Sherman's Travel

A colorful architectural jumble of old clapboard houses and crumbling mansions, the captivating port town of Valparaíso comprises Chile’s cultural core. A UNESCO-protected gem of a city, the hodgepodge of hills and rickety cable cars here make for fascinating ambles, but “Valpo” may very well be South America’s most underrated locale. In the midst of a tourism renaissance, a bevy of happening little eateries, hotels, and boutiques have been cropping up about town. Recently back from a five-night stay there, I’m fresh off the ground with some of the best value recommendations for sleeping, eating, and taking it all in. Read more

If you’re the type who finds San Francisco to be too chilly pretty much every day of the year, you’ll be the type who rejoices at the chance to visit San Jose. While it’s just a few dozen miles south of North California’s most well-known city, San Jose has a vibe all its own – not to mention a temperature that’s routinely warmer. In an effort to get you outside the boardroom and into the heart of Silicon Valley, we’re offering up two restaurants, two attractions, and one bar that you can hit with just a few extra hours between meetings. Read more

Up until recently, had you told me that longtime Italy pasta maker Giovanni Rana was serving up fresh artisanal-filled pasta in New York City (which they’ve been doing quietly in Chelsea Market since last November) my reaction would have been “so what?” as I had pretty much had my fill of artisanal-filled everything. That is, until this past Sunday, when the artisans filling some of that pasta at Giovanni Rana Pastificio & Cucina were me and my three children. Read more

Forget what you think you know about Mexican food. Forget margaritas, fajitas, guacamole and tequila.

Let me tell you a tale of Mexico that has little (okay, nothing) to do with what you order at Chipotle or Taco Bell. Instead let me open your eyes to pork, cheese, chocolate, and chilies (and perhaps a grasshopper, or two). This is the tale of Puebla – Mexico’s original foodie destination. Read more

Twenty-one horses will compete in the 139th Kentucky Derby on Saturday. If you can’t make it to Churchill Downs to watch the run for the roses, don’t worry. Viewing the race from any of these seven venues is the next best thing. Read more

Dismiss your foggy college memories of “gold” tequila. The Mexican national beverage is far more varied and complex than the stuff used for those tequila poppers. This distilled libation is made from only one plant – the Agave tequilana Weber, blue variety. Its lance-shaped leaves have a blue-green hue, which is why people often refer to it as “blue agave.” When harvested, those spiky leaves are cut off to get to the plant’s heart, or piña (which looks like a big pineapple). The piña is cooked to obtain the juices that form the basis for the final product. Read more

Whether it’s the Green Chile Cheeseburger Trail in New Mexico, the Kentucky Bourbon Trail or some similarly-themed route, culinary trails allow you to sample regional flavors and meet the locals behind them. But, these trails can be overwhelming. After all, how much salsa can you eat in one day on the Salsa Trail in southern Arizona? Here are nine tips for getting the most out of your next food-centric (or booze-centric) adventure. Read more

Tell a Kansas City resident that they’re located in a flyover state and see what happens. Actually, don’t do that. For those traveling to the heart of America for business or pleasure, you’ll find plenty of extracurricular activities to make the most of your visit. In an effort to get you outside the boardroom and into KC, here are two restaurants, two attractions, and one bar that you can hit with just a few extra hours between meetings.

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Claims of authentic Neapolitan pizza are ubiquitous in New York – but how many of those pizzaioli are from Naples proper, or even care about recreating the incredible pies of Napoli? I spoke to Chef Giulio Adriani of Forcella in New York (locations in NoHo, Williamsburg, and a few blocks from Madison Square Park) to find out exactly what makes the best Neapolitan pies and where the chef recommends sampling them in his home city. Read more

Spring and summer seem to be festival seasons, and this time of the year, there’s plenty to celebrate. Warm weather, blossoming flowers, the ability to carry your wife long distances – wait, what? Across the globe, there are tons of strange and spectacular festivals commemorating everything from macaque monkeys to body painting. We’ve selected seven we find a little bit odd, but entirely awesome. Read more