is enter random airport codes on booking sites just to see how much it will cost to get to you. Tucson, Seychelles, Taiwan -- anyplace will do.

I'm not sure how you've captivated me like this or when this obsession officially began -- but what a journey it has been and a sweet one at that. From celebrating birthdays in New York City with friends to weekend road trips in Texas to aimlessly sauntering solo in Europe, you've shown me the true beauty of the journey and that a dash of spontaneity and courage are the two key ingredients that make life so delicious. I've risen early to watch sunrises because I've heard the rumors that each one looks slightly different depending where you are around the globe -- the beautiful rumors are true. I've enjoyed tapas and sipped sangria with complete strangers in Spain and soon realized they weren't strange at all. They are just like me -- on a search for something more, something new, and something different.

As you can see, my passion for you travel doesn't begin or end with me alone.

You have a powerful way of leaving a mark, a lasting impression on the souls of everyone you encounter. So powerful that you have led some to quit their day jobs, sell their expensive possessions and hit the high road to experience more of you because of a simple experience that left them wanting to venture out one more time -- only the next time would be further and longer with no plans for the final destination and no plans of returning home. That's really quite admirable of you.

You have broadened our thinking by introducing us to different people from all walks of life and shown us that although we do not all look, speak, or think the same, we all are essentially one because of our identical desires to live happily on our own terms. You have helped us define what the true meaning of freedom is and taught us that it's okay not to aspire for the same dream that others have defined for us. Instead of fitting into a mold, through our unique individual experiences, we now have the ability and courage to create our own.

I don't know how you do it, travel. But I love it.

I'm looking forward to the next time we'll meet again. I know it will be very soon because I have some big plans coming up.

And this time, I'm going further than the last.

This piece was originally posted on Jaimee's blog, This Way North.