A toucan landed just a few beak lengths away from our plates of chicken stew and fried plantains at a farmhouse in Costa Rica. Such animal encounters are commonplace in eco-friendly Costa Rica, a nation that protects more than 25% of its land as parks, refuges or reserves.

The Grand Velas Riviera Maya Resort is for those who like all-inclusive resorts and, especially for those who don’t. Situated on 200 acres in the Riviera Maya not far from Playa del Carmen, Grand Velas is a rarity: an all-inclusive property that’s earned AAA’s highest rating of Five Diamonds.

Washington, D.C. keeps getting more and more interesting as a food destination. Three relatively new, casual eateries, Bobby’s Burger Palace, El Centro D.F, and the Sixth and Rye food truck-- all birthed by celebrity chefs-- add flare to D.C.’s food scene.

Take advantage of fall’s spectacular foliage and crisp weather by hiking, biking, touring wineries, visiting historic sites and picking apples and pumpkins. Virginia’s countryside just outside Charlottesville and in nearby Nelson County offers all of these activities

Popular Maui, nicknamed the “Valley Isle,” doesn’t just offer great beaches and wonderful resorts. Adventures abound. Here are our picks for most memorable Maui moments—biking, hiking, horseback riding, ziplining, snorkeling and surfing.

Although the nation’s capital as the seat of political power won’t interest your young children, Washington, D.C., has much that will excite them. D.C. is a vibrant city with tot-friendly attractions, engaging exhibits and lively children’s theater.

In Washington, D.C., when your kids tire of monuments, memorials and first-rate museums, add some low-brow learning and laughter by touring Madame Tussauds DC and the National Museum of Crime and Punishment.

The Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial, Washington, D.C.’s, newest monument, opened to the public in late August, despite having its official debut delayed until fall due to Hurricane Irene’s pounding rains.

Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Crater rates as one of Africa’s highlights because of its concentration of diverse wildlife. Among the 25,000 animals that roam the crater floor are lions, zebras, wildebeest, buffalos and endangered black rhinos. Near the rim is another legend: & Beyond’s Crater Lodge.

For animal lovers and work-weary urbanites like us, an African safari is a dream trip.Some travelers, no matter how much they yearn for an African safari, resist the trip because of myths, bits of misinformation that make them think that a safari is a bad idea. We want to debunk those myths.