Quick Escape to Chicago
Chicago has so many exciting cultural events happening in 2022 we don’t know where to begin. Let’s start with the acclaimed Steppenwolf Theatre, which in March presents the world premiere of King James, a play by ensemble member Rajiv Joseph that explores basketball star LeBron James’ impact on Cleveland through the eyes of two young sports fans. In April, comedian and storyteller Mike Birbiglia arrives for a four-week run of his new solo show, The Old Man and the Pool, collecting humorous (and serious) tales about life, death and a YMCA pool. May brings two blockbuster art openings, a retrospective of Chicago artist Nick Cave called “Forothremore,” which will bring the artist’s distinctive Soundsuits and an expansive installation of kinetic spinners to the Museum of Contemporary Art on May 14. Fans of post-Impressionist paintings will want to see the Art Institute’s new exhibition devoted to French artist Paul Cezanne, which goes on display May 15.
Stay just off Michigan Avenue, at the relatively new Virgin Chicago or wait until August to stay in the 3rd tallest building in town, a mere 101 stories tall, soon home to the St. Regis. Dine on sublime deep-dish pizza at the longtime family favorite, Lou Malnati’s, or splurge for a memorable meal at chef Grant Aschatz’s Alinea in Lincoln Park. In late summer, be on the lookout for Le Select on North Wells, the latest from Boka Restaurant Group, the company that’s worked with renowned chefs like Stephanie Izard at Girl & the Goat. They’re opening a French bistro with Daniel Rose at the helm. Rose will still run his other project, Le Coucou in New York, the 2017 James Beard winner for Best New Restaurant.
We love Portland in the off-season to dine at the acclaimed restaurants that are hard to get reservations in summer and to walk our dog, Theo, on the beach of Cape Elizabeth at that pet-friendly gem of a resort, 
With the low-cost carrier, Norwegian Air, expanding across North America, it should come as no surprise that Norway has experienced a surge in travelers these past two years. Who wouldn’t want to be whisked away to this stunning land of fjords, colorful and charming UNESCO World Heritage cities like Bergen, and a history that dates back to the time of Vikings? We recently went to an all-day seminar in Boston with a dozen representatives from across Norway and describe the trips that sound the most exciting in 
Pressured by travel editors to write flowery prose about a destination so that publications can secure those necessary advertising dollars, most travel writing is a bore. Even worse are travel writers who pen stories in return for a free press trip. Their writing is often indistinguishable from a publicist’s press release. Take it from a travel expert. Rarely have I ever encountered a perfect trip, where the travel, accommodations, and destinations are all stellar during the same jaunt. There is always some adventure you’re thrust into willingly or not, some bizarre local you meet that helps define the place, and a slew of mishaps. Place those anecdotes into the article and you have a great read, not unlike the writings of Bruce Chatwin or Paul Theroux. 
One of the earliest blogs I wrote, almost a decade ago, was on how to find the best travel guidebook. One of the points I touched on was who is the author and where does he live? If the guy lives in Texas and writes about South Africa, I’ll put that book down in favor of a local writer in Cape Town who knows his country far better than any foreigner. Which brings me to my first Stocking Stuffer of 2019, 
If you need to escape the winter weather, Puerto Rico might be your best bet right now. We’ve been booking a lot of Puerto Rican travel these past 3 months. Why? They have some of the lowest COVID numbers in America and their vaccination rate is one of the highest. Puerto Rico requires no passport for Americans, but you will need your 
For decades, the pear-shaped island of Sri Lanka, which falls on a map just below India, was racked by violence. Then, in 2002, a negotiated cease-fire put an end to the festering civil war between the Sinhalese-dominated government and the Tamil insurgents. Today, Sri Lanka is one of the most popular destinations for Europeans but for some reason has yet to catch on with Americans. Suffice to say that it’s worth the effort to get here. Start your visit with a trip to the glorious white-sand beaches, completely deserted except for the resident blue whales, a few hundred yards away in the ocean. After relaxing, challenge yourself with the trek up the beautiful Sigiriya Rock, an ancient rock fortress, for spectacular views of the vast green countryside. Cool down in the cooler climate of Nuwara Eliya and experience the best tea you’ll ever drink at the many plantations. One should never visit Sri Lanka without heading to Pinnawela elephant orphanage, the landscape itself is enough to bring anyone to tears and the sight of the 60 or so elephants coming down to the water to drink is something you’ll never forget. Kandy is a wonderful city to stay I, home to the Buddhist Temple of the Tooth and the monkeys at Udawattakele. In Colombo, take tea at the