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We caught up with Christopher Gorham from USA's series Covert Affairs for the inside scoop on the actor's surprise beach party with his family.
I've discovered that teens are a species best handled in BFF pairs (at beach houses, as in school yards, trios can be tricky) or in big groups -- preferably in the absence of their parents so there are no mixed messages regarding house rules and acceptable levels of behavior. These do's and don'ts will let you learn from my past mistakes.
When it comes time to plan a vacation, most of us start at least thinking about where to go roughly 3 months out, then book our travel somewhere within that window.
With that time frame in mind, we're doing some of the legwork to get you thinking about your next vacation. We've crunched the numbers, checked the calendar, watched the weather, and checked out hotel and flight availability to pick where to go on a trip 3 months from now.
We caught up with Vanessa Ferlito from USA's new series Graceland for an inside scoop on the actress's recent beach escape to Costa Rica.
From sun-bleached terrazzos overlooking the Mediterranean to cobbled piazzas lined with gelato shops, Italy does summer right. Many visitors flock to the country's most notable sights -- the Colosseum in Rome, the Leaning Tower in Pisa, the Duomo in Florence and the Grand Canal in Venice. Others head away from the city, sampling food and wine in the Tuscan countryside, hopping from village to village in the Cinque Terre or paying homage to art in historic churches.
Summer is the best time to tour grand villas and their spectacular gardens; it's also host to slew of Italy's festivals, from horse races like the famous Siena Palio to smaller fetes of flowers, art, religion and music.
For many Americans, summer means a chance to head to the beach -- from Myrtle Beach to the Jersey Shore to Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard. Beach house life offers the chance to escape normal routine, whether for a day, a week or a longer stretch of time. Some people buy a vacation home to take full advantage of the season. Others in need of a more temporary retreat sign up for a beach rental or crash at a friend's shore house.
This summer we're bringing you an insider look at life on the shore. Each week writer Susan MacCallum-Whitcomb will report on summer beach house life from her vacation home on Pictou Island, Nova Scotia. Follow along for a glimpse of the shore, plus tips on what to pack, how to entertain guests and how to relax at your own beach house.
There's something special about a bike ride at the beach. The easy pace of a well-worn beach cruiser is a nod to the relaxed speed of life at the shore. A cycle along the water, the dunes or on a waterfront path is a perfect outdoor activity in the summer. You'll feel the sun on your face. Smell hints of salt or lake water in the sea breezes. Feel slightly better about working off some of that seafood feast you ate last night.
When you can't go home for the holidays, sometimes you have to fake it. For American expats on the 4th of July, that means not just celebrating our nation's independence and history but also creating or seeking out the cherished traditions of the day. It means barbecue and hamburgers and hotdogs. It means music -- a marching band, banjo serenade or gospel rendition of "America the Beautiful." It definitely means fireworks.
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