Photos: Cascais, Portugal

In the Greater Lisbon area, Cascais is a standout for its beaches fronting the Atlantic that can be accessed by bicycle. But downtown Cascais is an epicenter for museums of many stripes, including the Paula Rego museum designed by the Portuguese star architect, Eduardo Souto de Moura. Don't miss the Pousada de Cascais that was built in the historic citadel and blends the ancient with the ultra contemporary.

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Photos: Brittany, France

Walking even a portion of France's 216-mile Nantes-Brest Canal in inland Brittany -- I walked  a 60+ mile section over the course of six days -- is a placid adventure through a bucolic landscape. It’s one full of discoveries, as the colors of the sky, foliage, and reflections in the water continually change. The bed and breakfasts vary from chateaus reminiscent of Downton Abbey to country houses in centuries-old slate hamlets.

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A Hotel in Mauritius with Big Transformative Goals

It's hard to walk away from a stay at SALT of Palmar in Mauritius and not think differently about how so many things in our daily lives makes a difference in the environment, as well as how connecting with people different from us can provide us with treasured learning experiences while also giving us the opportunity to teach others skills and knowledge that we make take for granted. This is my latest article for Forbes on SALT of Palmar.

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Photos: Tobago

A trip to Tobago offers more than the typical activities of sunning, snorkeling and swimming. I trekked along trails deep in the rainforest, went mountain biking through dense mangrove forests and strolled through a petite botanical garden.

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Gear Review: Comfortable Day Pack for Women

I’m always on the lookout for a lightweight day pack, whether I’m racing around town and need a change of clothing for an evening event along with all my other gear for the workday, or I’m traveling and decide to do a day hike. The Thule AllTrail 25 Liter pack for women fits the bill. It weighs less than three pounds. Unlike other backpacks, this one perfectly fits my torso, something that's lacking in many packs, even those designed for women. It comes with a comfortable hip belt to take the weight off my spine. I’ve used it during drenching rain storms and it has kept my gear dry. The breathable shoulder straps work well when the weather is sweltering. There’s easy access to my gear in the sole compartment thanks to a side zipper. The lid comes with a zipper as does the hip belt, making it practical to store small items, such as keys or a flashlight. In addition, lately I've been using this bag as my sole piece of luggage when I travel no matter how far afield. It easily fits in the overhead compartment as carry on and totes all my clothing and accessories for a multi-week trip.

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Photos: Guatemala

Mayan ruins pepper much of Guatemala's expanse, with the National Park

of Tikal, 

a UNESCO World Heritage Site from 900 BC, probably the most famous. 

This is an immense site that requires an entire day to explore if you want to 

check out all of the structures. You’ll likely hear or see howler monkeys 

skittering about the jungle as you stroll Tikal.

Another ruin is Kaminaljuyu or Valley of the Dead

is just two miles from the city center. This site in unique because of its

display of elaborate adobe architecture, including funerary chambers. But

perhaps the most unusual or unexpected is Quirigua, which is a site showing off

tall stone carvings (stelas) rather than grand pyramids that are more than

1,000 years old.

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Photos: Curacao

The Curacao most people see is the one with glorious sandy beaches. The one I preferred to visit is lush with pockets of forest land, decked out with bold art objects and dotted with dramatic sea scapes.

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