Luxe Beat Featured Articles

Imagine a vibrant epicurean festival that engages all of your senses simultaneously. The aroma of delectable food designed by renowned chefs, an abundance of wine, music in the air, eccentric artwork, and a magnificent panorama of desert plants and gardens — this is the Devour , Phoenix’s Culinary Classic Event. The annual event showcases over 70 vendors, including Arizona’s top chefs, wineries, s...

KAI restaurant , located in the Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass on the Gila River Indian Community, is a fine dining experience that brings light to the Native American culture through the eyes of the Pima and Maricopa tribes . Moreover, the service is impeccable, and the food is as valiant as it is delicious. Tribal tradition is celebrated upon the resort’s entrance with soft Native American mu...

When people think of visiting Northern California wine regions, Napa and Sonoma are usually on their minds. But even further north, roughly 65 miles from Santa Rosa, up a windy road, is the eloquent Anderson Valley in Mendocino County —Pinot Noir Country, and worth the drive. Since you have to go out of your way to make this trip, you might as well couple it with a visit to the coast — another 30...

In the picturesque town of St. Helena, Clif Family Winery stands out as a beacon of planet wellness in the Napa Valley. Co-owners Kit Crawford and Gary Erickson, renowned for their sustainable farming, have seamlessly integrated their passion for organic agriculture and the outdoors with the art of winemaking. This unique approach, combined with their dedication to active lifestyles and healthy ea...

Old Town Scottsdale is known for its vibrant atmosphere, upscale shops, and bustling nightlife. But for me, the thriving food and wine scene and most extraordinary luxury accommodations are what keep me coming back. A haven for foodies and wine enthusiasts, Old Town has many top-rated restaurants and a booming wine scene. The area offers a wide array of dining options, from cozy cafes serving loca...

A special blend of Emerald Isle hospitality greets visitors at Sheen Falls Lodge , a lush five-star countryside hideaway just outside the storybook town of Kenmare in the southwestern corner of Ireland. Culinary magic, more than a bit of pampering, graded hiking and equestrian trails, hands-on falconry, fly-fishing, golf, and access to some of the best cycling and touring in Ireland, make the 77-r...

Upon my first visit to Pinehurst Resort more than a decade ago, I came to learn of the  resort’s ethos, “Always Pinehurst, yet always better.”  I discovered that while hospitality, classic North Carolina Sandhills golf, southern charm, and superb dining anchor the Pinehurst Resort holiday, it’s the continuous evolution, enhancements, and guest first focus that define Pinehurst as a venerable golf...

Perhaps it’s the Latin vibe emanating from the South American influenced menu, the sleek and stylized dining room studded with old-world European artwork, or simply the showcase open kitchen here that puts a heavy helping of passion into the air. Add it all up and there’s a great deal to love about Mico. Add an extended wine selection of rarely seen Argentinian Malbecs and South American stunners,...

Less than an hour after navigating the throngs of tourist “greeters” at Cancun International Airport, my wife and I are enjoying a champagne cocktail and a reception of a more genuine and welcoming nature at Riviera Maya’s Grand Velas. We arranged for private transport upon arrival, were met with an extra cozy oversized SUV, and efficiently whisked southward along the Yucatan coast. Immediately, t...

Luxe winter escapes calling for cultural flavor, historic exploration, soft adventure, and mile after mile of sultry beaches find Puerto Vallarta high atop the list. Here in Jalisco, Mexico, the once remote sunny beach town was made famous by Hollywood A-listers in the 60’s and 70’s after Richard Burton and Ava Gardner starred in the John Houston-directed thriller Night of the Iguana. The film, ba...

“We have no stoplights here. The cows are our traffic control,” my guide says as we wait in the car for a mother and her calves to cross the road. They’re in no hurry. Neither am I. It has taken some doing to get to Paro, Bhutan , and I’m glad to have made it. To begin with there was the visa business. While the country is open to tourism it is not open to everyone. The government has made a decis...

The Scottish Highlands are a literary landscape full of tales of bravery and bravado, which I had been longing to visit. But since I lack the bravery and bravado to drive a rental car on the left side of the road, I needed another option. That’s how I found myself aboard the Belmond Royal Scotsman for a five-day luxury train trip through the land of Robert Burns and Sir Walter Scott . The nine-car...

