Veteran Broadway actor Richard Topol on hanging with Larry David — and that time his car was impounded
If you could travel anywhere right now, where would you go?
I've been dying to go to Machu Picchu. I'd like to do the few-day hike all the way up — something about the combination of a vigorous climb through forests and highlands to reach the top of a mountain, where you find an unfathomable man-made structure, seems like the magical pairing of natural beauty with human creation.
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Do you prefer booking trips through a travel agent or on your own?
Depends on where I'll be going, but my sister-in-law is a travel agent and I often like to go through her.
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Thoughts on an 'unplugged' vacation?
I'm headed to the High Sierras in California for a week of backpacking in August with three of my college buddies. Can't wait. Unplugged for sure.
What has been your worst vacation experience?
Can I let you write about this? My girlfriend and I were traveling back from Canada in her old VW bug, and we got stopped at the border because we looked young and scruffy — or at least I did. It was during [the elder] George Bush's 'war on drugs.' I had one joint in my backpack, and they took us out of the car and searched everything. When they found my joint, which my girlfriend begged me to throw out the window before we got to the border, they impounded the car, and we were stuck at this isolated border station in Vermont. Luckily, they said we could buy the car back, and it was an old VW, so its Bluebook value was only $250. The Border folks had to drive us 20 minutes to the nearest town so we could withdraw that cash from a bank and buy the car back. The most expensive joint I never got to smoke.
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What is your favorite childhood travel memory?
So many. Maybe my favorite was our road trip from the Adirondacks through Canada to Quebec City, Montreal, and the Thousand Islands to Toronto, or the summer where we swapped houses with a family in Richmond just outside London.
Do you vacation to relax, to learn, or for the adventure of it all?
Yes, yes, and yes.
What book do you plan on bringing with you to read on your next vacation?
I've been trying to crack open both Colm Tóibín's 'The Magician' and Michael Chabon's 'Summerland.' The former seems just the right kind of intense and the latter the right kind of magical.
If you could travel with one famous person/celebrity, who would it be?
Larry David, with whom I worked on Broadway in his show 'Fish in the Dark.' He might complain a lot, but we'd get to play at all the best golf courses, and he'd make me laugh, even if our flights are delayed, our food never comes, or our luggage gets lost.
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What is the best gift to give a traveler?
Advice on the best places to eat, where they are going. Seriously, remember not to over-plan so much that you can't be open to the new world right in front of you. I think you are asking for a tangible physical thing, but I think this is more important and useful.
What is your go-to snack for a flight or a road trip?
I do like a few clementines or some fresh fruit because there's just so many tasty salty snacks out there that are hard to say no to.
What is the coolest souvenir you've picked up on a vacation?
A beautiful handcrafted wrought iron water basin with a mirror that my now wife and I picked up on the vacation in Italy where we got engaged.
What is your favorite app/website for travel?
I just Google everything.
What has travel taught you?
That the world is a big beautiful planet filled with magical places, interesting people, and incredible history. Get off your butt and be inspired; learn and grow from experiencing it.
What is your best travel tip?
See the previous answer and the answer to the question about the best gift to give a traveler.
