The Berkshires are not an exact location that you can simply enter into your GPS. They encompass the totality of rural western Massachusetts as New England mingles with the Hudson Valley of New York. They also represent a feeling of escape. A century ago, they were a popular spot for the gilded urbanites of Boston and New York to decamp; a pastoral Newport if you will. Nowadays, the Berkshires offer a different freedom. A chance for those same urban denizens of the northeast corridor to temporarily give up their ersatz connections to constant connectivity and hyperproductivity and seek out a bucolic and verdant holiday to recharge with friends and family and let the mind meander. A fuel for introspection and creativity, the area has been a residence to famed authors Herman Melville and Elizabeth Kolbert, artists such as Norman Rockwell, and even tempting Hollywood glitterati such as composer John Williams and Meryl Streep to buying vacation homes. While peak season in the Berkshires is the summer, we went with some friends in late March as a spring getaway from New York post-vaccination. Read below for our recommendations.
If someone told you there was a place in upstate New York that had Rieslings that could rival those in Germany, possesses breath-taking lakeside views, and has an amazing state park, one would think you are talking about an imaginary place such as Doggerland or Zealandia. Well the truth is the latter two places did exist, albeit now submerged after the last Ice Age. But lucky for you, New York’s wine Shangri-La still exists: The Finger Lakes Region. Despite upstate NY’s reputation for harsh winters secondary to its continental climate, the local microclimates created by the glacially created Finger Lakes themselves as well as nearby Lake Ontario allow for the Finger Lakes region to uniquely and surprisingly support viticulture. Furthermore, the region is often overlooked given the challenge in getting there; the Finger Lakes are far from major metropolitan centers and large well-connected airports. But this arduous path will reward those who complete the trek with wonderful surprises and smaller crowds. In a COVID world where air travel should be eschewed, we chose to take advantage of our vacation days to make the approximately 5 hour drive from NYC to explore the Finger Lakes in early October (when COVID positivity rates in NY were low).
For newbies, please note that the Finger Lakes are 11 vertically-oriented glacial lakes running north-south in northwestern NY. Many amazing vineyards circumferentially dot the 2 largest lakes in the region: Seneca and Cayuga Lakes. Given the large geographic area encompassed by these lakes, it is most effective to concentrate on one lake at a time to minimize driving time and maximize your ability to do as much as possible. Given the many colleges in the region (Cornell University, Ithaca College, etc.), if you are visiting the area to see friends and family, take advantage of the trip and definitely explore the region. We chose to explore Seneca Lake and below are our experiences and recommendations.
Mexico City: debunked. (a.k.a CDMX - Ciudad de Mexico; a.k.a Mexico City DF - Distrito Federal). Unfairly burdened by the stereotypes of Western media as a crime-filled megalopolis, one truly will find those tropes to be laughable after a first-hand experience in the heart of Mexico. What you will find is that the most populous city in North America (second-largest in the Western Hemisphere) is actually a world-class city that actually nurtures some of the most creative minds in the world. You can go on a true food and art bender here as the city is blessed with architectural, artistic, and culinary geniuses influenced by the cultural traditions and tapestries of Latin America, Europe, and, of course, all of its rich history from its pre-Columbian era. While tourism to the city is increasing, it is still relatively "under-the-radar"; it was what Iceland was 10 years ago. Yes the city has a few unsafe areas and some heavy traffic, but it is no different than New York City or Atlanta in that regard. We found the neighborhoods we explored to be safe and used Uber liberally. Given the false narrative that follows Mexico City, it is often eschewed by travelers for other locales in Mexico. But as much as the swanky resorts and crystal blue waters of Cancun, Tulum, and Los Cabos beckon your wanderlust, a walk through the wide avenues and green spaces of Mexico City will not only give you an unforgettable metropolitan experience in a world class city at an affordable price (compared to its contemporaries), it will shatter your preconceived notions of the city and the country itself. As a bonus, if you are an American traveler, it would be a short flight from much of the continental US without a significant time change.
