24 Hours in the Lake Geneva Region

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The Lake Geneva region is, simply put, STUNNING. In the Canton of Vaud, the Lake Geneva region has so much natural beauty, between the centuries-old villages, the lakeside views, the UNESCO Lavaux terraced vineyards, the cosmopolitan cities and the striking mountains. We spent a day touring Vevey, stopping at the Farmer’s Market, Charlie Chaplin’s new Chaplin’s World, Nestle’s museum nest, as well at Saint Saphorin. We sipped chasselas with a family run winery in Lavaux and made local cheese up in Château-d’Oex. We explored the green countryside on the GoldenPass Panoramic train through the mountains. There’s so much to say about this amazing region, but it’s probably better to just watch.

Featured: Lausanne, Vevey, Saint-Saphorin, Lavaux, Château-d’Oex, Rougement and The Royal Savoy Hotel, The Grand Hotel du Lac, Chaplin’s World, Le Chalet, Auberge de L’onde, Domaine du Croix Duplex, Le National and more!

Harry Potter World & Grinchmas at Universal Studios Hollywood

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Universal Studios Hollywood has a lot of celebrities at Christmas time: Harry Potter, The Grinch, Jurassic Park Dinosaurs… and I spent the day visiting them all and filming on my GoPro! Harry Potter World just opened earlier in 2016 so I spent a magical day checking out Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, the rides, the foods, the wands and the Butterbeer!

And since it was Christmas season, they even had Who-Ville, with the Grinch, the famous Who Christmas Tree and many Who’s walking about, ready to speak with you.
We even snuck in a Jurassic Park ride!
I hope this GoPro vlog guide helps you make the most of your trip to Universal! Tip: Don’t bother with the butterbeer!

Behind the Scenes: On set with CNN in Tohoku, Japan

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CNN

Just a few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to travel to Japan, a country that has been on my bucket list ever since I could remember. I worked with CNN crew in Japan where we filmed a 60 second travel feature on an incredible region of Japan: Tohoku. Tohoku is located in the Northern part of Japan and consists of 6 prefectures: Akita, Aomori, Fukushima, Iwate, Miyagi & Yamagata.

We spent one week exploring the rugged landscape, tasting the traditional foods, admiring the local samurai culture at Kakunodate, and marveling at the cherry blossoms. We even had the chance to meet talented artisans perpetuating traditional Tohoku crafts such as Japanese ironware (Nanbu-Tekki) and Kokeshi Dolls.

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This one minute video captures the spirit of the place, but know that it just touches the surface of all the beauty, history and culture in this “treasure land” of a region. I can’t wait to go back. Watch it now. 

Thanks to Japan National Tourist Organization and the CNN crew for such an incredible shoot & video!

Four Seasons Chiang Mai

Hotel Snob: Four Seasons Chiang Mai

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I have stayed at some of the world’s best properties. Here’s my review of the Four Seasons Chiang Mai in Thailand. I profile the rooms, pool villa, spa, activities, dining and overall experience so you can assess.

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Living my Bucket List for China

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China has certainly always been on my bucket list and I was thrilled to get to experience the country with Wendy Wu Tours. I toured 3 cities and found each to be filled with world wonders and bucket list sites. Check out my favorite spots in China—including the Great Wall!