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Walls of tea and a tea tasting experience mean an immersive tea experience in the heart of Chinatown, San Francisco.

San Francisco visitors (and locals) hear the term “tastings” and think of wine country north of the city or a flight served at a restaurant. For those who are more teaophile than an oenophile, have a tasting at the Vital Leaf Tea Company in the heart of Chinatown. There are more than 300 teas to sample from and tea sets for sale.

The main church of Bologna, San Petronio Basilica dominates the main plaza. Construction on the church began in the 14th century and was dedicated to a 5th century Bolognese saint. One of the most fascinating parts of the church is the elaborate sundial found inside. The sundial is in the form of a meridian line and was added in the 17th century. The famous astronomer Giovanni Domenico Cassini designed the sundial and its measurements are amazingly precise.

You can learn about Puerto Rico‘s history by visiting ancient citadels, churches, and Taíno ceremonial sites. The island, considered the “Key to the Antilles” by the Spanish, was fought over in many wars; the 1539 El Morro in Old San Juan—the Caribbean’s largest fortress—played an important role in many of these conflicts. Hide in watchtowers overlooking the water, role-play in the dungeons, and examine the cannons used in battle. Other educational historical sites include the Church of San Juan, which holds the tomb of conquistador Juan Ponce de León, and the Catholic art museum Porta Coeli, in San Germán, which was built by Dominicans in the 17th century.

If there’s one situation where the warning “Not for Childen” is suitable, it’s the Folsom Street Fair. (The organizers, Folsom Street Events, suggest not bringing anyone under the age of 18.) Held annually on September 21st along Folsom Street in San Francisco’s SoMa neighborhood and spread over 13 city blocks, the Folsom Street Fair is one of the city’s most open displays of sexual liberation, celebrating all manner of fetish and sexuality. Expect dancing, music, drinking, various demonstrations, and lots of nudity—it’s legal in San Francisco during permanent street fairs. More than 400,000 people show up every year, so be prepared for the ultimate “only in San Francisco” experience.

Complete with an in-shop florist and white, honeycomb-tiled wall, this light-filled coffee shop is one of San Diego’s most Instagramworthy spaces. Luckily, it offers more than just good looks—the coffee comes from San Francisco’s Sightglass and the menu includes lavender-honey toast, chia pudding, and an assortment of croissants from Wayfarer Bread & Pastry. Owner Jen Byard is also the cofounder of San Diego’s popular Maker’s Arcade, a holiday market that takes place every December, so she has an eye for artisan items. Communal’s retail section is always stocked with tasteful finds like ceramic mugs and Mexican blankets.

Santa María del Coro is San Sebastián‘s token beautiful European church. It has the quiet, sunlit beauty that one comes to expect in European churches. It also is the site of several of the city’s unique celebrations, organ concerts, and the iconic San Sebastián, pierced with the famed arrows.

We become so small when entering a place of worship, this local woman especially as she made her way to the entrance of the Cathedral of San Gervasio in Valladolid. It wasn’t Sunday. I’m sure of it because Sundays in Mexican city centers are usually much busier with families wandering around the city and going to mass. On this particular day there were just a few folks going about their usual routine.

Viñedos San Lucas is a new multi-use development fifteen minutes outside downtown. Its gracious, yet rustic hacienda vibe is attracting new neighbors plus locals and visitors to a complex that includes a quaint hotel and spa, two Mediterranean restaurants, one of the region’s finest wine cellars and even a polo ground. Vineyard excursions (don’t miss the lavender and olive groves) offer a glimpse of a Mexico few know; the mood is divinely bucolic. Time flies painlessly over wine and conversation, both outdoors and in.

A whole lot of history converges at the Fairmont San Francisco—as do all of the city’s cable car lines, which offer easy transportation to the Financial District, Union Square, and Fisherman’s Wharf. The hotel was built in 1906 but damaged in the Great Earthquake and subsequent fires before it even opened, so celebrated architect Julia Morgan was brought in to repair the building. Once it debuted, the hotel quickly became a city favorite, hosting more than its share of historic events, including the series of meetings in 1945 that resulted in the formation of the United Nations. The hotel’s storied bar, The Venetian Room, also featured big names, from Ella Fitzgerald and Nat ‘King’ Cole to Tony Bennett, who first performed I Left My Heart in San Francisco here in 1961 (Bennett still frequents the hotel).

