About 80% of the population of Porto, Portugal, identifies as Catholic. For those who practice their faith, they get to choose from 30 main churches in which to do it. These stretch back centuries, the oldest of which is nearing its 1,000th birthday. I had the good fortune to visit many of them as I hiked up and down the city’s hilly streets and passageways, never failing to be impressed by their often-extravagant interiors. Read about the top five churches in Porto >
I had read multiple online reviews by people who asseverated that Carmelina’s is one of the best Italian restaurants in Boston. Apparently, a lot of other people had read that, too, because when I arrived at 11.44 for an early lunch on a Thursday morning, it was already standing room only. And, yes, it definitely lives up to its reputation. Read about it >
High above street level in one of New England’s tallest buildings, I took my time gazing through huge windows at Boston, the Charles River, Cambridge, Boston Harbor, and beyond. The vistas are impressive, and so is the food at The Beacon Bistro, where you can enjoy a meal while savoring the best views to be had in the city. Read about it >
Lasting only from around the 1910s through the 1930s, the Art Deco style ignited the world with strong lines, bold colors, and an unmistakable flair. From little diners to towering skyscrapers, Art Deco changed the built environment (as well as everything from jewelry to radios) for the better. This unmistakable short-lived style was interrupted by the Great Depression and mostly truncated by the outbreak of World War II, but it left behind a legacy of gorgeous buildings, the likes of which we will never see again. Read about the top five Art Deco buildings >
We spend a good part of the day (for many of us, too much of it) sitting. It’s bad for our backs, our hearts, our joints, our weight, our posture, and so on. I’m sitting right now as I write this. Still, the basic chair provides respite after walking for three consecutive hours, or a suitable place to have your lunch, and comes in all shapes and sizes. Some of the world’s best chairs look awfully uncomfortable, however, but they are truly works of art. Read about the top five chairs >
I was expecting to lose a bit of cash when I stepped into The Venetian Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada, and not long after I laid some bills on the table, that expectation was met. With pockets a little lighter, I turned my attention to dinner. Within this artificial Venice, with its gondolas, canals, St. Mark’s Square, and sky-painted ceiling, I wouldn’t consider anything except Italian cuisine. I found it at Matteo’s Ristorante Italiano—a sure bet for anyone craving a fine Italian meal. Read about it >
Located smack in the middle of Georgia, Macon developed as a state transportation center during the 1800s. Post–Civil War, it emerged as a railroad transportation and textile factory hub, and the city’s economy boomed. In those following decades, the city added some impressive structures to its eminently walkable downtown. As a result, I was rather taken by this small city of about 160,000. Read about the top five buildings in Macon, Georgia >
Picture someone’s backyard patio. Now move it all inside. That’s Back Deck, a Boston grill house that serves up charcoal-grilled favorites inspired by food served at casual cookouts. If you’re in the mood to eat al fresco but a chilly late-fall night in Boston quashes that idea, Back Deck is the perfect solution. Read about it >
Place d’Armes in the heart of Luxembourg City was electric. With packed restaurants lining two sides of the square, overflowing into the center with filled-to-capacity outdoor chairs and tables, the whole city seemed to be abuzz with the excitement of excellent dinners and the nighttime marathon that was about to wend its way through. Amid all that, I carved out a window table inside La Lorraine, one of the best French restaurants in Luxembourg. Read about it >
Sentinels of the sea. Lighthouses have been around for a while. A long, long time, actually. One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World was the Lighthouse of Alexandria in Egypt, completed around 246 BC. Since then, they’ve been protecting sailors around the world, evolving from simple fires atop a hill to sturdy structures that can withstand the fiercest weather and are equipped with powerful modern technology. Critically important, and fun to visit, lighthouses have long fascinated me with their relevance, their loneliness, and their unique beauty. Read about the top five lighthouses >
Stephen Travels 