This unique beach located in Fort Bragg, California actually used to be a dump. Back in the 50s, people threw all kinds of trash here and it was a big mess. In 1967, the North Coast Water Quality Board outlawed the dumping and in the 90s, they removed all toxic and hazardous materials. What remains is a beach made of glass…sea glass, polished and smoothed after 30 years of being pounded by the surf. Today, it’s owned by the California parks department as part of Mackerricher State Park. Tourists are welcome to walk along the glittery beach and explore its tidepools but don’t even think of snagging a piece of glass as a souvenir because removing it is strictly prohibited.

MacKerricher State Park

About an hour north of New York City in the Hudson Valley sits a 500 acre outdoor art gallery called the Storm King Art Center. It’s permanent collection consists of over 120 sculptures by some of the most influential modern artists including Alexander Calder, Isamu Noguchi and Donald Judd. It’s a beautiful place to spend a nice day walking the trails and picnicking by the turtle pond and if you like shopping, it’s only a 15 minute drive from the Woodbury Common Outlet shops!

Storm King Art Center

Have you ever wondered what the most expensive hotel room in the world is? Well, wonder no more….it’s the Royal Penthouse Suite at the President Wilson Hotel in Geneva, Switzerland which rents for a cool $55,000/night. What exactly do you get for your money? Aside from spectacular views of Lake Geneva and the Swiss Alps, you get a private elevator, bulletproof doors and windows and a full security team. It’s actually reserved for celebrities and heads of state but, if you have the cash, I’m guessing you can get in.

President Wilson Hotel

Rome is best known for classical art and architecture but the city will open its first contemporary art museum, the National Museum of XXI Century Arts (MAXXI for short), on May 30th. The complex will be comprised of two sections, one for art and the other for architecture but the main draw may be the building itself. Designed by famed architect, Zaha Hadid, the concrete structure seems impossibly light and bright with skylights and cantilevered ramps and windows. It may be time to cash in that coin you threw into the Trevi fountain and head back to Rome!

National Museum of XXI Century Arts

A lot of people are surprised when I tell them Las Vegas is one of my favorite places, especially because I love nature so much. The truth is, there are probably more National Parks in driving distance of Las Vegas than any other big city! I love getting the best of both worlds. One of the easiest ways to get away from the craziness of the strip for a while is to take a 30 minute drive over to Red Rock Canyon. Once you arrive, you can enjoy the scenery by driving the 13 mile loop through the park or get out and take a hike if you have more time. It’s absolutely stunning and a great way to recharge before you head back to the slots!

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area

Until December 30, 2010 one of the most fascinating exhibits on our solar system is on show at the Gasometer in Oberhausen, Germany (located 30 minutes north of Dusseldorf). In addition to large scale models of all the planets, the display includes an astounding replica of the moon measuring 82 feet in diameter, suspended 330 feet in the air. It is surely an awesome sight!

Gasometer Oberhausen

The drive between Los Angeles and Las Vegas can be pretty boring but, if you have an hour to spare, there is a little known side trip though an amazing place called the Mojave National Preserve. Although the park is huge, you can get a great taste of it by turning off of I-15 onto Kelbaker Road in Baker, CA and getting back on 15 by turning up Cima Road. Along the way, you’ll see lava beds, an old train depot, mountains, sand dunes and the largest Joshua tree forest in the world!

Mojave National Preserve

On April 24th, the all new Musical Instrument Museum will open its doors in Phoenix, Arizona. Its exhibits will include instruments from every country in the world and visitors will wear wireless headsets allowing them to hear each one play as they walk past. There will also be interactive displays, a recording studio and a restaurant. General admission is $15/person and timed tickets are on sale now for visits through June.

Musical Instrument Museum

Will and I are always looking for interesting places to visit, especially when food is involved! I don’t remember how we first heard about Blue Hill at Stone Barns but, the minute we did, we knew we had to visit. Stone Barns is a farm on the Rockefeller estate near the Hudson River in Westchester, NY. It has existed since the late 1800s and was intended to teach the children in the family about agriculture and food. In 2004, David Rockefeller opened a restaurant on the property called Blue Hill with executive chef, Dan Barber.

What makes Blue Hill so special? All the food served in the restaurant is produced locally, most of it on site at the farm. The gardens are pesticide free and everything is run in an eco-friendly manner. As a result, there is no specific menu at Blue Hill. When you enter the elegant dining room, which seats about 80 people, you are handed a list of ingredients that may or may not be used on that particular day. Basically, you tell the waiter what you can not or will not eat and the meal begins. Don’t expect to be served the same things as your neighbor. We saw all kinds of interesting plates being brought out, including bone marrow, mini beet sliders, cauliflower steak and lamb medallions. The dishes are inventive and delicious and, though the portions are small, it adds up to a lot of food by the time you are finished.

Reservations can be made up to two months in advance and they often are. Prices are fixed at $75-$135/person for 3-8 courses depending on what day and time you visit. This doesn’t include drinks and any additional courses you may order, so it is expensive, but a visit to Blue Hill is truly an experience. It also gets a fair amount of celebrity guests (the Obamas stopped in on a recent visit to NYC) so don’t be surprised if you see a familiar face at the table next to you!

Blue Hill at Stone Barns

Since most of the country is battling a brutal winter, you might as well make the best of it and find some fun cold weather activities. The National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. is famous for its world class art exhibitions, but it also features an ice skating rink in its beautiful sculpture garden. The rink is open until mid-March, has a state of the art sound system and a cafe serving up snacks, hot chocolate and wine. Art, food and fun……the perfect combo to chase away the winter blues!

National Gallery of Art Ice Rink