The Phoenix/Scottsdale area has an array of outstanding dining options, attracting visitors as well as local residents with amazing culinary creations. From restaurants grounded in local culture and cuisine to those offering a variety of international food, there are plenty of excellent dining options. FnB For one of the top dining experiences in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area, FnB is a great choice. The thing I like best about it: its food is beautiful, its chef a James Beard Award winner, yet it’s as welcoming and casual a place as you can imagine. Take a seat among the variety of art on…
Author: Amelia Harrington
For film buffs, historians, and curious travelers alike, there are many film museums across the globe that catalog its international development over the last century. Starting off with Britain, the city of Bradford was recognized as the world’s first UNESCO City of Film in 2009, now housing The National Science and Media Museum. With free admission, the museum offers a broad collection of works from cinema history, including Le Prince’s Le Prince’s mahogany-box camera and England’s first IMAX theatre within their Pictureville Cinema. The former object has particular significance in that Louis Le Prince, a French engineer based in Leeds,…
The next time you’re visiting Arizona, make sure to put the towns of Prescott, Cottonwood, and Jerome on your must-visit list. These unique towns proudly sport their Western identities, with a down to earth quality, a vibrant dining and arts scene, as well as nearby natural wonders worth exploring Prescott You can check into The Motor Lodge for your stay, which is actually a vintage 1937 “motor court” turned hotel, with quirky, flashy interior decorations. It is also stationed right near the heart of the town as well as Whiskey Row (aka Montezuma Street), the center for saloons. Along with…
Stowe, Vermont, is a national favorite of outdoor adventurers for a reason. With its picturesque natural landscape and rotating seasonal activities, Stowe is a compact, vibrant experience. While in the warmer months the town hosts hiking, biking, and rafting, during the winter it offers various sports like skiing and snowboarding, enjoyed by tourists and locals alike. The town is also known for its high quality dining scene, with award-winning restaurants and plenty of breweries and cideries to sample. The town, though small, has many roadside lodges perfect for roadtrippers, including the cozy, sleek Tälta Lodge. Serving as a ski retreat…
Recently, Airbnb’s ban on parties became codified policy. Airbnb is specifically targeting unauthorized parties, or those held without the consent of the Airbnb host, in Australia, Canada, and the United States. These parties often cause damage to the homes themselves, as well as the surrounding neighborhood. In order to prevent this from occurring, Airbnb is introducing a tool that identifies reservations made by individuals with a high risk for such behavior. This includes examining users’ history of positive reviews, past lengths of stay, distance to the listing, and other factors. The tool is designed to prevent individuals flagged from making…
Whether you book a day at the spa or plan to spend your entire holiday being pummeled and pampered, PASSPORT has left no hot stone unturned or therapy untried, to bring you our favorite spas from around the globe. When planning your next delightfully indulgent getaway, you’re sure to find the treatment of your dreams at one of these exceptional locations. Whether it’s a couple’s massage, mud bath, or seaweed facial, the astounding array of international spas covered here are sure to provide you with just what you need to relax and revitalize. TOMOKO BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA As Beverly Hills…
Are you looking for a vacation getaway where your pets are welcome? These four hotel options may be the perfect solution. Offering pet-friendly accommodations and deals throughout the United States, these hotels make sure that traveling with your animal friend(s) is a wonderful experience. LOTTE HOTEL SEATTLE – Seattle, Washington This stylish Seattle hotel is the perfect place to return to after a long day of exploring the city with a dog-friendly city guide or on a self-guided tour. As part of their Puppy Pampering Package, guests have access to any room type (excluding the Presidential Suite), $100 Food &…
Small plates meals are featured in cuisines around the world, giving chefs the opportunity to truly exhibit their creativity. Spanish tapas, Chinese dim sum, and Turkish meze all make use of these expansive, light small plates. Here are some of our favorite restaurants that focus on producing a refined series of small, delicious meals. Oleana, Cambridge, Massachusetts Oleana, with its cozy patio and fireplace, provides Massachusetts foodies with a taste of Turkish and Middle Eastern cuisine, including meze. James Beard award winning chef Ana Sortun has created her take on plates such as Borek, a cigar-shaped meze, kebabs made of…
There is currently a pilot program in progress to create an online passport renewal portal for citizens of the United States. The program is seeking participants, who, if chosen, would not have to mail in their renewal application and supporting documents. Instead, they will be able to submit these documents online far more efficiently. Volunteers are being accepted on a first come, first serve basis until up to 25,000 applications have been received. Before applying, it is important to check to see if you are eligible. In order to participate, you must be 25 or older, and have a passport…
Airport hotels have increased in popularity in recent years with an array of amazing options available to travelers. There is clearly an allure to some of the hotels on our list, from their luxury accomodations and modern amenities to their convenience and proximity to the terminals. Here are some of the most famous and appealing airport hotels in the world. Starting in London, there is the Sofitel London Heathrow, the 605-room, five-star luxury hotel close to Terminal 5 in London Heathrow Airport. With a beautiful central avenue decorated with flora and water sculptures, a luxurious spa, and dinner at the…
