Whose woods these are, I think I know

Covered wooden bridges, bubbling streams, waterfalls, bike trails, the clip clop of horses, dogs dancing on the ends of their leashes, ducks and geese gliding in the river, autumn leaves crunching underfoot. All good reasons to abandon your regular routine and head for Forbidden Drive, the 5-mile scenic trail that meanders through the Wissahickon Woods in the northwest section of Philadelphia's Fairmount Park. Enjoy brunch, lunch or dinner at the historic Valley Green Inn.

www.valleygreeninn.com

The Truth About Press Trips

Yes, we travel writers get FREE trips, stay in luxury hotels, dine on gourmet fare and swim in champagne without ever seeing the tab. But we do all this with a group of strangers whose charming (or alarming) company we are in from morning to night. If the group is congenial, as were the 25 journalists with whom I toured Prague and Southern Moravia, it's party time. Although I have a hunch that the reason we got along so well was that none of us spoke the other's language and they kept us very well lubricated.

The day this photo was taken, we were drinking champagne on an antique trolley in Prague. Once we were totally sloshed, they then put us on a boat in the Charles River and gave us enough Czech beer to launch a thousand frat houses. www.czechtourism.com

Oooh La La Spa: Hotel Mizpe Hayamim

Who knew? Relais & Chateau, the luxury French hotel group, now includes Israel's Hotel/Spa Mizpe Hayamim (Meez-PAH Ha-YAH-meem). From the terrace of my spacious room, I had a beathtaking view of the Sea of Galilee and the rolling hills of Rosh-Pina.

A masseuse named Kineret, which is the Hebrew name for the Sea of Galilee, expertly kneaded my tense muscles into humus in a candle lit room nestled in the garden. Talk about being in Paradise! This is the migration route for hundreds of species of birds, so the air is always filled with their song. The healthy, gourmet cuisine comes from animals and produce raised on the hotel's organic farm. The spa menu includes Shiatsu, Reiki, Feldenkreis, Reflexology, Cranio-Sacral, Acupuncture & Thai Massage. www.mizpe-hayamim.com

San Miguel: The Beat Goes On

If you're a fan of Frida Khalo or want to honor Jack Kerouac's last tequila, head on down to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. Discovered by The Beat Generation in the 1950's, San Miguel remains a center of culture, cuisine and craftsmanship. I stayed at Casa Luna, an enchanting B&B filled with Mexican folk art, antiques, gardens, fountains and a rooftop terrace for sunning and knocking back fresh fruit margaritas.

By day, go to the Indian Market for regional crafts and roasted corn seasoned with chipolte and lime. Or take a weaving or a Spanish course at Instituto Allende. Every night, the entire town gathers in the park for strolling mariaches, ice cream and flirtation. Want to avoid Mexico City? Fly via Houston to Queretaro, Mexico, an historic colonial town 40 miles from San Miguel. www.CasaLuna.com

Read My Hips

I don't need a passport to satisfy my sweet tooth. The Chestnut Hill section of Philadelphia where I live has no shortage of excellent pastry shops. My favorite is Bredenbeck's Bakery which has been in business for over 100 years. Their recipe for apple raisin tart was brought over from Germany by the original owner and passed down for generations. They make a killer pound cake, pretty petite fours and always offer FREE samples. http://www.bredenbecks.com/

Armagnac: The Original Viagra

Most Americans have no idea what Armagnac is, let alone how to pronounce it correctly. (Arm-NYACK) I admit, I didn't know much about France's oldest brandy until I visited the region for which it is named. Armagnac, located in southwest France, is the historic Gasconne province that gave us D'Artagnan, The Three Muskateers and the brandy that is credited with curing impotence, memory loss and the plague. Well, that's what made it a hot seller in the Middle Ages.

These days, Armagnac's mystique is still going strong as a seductive after dinner drink and a tantalzing ingredient in southwestern French cuisine. Like French kisses? Try a bise francaise, prunes marinated in Armagnac, filled with foie gras. Or simply dab Armagnac behind your ears and see what happens. Photo courtesy of BNIA/Michel Carossio http://www.armagnac.fr/

Under Paris Skies

If I could live (and die) in a department store, it would be Galleries Lafayette in Paris. The terrace offers up a 360 view of City of Lights. Each of the stores three buildings are filled with tantalizing restaurants, cafes, patisseries and wine bars. Along with a beauty salon, a full service spa, contemporary and designer clothing, menswear and home furnishings. Show your U.S. Passport and receive a 12% tax refund and a free fashion show on Fridays. www.gallerieslafayette.com