We would recommend at least 3 full days in Mexico City on your maiden voyage (let’s be real, once you come here you probably will want to come back in the future). For reference, we spent 3.5 days as a family trip with our parents. While the city can be explored in any particular order based on your interests, we will continue our Mexico City itinerary series with a day exploring the amazing pyramids of Teotihuacan in the Valley of Mexico and an evening in the tree-lined avenues of Mexico City’s stylish residential neighborhood - Condesa. We found breaking-up the city sightseeing with an expedition to Teotihuacan to be apt (this was our 2nd full-day in Mexico City). So if you are looking for the perfect day-trip from CDMX, read on to satisfy your archaeological cravings at the glorious Teotihuacan Pyramids with a nightcap in Condesa.
Mexico City: debunked. (a.k.a CDMX - Ciudad de Mexico; a.k.a Mexico City DF - Distrito Federal). Unfairly burdened by the stereotypes of Western media as a crime-filled megalopolis, one truly will find those tropes to be laughable after a first-hand experience in the heart of Mexico. What you will find is that the most populous city in North America (second-largest in the Western Hemisphere) is actually a world-class city that actually nurtures some of the most creative minds in the world. You can go on a true food and art bender here as the city is blessed with architectural, artistic, and culinary geniuses influenced by the cultural traditions and tapestries of Latin America, Europe, and, of course, all of its rich history from its pre-Columbian era. While tourism to the city is increasing, it is still relatively "under-the-radar"; it was what Iceland was 10 years ago. Yes the city has a few unsafe areas and some heavy traffic, but it is no different than New York City or Atlanta in that regard. We found the neighborhoods we explored to be safe and used Uber liberally. Given the false narrative that follows Mexico City, it is often eschewed by travelers for other locales in Mexico. But as much as the swanky resorts and crystal blue waters of Cancun, Tulum, and Los Cabos beckon your wanderlust, a walk through the wide avenues and green spaces of Mexico City will not only give you an unforgettable metropolitan experience in a world class city at an affordable price (compared to its contemporaries), it will shatter your preconceived notions of the city and the country itself. As a bonus, if you are an American traveler, it would be a short flight from much of the continental US without a significant time change.
We would recommend at least 3 full days in Mexico City on your maiden voyage (let’s be real, once you come here you probably will want to come back in the future). For reference, we spent 3.5 days as a family trip with our parents. While the city can be explored in any particular order based on your interests, we will start the series with 36 Hours in Polanco, one of the swankiest and upscale neighborhoods in all of Latin America. While there are high-end boutiques, luxury hotels, and a multitude of embassies here that blend with other major world cities, it also hosts some unique items for your travel checklist: some of the world's best restaurants and museums as well as its location along the doorstep of Bosque de Chapultepec (one of the largest urban parks in the world). If you are headed to CDMX, come explore Polanco with us.
Affectionately known as the "Mother City" by South Africans, Cape Town is far and away one of the most beautiful cities in the world. A cosmopolitan metropolis blessed with sublime mountainous topography overlooking beautiful sandy beaches already places Cape Town in rarefied air. Combining that with innumerable microclimates; a rich immigrant diaspora with great in-town neighborhoods; quests that range from active and daring to those that are haute and historical; scenic coastal drives; and stunning vineyards and beachtowns in its suburbs and exurbs, there are few cities that can absolutely dazzle and delight its first-time visitor or habitues like Cape Town. Given the diversity and variety of its pursuits, there is truly "something for everyone". Most people will anchor their South African sojourn with a safari (and rightfully so) with just a few days in Cape Town. Given the demands of the modern schedule, we know how hard it is to extend your trip. But we would encourage you to spend at least 3 days in Cape Town as getting here for most visitors is an arduous flight so why not squeeze as much as possible out of that trip. We were very fortunate to be able to have an extended stay in Cape Town and spent essentially 7 full days in the Western Cape / Greater Cape Town Area. Whether you are here for just a handful of days or a full week, we will outline our highlights to help you fill-in/complete your very own Cape Town Itinerary!
Tucked away in Central America, Belize (the country formerly referred to as the British Honduras) is a small country the size of New Jersey and the population of Tulsa, Oklahoma with the natural beauty that can hang with any country in the world. It's small size and population belies the fact that the country sits along one of the most biodiverse regions in the world (on the coast, it hosts the 2nd largest barrier reef in the world; inland, it contains an extensive subterranean cave/river system and lush, thriving jungles); it contains a treasure trove of rich Mayan history and archaeological sites; and it beguiles its visitors with some of the most eco-conscious accommodations to relax after a day spent in adventure or exploration. If you are going to Belize and spending a few days in its jungle, we hope our recommendations help complete your trip!