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Boston Globe
2 days ago
- Boston Globe
Veteran Broadway actor Richard Topol on hanging with Larry David — and that time his car was impounded
If you could travel anywhere right now, where would you go? I've been dying to go to Machu Picchu. I'd like to do the few-day hike all the way up — something about the combination of a vigorous climb through forests and highlands to reach the top of a mountain, where you find an unfathomable man-made structure, seems like the magical pairing of natural beauty with human creation. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Do you prefer booking trips through a travel agent or on your own? Depends on where I'll be going, but my sister-in-law is a travel agent and I often like to go through her. Advertisement Thoughts on an 'unplugged' vacation? I'm headed to the High Sierras in California for a week of backpacking in August with three of my college buddies. Can't wait. Unplugged for sure. What has been your worst vacation experience? Can I let you write about this? My girlfriend and I were traveling back from Canada in her old VW bug, and we got stopped at the border because we looked young and scruffy — or at least I did. It was during [the elder] George Bush's 'war on drugs.' I had one joint in my backpack, and they took us out of the car and searched everything. When they found my joint, which my girlfriend begged me to throw out the window before we got to the border, they impounded the car, and we were stuck at this isolated border station in Vermont. Luckily, they said we could buy the car back, and it was an old VW, so its Bluebook value was only $250. The Border folks had to drive us 20 minutes to the nearest town so we could withdraw that cash from a bank and buy the car back. The most expensive joint I never got to smoke. Advertisement What is your favorite childhood travel memory? So many. Maybe my favorite was our road trip from the Adirondacks through Canada to Quebec City, Montreal, and the Thousand Islands to Toronto, or the summer where we swapped houses with a family in Richmond just outside London. Do you vacation to relax, to learn, or for the adventure of it all? Yes, yes, and yes. What book do you plan on bringing with you to read on your next vacation? I've been trying to crack open both Colm Tóibín's 'The Magician' and Michael Chabon's 'Summerland.' The former seems just the right kind of intense and the latter the right kind of magical. If you could travel with one famous person/celebrity, who would it be? Larry David, with whom I worked on Broadway in his show 'Fish in the Dark.' He might complain a lot, but we'd get to play at all the best golf courses, and he'd make me laugh, even if our flights are delayed, our food never comes, or our luggage gets lost. Advertisement What is the best gift to give a traveler? Advice on the best places to eat, where they are going. Seriously, remember not to over-plan so much that you can't be open to the new world right in front of you. I think you are asking for a tangible physical thing, but I think this is more important and useful. What is your go-to snack for a flight or a road trip? I do like a few clementines or some fresh fruit because there's just so many tasty salty snacks out there that are hard to say no to. What is the coolest souvenir you've picked up on a vacation? A beautiful handcrafted wrought iron water basin with a mirror that my now wife and I picked up on the vacation in Italy where we got engaged. What is your favorite app/website for travel? I just Google everything. What has travel taught you? That the world is a big beautiful planet filled with magical places, interesting people, and incredible history. Get off your butt and be inspired; learn and grow from experiencing it. What is your best travel tip? See the previous answer and the answer to the question about the best gift to give a traveler.
USA Today
6 days ago
- USA Today
A floating Disney bubble: What families can expect on Disney cruises
A floating Disney bubble: What families can expect on Disney cruises Show Caption Hide Caption Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom tour on the new Disney Treasure USA TODAY took a ride on the brand new Disney Treasure cruise ship. Here's what to know about the Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom. "Family travel' is a six-part series showcasing the best experiences and destinations for young families looking for an escape. If you'd like to contribute to our future reporting and share your experience as a source, you can click here to fill out this quick form. I've been visiting Disney parks my entire life. I thought I knew what the Disney bubble was. Disney Cruise Line blew my definition out of (or into) the water. Everything Disney fans look for in a Disney vacation is – as Disney likes to say – plussed up on their ships. Here's what I experienced on my first Disney cruise and what your family can expect on yours. What is special about a Disney cruise? Disney cruises are made for Disney fans. 'We know that when guests get on one of our ships, 40, 50% of them are saying the only reason I'm cruising today is because Disney is here,' Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D'Amaro told USA TODAY last August, ahead of the cruise line's expansion announcements at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event. 'These cruise ships are ways that we can tell all of the amazing stories that we have. We bring them to life in dining; we bring them to life theatrically. We bring them to life through technology and our cast members.' Many ship venues are inspired by Disney stories. Guests who want to learn how they can take an Art of the Theme Show Tour during their sailing. Disney characters roam about regularly and unlike in the parks, never have long waits to meet them. The entertainment on board is truly Broadway quality, not only because Disney is at heart an entertainment company, but it's also produced numerous shows on Broadway. My favorite show on our Disney Treasure sailing was "Disney the Tale of Moana," which Disney developed with Broadway veterans and Polynesian cultural advisors and cast. The youth clubs, particularly for younger children, feel like stepping into Disney movies. Many kids happily spend hours there, and adults wish they could, too. The closest grown-up guests get is during open houses. Guests rotate through a