Elizabeth Hansen

Best of Travel from Around the World

All hotels are not created equal. Most of them are at least ok and lots of them are way more than that. The same goes for attractions, restaurants, museums, and the other sites we travelers visit as we make our way around the world. For this issue of Ranch & Coast, I wanted to share my own “Best Of” — my personal favorite worldwide travel experiences. That sounded like fun until I started making lists of candidates. Then lists of lists, broken down by category, continent, and country, until I gave up. Decades of roaming defied organization. In the end, I closed my eyes and let my mind wander over Europe, then Africa, the U.S, South America, Asia, and the South Pacific. Every time I felt myself smile, I opened my eyes just long enough to make a quick note on a nearby pad. Here’s the result.

Beyond Manhattan

Exploring the boroughs of NYC Posted on September 3, 2019 Until recently, I’d only seen Brooklyn as the slightly gritty backdrop of some of my favorite movies. I was a fan of Annie Hall and my mother and I loved Moonstruck, which we frequently watched together. Neither of these films inspired me to plan a…

Lovely Lanai

Lovely Lanai Experience two worlds on one Hawaiian island Posted on July 1, 2019 I wasn’t experiencing jet lag, and my feet were planted firmly on the ground, but I still found the view in front of me confusing. Straight ahead across a channel, the island of Molokai felt close enough to touch and, on…

Oh My! Namale!

Namale, Fiji Fiji’s fantasy island awaits Posted on June 1, 2019 Still trying to decide on a gift for a special June bride and groom? If their honeymoon plans are undecided, suggest Namale in Fiji and offer to contribute to their expenses. Alternatively, you might opt to book your own retreat to the luxurious, all-inclusive, adults-only…

Great Spring Gardens

Great Spring Gardens Add these patches of paradise to your travel plans Posted on May 1, 2019 Remember the interminable rain that spoiled our plans and dampened our moods this past winter? Well, it’s payback time. San Diegans are being rewarded with spring gardens that are more beautiful than I can ever remember. All around me,…

Five Days in D.C.

Five Days in D.C. Posted on April 1, 2019 As I write this, cherry blossom fans are on high alert. Last year, Washington, D.C.’s pink floral fireworks happened on the few days either side of April 5. While it would be wonderful to witness this display, it certainly isn’t the only reason to make the…

Australia’s Underwater Wonders

Getting to know the Great Barrier Reef Posted on February 1, 2019 The world’s greatest living structure runs for more than 1,200 miles along the northeast coast of Australia. It’s a spectacular coral reef that’s home to great schools of colorful fish, mollusks weighing up to 400 pounds, six species of marine turtles, and myriad…

Elude the Crowds

Elude the Crowds How to find private moments at top travel spots Posted on January 1, 2019 Monet’s Garden at Giverny isn’t on every traveler’s bucket list, but it was at the top of mine. I’d admired the artist’s water lilies at art museums around the world, and I desperately wanted to see them in the…

I’ll Take Manhattan

I’ll Take Manhattan Visiting Hamilton’s New York Posted on November 30, 2018 Recently, I realized that Hamilton changed the way I look at New York. In the past, I’ve focused on Central Park, ethnic eateries, and botanical gardens, but on my last trip, motivated by the musical, I shifted my gaze to Lower Manhattan. This…

Attend

Gilded Age Gifts

Gilded Age Gifts Enjoying the legacy of thoughtful tycoons Posted on November 1, 2018 The generosity of philanthropists is evident in many travel destinations, but nowhere more than in New England. While traveling here, I was struck by the contributions of 19th century captains of industry and their descendants. Vanderbilt, Rockefeller, and Carnegie are just some…

Sweet Dreams in the Land of the Incas

Exploring Luxury Peru Posted on October 1, 2018 I’ve seen lots of beautiful hotels in my years as a travel journalist, but the Palacio Nazarenas in Cusco is the only one that took my breath away and also made it easier to breathe. Thin air in this super high city commonly causes altitude sickness, so…

Welcome to Santa Cruz

Welcome to Santa Cruz Posted on September 18, 2018 “Surf City USA” was once the marketing moniker for both Huntington Beach and Santa Cruz, but a judge’s careful listening to the words of the iconic Jan and Dean song resulted in the use of the tagline being awarded solely to Huntington Beach. However, that decision…

The Best of Sydney

The Best of Sydney Australia’s gem sparkles on a deep blue harbor Posted on August 1, 2018 When I first met her, she was a sweet young thing, all gleaming white and nearly brand new. The year was 1975 and she — the Sydney Opera House — was an architectural wonder on her way to becoming…

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