The only reason I ever considered visiting Cleveland was to see the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Period. It turns out there was a lot more going on the weekend we visited this down-but-not-out city. Still struggling economically after the Great Recession, Cleveland ranks as the number two economically distressed city in the US (after Camden, NJ). Empty downtown office buildings. Abandoned housing projects. Unfinished retail landscapes. Polluted rivers and lake. Old city charm vs. reality.…
Paris is undeniably one of the most beautiful cities in the world, a destination that is on almost everyone’s list of must-sees. I am fortunate to have visited the City of Lights on three different occasions, an enviable status, I suppose. Despite my love of the city’s architecture, rich culture and historical/fashion intrigue, I often wonder why I ever returned, considering some very unpleasant encounters I had with Parisians along the way. My first visit…
Exploring the popular sights of #San Francisco can still be exciting but more challenging for #travelersover40, given the city’s topography and diverse #popculture. Here are some tips to make it easier to get around the city and find the right mix of fun and #adventure for your particular interests and fitness level. I first visited San Francisco when I was in my early 20’s, and it has since been one of my favorite cities. I…
Home to internationally acclaimed #artbasel, Miami has become an art-centric city, with galleries, outdoor exhibits, exotic tropical gardens and skylines rising to the occasion. Returning to Miami two years after moving away, I’ve rediscovered this vibrant city in a new way. No longer consumed by the daily grind, I have ventured beyond my customary boundaries to experience the “magic city” as a tourist. Serving as home to one of three internationally acclaimed Art Basel shows,…
It is Friday, “family day, in Abu Dhabi, and we park along the corniche, a popular common denominator of these Gulf port cities. There is a strange, wooden structure, which looks as though someone piled together a bunch of two-by-fours to build, in the center of the plaza by the newly built “public” beach. A vendor is renting motorized mini cars and scooters, and children are scurrying after their parents to sample a few turns…