variety of themed restaurants for dinner each night of their sailing, and servers rotate with you so they can get to know you and your preferences, as well as any dietary needs. The level of customer service is exactly what you'd expect from Disney. Ships are designed with families in mind. Most staterooms have split bathrooms, so multiple people can get ready at the same time, and most feature bathtubs, which are clutch with young children. You're traveling with fellow Disney families and fans, who share your enthusiasm. Non-Disney fans can still enjoy sailings, but for those who love Disney, it's the ultimate floating Disney bubble. Disney parks take to the seas: How the new Disney Treasure makes magic Is a Disney cruise all-inclusive? Disney cruises include lodging, most dining, entertainment, recreation, youth club access, and more in their standard fare. There is an additional fee for childcare for infants and toddlers under age 3 at 'it's a small world nursery.' Extra experiences like adult-exclusive dining, makeovers at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique at Sea, the Royal Court Royal Tea Party with Disney princess, and spa and salon services also have fees. Is all the food on a Disney cruise free? Meals at rotational dining restaurants, on-board buffets, and various food stands are included in the cruise fare, as is most room service. Guests may choose to pay extra for adult-exclusive dining like Remy or Enchanté by Chef Arnaud Lallement. Treats at smoothie and sweets shops and snacks at concession stands near onboard movie theaters have à la carte fees. Specialty coffee drinks and alcohol are also extra. Do Disney cruises have good food? Yes. There are various options at each rotational restaurant. Guests are also welcome to ask for other offerings off menu, but what stuck out to me were everyday dishes like comforting congee at breakfast and a mountain of succulent crab legs during lunch at the Treasure's Marceline Market buffet. Mickey Churro Waffles and Disney Cruise Line chicken tenders are other fan favorites. So are Mickey ice cream bars, which you can order for free through room service. Italian-inspired Palo and other adult-exclusive restaurants, which cost extra, are so popular that reservations book up well ahead of sailings. Guests who miss out in advance can try to book in person upon embarkation. Is there unlimited alcohol on Disney cruises? No. There are no unlimited alcoholic beverage packages on Disney cruises. You can buy individual drinks and bottles of wine on board or pre-order bundles of hard seltzer, beer or wine. There are also deals like Drinks of the Day and the Beer Mug Savings package, which, for a one-time $15.25 fee, gets you 21-ounce beer refills for the price of 16 ounces. Upon initial embarkation and at each port, guests of legal drinking age may also carry on up to two unopened bottles of wine or champagne or six unopened beers no larger than 12 ounces. These must be brought in carry-on luggage, not checked, and may not be consumed in lounges or public spaces, aside from restaurants, where there is a corkage fee. Is there a casino on the Disney cruise? No. There are no casinos on Disney cruise ships. The closest thing to gambling is BINGO, which is extremely popular. Is there free Wi-Fi on Disney cruises? Yes. Guests can use free DCL Guest Wi-Fi to access the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App and message fellow guests. You can also message folks back home using third-party tools like Apple Messages and WhatsApp. However, you'll need paid internet service for anything more substantive like making calls, accessing social media, browsing the internet, posting or streaming video, and more. How much does a Disney cruise cost per person? Prices vary widely by sailing (ship, dates, itinerary, cruise duration and more), stateroom category, how many guests share the same stateroom and guest age. Kids under age 3, ages 3-12, and 13-17 are charged at different rates than adults, according to Plan Disney. Limited-time promotions also impact pricing. For instance, Disney Cruise Line is currently offering up to 30% off select summer 2025 sailings from the U.S. Prospective guests can find the latest special offers on the cruise line's website. Additionally, Disney Cruise Line passengers can lock in 10% off a future cruise when they purchase a refundable placeholder reservation while onboard a ship. At last check, the lowest priced sailing for a family of four departing the U.S. with two adults and two kids between the ages of 3-12 was priced at $2,620. That works out to $655 per person in an interior cabin on the Disney Wish for a 3-night Bahamas cruise leaving Port Canaveral on Aug. 22, 2025. Three-night cruises on the new Disney Adventure, launching in Singapore this December, start even lower. Does Disney Cruise Line go to Europe? Yes. Disney sails from three European ports: Barcelona, Spain Citavecchia, Italy (outside Rome) Southampton, England Transatlantic sailings are also offered several times a year. Do adults with no kids go on Disney cruises? Yes. Even though the cruises are designed with families in mind, lots of Disney adults sail kid-free. Many enjoy getting to feel like kids again themselves. Each ship and both of Disney's private island destinations have adult-exclusive areas and experiences. What are Disney's two private islands? Disney's has two private island destinations in the Bahamas: Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point. Is it cheaper to go to Disney or Disney cruise? That depends on how long you plan to sail versus visit parks, as well as choice of accommodations, dining and time of year. It can go either way. What is the cheapest way to book a Disney cruise? Guests will generally find the best prices the day itineraries are released. This happens a few times a year, about 15 to 18 months in advance of sailings, according to Plan Disney. Travelers can work with travel agents to keep tabs on when the next batch will be released or sign up for Disney Cruise Line email updates and follow the cruise line on social media. Are Disney cruises worth it? They are for many fans. 'They rate us very, very highly, and they tend to want to come back,' D'Amaro said. But just like any vacation, the cruises may not be worth it for everyone. The reporter on this story received access to the ship from Disney Cruise Line. USA TODAY maintains editorial control of reviews.
