Complete Index

Most recently in the spotlight for its enviable restaurants and superb local seafood, Portland presents an attractive range of possibilities for travelers. Few cities can claim to offer Portland's combination of small town atmosphere and fine culture, along with a lively arts district flanked by North Atlantic Ocean scenery.

When approached creatively and with a reverence for history, the practice of transforming abandoned or deteriorating structures into new buildings can have astounding results. Around the world, schools, apartments, breweries and other unlikely entities have evolved from the remains of forgotten brick and mortar, breathing new life into old design.

A road trip along Western Australia’s southern coast will bring travelers to Cape Le Grand National Park, home to secluded beaches, including the remote Hellfire Bay. Wear comfortable walking shoes, pack a fishing pole, and prepare for the lengthy but rewarding coastal walk to the Bay’s glimmering turquoise waters.

There are no stores or businesses on Cayo Costa, so intrepid beach-goers will have to make like pirates exploring a deserted island. Located west of North Fort Myers in the Gulf of Mexico, this Florida state park offers a diverse selection of outdoor activities, but remains quiet and peacefully untouched, accessible only by private boat or passenger ferry.

Noirmoutier, off the west coast of France, touts sunny beaches, bright green grass and blossoming trees. It received the name “black monastery” for the darkly clad monks who inhabited the island in the seventh century. Noirmoutier has been called “a displaced Mediterranean island” because of its whitewashed buildings, fresh cuisine and vivid landscape.

Far removed from the sultry scene on many of Brazil’s beaches near Rio de Janeiro, Jericoacoara is a slow-moving, old-fashioned idyll on the South American country’s northeastern coast. Jeri, as locals affectionately know the beach, did not have electricity until about 20 years ago, and the village still experiences the occasional power outage. Visitors must endure an eight-hour bus ride, followed by a scenic off-road trek before finally arriving at Jeri’s sandy streets. Yes, the village streets are sand.

The Napa Valley is by and large the most well-known and beloved wine region in the United States, enticing oenophiles and foodies with gorgeous vineyards and bountiful restaurants. Web sites with itineraries and official winery portals can enhance your trip. 

Featuring a gorgeous landscape on the Atlantic Ocean that’s ideally suited for grape growing, Long Island has rapidly become a major player in wine production. The region’s most prized area is the North Fork, where vineyards and award-winning bottles have drawn comparisons to Bordeaux’s world-renowned offerings.

Shelter Island is a natural haven on New York’s Long Island. Outdoor enthusiasts flock to Shelter Island’s beaches and nature preserve, while active travelers can glimpse the scenery from the seat of a bike or in a kayak. Learn why this dreamy waterside destination is such a coveted summertime spot.

A favorite of climbers and outdoor enthusiasts looking for an adventure fix within reach of New York City, the Shawangunk region also accommodates a range of travelers. Anyone seeking a getaway that offers plenty of fresh air, good food and kind locals will enjoy a stay in this Catskills haven.

New York’s attractions extend far beyond the Big Apple’s bright Broadway lights. If you’re planning a summer vacation to Manhattan, consider traveling north to the quiet, charming towns of “upstate.” And don’t miss the region’s venerable art galleries and museums while you’re there.

For city lovers seeking a breath of fresh air, Vancouver should be at the top of the list for an urban getaway. The city sits on the coast of British Columbia, and offers visitors kayaking and beaches, as well as cultural draws like museums and renowned restaurants.

In Montana, the range of exquisite natural features is reason enough to plan a visit. This week, we'll focus on quiet hiking trails around Crystal Lake in the Lewis and Clark National Forest, and reveal two undeveloped hot springs outside of Bozeman to take the chill out of the early springtime air.

Just a stone’s throw from Cancun, you’ll find a quiet escape with sandy beaches, ancient Mayan ruins, spas and yoga classes overlooking the ocean. Tulum has been referred to as the anti-resort for its relaxed, sometimes rustic accommodations, but it would be impossible not to feel reenergized and enlightened after a trip to this Yucatan paradise.

Three New York women profoundly influenced the 20th-century art world. In the 1960s, painter Mercedes Matter helped students start a school with a focus on art, not academics. The New York Studio School eventually moved to the former location of the Whitney Museum, founded in 1931 by Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney and Juliana Force.

In the 1800s, women had to fight to gain the same educational opportunities as men. FindingDulcinea highlights some of the institutions and educators that forged the path for women’s education.

The death of writer John Updike has led some to recall John Cheever, another prolific American author. The suburbs of New York City, particularly Westchester County, are the settings for Cheever’s short stories. Although the Westchester of Cheever has faded some, the small towns strung along the Hudson River still carry a literary allure.

In July of 1848, the Women’s Rights Convention was held in Seneca Falls, New York. It was the opening salvo of the battle for women’s suffrage, although many years would pass before its proponents would finally achieve victory.

The women who found work in the mills of Lowell, Massachusetts, during the first half of the 19th century also found a reason to rebel.

Was it witchcraft, simple hysteria or a hallucinogenic poison? Hundreds of people were accused of doing the devil’s work during the Salem witch trials.

In my early teens, our extended family vacationed in Ireland. The second day there, we visited Glendalough National Park in County Wicklow. We were tired from the flight and I didn’t understand why it was so important to go there. Little did I know that it would be one of the best days of my life.

In Ireland, you’ll find a mix of new and old, including an ancient walled city and a bustling modern capital. Experience the chill of a centuries-old prison, take a cliff-lined hike or soak in the scenery at the birthplace of a revered writer.

The American Southwest bursts with potential for exploration, and offers opportunities to learn about Native American groups, particularly the Hopi and Anasazi. Discover what it’s like to drive the Trail of the Ancients scenic byway, plan a day trip to New Mexico’s Chaco Culture National Historical Park or create an itinerary for the Four Corners, a hotbed of Native American history and culture.

Despite having lost some of its counterculture luster, the central California coast is an intriguing area of the country to visit and maintains a free-spirited allure. Along the Pacific Coast Highway, between Salinas and Big Sur, discover the setting for John Steinbeck’s novels, visit the family-friendly Nit Wit Ridge and learn about a woodsy Jack Kerouac hideout.

Virginia played a central role in the Civil War and boasts some of the oldest and most prestigious wineries in the United States—the perfect combination of student-worthy and parent-friendly attractions. Use the resources in this guide to learn about the many elements that make Virginia a worthwhile diversion, including Thomas Jefferson’s architecture, James Barbour’s knack for viticulture, and the patchwork of battlefields and cemeteries that mark the landscape of this southern state.

Atlanta has always been an economic force. Essential to the South during the Civil War, it was the first city targeted during the Union’s “total war.” The birthplace of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and its first leader, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Atlanta was at the forefront of the civil rights movement. In 1973, Atlanta was the first city to elect a black mayor. Now, it continues to be a hotspot for both tourism and commerce.

Known as the “Magic City,” Birmingham was created at the end of the Civil War with the explicit purpose of bringing successful northern industries to the South. Nearly one hundred mostly prosperous years later, the city became a focus of the civil rights movement. Although scarred by tragedy during that period, modern Birmingham, Alabama’s largest city, is a key industrial center for the nation and is often named as a favorable city for business and quality of life.

Gettysburg is famous for its Civil War history, its 20,000-acre battlefield, dramatic stone monuments and affecting cemetery. A popular destination for schools and families with children, Gettysburg presents a wealth of educational opportunities, but is surrounded by a quaint town that allows for parental relaxation as well. Take a virtual visit to Gettysburg using the Web sites in this article, and get a pre-trip history lesson that will enhance your visit.

Witness to one of the defining moments in the U.S. civil rights movement, Little Rock, Ark., made history in 1957 when nine African American students tested federal anti-segregation laws in public schools for the first time. Even before that seminal 1957 event, Little Rock had been the scene of both progress and setbacks for African Americans in their struggle for equality and civil rights. Today, Little Rock is a thriving center of business and government, as well as home to a nascent tourism industry.

Decades of history come full circle in Montgomery, Alabama. The pursuit of equal rights for all people links many of the city's historic events, from the controversy over slavery that launched the Civil War, to the civil rights movement of the 20th century; the events and places of Montgomery's past and future seem destined to meet up with each other.