This 246-room boutique located 2 blocks from the Magnificent Mile has luxury amenities, with upscale services like free morning newspapers, 24-hour room service, morning car service, and twice-daily maid service. While the contemporary rooms are clean and big, they could use an upgrade (most still have tube TVs). Still, the location is great, and the [...]

Post to: Les Halles is famous for their fries. Executive Chef Carlos Llaguno shows us why. Carlos gives a full tutorial on how to make what Anthony Bourdain calls the “best french fries in the world.”  Total Prep: Serves 4    Ingredients  4 Idaho potatoes, big, long ones  2 quarts or more peanut oil to [...]

Mary Shelley’s book is set in Switzerland, not Germany, but literary historians believe she was inspired to write the book when she heard of a mad scientist living in Frankenstein Castle in Darmstadt, Germany. The ruins of Frankenstein Castle still stand, and have drawn millions of visitors over the years. Every year, thousands of travelers [...]

David Letterman Post to: The glamorous days of flying have departed. Today an airport layover is a test of patience and wit, especially at NYC’s busy airports: John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in southern Queens, LaGuardia Airport (LGA) in northern Queens and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) in Newark, NJ. But you don’t need [...]

BriYYZ through Flickr Creative Commons Post to: Montreal’s Trudeau Airport (YUL) is more than a destination airport. Passengers flying between continents ease their transition in a city that combines European flair with the efficiency of North America. And while the province of Quebec outside the airport proudly displays its French face, English is used and [...]

ynet_efekt on Flickr Arendtsville, PA Held the first 2 weekends of October, this festival lineup includes clowns, Native American dancers, ballet performances, a petting zoo, apple bobbing, pie-eating contests, karaoke, pottery making and a car show. An apple cider press is still used today, and there are plenty of apple desserts and products for sale. [...]

Alan A. Ayers Post to: A layover can be a business traveler’s best friend … or worst nightmare. Twiddling your thumbs for 3 hours (or longer) in uncomfortable chairs at the gate can be excruciating. But many airports offer unique services to kill time, enhance productivity and even relax while you wait for a connecting [...]

If shopping is more important than sightseeing, the Laurel Inn — located close to the high-end boutiques, galleries, and antique stores of Pacific Heights — is a great base of operations. Start walking along Sacramento Street, just half a block to the north, for pricey (but special) stores, from original women’s clothing designs (and usually, [...]

This casual restaurant based in Westmont, IL, has 52 locations in 12 states, and specializes in big, fresh bagels mixed from scratch. There’s nothing like eclectic creations, such as a hot tomazzo pizza bagel for an on-the-go, gourmet snack. Or try the chicken parmesan on a jalapeno bagel, a personal favorite of John E. DiScala, [...]

San Francisco International Airport Post to: Thanks to a well-appointed airport less than 15 miles away from downtown San Francisco and a convenient public transportation system, a layover at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) can easily be transformed into a playover. And even if you’re cooling your heels across the bay at Oakland International Airport [...]