Today, the Tonga Room & Hurricane Bar is a draw for tourists and locals seeking a kitschy, iconic San Francisco experience, with live music, Polynesian food, and Mai Tais severed against a backdrop of occasional staged thunderstorms. Other dining options include Laurel Court for all-day coastal California fare and the famous Afternoon Tea, a local tradition since 1907. The opulent design of the hotel extends from its lobby—with marble floors and sumptuous fabrics—to the 606 luxurious rooms, each outfitted with comfortable furnishings and modern technologies. Of the 62 suites, 10 also include balconies with city and bay views.

Anywhere breakfast is served all day usually scores in my book. At Caficultura in Old San Juan, the food is “farm to table” and is as delicious as the creative menu sounds. In addition to the mostly healthy options, the highlight is the maple syrup made with rum, and coconut milk–dipped french toast topped with coconut shavings. The atmosphere was pretty cool—large black chandeliers hang from large wooden beams, and the picture windows face Plaza Colón outside.


Definitely a cool local place to stop into and grab a coffee or brunch while sightseeing throughout Old San Juan’s historic district.

In Oaxaca, religious celebrations leading up to Easter tend to be quite somber, which is appropriate considering what the days commemorate. Although a lot of people take advantage of the two-week school break to go to the beach, those who stay in town partake of these somewhat mournful observances. Silent religious processions and passion plays are commonly held on Good Friday. Easter Sunday is generally a quiet day, but there are some festive celebrations that take place. In front of the church in Etla people carry religious images draped with flowers. Bands play music, and the people carrying the images dance around as they balance the weight on their shoulders.

Any hotel in San Francisco that has been operating for more than a century certainly has some stories to tell, and the Westin St. Francis is no exception. From socialites to celebrities to politicians, it seems every bold-faced name has slept (or attended late-night soirees) in its Bliss and Faville–designed towers. Today, guests to this distinctive 1,195-room property still enjoy top-notch service with some thoroughly modern touches: The 1904 landmark building recently underwent a $45 million renovation by Dallas-based interior design firm Forest Perkins, inspired by San Francisco’s moniker as “The Paris of the West.” Guest rooms are painted in Parisian blue, goldenrod yellow, and peony pink, and feature original crystal chandeliers. Downstairs, travelers can marvel at the lobby’s master clock—the first example in the western United States—and study a collection of photographs by Ansel Adams depicting the hotel’s long-lost Patent Leather Bar. Pro tip: Let the hotel’s resident historian bend your ear during a historical tour.

Make your way to Market Street and head to the Hearst Building, where downstairs you’ll find Local Edition. This cocktail bar takes its inspiration from the thriving San Francisco newspaper business of the 50s and 60s, and it shows—you’ll sip on drinks while surrounded by vintage paper presses and archival newspaper clippings. Try their updated version of a San Francisco favorite, the Bloody Mary. Local Edition is open Mondays through Fridays from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. and Saturdays from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Anyone who has visited San Diego and flown into the airport downtown has seen this iconic ship sitting in the San Diego harbor. The Star of India is the world’s oldest active sailing ship and is now part of the Maritime Museum of San Diego. She was built as a full-rigged iron windjammer ship in 1863 in the Isle of Man. She has sailed around the world 21 times, and has never been fitted for auxiliary power. If you enjoy sailboats of any kind, you definitely want to spend some time on board looking at this floating museum. There are several beautiful ship models down belowdecks and the cabins and kitchen area are set up as they would have been in the 1800s, so you can get an idea of what life may have been like on the ship.

This photo was taking this past Saturday at the celebration of the 215 year of the founding of Mission San Luis Rey. Once a year, on its anniversary, the old Mission throws open its doors and invites the public to see the entire grounds. The Mission is open generally, but most of the year the grounds are closed to the public (it is an active church with a monastery etc.). I had the pleasure of singing there some years ago for a concert and the acoustics of the church are amazing. It was fun to come back again and see the entire grounds