Blog.

Five days at Parrot Cay resort on a private island 40 minutes from Providenciales. Crystal-clear water, white sand beaches, and luxury Caribbean getaway.

Jessica visits Gap store construction sites in Hong Kong ahead of November 2011 openings. Shopping guide for travelers to the city.

Photos of the Tribute in Light, the annual 88-searchlight installation over Lower Manhattan commemorating September 11. Taken from Brooklyn and the base of the memorial.

Labor Day at the US Open in Queens: Djokovic's tiebreak marathon, Armstrong Stadium seats, and a first-time tennis fan's take on the grounds.

How to photograph lightning during thunderstorms: camera settings, technique, and what I learned shooting storms over NYC from a rooftop.

Inside Hudson Valley's first post-Prohibition distillery in Gardiner, NY. Tour, whiskey tasting, and the story behind award-winning Hudson Whiskey.

A 26-year-old died falling 600 feet from Half Dome's cables in July 2011. The climb's inherent dangers persist despite permits and warnings.

Tour the Franklin D. Roosevelt Family Home and Eleanor Roosevelt's Val-Kil cottage in Hyde Park, New York. Learn the history of two presidential estates on the Hudson River.

Tour Frank Lloyd Wright's 1936 masterpiece Fallingwater in Mill Run, Pennsylvania. A weekend home built over a waterfall with dramatic cantilevers and natural integration.

Tour Frederick Vanderbilt's 1899 Hyde Park mansion overlooking the Hudson Valley. 54-room Gilded Age estate on 211 acres, now a National Park Service historic site.

Climbing Half Dome in Yosemite: a 16.4-mile hike with 5,000 feet elevation gain, cable ascent, and permit system. Photos from July 2011.

Watched Macy's fireworks from a 40th-floor rooftop on the Hudson River. Six synchronized barges lit up Manhattan on July 4, 2011.

A photo essay from the biannual 1920s-themed lawn party on Governor's Island, featuring jazz, cocktails, period fashion, and Charleston lessons. June 2011.

A visit to Philip Johnson's iconic 1949 Glass House in New Canaan, Connecticut—a modernist masterpiece on 49 acres just an hour from New York City.

A Memorial Day weekend in Philadelphia: Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, Benjamin Franklin's sites, and tours of neighborhoods like Rittenhouse Park led by a friend at Urban Outfitters.

Manhattanhenge occurs twice yearly when the setting sun perfectly aligns with New York's east-west grid. Photos from the May 31 event at 23rd Street and 5th Avenue.

A long weekend in Kailua with friends: Lanikai Beach, paddle boarding mishaps, loco moco, and dinner at Morimoto in Waikiki.

A long weekend in Las Vegas for Jessica's birthday at the Encore, including Cirque du Soleil, CraftSteak dinner, and Fremont Street. Photos and travel notes from April 2011.

Long weekend in Chicago with friends: architectural walking tour, Field Museum, Hot Doug's hot dogs, and Millennium Park. March 2011.

First images from my new Nikon D7000, shot on the roof in Manhattan. The D80's successor after four years of travel photography.

Airboat ride and alligator feeding tour with Jungle Erv near Goodland, Florida. See Florida wetlands wildlife up close in the Ten Thousand Islands.

Thanksgiving dinner on Marco Island's beach at Hideaway Beach Club. Jacket-required dining with Gulf views and cocktails.

A day at Shanghai's 2010 World Expo visiting pavilions from Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Morocco. More curiosity than revelation.

After 50+ visits to House of Prime Rib and trying Lawry's in Tokyo, a firsthand comparison of two legendary prime rib restaurants claiming to invent the concept.

A three-day visit to Shanghai in 2010 covering Yu Gardens, the world's fastest MagLev train, and dining in Xin Tian Di. Photos and travel notes from China's most cosmopolitan city.

Three days in Beijing covering the Great Wall, Forbidden City views, and hot pot dinners. Travel tips for navigating the capital.

A 2010 trip to Cancun's Hotel Zone with photos from the beach, Ritz Carlton, and nearby Tulum. Safety, deals, and what to expect as a tourist destination.

Recap of the 11th annual Yosemite trip with 28 friends. Half Dome views, valley hikes, and lakeside picnics from July 2010.

A two-day Kyoto itinerary covering Kiyomizu-dera, the Golden Temple, and Ryoan-ji zen garden. Travel tips for the Shinkansen and getting around Japan's ancient capital.

A week in Tokyo with stops in Kyoto and Nikko. Hotels, transit tips, and photos from April 2010.