These days, going on a getaway includes ditching the crowds and reconnecting with the quiet spaces without leaving the lap of luxury. After all, you want to rest and regenerate and not necessarily disappear into the bushes. Well, that's a different kind of vacation all together. Let's talk about the lap of luxury with minimal human contact and a delicious calming environments. Let's take the plane and land in Nevis.

North of downtown Miami, Wynwood Walls is selfie paradise and it's free. What feels like hundreds of urban murals pop out in corners, on building and even the street poles are not left untouched by the creative fury that consumed the neighbourhood. Street art and graffiti have their place in the world, right here. And what better way to engage with the artistic message than to put yourself and your kinesthetic interpretation into the mix of this open air, ever-changing museum. 

     Looking at the size of South Africa, ten days would seem insufficient to explore its vast treasures. Fear not, you can still optimize your July vacation in this stunning country. Visit the Apartheid Museum that chronicles the healing process of the South African people from a  psychological-devastating racial rift to their triumph over legalized discrimination. Stop over in Soweto which two iconic figures, Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu, once called home. Hang out with the chimpanzees saved by the Jane Goodall Institute or take a stroll near Boulder Beach, where the penguins strut their suits on the rocks. There are natural wonders like king-sized diamonds and many exciting options for the culture-loving traveler.  Shall we begin? Here are ten must-see places and tours.

This week, I became a pilot and took off over the hill in my jeep. This week, I became a tourist, and checked-in/lounged at Princess Heights  Luxury Boutique Condo Hotel. This, week I had temporary memory loss that I live and work on this island. Who says a staycation can't be pure bliss? But, why Princess Heights? Read on.

 Vizcaya is a stunning 18th century American mansion that is home to exquisite art collections from around the world. Flanked by breathtaking, Italian-inspired gardens, this Spanish-named estate stands erect on the lips of the Biscayne Bay, seemingly unfazed by time because the love of many restored its chips and cracks. There is something truly mythical about this place that is frozen in time. It is aged, splendid and giving. Visiting the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is no doubt one of the best things you can do in Miami.

This post includes:

• What to Expect the First Time You Visit Vizcaya Museum and Gardens 
• When Can You Visit Vizcaya And Where is the Museum and Gardens Located
• My 30 Top Photos of Vizcaya's Interior I Can't Stop Looking At
• 7 Vizcayan Tips You Need to Know Before You Visit the Museum and Gardens
• 5 Awesome Facts about the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens
• 12 Photos of Vizcaya Gardens that You Will Love  
• The World's Shortest History of Vizcaya's Most Influential Figures
• Where to go if You Want More Information about this Top-Rated Tourist Attraction

I'm in Canada for my brother's wedding, so between family meals, traveling by bus or walking, I am taking in the textures, smells and energy of this becoming-familiar street. I like collecting the still-life images of places people rush through. I like absorbing its detail and listening to the story in its underbelly. I'm amused that  nearby tucked away on the ground floor of a fancy hotel, we would be celebrating love. Outside, Yonge Street lay its heart bare and I stopped to listen.

It's Carnival season again, shows, road marches, colors and noise, but you don't care for any of that. What you really want is to enjoy every day of your vacation with all the colors, a whole lot of peace, occasional pampering and keep your wallet, for the most part, closed. Well, here's how: