CapitalSaratoga, where dancers twirl and horses run and a patchwork-quilt landscapes surround historic cities rich in cultural treasures and sure bets of great lodging and dining.

Albany, the Capital-Saratoga region is my backyard. If you have a few days or a long weekend, here are some fun suggestions for a short break in the Capita-Saratoga region with a long tradition of history, hats, health and fast horses.
Day one

Albany, with its captivating skyline that reflects ...

After biking from Inn-to-Inn in Germany and Austria, my husband and I were ready for a new adventure. We wanted to do some sea kayaking on the coast of Maine for a few days, preferably kayaking from Inn-to-Inn, but was there such a thing? I didnt mind doing some of the hard work (the paddling), but I also wanted hot showers and a warm bed at night. I didnt want to do all of it (the cooking, etc.)
Finding help in arranging such a trip wasnt easy. Water Walker Sea Kayaks, (207-338-6424), www.touringkayaks.com, ...

Hi,

This past week, we met up with old friends in Johnston, VTto do some hiking. Our friends, long time Vermonters and avid outdoorsmen and hikers, planned this lovely hike for us. The sights, food, and Lodging on this 39-mile, 3-day hiking trip along Vermonts Long Trail left us as excited as former Governor Howard Dean on a soapbox.

The Route: South from Route 15 in Johnston,we followed the LongTrail to Smugglers Notch, then down to Route 108. We headed South on Route ...

Even though my husband and I had been to Rome several times, we stayed pretty much in the area we liked most: for us, the Hotel Raphael behind Piazza Navona was the absolute best place to be in the Eternal City. There was nothing we enjoyed more than tramping up and down the narrow streets and tiny squares surrounding the enormous and sumptuous oval of Piazza Navona, stopping here and there to have an espresso at a coffee table. Each time we took one of those walks, we discovered something we had ...

Of all the French wine-growing areas, Alsace, close to the German border, stands apart. Its differences from the rest of France are obvious: The landscapes, the architecture, even the food, seem to have more connections with central Europe than with the rest of France. Place names and the local dialect are clearly more German than French.

Thanks to its rich architecture and cultural heritage, this wine-growing region attracts enthusiasts with a combination of wine and other pleasures. ...