Cabo San Lucas, located at the tip of Mexico’s Baja Peninsula, is an interesting study in contrasts. Physically it’s a land of harsh mountainous desert terrain that drops down to gorgeous sandy beaches. You will occasionally even find cactus growing next to a sand dune. The people drawn to Cabo vacations cover both ends of the spectrum as well – from college spring breakers looking to down yards of beer and party late into the night to well-heeled golfers and spa-goers. This latter group, discerning travelers with exacting standards, have high expectations when it comes to Cabo hotels and restaurants.
One of the clusters of high-end businesses catering to these travelers can be found at Palmilla, an area located on the corridor that connects San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas. The renowned One&Only Palmilla Resort is found here, as is the highly touted Nicklaus designed course at the Pamilla Golf Club. There is also an upscale retail area, the Shoppes at Palmilla, located across from the resort. One of my favorite high-end restaurants, Manuel’s, is located in the Shoppes at Palmilla.
Manuels, a restaurant famous for its creative, organic cuisine, is located in a corner building with a wrap-around outdoor patio and swaying palm trees out front. The hacienda-style architecture includes white-washed walls and red-tile roofs. The hacienda atmosphere continues inside, but the real focus of the restaurant is the open kitchen where the Mexican-born, Italian-trained chef Manuel is hard at work.
The menu here changes seasonally depending on what fresh ingredients are available. I suggest that you opt for a variety of plates as you will not disappointed in any of them. Each dish is a gorgeous presentation of color and texture while the flavors of the food are enhanced but not over-powered by creative sauces and sides. Some of the presentations are so elaborate they almost look like delicious, edible architecture. The scallops with lime risotto, for example, look like they are still swimming in a coral reef. (more…)
1. The Nightmare (Way) Before Christmas
3. Affordable Upscale Eats 
What are you doing New Year’s Eve? You didn’t forget to plan something in the midst of all the hype around that other holiday did you? Come on, it’s New Year’s Eve! It’s your chance to 
From the renowned lights of 
We know there’s way more involved with the holidays celebrated this time of year than just opening presents. But let’s be honest—who doesn’t enjoy shopping ‘til they’re dropping? (OK, for the record, I don’t so much—but my wife certainly does). After all, it is better to give than receive. And here in the Southeast, shopping is somewhat of a regional pastime, with some of the biggest malls and retail outlets around.
Things are getting festive out there. Candy canes, silver lanes aglow and all that. (What the heck are silver lanes anyway?) Are you loving it? Hating it? Whether you’re a total 
I don’t know about you, but I was pretty irritated to see holiday displays in some stores starting in early October – it was still 90 degrees here for Pete’s sake. I am generally of the “wait to start Christmas until Thanksgiving has passed” school of thought. I make an exception however for the 
A friend of mine just returned from a 
On your next 
Today, the Pennsylvania Dutch represent nearly one fifth of Lancaster County’s population. While the group is comprised of the three distinct sub-cultures, all share similar beliefs and live in harmony with one another. The whole group is actually of German descent, as “Dutch” is derived from Deutsch (which means German). They first arrived to the region in the early 18th century, fleeing religious persecution in Europe and seeking a place of tolerance with fertile farmland to boot in the New World. The culture is defined by strong family values and maintaining a traditional way of life, epitomized in eschewing technology and worldly temptations and adopting a distinctive mode of dress–dark suits, suspenders, lapel-less coats, and long bears for men, long dresses with aprons and tight buns under white coverings for women. Amish-based tourism is booming and comes in the form Amish homestead tours, which showcase the homes, farms, and lifestyle, including a ride in an authentic buggy, the primary mode of transport (other than on foot). The Amish Village in Ronks and the Amish Farm and House in Lancaster are two particularly educational sites.