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Marfa is a place of outstanding artists and makers. One of them–no doubt–is Ginger Griffice. I’ve known Ginger since meeting her at Trans Pecos last year and I’ve been a frequent shopper at her Marfa Brands Store, where she sells her soaps, fun glassware and other neat items. This time, I finally caught her in action, making a brand new batch of her amazing artisanal soaps. Ginger takes much of her olfactory inspiration from the desert that surrounds Marfa. Her natural soaps are made from vegetable and essential oils, and she often adds tea (green, Earl Grey, Lapsang souchon) for added scent, color, and texture. If you’re looking to take a little bit of Marfa back home with you, this is the place.

Fun fact: one of Marfa Brands Soaps, Ranch Road, was specifically created for El Cosmico, to capture ‘the smell of rain, and the free spirit that El Cosmico is all about’.

Opening times are fluid, Marfa style. If Ginger’s store is closed, you can always swing by the ‘Get Go’ grocery, a short block away, and pick up a few bars there.

>>>Warmest thanks to the awesome team at El Cosmico for another unforgettable Trans Pecos Festival of Music and Love–an annual gathering of friends, music, art, camping, sandlot baseball and a night sky full of stars in Marfa, Texas. Love you guys.

From steam trains and stargazing to mineral springs and river hikes, this itinerary captures the state’s landscapes and culture.

Enjoy lively festivals, tranquil beaches, and marine adventures across St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix—no passport required.

As a travel writer and a kama’aina or “child of the land” in Hawaiian, I know about Waikiki hotels. Growing up not far from the Waikiki of the late 1960’s and 1970’s, I have watched Waikiki transform from a simpler time when there were fewer hotels, showrooms had live entertainment with local celebrity singers and hula dancers performing every night, and a sprinkling of small bars were scattered like shells along the sands of Waikiki. In that long- ago time you could take an evening walk on the beach and listen to the Hawaiian music under the stars.




So much has changed since then. The Waikiki of today along bustling Kalakaua Avenue is such a compacted array of luxury brand stores, chain restaurants, and concept eateries, that some visitors may find it a bit contrary to their idea of relaxation. So they head to an outer island. But enchanting Oahu should not be overlooked because of its popularity, so I’ll tell you about an oceanfront oasis on the beach at Waikiki that you’ll love.


There are two sides to Waikiki: The Diamond Head side, and the Ewa side. The Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort is situated on the Ewa end of Waikiki on what was once referred to as the Kalia area. The famous Hawaiian water-man Duke Kahanamoku, the father of modern surfing, and an Olympic medalist, was born here in this well-populated residential area. There was also a small hotel with thatched roof cottages along the beach called Niumalu Hotel. Decades later in the 1950’s Henry J. Kaiser (and partners) bought most of the land up, negotiated leases, dredged a tidal area and created a lagoon. Then he built rooms, restaurants, and bars, and opened his Hawaiian Village Hotel in September of 1955. Soon he added an incredible marvel of an aluminum dome that was constructed in 20 hours and built as an entertainment venue. He later sold the property to Conrad Hilton.


The Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort has also made changes over the years by revamping its oceanfront 20-acre layout. Because of its size, manicured gardens, several pools, various room types, shopping, a luau venue, and multiple restaurant offerings, all along the largest expanse of Waikiki Beach, it is the only true resort in Waikiki, But I did promise you an oasis. So here is the secret: the Hilton’s Ali’i Tower.



The beachfront Ali’I Tower is a quiet “hotel within a hotel” in the large resort. Guests staying at the Ali’i Tower have their own front desk and concierge, a private pool and deck overlooking the beach, fitness room, and private bar. All of the rooms feature understated design and upscale amenities. Guests sporting their Ali’i Tower bracelet can go to the front of any line at the ever-popular Tropics Bar & Grill or Rainbow Room. Tip: Book the corner Diamond Head Oceanfront rooms on the upper floors. Your two lanais give you an expansive view from Diamond Head, across the surf spots along the reef, all the way to the Tapa Tower and Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon, the marina, and across the ocean to Ewa Beach. Don’t miss the Friday Night Fireworks from your balcony. The Hilton Hawaiian Village has been continuing this beloved tradition since 1988. So settle in at the Ali’i Tower and relax knowing that you have found a slice of the old Waikiki that still exists.

Spend a long weekend supporting Black businesses and diving into the Black community’s impact on Asheville.

Explore museum exhibitions, ride the light rail, and take a cocktail class in a three-day itinerary filled with this North Carolina city’s many delights

See thought-provoking contemporary art, world-class performances, and more at Toronto’s most treasured cultural institutions on this three-day itinerary.

Al Shaqab Hotel, located in Al Shaqab’s equestrian complex in Education City, is quietly implementing an innovative hospitality concept that promotes healthy lifestyles among its guests, with a focus on physical activities and a balanced diet. Al Shaqab Hotel, a two-story building with simple interior style and horse-related art-work, offers a modest number of guest rooms (70), but an abundance of amenities, such as the Stay, Ride, Swim package which includes the use of Marwan Club –a fitness club equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, equestrian riding packages, swimming pool, steam and sauna rooms, a Kids zone, and facility tours. True to its vision to promote wellness, the hotel does not serve alcohol, has a no-smoking policy, and houses The Chef’s Garden restaurant, which with its “farm-to-table” concept gets most of its produce from Al Safwa Farm, Qatar’s only licensed organic farm. This hotels appeals to horse lovers, those guests with children interested in horses, and horse-riders appreciative of the nearby world-class riding facilities. Rooms at this oasis-like hotel start at QR495 ($135) pn/pp. B&B packages including one-hour riding sessions are QR955 ($260) for a double room or QR1,340 ($368) for a family of four. For reservations, send an email at [email protected] or call +974-4470-7400.

Soak in the Dead Sea, learn Jordanian recipes, and camp in Wadi Rum on this epic adventure.

On this episode of Unpacked, host Aislyn Greene travels to Charleston and discovers how a 150-year-old dinner party, presidential soup, and 30 ways to make shrimp and grits tell the story of America’s most flavorful city.

This itinerary takes first-time visitors to New York on a tour of iconic museums and parks to newly opened sites and trendy neighborhood restaurants.

Explore Africa and the Middle East with these trip itineraries.