Stay Classy, Balboa Park!

People are always surprised when I tell them that one of my favorite architectural gems is the city of San Diego in southern California. This unflappable urban center hugging the Pacific Ocean is better known for its stellar waves and its delicious Mexican fusion cuisine. Yet, a visionary designer, Bertram Goodhue brought to this corner of California an architectural style that would launch a thousand cities in the American southwest: Spanish Colonial Revival. Thanks to the planning of the 1915 Panama-California Exposition in San Diego, Balboa Park - a thousand acre public space – is a study in resplendent landscaping. My time in San Diego always includes a leisurely walking tour of Balboa Park’s architectural delights. This is where I see Old World Europe being greeted at the doorstep of the American Wild West.

Discovering My Own Backyard

Our contributing blogger, Lisa Glover explores her New York neighborhood.

I’m the type of person that by Tuesday afternoon, I already know what my plans are for the weekend. Reservations will be booked, activities will be scheduled, and reminders will be sent out. From Friday night until early Sunday evening, it’s usually a non-stop whirlwind. I’m humbled to admit that I am still a tourist in my own city, but when that city is New York… it’s hard not to be one! As much as I love having my weekends planned in advance, I’ve come to appreciate the spontaneity that New York City is known for. Last Saturday, my roommates and I woke up to a beautiful morning. Giddy like a kid on Christmas, I knew exactly what I wanted to do.

The Art of Luxury

My idea of vacation is to stay actively immersed wherever I travel. My first trip to Paris, I spent hours wandering the streets studying the classical architecture of the city’s bridges and cathedrals. On a tour of Thailand, I took to the back of an elephant, exploring the country’s vast jungles. In Saint Lucia, I climbed the Pitons and trekked into the sulfurous mouth of the island’s volcano. I have never been one to simply sit around doing nothing on any of my travel experiences. So, when I decided to head to the Caribbean islands of Turks and Caicos, I was unsure of how I would enjoy my time there. While there are plenty of beach activities available on the island, from snorkeling to kayaking to waterskiing, I had not opted to pursue any of them. My time on the archipelago would be spent lying on the beach for five days without an agenda.

Turtles, and Parrots, and Mayans, Oh My!

When I woke up, it was to a late morning sun seeping in through the pale blue linen curtains. I yawned, stretched my arms, and looked across at my friends Evie and Betsy sleeping on the other double bed. The sound of ocean waves dimly roared in the distance as I crawled out of bed and padded towards the bathroom. The sun filtered in softly through the windows. Over heaping plates of custom-made omelets, fresh pieces of watermelon, kiwi, and mango, chilaquiles, mugs of hot Mexican coffee, and chilled glasses of mimosas, Betsy and Evie discussed our plans for the day. Meanwhile, I gazed admiringly at the shades of brilliant colors outside the window of our restaurant. The sapphire sky dusted with a few clouds blended into the midnight of the far ocean horizon, lightening to a sparkling clear indigo towards the shore. I was in Mexico’s paradise and I had never seen a landscape so full of life.