Sherman's Travel

Hollywood stars (and all the paparazzi who stalk them) will descend on the French Riviera this week for the year’s most prestigious cinema event: the Cannes Film Festival. La Croisette – the city’s Mediterranean-facing boulevard – is transformed into a veritable catwalk of stylish A-listers. And this year, the festival is highly anticipated because of the premiere of Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby. For a fleeting moment, the red carpet, rolled out in front of the Palais des Congrès, will become the most photographed event of 2013. But there’s more to glitzy Cannes than this 15 minutes 12 days of fame. Just off the coastline where Zelda and F. Scott used to party, the island of Saint-Honorat is home to a colony of Cistercian monks who tend 20 acres of vineyards. And you’re invited to pay them a visit. Read more

I don’t know about you, but for anyone who has seen The Little Mermaid, you know how cool grottoes can be; with mysterious passages, dark corners, abstract rock formations, and the sound of water trickling down stalactites, who wouldn’t want to play explorer in these caves for a day? Off the coast of Alghero on the Italian island of Sardinia, sits Neptune’s Grotto (Grotta di Nettuno). Named after the Roman god of the sea, this beautifully lit grotto is one of Italy’s most magical legends and a top tourist attraction. Read more

If you’re looking for a new activity this summer, skip the beach and head to New York City for Outdoor Rise, a week of classes, adventures, and inspirational films all dedicated to the beauty of the outdoors. Brought to you by Discover Outdoors, Outdoor Rise is weeklong program that encourages you to live a healthy life by exploring and interacting with your environment. From June 17–23, choose from a list of events and start your summer of fun. All events are free to the public and dispersed throughout the five boroughs. Read more

Though it may not seem (or feel like it from the weather), we’re already into a new quarter for 2013, which means it’s time to refresh our quarterly app guides! I’m starting this series off with the iPhone, and if you haven’t viewed our prior suggestions, you can catch up here and here. If you’re looking to use your phone as a crutch during your summer vacation planning, you’ll want to make sure the programs below are installed. Read more

Nothing can help you relax and take your mind off the stresses of everyday life quite like a vacation. Throw a spa into the mix, and you’ve got yourself the ultimate relaxing getaway. Whether you’re heading out to the deserts of the Southwest or the beaches of Cancun, these spa vacation deals will clear your mind and recharge your batteries – without putting a dent in your wallet. Read more

Each year, the sporting world turns its eyes to the Indianapolis 500 – widely seen as the world’s most popular race in terms of absolute global interest. But there’s a lot more to Indy than a single race, and if you’re headed there soon for business or pleasure, it’s our goal to help you experience as much as possible of the city. In an effort to get you outside the boardroom and into Indy, here are two restaurants, two attractions, and one bar that you can hit with just a few extra hours between meetings. Read more

When returning from any big trip (you know, the kind that takes months of planning and several disappointed looks at your bank statement), I find it’s often the smallest of activities that is the most meaningful. And when I think of Venice, of course I think of the canals and the gondolas and the labyrinth of streets that get you hopelessly (but romantically) lost. (Seriously, Venice is gorgeous. Enough cannot be said about that.) But these are never my first thoughts. Read more

Spring has finally sprung and with beautiful weather comes the welcome excuse to get outside, just in time for Mother’s Day! Before you get mom any ordinary plant, check out our top ten list of the most beautiful gardens around the world for some inspiration. Take mom along for the day or make a future getaway out of these. Happy Mother’s Day! Read more

May is National Bike Month, when hardcore cycling enthusiasts and newbies alike can enjoy a bevy of bike-related activities, deals, and discounts across the country (and why not make a mini-vacation out of it, with a visit to one of these top bike-friendly cities?). Here, some of our favorite offerings – saddle up and strap on your helmet for a month of fun on two wheels. Read more

Director Baz Luhrmann’s “The Great Gatsby” – starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan, and Tobey Maguire – brings to life the lavish, decadent Jazz Age. Although those days are long gone, you can still step into Jay Gatsby’s world with these seven destinations and experiences. Read more