USA Today
06-06-2025
- USA Today
Tried-and-true LGBTQ+ travel destinations remain popular for a reason
Tried-and-true LGBTQ+ travel destinations remain popular for a reason For LGBTQ+ travelers, rainbow flags — now found in almost any city — are a universal symbol of hospitality that announce, 'You're welcome here!' Unfortunately, anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment is also more prevalent in many destinations. Half of the travelers polled in a 2023 report 'Portrait of LGBTQ+ Travelers in America' say they must consider their safety when deciding where to travel, which means many LGBTQ+ travelers are craving the vacation equivalent of chicken soup — a 'comfort food' holiday unambiguously inclusive, friendly and familiar. With decades-long track records of catering to the LGBTQ+ community, these classic \ destinations remain strong draws: GREATER PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA 'Palm Springs started as a safe haven for old Hollywood actors to get away from Los Angeles and be who they are without being watched. I think that freedom and acceptance has just carried on,' local queer artist Trevor Wayne says. 'Many gay people in the entertainment industry have retired here, paving the way for a big gay community.' The heart of that community is the Arenas District of Palm Springs, staples of which include Streetbar, a fixture since 1991, and Quadz, where interactive show tunes nights attract patrons for boisterous Broadway singalongs. The newspaper-themed speakeasy Evening Citizen is a newer addition, and a short walk away is Oscar's, known for its weekend drag brunches and world-famous Sunday Tea Dance. Drag also is on the menu at Toucans Tiki Lounge & Cabaret; PS Air, which serves up airline-themed drag brunches; and Drag & Fly Tours, whose drag queen-hosted LGBTQ+ sightseeing tours are a hoot. SAN FRANCISCO San Francisco by many accounts is the 'original' LGBTQ+ travel destination. Its first gay bar, The Dash, opened (and also closed) in 1908, and the city's first lesbian bar, Mona's Club, opened in 1934, then in 1953 became Ann's 440, which closed later that decade. 'From the Gold Rush era, when outsiders and dreamers flocked here in pursuit of a new life far from convention, to the rise of the Castro as a global epicenter of LGBTQ+ identity, San Francisco has always embraced those who dared to be themselves,' says Hubertus Funke, executive vice president and chief tourism officer at the San Francisco Travel Association. 'It's kind of woven into the city's DNA.' The Castro has been the center of San Francisco's LGBTQ+ community for decades. Explore it on foot with Cruisin' the Castro Walking Tours to see sites like the historic Castro Theatre, reopening later this year following a $35 million renovation; the Rainbow Honor Walk, which commemorates famous LGBTQ+ figures; Pink Triangle Park, which memorializes LGBTQ+ victims of Nazi Germany; and Harvey Milk Plaza, where a memorial honoring LGBTQ+ civil rights hero Harvey Milk will open in 2028. Twin Peaks Tavern, a historic gay bar dating back to at least the mid-1940s, is a must, as is the GLBT Historical Society Museum, the country's first museum of LGBTQ+ history and culture. Beyond the Castro, check out Mother, a queer-owned, women- and femme-centered LGBTQ+ bar that made Bon Appétit's 'Best New Bars in the U.S.' list in 2024; the brand-new Counterculture Museum, which celebrates San Francisco's role in LGBTQ+ rights and other countercultural movements; and the healing National AIDS Memorial in Golden Gate Park. KEY WEST, FLORIDA After playwright Tennessee Williams and composer Leonard Bernstein, both of whom were gay, discovered Key West in the 1940s, it became a magnet for gay artists and their friends and fans, who found in the Keys a remote paradise where they could be unabashedly themselves. Despite an influx of straight tourists, Key West remains an LGBTQ+ haven. 'Key West has always been and will remain a welcoming destination for the LGBTQ+ community,' says Rob Dougherty, executive director of the Key West Business Guild. 