Yogatone Retreat Its inspiring for me to meet people who have made their dreams come true, taken a leap of faith, and held their vision in the face of skepticism. Les Benney of Yogatone is one of these dream chasers who gave up a career as an asset manager for a major bank in the UK to become an Ashtanga yoga teacher. Since rearranging his life, Les has created a retreat in the south of Spain where he leads four-day yoga getaways for students of all levels. I was lucky enough to tag along on a recent retreat, where I met wonderful people, deepened my yoga practice, and got to know a sliver of Spain that I otherwise may have overlooked. I cannot recommend the Yogatone retreat enough! Yogatone Retreat Oranges Down a pebbled footpath, frogs ribbit in a compact pond fed by a natural spring while birds flit from olive tree, to avocado tree, to orange tree, limbs heavy with ripe fruit. At the end of the lane the Yogatone farmhouse sits overlooking the mountains and valleys north of ...[more »]

Hartstone Inn and Hideway If Italy seems out of reach for a summer trip, how about Camden, Maine? Pairing culinary excellence withsome of the bestscenery in the United States is a win-win to me. The Hartstone Inn and Hideaway is doing exactly that this June. From June 4-8, Chef Benedetta Vitali from Florence, Italy is setting up a cooking school experience at the inn. Inn guests will be on the inside track to an intensive five-dayimmersion culinary treat of Tuscan fare. By the end of the school experience, guests will have Vitali’s family recipes and the know-how to make these dishes once they go back home. In addition to being an expert at teaching others how to cook, Vitali is an experienced restauranteur, award-winning chef and author of “Soffritto: Tradition & Innovation in Tuscan Cooking,” a James Beard Award finalist. Vitali’s cooking school experience is only available to Hartstone Inn guests which I imagine will be a perfect bonding oppor...[more »]

A great place to relax at the end of a long day If your New Years resolution was to loose weigh and get fit, but youve already stared to stumble (or perhaps given up already) then here is a place that might be able to help kick start your regime. Based in Annecy, in Southern France, Adventure in the Alps offers short breaks for people who are looking to keep fit, get started in a particular sport or simply enjoy the stunning surroundings. There is Running Made Easy if youre complete beginner, Wellbeing Retreat for all-round fitness, or Fit and Over 50 (which should be self-explanatory). A selection of other fitness based programs; from skiing to Pilates and triathlon running to multi activity holidays are also available throughout the year. Lodgings vary from luxury mountain retreats to simple chambres dhte- depending on where the activity is located- but all properties are well appointed making the most of comfortable, cozy residences that combine local flavor with a hig...[more »]