When sinking in life’s unyielding wave of technology, disconnect from the rush and slip into island-time. Cast off with The Moorings, let your worries melt away, remember how to live in the moment—one nautical mile at a time.
BY NICOLE MELANCON
Stunning Bolivia through the eyes of one photographer and her father
BY RENEE BOBB
Canine influencers Tinkerbelle and Belle share their top hotels fit for furry royalty
BY ZOEY GOTO
A colorful journey through the eclectic streets of Nashville, Tennessee
BY ANDREW MARSHALL Experiencing the coastal wonders of the Great Ocean Road on two wheels
BY KAITLIN NARCISO Food, adventure, natural beauty and fantastic hotels await travelers in Belize
BY JOSIE JOY SALDAT Disney magic is reimagined on a floating castle, where wishes do come true
BY DARCY GUTTWEIN
Learn how to plan ahead and start enjoying your vacation right out of the gate
Inspired by the popular Retrospective Camera Bag Series, they have expanded the line’s classic stone-washed canvas motif into a new travel collection. The Retrospective Weekender is a classic travel duffel that features stone-washed cotton canvas with antiqued metal hardware and genuine Dakota leather reinforcements. Zippered wings unclip to create an wide clamshell opening to its spacious 26-liter main compartment. The tote offers a classic cotton canvas look that is soft and conforming to the body. There is even a laundry bag, so your dirty clothes can look good too. thinktankphoto.com
The TRAVELQ™ 240 portable propane gas grill expands the options for the griller-on-the-go. Compact for easy transport and storage, packed with industry-leading features that lets you cook on your portable grill the same way you would on your backyard grill, including a stainless steel burner, and durable porcelainized cast iron cooking grids. napoleon.com
Unlike other convertible bags that do not actually undergo any significant transformation, the DAKOTA convertible backpack purse is truly able to change its shape, volume, and look in a matter of seconds. driibe.com
The Saratoga, t his double wall vacuum insulated bottle with an extra wide handle will make Saratoga easy to carry. Its dual-lid has a smaller opening for drinking and pouring, and a larger opening for cleaning or adding ice. This bottle keeps liquids cold for up to 24 hours, hot for up to 12 hours. Available in 26 oz, 40 oz and 64 oz sizes. mannahydration.com
This treasure trove of a country checks all the boxes for a rich travel experiencethousands of years of history, archaeological wonders, sacred sites, vibrant nightlife, three official languages, AND can be driven from top to bottom in eight hours. But the real reason you need to visit this diminutive nation is for the food!
Roughly the size of New Jersey, Israel boasts mountains, sandy coastlines, and what is referred to as the three seas – the Red, the Med and the Dead, along with the Sea of Galilee, the lowest freshwater lake on earth.
The country is young. Formerly under British rule, it officially became the State of Israel in May 1948 and as the world’s first Jewish state in over 2,000 years attracted a wide range of nationalities who now who call it home.
“We are a country of immigrants,” explains Myriam Kadouch, an archaeologist, translator and tour guide extraordinaire who speaks five languages and has a PhD in history. “And they brought their culinary traditions from Turkey, Greece, Iran, Armenia and other countries which meets on our plate in Israel.”
A visit to the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, the largest in the country, is a must and provides an excellent orientation. The building is a stunner with the world’s most extensive collection of Holy Land archaeology that includes the Dead Sea Scrolls, the oldest biblical manuscripts on the planet. JapaneseAmerican sculptor Isamu Noguchi designed the Billy Rose Art Garden, considered to be one of the finest outdoor sculpture settings of the 20th century with pieces by Henry Moore, Pablo Picasso, and Auguste Rodin.
Also on display are findings from food archaeologists whose discovery of clay pots with dates, honey, wine, olive oil and legumes attest to a similar diet for centuries. Despite the country being more than 65% desert, the Bible refers to it as the land of milk and honey and a multitude of fruits and vegetables like dates, cherries, cucumbers and one of the top crops –olives, are produced.
But in this land of sunny days, it’s the tomato - sweet as candy and available year-round, that graces tables at every meal and seduces in salads, sauces and condiments. And then there’s Shakshuka - a middle Eastern dish on menus throughout the country. Traditionally a poor person’s breakfast, the ingredients are a staple in every kitchen and a one-dish wonder. Eggs, poached in a rich savory sauce of tomatoes, peppers, onions and spices that vary according to whim of the chef, result in an insanely delicious dish.
And the chickpea! In Israel this humble legume is elevated to legendary status as it transforms into a sinfully silky-smooth hummus that (thankfully) seems to appear at every meal and will entice you to eat your weight of it. Another magic act and chickpeas become a fluffy falafel, as light as air and nothing like its North American cousin. It plays a starring role in salad, couscous, sambusak (or turnover), and can be found on almost any street corner.
The coffee culture is serious business here - and entrepreneurial. Starbucks didn’t succeed in Israel but in its place is Aroma, the country’s national espresso chain and a favorite meeting spot. Israelis consume a staggering amount of the caffeinated beverage and the popular Turkish coffee, often flavored with cardamom and spices, is called botz which is Hebrew for mud and refers to the thick sediment that lies at the bottom of the cup. And over the past decade, a French influx of immigrants has resulted in flirty Parisian-style patisseries with buttery croissants and show stopping desserts.
The bounty of local crops is the inspiration for tastemakers who are combining their culinary passion with opportunities presented by the growing seasons. The result? A dynamic epicurean scene that focuses on honest food, wine and spirits. Meet some of the foodies who are changing the culinary landscape and contributing to making Israel a delicious destination.
A windmill is an unexpected landmark in the leafy boulevards of Mishkenot Sha’ananim, the first neighborhood built outside of Jerusalem’s historic walled city. Used to grind wheat in the late 1800’s, it is now home to Montefiore Winery and their boutique line of Windmill wines. Located directly across from Mount Zion, the rooftop terrace has spectacular views that sweep across the city and its romantic vibe makes it a favorite place to pop the question. Canadian-born Sam Soroka moved to Israel and became the winemaker in 2015 after mastering the trade in France, Australia, and California and his wines are handcrafted from grapes grown on 42-year-old vines that flourish in the coastal mountain range of Carmel. WW
It is rumored that Chardonnay wine was actually named for Jerusalem and dates back to when the Crusaders returned to France with vines that were called sha’har Adonai, Hebrew for “gate of God”.