When I arrived at Inspiration Point for my first summer of performing with Opera in the Ozarks , I knew that at least some of my time would be spent exploring the gorgeous scenery around me. Driving the curving mountain roads, going for my daily runs, and strolling through the hilly, winding streets of downtown, I felt a profound peace settle over me as I relaxed into the feeling of the aptly name...

My husband and I don’t have what you would call a traditional family life. After all, as a musician that frequently travels for work, I’m gone a lot performing and travelling to auditions all over country. We got married on a Thursday, and by Monday morning I was back at work in Kentucky while he stayed at his work in Florida. Needless to say, we ended up having to skip a traditional honeymoon. Fi...

About 15 miles east of Asheville , North Carolina is a little gem nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains: Black Mountain. Voted ‘Best Small Town In Western North Carolina,’ Black Mountain is famous for its art, crafts, music, and beautiful scenery. But the area is special to me for more personal reasons. Black Mountain (and the unincorporated town of Ridgecrest) is where my maternal grandparents live...

I have to admit that as a girl who primarily grew up in the deep South, I didn’t spend a lot of time growing up participating in typical fall traditions. We didn’t visit pumpkin patches or apple orchards when I was a kid. Trust me, typical fall weather in Alabama and Georgia ? Let’s just say it’s not conducive to sweaters and scarves. But now that I’m living out west, it seems it’s time for me to...

Dreaming of luxurious vacations may put you in mind of tropical island paradises and exclusive resorts. But what if you could combine those two things into a deluxe, private island paradise in the Maldives? Well, you can! That place exists, and it’s called Velaa Private Island . Located in the Noonu Atoll north of Male, this incredible island is a haven for guests where everyone can be treated lik...

When most people think of a speakeasy, the images that come to mind are often dark alleyways, a secret entrance, and some 1920s-style vintage cocktails ! And even for modern-day speakeasies, that’s not too far off the mark. Speakeasies can still be found all over the United States; they remain popular going-out destinations for tourists and locals alike. Even in the sleepy, friendly mid-western st...

If you’re headed to Boulder , Colorado for the first time, there’s a pretty good chance that at least one person you talk to will say something like, ‘Oh, Boulder?! You HAVE to visit Chautauqua!’ And you could certainly be forgiven for wondering, ‘what on earth is Chautauqua?’ When you come to Boulder, the word ‘Chautauqua’ is used to refer to a fairly large area that stretches along the foothills...

For the past few years, one of my staple summer activities has been a fabulous opera festival located at Inspiration Point (very near Eureka Springs ) in Arkansas. Called Opera In The Ozarks , it brings together both student and professional musicians with some of the best faculty and staff available to put on around three opera shows. Each show gets several performances, and for six weeks, the or...

When exploring the City by the Bay, rest your head and heart at The Ritz-Carlton. Located one block from Nob Hill’s lively village green, The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco is a luxuriant respite. Dynamic neighborhoods with global nosh, shops, and museums are within walking distance: Chinatown, North Beach, Union Square, SFMOMA , and the Embarcadero. Take a breather from hilly hikes and opt for quint...

If one was to be limited to just one adjective to describe Torres del Paine National Park in Chile’s Patagonia , it would have to be “extreme”. It works equally well for the latitude, the beauty of the landscape, the wildlife and the friendliness of the people that live here. It definitely works for the weather and the wind. To read the full article by David R. Beebe visit luxebeatmag.com .

You are standing in a springtime garden. As you slowly turn, sunshine blazes on a riot of colors in every direction. Lush beds of tulips, daffodils and azaleas surround you. For eight weeks each year, you can find yourself among seven million tulips on seventy-nine manicured acres at Keukenhof. You probably won’t find Keukenhof in your spell-checker but you will find it less than an hour’s drive o...

A modern-day steampunk fantasy has been resurrected from the industrial bones of an early 20th century cold storage plant in Southern Chile . In this historical space, Singular Hotels now offers a 5-star luxury hotel and spa experience like no other. The hotel is visually unique with its immense brick wall architecture, vertical columns supporting high ceilings and large windows that draw in every...

Every Saturday, the Vista Farmers Market buzzes with potential. You’ll see couples pushing strollers with babies, grandparents out and about with the grandkids, friends laughing together, and such a beautiful array of people. Located by the San Diego County Courthouse at 345 South Melrose Drive, Vista, CA 92083, this North County San Diego outdoor market has remained a staple for locals and touris...