Filed in archive Hidden Gems
by Josh Lew on February 20, 2008
Portugal is popular with European tourists. The industry is important to the country's economy and perhaps equally important to Europe's north-dwelling snowbirds. Portugal's beach towns...
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by Josh Lew on February 18, 2008
China is obsessed with lucky numbers. This dates back to elements of Taoism, which was, if you consider it a religion, one of the world's first religions. Liam Fitzpatrick of Time points out that...
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by Josh Lew on February 06, 2008
Most people come to Saint Lucia aboard cruise ships. The island has a stereotypical Caribbean island feel. There are idyllic beaches, tropical scenery, and, the requisite amount of colorful,...
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by Josh Lew on January 10, 2008
Amongst travelers, little is known about Namibia. The sparsely populated nation in Southern Africa is dominated by the desert, dry grasslands, and a rugged coastline. So why is it a good place to...
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by Josh Lew on January 03, 2008
If you are hankering for a cocktail under a disco ball, Lanai is probably not your best option. The sparsely populated island is part of Hawaii, but not "resort Hawaii." Lanai's cool...
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by Josh Lew on December 27, 2007
Unless you already live in Scandinavia, going to Finland simply to experience a famous Finnish Sauna might be a little impractical. However, if you look at the importance of the sauna to Finnish...
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by Josh Lew on December 19, 2007
Jingle Bells. You're dreaming of a white Christmas. But in the southern hemisphere, Christmas is a summertime holiday. According to Travel and Leisure Magazine, Christmas Down Under can be great....
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by Josh Lew on December 15, 2007
According to the International Herald Tribune, Laos is going to be one of the hottest destinations of the next year. I pointed out the attractions of Laos a couple of months ago on this site (*Here,...
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by Josh Lew on December 11, 2007
Greenland is cold. That's a certainty. The world's largest island sits almost entirely above the arctic circle. It is officially an autonomous region of Denmark, but is actually closer to...
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by Josh Lew on December 09, 2007
Prince Edward Island is a rugged piece of land off of Canada's eastern coastline. It is known for its shell-fish and for being the setting of L.M. Montgomery's famous Anne of Green Gables...
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by Josh Lew on December 03, 2007
Taipei is Taiwan's showcase city. It's museums house impressive collections of art, both old and new. Tea plantations and hot springs are a mere hour from downtown via bus, faster by taxi. It...
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by Josh Lew on November 28, 2007
Ishigaki is one of the most popular of Okinawa's islands. Okinawa? You ask. That's the place where all the people live to be old because of their diet of kelp and tuna. Isn't it? Yes, but...
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by Josh Lew on November 25, 2007
Tunisia is a small country which is situated between Libya and Algeria. The country is mainly Arabic speaking, though travelers with even a limited knowledge of French should be able to get around...
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by Josh Lew on November 15, 2007
Cape Verde was not inhabited until the 1500s when it was colonized by Portuguese and used first as a strategic port for naval vessels and slave traders. It wasn't until the 1970 that Cape Verde...
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by Josh Lew on November 10, 2007
Iceland is well-known. At least, the name is. Iceland. Shivers. That's a place I never want to go. If I want ice, I'll get it from my freezer, thank you very much. That was my thinking, until...
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by Josh Lew on November 04, 2007
Bali is known for its beaches, its surf, and its party scene. Few people know, however, of the island's interior. The interior highlands are not filled with resorts, but are arguably more exotic...
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by Josh Lew on November 01, 2007
Tampa is the place where your grandparents go during the winter, isn't it? Where shuffleboard and square-dancing are considered nightlife. Want a real winter vacation? Try south Beach (if...
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by Josh Lew on October 20, 2007
Of all the countries in Southeast Asia, Laos is definitely the most laid-back. The frenetic traffic and the sheer mass of humanity found in Bangkok, Jakarta, Ho Chi Minh City, and even Phnom Penh is...
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by Josh Lew on October 17, 2007
The Florida Keys is one of the more unique places in America. Sure, the Keys have their share of tourist traps and resorts, but they also have an ample amount of sights, both above and below the...
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by Josh Lew on October 09, 2007
Kansas City was the epicenter of the 1930s jazz revolution. The standard big band styles of The Roaring Twenties gave way to the more improvisational sounds of Bebop. How did this non-descript,...
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by Josh Lew on October 07, 2007
Those of you whoa re frequent readers of this blog know that I am a (big) fan of Time's China Blog. Perhaps I am living vicariously through the blog's writers, who have the enviable task of,...
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by Josh Lew on October 04, 2007
For casual tourists, the Middle East is usually not even considered an option for a getaway. Unfortunately, conflict and anti-western sentiment in the region usually makes the news. Though violent...
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