France-based Sofitel hotels are generally known for their, naturally, French flair, but the luxurious brand’s Philadelphia property is adding a dash of English charm with its new London taxi service. For hire by hotel guests only, the iconic London taxi, imported directly from England, offers free rides around town and to/from the Philadelphia International Airport (a 20-minute drive) Mondays through Fridays between 7 and 9 A.M (reservations recommended). Booking the service any other time of day will cost you, depending on the duration of your ride, upwards of $25 for lifts within the city center and $45 to the airport. Not cheap for most chaps, but the five-seat, mini-bar laden cab makes for a bloody fun alternative to typical transportation, wouldn’t you say?

Despite China’s 21st century emergence as a major economic power, a lot of the country still remains hidden behind closed doors . . . but not for long. On September 23, Hong Kong-based airline Cathay Pacific launched brand new China Experience tours designed by local experts to provide unparalleled VIP access to normally off-limits attractions. Starting at $3,000 a pop, these all-inclusive, ultra-exclusive expeditions offer behind-the-scenes peaks of protected heritage sites scattered throughout Beijing, Xian, and Shanghai – like The Forbidden City’s Imperial Palace tea room, Xian’s national treasure vault, and Pit #5 of the famous Terracotta Warrior Museum (normally only open to archeologists). In addition to dining with locals in a traditional courtyard (“hutong”) and taking private tai-chi lessons, visitors can explore the better-known Great Wall and Tiananmen Square (pictured). Read the rest of this post »

Given that 16th-century Jesuit missionaries cultivated the first grapevines of Chile’s Colchagua Valley, it seems right to bunk up at one of their former haciendas when visiting the region. Such is the allure of Residencia Histórica de Marchihue (from $200/night), an 18th-century estate transformed by its new owners into a 22-room hotel.

Set in the small town of Marchihue, a 40-minute drive from the region’s hub of Santa Cruz, the Residencia feels utterly remote (especially when trying to find it after dark). Once there, guests will discover a serene little sanctum, guarded by towering eucalyptus, rose bushes, and fruit trees. From a large garden, the amiable, talented young chef Pablo Galvez culls many of his ingredients (the hotel raises hens, ducks, and chickens as well). Read the rest of this post »

With vineyard land in Napa Valley growing ever more scarce and expensive, vintners are increasingly specializing in Cabernet Sauvignon, the grape best suited to the valley and one with an exceptional track record. For most wineries, their Cab defines them—but not all Cabs are created equal. Luckily, in Napa this big red is made well at every price point; you just have to know where to look. These bottles have national distribution, so you can find them back home, too.

Villa Mt. Eden, Grand Reserve, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2005, $17
This is a great gateway Cabernet: It’s relatively soft and smooth and more like Merlot than some—perfect for Cab beginners. It has fig and berry flavors and just a touch of the charming bell pepper taste characteristic of this grape.

Beaulieu Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford 2005, $30
Founded in 1900, the historic Beaulieu Vineyard impresses with this lovely wine at a very reasonable price. There’s a dusting of licorice flavor, along with the classic Cab note of cherry. Its slightly chewy texture means that it pairs nicely with grilled meats.

Chappellet Winery, Signature Cabernet, Sauvignon Napa, Valley 2006, $42
Chappellet isn’t as well known as some Napa wineries, especially on the East Coast. But this family-owned operation should be at the forefront of any Cab lover’s mind. Sweet fruit is the focus, with blackberry and plum tastes accented by dark chocolate.

Rubicon Estate, Rubicon, Rutherford 2005, $145
When filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola bought the Inglenook estate (and rebranded it Rubicon), many doubted that he and his team could craft wines worthy of its legacy. But their flagship wine—a big, brooding beauty—shows that value can apply even to a wine that’s fairly pricey. It’s good now and will taste even better in five years. Don’t rush it.

