Posted on 12 March 2010
The Honor Flight Network flies World War II veterans, free of charge, to Washington, DC to visit the memorial built in their honor.
By Jane Hess Collins
Hundreds of active duty and civilians thanked WWII veterans like Samuel Revels for his service. (Photo by Jane Hess Collins)
The mood was electric at Reagan International Airport on Wednesday evening, March 10. An archway of yellow balloons framed gate 30B as hundreds of people waved small American flags. Suddenly, the Falls Church Concert Band, seated in the waiting area, burst into “Stars and Stripes Forever” as the VIPs emerged from the plane. Who deserved all of this fanfare? U2? The New Orleans Saints? Brad and Angie?
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Posted on 06 July 2009
Six days, two historic properties, and countless ways to experience the best of Ireland from idyllic County Mayo to bustling Dublin
By Michael M. Clements
Ireland is green, but not in the cliché lucky four leaf clover way. Literally, it’s green – everywhere: the trees, the rolling hills, the countryside. The scene is particularly emerald driving northwest from Ireland’s Atlantic Coast gateway, Shannon International Airport, through Galway into County Mayo. Known for its wide-open spaces and dramatic cliffs that extend finger like into the brooding Irish Sea, County Mayo is the ideal location to experience country luxury at its finest, starting with the magnificent Ashford Castle on the shores of Lough Corrib, which cuts like a jigsaw through the heart of the pastoral landscape.
On the northeast shore of Ireland’s second largestlake, Lough Corrib, stands Ashford Castle, the ultimate in Irish country opulence. Presiding formidably at the peninsula where the lazy River Cong meets Lough Corrib, and hidden deep within over 350 acres of wooded parkland, this 13th century castle hotel is a monument to a fascinating history of a bygone age. Once the estate of the Guinness brewing clan, the property opened its doors as an exclusive hotel in 1939 and is currently a member of The Leading Hotels of the World. Read the full story
Posted on 01 April 2008
Frégate Island, a private resort in the Seychelles not only hosts Bill Gates, Paul McCartney, and Elizabeth Hurley, but it has become a model for eco-tourism. In fact, Frégate is one of few carbon neutral islands on the planet.
by Katie Tarbox
Voted by Conde Nast Traveller as one of the ten most beautiful beaches in the world, Anse Victorin on Fregate Island encourages guests to put up a "privacy please" sign and bask in complete seclusion.
In the middle of the Indian Ocean, 115 islands form the Seychelles, one of the world’s most remote and exotic locations. With beautiful beaches planked by over-sized granite boulders, luxury resorts, and even four-leaf clovers, the Seychelles are a modern-day garden of earthly delights.
The smallest of the granite islands, Frégate is home to one of the most exclusive resorts in the world (only accessible by helicopter from Mahe). Jennifer Anniston and Brad Pitt honeymooned there, as did Paul McCartney. Bill Gates visits every August; most recently, Elizabeth Hurley rented the entire island. Though best known for offering the ultimate luxury (private beaches, world-class spa, and butler service), the island and its owner (a German billionaire whose identity is unknown) have made conservation a top priority. Read the full story
Posted on 01 June 2006
Vacation like royalty (or an A-list celebrity) at Las Alamandas, where a premium is placed on perfection
By Kevin Chaffee
Chaise lounges on the lawn of an oceanfront villa
The Location
About two hours south of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, on (mostly) good roads or a half-hour private charter flight from that city’s airport to the resort’s private 3,300-foot asphalt airstrip.
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