Pulling off a hitch-less family getaway can be a daunting task for any parent – let alone when that parent heads up a multi-million dollar global enterprise as well as a household. Just ask Forbes and Fortune cover-girl Katrina Garnett, mother of three and successful Silicon Valley CEO who’s been finagling family trips to sync with school vacations for 15 years (granted, she probably had the help of an assistant or two). The well-traveled, Aussie-born virtuoso is now sharing her trip planning savvy with the rest of the world with the coming launch of My Little Swans – a members-only, online social network for sophisticated family travel. Read the rest of this post »

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 »

While technically not a traditional cruise, we felt compelled to pass along this piece of information anyway. New York’s Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises will debut two new sailings this summer. Circle Line Queens and Circle Line Brooklyn will begin to set sail within the next month, and to commemorate this momentous occasion they will host an all-day celebration. On Saturday June 20, Circle Line will offer a free block party at Pier 81, with a 1940’s-style carnival, which pays homage to the company that first set sail in 1945. The event will also include a barbeque, merry-go-round, carnival entertainers, and even free cruises to the Statue of Liberty. Both of the new cruises can hold up to 600 passengers and provides commuters with upgraded amenities, while keeping the classic feel on Circle Line intact.

To learn more about Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises, click here.

As part of an ongoing effort to get Louisiana back on its feet post-Katrina, the state tourism board has crafted seven “culinary trails” to encourage visitors to taste their way through the diverse state. The suggested itineraries – each intended to fill a three-day visit – are not just lists of popular eateries but rather an eclectic collection of hole-in-the-wall cafés and upscale restaurants, food festivals and farm stands, bakeries and seafood joints. The Creole Fusion Trail reveals the best po’ boy in the Big Easy; Red River Riches offers a stop at a picturesque pecan orchard near Natchitoches; and Capital Cuisine recommends pairing a tasty crawfish pirogue (crawfish étouffée in a pastry crust) with a mint julep at a 149-year-old mansion outside Baton Rouge.

From the Feb/March 2009 issue of Sherman’s Travel magazine.

TOMS Shoes, a popular California-based nonprofit, sells linen espadrilles modeled after Argentinian alpargatas at stores such as Bloomingdale’s and Urban Outfitters. For every pair purchased, one pair of TOMS is donated to a needy child in Argentina, South Africa, Ethiopia, or the United States. This past fall, the company launched an initiative called TOMS Tours. Currently operating biweekly, the tours consist of eight-day volunteer trips to Argentina, where the project began back in 2006. Participants spend about half the time partaking in “shoe drops,” during which they visit local communities and hand out shoes to kids. The rest of the time, do-gooders take in the sites, including hikes in Iguazu National Park, wine tasting and horseback riding in Mendoza, and shopping in Buenos Aires. From $1,800/person, with accommodation, meals, activities, transportation (except for international airfare).

From the Feb/March issue of Sherman’s Travel magazine.

Exploring the Italian countryside by train is certainly no snore, but imagine cruising Italy’s hilltop villages, cliff-hugging highways, and rolling vineyards in your own convertible 1974 Alfa Romeo Spider or 1964 Lancia Flaminia GT. Italy by Vintage Car makes it doable with perk-packed auto excursions that include stays at prime hotels, such as Borgo la Bagnaia in Siena or Villa Spalletti Trivelli in Rome. The price covers hotels, meals, fuel, full insurance, and a “valet-mechanic” who washes, gasses, and parks the car each night. The company offers six itineraries, including Tuscany, the Amalfi Coast, and Rome to Milan. From $4,890/person for two nights, based on two people sharing a room and car.

Deals and Destination Advice: See our Italy Travel Guide