From the Summer 2009 issue of Sherman’s Travel magazine

At least three new cultural spaces are turning heads this summer: 1) The new Jean Nouvel–designed Danmarks Radio Concert Hall of Copenhagen (pictured) wears an electric blue sheath. Inside, its four venues of various sizes include digs for the Danish National Symphony Orchestra. 2) In May, the massive Modern Wing of the Art Institute of Chicago opened to the public. Renzo Piano designed the glass-and-limestone structure to house the museum’s modern and contemporary collections. 3) Winding describes both Zaha Hadid’s futuristic design of the MAXXI in Rome and its prolonged gestation. And now Italy has its first national museum of contemporary art and architecture at last.

Set amid a striking natural harbor and backdropped by imposing jade-colored mountains, Asia’s hyper-vertical metropolis commands attention from any angle, at all hours. But Hong Kong’s famed views are perhaps best savored over the city’s equally celebrated cuisine.

For a quintessentially scenic lunch, ascend Victoria Peak by tram for dim sum at Tien Yi in the renovated Peak Tower shopping complex. With its lofty panoramas of Hong Kong and the surrounding islands, this restaurant is a must, especially for those accustomed to eating their barbecued pork buns and shrimp dumplings in gaudy Chinatown banquet rooms. Ask to sit next to a window overlooking Victoria Harbour, and you’ll understand why the restaurant’s name means “the pinnacle of the world.” Read the rest of this post »

City Parks Foundation is presenting its annual performing arts festival at Central Park’s SummerStage. The concerts are held directly in Central Park and offer a wide variety of performances, including music, comedy, dance, film, and spoken word. All performances are free, with the exception of four benefit shows priced between $25-$55. This year’s lineup includes 311, The Indigo Girls, Q-Tip, and the Metropolitan Opera. The Buckingham Hotel (888-511-1900), a 100-suite boutique property located just minutes from Central Park, is offering a special package for SummerStage attendees. Starting at just $219, the hotel is offering accommodations for four coupled with VIP entrance and special seating to all Summerstage performances. The package is available through August 17 and can be booked at www.buckinghamhotel.com/summerstage. Read the rest of this post »

A number of major cruise lines include a port of call at one of their “privately-owned islands,” but while there’s no doubt that this concept has mass appeal, these islands are left with a manufactured feel, because nearly every aspect – from the tropical drinks to the straw markets – is cruise line owned-and-operated.

Cruise West’s latest announcement is in a league of it’s own by entitling passengers to a true private-island experience at a Costa Rican National Park. Beginning next January, the cruise line will sail to Cocos Island, an uninhabited area that was declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 2007, and was short-listed as a candidate to be one of the New7Wonders of Nature. The island is so remote that before cruise lines can anchor their ships, they must first receive permission from the island’s only inhabitants – a handful of Costa Rican Park Rangers. Read the rest of this post »

Given New York City’s penchant for a somber palette, the opening of a branch of French fabric store Les Toiles du Soleil (Fabric of the Sun) in Chelsea seems like mutiny. “People are scared of having color in their homes,” says Jean-Luc Carrucciu, who runs the outpost with his wife, Sandrine Guibert. “But then they start with one piece and gradually add more and more.” The company is nearly 150 years old and still handcrafts its vibrant cotton and linen fabrics on old-fashioned looms in the original St.-Laurent-de-Cerdans factory in southwestern France. In a similarly bygone tradition, the Manhattan boutique (two others operate in Paris and Tokyo) sells fabric by the yard and will custom-make any number of home goods—from curtains and duvets to tablecloths. Read the rest of this post »

Paris’ popular bicycle rental program, just 18 months old, is already encountering some rather discouraging bumps in the road: “Over half the original fleet of 15,000 specially made bicycles have disappeared, presumed stolen,” reports the BBC. Undeterred, Tel Aviv’s city planners are moving forward with a program that will allow tourists to pick up a bicycle at one of 25 rental stations in central locations around the city and drop it off near their destination. The Israeli Tourism website features an excellent 25k cycling itinerary that guides riders along the seafront, through the old city of Jaffa, and into heart of the “White City” (a UNESCO site chockablock with Bauhaus architecture). Click here to read our post about Tel Aviv’s year-long centennial celebration.