'The city's motto, 'One Human Family,' reflects its inclusive spirit.' Anchors of LGBTQ+ life in Key West are the clothing-optional, all-male resorts Island House and New Orleans House, whose themed events, pools and bars — including the storied Bourbon Street Pub at New Orleans House — are hubs of connection and community. The diverse and lively crowds on Duval Street are legendary, as are the drag shows at Aqua Bar & Nightclub, 801 Bourbon Bar and La Te Da, known for its nightly cabaret show. Don't leave without visiting the modest-yet-informative Tennessee Williams Museum, where you can pay homage to the Pulitzer Prize winner who helped plant Key West's LGBTQ+ roots more than 80 years ago. GREATER FORT LAUDERDALE Greater Fort Lauderdale has been an LGBTQ+ hotspot since at least 1935. That's when the area welcomed its first gay bar, Club Ha-Ha, which described itself as a place where 'gayety knows no restraint.' Nearly a century later, the LGBTQ+ community here is still without restraint, according to Stacy Ritter, president and CEO of Visit Lauderdale. 'There are so many places in this country right now that are capitulating to political pressure. We're not doing that,' Ritter says. The nucleus of LGBTQ+ life in Greater Fort Lauderdale is in Wilton Manors, often referred to as the LGBTQ+ capital of South Florida. Brunch at Rosie's Bar and Grill is mandatory, as are drinks at Georgie's Alibi Monkey Bar. The 1950s Florida bungalows at Ed Lugo Resort are an ideal place to stay. And if shopping is your vibe, check out Wilton Collective, an upscale thrift and consignment store whose proceeds benefit Julian's Fountain of Youth, which supports LGBTQ+ young people. In Fort Lauderdale proper, highlights include the lively drag shows at Aquaplex, formerly known as LIPS; the day spa at the gay-owned and -operated, all-male Grand Resort & Spa; the eye candy at Sebastian Street Beach; and the uplifting exhibits at the Stonewall National Museum, Archives & Library. PROVINCETOWN, MASSACHUSSETTS In 1899, painter Charles Hawthorne established the Cape Cod School of Art in Provincetown. It attracted artists and other creatives from all over — including New York's LGBTQ+-rich Greenwich Village. Provincetown has been an art colony and LGBTQ+ mecca ever since. 'There's nothing quite like the LGBTQ+ community filling Provincetown's streets with joy, color and celebration,' says Anthony Fuccillo, director of tourism for the Town of Provincetown. 'Everyone needs Ptown now more than ever.' The businesses and bars on Commercial Street are pure Provincetown. Longtime favorites include the historic Crown & Anchor, which is ground zero for drag, cabaret and dancing; A-House, which is one of the country's oldest gay bars and Provincetown's only year-round dance club; and The Boatslip, whose daily afternoon tea dance is a Ptown institution each summer. Other Definitive LGBTQ+ Destinations Fire Island, New York Among the nation's oldest LGBTQ+ communities are the car-free hamlets of Fire Island Pines and Cherry Grove. The former is known for pulsating nightlife while the latter is more relaxed and bohemian thanks to laid-back beaches, nature walks and drag-tastic venues like Cherry's on the Bay. Says Ross Levi, executive director of the New York State Division of Tourism/I LOVE NY, 'Fire Island has long been a cherished sanctuary for LGBTQ+ travelers — a place where freedom, creativity and community have thrived for generations.' Saugatuck, Michigan An art colony, beach town and beloved LGBTQ+ enclave, Saugatuck is often referred to as the Ptown of the Midwest. You can patronize LGBTQ+-owned businesses like the cozy and community-oriented Uncommon Coffee Roasters; celebrate LGBTQ+ history at the Saugatuck-Douglas History Center's 'A Century of Progress' exhibit; or party hard at The Dunes Resort. Leslie Fitzell, owner of glass art shop Laffing Glass, says, 'People know that they can find family here and that they won't be treated differently from anyone else.' Puerto Vallarta, Mexico Its blend of LGBTQ+ culture with traditional Mexican heritage has earned Puerto Vallarta a reputation as the 'San Francisco of Mexico.' Explore Banderas Bay with LGBTQ+ tour operator Diana's Boat Tours; sunbathe at the gay beach, Los Muertos Beach; and explore the cobblestoned streets of the Zona Romántica. Luis Villaseñor, managing director of the Puerto Vallarta Tourism Board, says 'Puerto Vallarta stands out as the only beach destination in Mexico with a vibrant and diverse gayborhood.'
