michelle gross

Winding our way along Catarata de Oro (“trail of gold”) in the high-valley jungle of northern Costa Rica, our guide and naturalist, Alan, stops to pluck a small green leaf off a moringa tree. Known here as a “miracle plant” due to its various health properties like reducing inflammation and improving energy levels, I didn’t come here looking for a miracle, but after almost a full year spent in varying degrees of quarantine and shelte...

When it comes to travel trends, there are certain buzzwords that tend to elicit a knee-jerk reaction. Last year, we couldn’t seem to escape the grips of hygge. The Danish term for coziness, hygge was endorsed wholeheartedly by lifestyle hotels and trendsetters the world over and everything from cozy socks to those itchy wool sweaters everyone got in Iceland were in high demand. While hygge’s not necessarily going anywhere (who doesn’t love to be cozy when they’r...

I don’t know exactly where it started, but somewhere between Alexandria and Asheville, we knew we were in the doghouse. Literally.
With our two dogs in tow, it was our first foray into taking a road trip as a family, and between the incessant barking, howling, crying, growling, and what our vet later described as “destructive behavior,” our chill little getaway down south hit a major road bump.
As most pet parents can attest, traveling with pets can be, well, challenging. From disobedient pas...

Welcome to wave season.
Here’s a nice juxtaposition to start your day. Cruises and spring break. Now, in the past, these two concepts could not have been more polarizing. Cruises were commonly considered uncool (and still are to some degree) and spring break, well, we’ve all seen and heard stories. Here’s the thing though. Cruising has come a long way in recent years. 2018 saw the launch of Celebrity Edge, one of the most innovative and beautiful mega-ships on the high seas. Luxury river crui...

From all-night dance parties to underground art bars, Tel Aviv is redefining what it means to be the city that never sleeps.
Tel Aviv is a tale of two cities. A bustling metropolis consisting of hard at work Tel Avivians by day, but at night the city comes alive, fully embracing the old “work hard, play harder” mentality. While there’s probably no better time to experience Tel Aviv nightlife in all of its bacchanalian glory than the late winter-early Springtime festival Purim—the Israeli equi...

When it comes to travel trends, there are certain buzzwords that tend to elicit a knee-jerk reaction. Last year, we couldn’t seem to escape the grips of hygge. The Danish term for coziness, hygge was endorsed wholeheartedly by lifestyle hotels and trendsetters the world over and everything from cozy socks to those itchy wool sweaters everyone got in Iceland were in high demand. While hygge’s not necessarily going anywhere (who doesn’t love to be cozy when they’re on vacay?), this year, a new ...

52 places to remind you what a wonderful world this is.

For adventurous foodies, these cities are the next best thing to an international plane ticket.
When you think of food destinations in the U.S., places like San Francisco, New York City, and New Orleans likely come to mind. However, there’s been a recent trend of James Beard award-winning chefs moving out of major cities and opening up shop in lesser-known locales. So step aside New York City; move over, New Orleans. From Japanese-style eateries in Kansas City to some of the best Greek in the...

Snack and share these delicious treats off the beaten path in Northern Spain.
Just two hours north of Madrid, the drive across Spain’s northern plateau through the Castilla y Leon region will see you past hundreds of miles of sweeping farmland, gorgeous vineyards, medieval fortresses and crumbling castles. Encompassing the provinces of Rueda and the city of Valladolid and Segovia to the south and Ribera del Duero to the east, the region is home to more than 200 wineries and has long been on t...

Imagine this: You’ve had a long day hiking through breathtaking waterfalls and ancient villages dotting the rainforest, and all you can think about, with the exception of that coconut rum punch you’re going to drink when you get back to your hotel, is that pristinely cool plunge pool that’s just sitting there waiting for you. And not just any plunge pool. Your private plunge pool. The one that’s on the back patio of your suite. No matter where you go in the world, en-suite plunge pools are up...