Sonoma County, California, with over 400 vineyards, is world famous for its wine, and, not surprisingly, it also offers some excellent dining experiences. The casual, laid back atmosphere of the area is perfect for a day of exploring the natural beauty that abounds here, and then enjoying great food with a glass of Sonoma County wine in hand. Below are a few Passport picks of some of the best restaurants in this beautiful California desintation. Rivers End (Jenner), overlooking where the Russian River meets the Pacific, continues to be the “gold standard of Sonoma County.” While admiring the brilliant view…
Charlotte, North Carolina, to the surprise of some, is home to a diverse, expansive dining scene, featuring spins on southern classics along with cuisine from all over the world. For fine dining, Gallery, located in the Ballantyne Hotel, pairs great food with walls displaying art supplied by Awaken Gallery. These space defining pieces are available for purchase and are rotated regularly. The executive chef, Charles Gardner, focuses on creating a farm-to-table menu with a Southern approach. Some favorites include Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes and Creole remoulade, along with a popular brunch menu. Head to Calle Sol Latin Café & Cevicheria for…
Little Market NYC, with locations in NoHo and SoHo, enables customers to support female-owned local small businesses in the city. Founder Kimberly Feng started Little Market in 2021 with the goal of uniting and promoting other women small business owners. Feng herself, as a jewelry designer and owner of KIKICHIC, has used her experience to inform the way Little Market functions. Being a vendor means that she has a better understanding of Little Market NYC vendors and their needs. After vendors set up their shops “from clothing to crafts,” they may stay as long as they wish, paying Feng monthly.…
As part of an effort launched by the European Union to cut down on transportation emissions, a ban on domestic short-haul flights between European cities has been introduced. Given Europe’s developed train infrastructure, many of these flights can be replaced by several hour long train rides which produce comparatively less emissions. This measure began to be implemented in the spring of this year, with France leading the way, becoming the world’s first major economy to enact such a ban. France’s ban will require the elimination of domestic short-haul flights that cover the same distance as a train ride of two…
A great place to begin your visit to Irleand is County Clare, home to many attractive tourist spots and beautiful sights, including Dromoland Castle. The castle itself offers many activities, from a historical tour of the property and a “hawk walk,” to its unique Champagne Afternoon Tea. Beyond the castle is the beautiful Atlantic coast of Ireland, or the Wild Atlantic Way. Along the journey are J.J. Corry Irish Whiskey, where one can go whiskey tasting on the McGuane family farm. This experience is part of a collaboration with Dromoland Castle called the JJ Whiskey Bonding Tour, which guests can…
Sonoma County, with its famous vineyards and seaside views, is perfect for long days of exploration and enjoying the natural wonders of this beautiful destination. Located between the pacific coast and the vineyards, AutoCamp Russian River, combines a luxurious camping experience with access to all the sights in the area. There, visitors can stay in luxury tents, mini campers, or one of the retrofitted Airstream trailers on the campground. For a press event with Volkswagen displaying their newest line of vehicles, particularly SUVs, there was a gorgeous setup at the campsite with delicious meals throughout the event. The campers themselves, provided…
Beginning with the rise of major booking platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo, vacation rentals became a more affordable experience, particularly for many price conscious millennials. Vacation rentals are advertised as offering a more “authentic” experience of the destination, with amenities that every other resident would enjoy. These include a kitchen, free WiFi, no resort fees, and a generally longer stay time. Customers also seem to prefer the larger spaces, from laundry rooms to private pools. Most importantly for many travelers, longer stays at vacation rentals generally cost less than those at hotels. According to a study by the IGLTA…
When traveling, it’s always a good idea to be fully prepared by researching the destination you plan to visit. This is particularly important for LGBTQ+ travelers, as we must always consider our safety when visiting places that may have more hostile attitudes and laws regarding queer people. Before Traveling: The X Gender marker was recently introduced as an option on U.S. passports, however the United States government cannot guarantee that other countries will recognize it. This may result in entry restrictions, however, and thus it is good to check with the foreign embassy or consulate in the United States beforehand.…
Washington DC’s diverse, high quality dining scene makes for a delicious, convenient three day trip. A three day itinerary for DC dining has many options, including variations in restaurant setting and types of cultural food. Visitors can stop by Boqueria for a Barcelonian brunch, Open City for a patio experience, and others. DC also is home to many popular, vibrant Black-owned restaurants such as Ben’s Chili Bowl, with its unique half-smoke hot dog, Cane and its authentic Trinidadian food, and Dukem Ethiopian. Washington D.C. also has many public markets, some specializing in certain cultures such as La Cosecha, a Latin…
Just a two-hour drive from New York City, the Sullivan Catskills are an ideal countryside getaway. With full-service resorts, inns, and a multimillion dollar arts center, this destination is perfect for anyone who enjoys nature, culture, cuisine, and more. After a day of outdoor adventures, visitors have many great dining options from which to choose. Along with great food, the area is perfect for beer lovers to explore. Livingston Manor offers two craft breweries, and the hike to Upward Brewing at the base of “Beer Mountain” is well worth it. There are several other Good Taste Beverage Trail venues, along with…