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Boston Globe
18-07-2025
- Boston Globe
Is this the best beach in the world?
Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up When it comes to gorgeous beaches, Landaa Giraavaru is right up there, one of only 5 percent of the world's beaches composed of coraline sand. Diane Bair Advertisement Rare sand The beaches that make up this island paradise are part of the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, a biodiversity hot spot. This atoll, a ring-shaped reef that surrounds a lagoon, harbors 250 species of corals and 1,200 species of fish. Advertisement As for that shimmering, pearlescent sand? It's made of coral. Only 5 percent of the world's beaches are coraline; most are made of quartz. Coraline sand consists mostly of calcium carbonate, the mineral that forms the skeletons of corals, clams, and other marine organisms. When those animals die, waves and currents break them apart and grind them into sand. Parrotfish also deserve some credit. They eat mature coral and excrete calcium carbonate, which looks like snowflakes in the water. Parrotfish excrete so much sediment that they create beaches. So, yes, fish poop helped create these famously spectacular stretches of beach. The downside? With no direct flights from the United States, travel to the Maldives is a haul. The 1,192 islands of this republic are located in the Indian Ocean. From Boston, you fly into Doha or Dubai, then fly to the Maldivian island capital of Malé. From there, it's a boat trip or seaplane ride to your island of choice. By the time you've conquered a 12-hour flight, a lengthy layover, and another five-hour flight, you may be asking yourself: Is it worth it? Bleary-eyed, you'll fling your body into the sea, and the Maldivian waters will work their magic. You'll have your answer. "Barefoot pilots" fly these tiny island-hopper planes between the islands of the Maldives. Diane Bair Lay of the land Some background: Tourism arrived in the Maldives in 1972. Now, it is the major driver of the economy. (Fishing is second.) The concept is one resort per island, and these are small islands that you can cover by foot in 15 minutes or so. Resorts provide food, lodgings, and activities, so choose with care. Note that the national Maldivian language is Dhivehi, but English is widely used. Advertisement These islands are known for luxurious properties with overwater bungalows, but you can find lodgings at all price points these days. You could also stay on Malé, the capital, in a budget-priced business hotel or guest house, and make day trips to the beach. For most visitors, though, this is a bucket-list, once-in-a-lifetime destination, so they'll spend a bit more for the experience. It's a tranquil poolside scene around sunset at the Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa. Diane Bair The lush life There's been plenty of hoopla surrounding the Four Seasons as the location for 'The White Lotus' TV series, most recently, Koh Samui in Thailand. Here, they really nail the serenity-meets-luxury vibe (bonus: no crowds). In addition to Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraaviru, they operate a smaller resort on Kuda Huraa and a small private luxury property, Voavah, that goes for $45k per night, 'a favorite of princes and presidents,' marketing manager Subah Jugari told us. (She wouldn't name names.) The beach villas, with sunrise or sunset views, meld perfectly within the environment. Think thatched roofs, teak, and native Maldivian-style architecture accented with local lacquer work called liyelaa jehun or laa jehun . The overwater bungalows look pretty amazing, too. The Four Seasons Maldives resorts are car-free; guests use staff-driven buggies (golf carts) and ride beach bikes to get around. At night, tall tiki torches illuminate the properties, adding a romantic touch. We were expecting mostly couples, but we encountered lots of families and multi-gen groups at the resorts, many from the UK on school vacation. Each resort has a kids' club, and family-friendly activities like crab races and a nightly shark-feeding event. We joined a boat cruise in the waters near Kuda Huraa to look for spinner dolphins. (Spin they do, twisting and spiraling in the air like cetacean gymnasts.) Rays, sea turtles, and a variety of reef fishes populate the coral reefs here; joining a guided snorkeling trip gets you an up-close view. The ocean is so unbelievably clear, even those of us with lousy vision can get a look at the underwater marvels of the Maldives. Advertisement Digs at the Four Seasons' Maldives resorts are designed to blend into the luscious landscape, with outdoor day beds and private pools, the works. Diane Bair These waters are also known for whale sharks, the largest fish in the world. Trips to swim with whale sharks are a thing in the Maldives, but the Four Seasons resorts don't offer them, believing that the multiple boats and tourists are stressful for the fish. They're more involved with activities like sea turtle rehabilitation and a reef-regeneration project (guests can get involved with this), designed to protect the delicate ecosystem of the Maldives. Fresh tuna on the daily? Yes please Speaking of fish, if you're a lover of seafood, you'll be in culinary heaven here. We ate our body weight in fresh tuna. Local lobster and prawns are standouts, too. When you're marooned on an island with one resort, great food is important. The Four Seasons Maldives properties did not disappoint. Glorious fruits, resort-raised vegetables, and touches of Indian and Maldivian cookery create a vibrant dining experience. Since we can't resist a cooking class, we signed up for Baraabaru Indian Cooking Class at Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa with chef Tamilarasan Ayyavoo. Our feast included tandoori prawns, curried lobster, chicken biryani, cucumber raita, and the tastiest, cheesiest naan ever. To recreate these at home, we'll have to seriously upgrade our spice collection. Of course, we can't recreate the setting at Baraabaru, the resort's Indian restaurant: dinner on a pier, under the stars, with manta rays circling below. Advertisement Al fresco meals, with feet in the sand, were a highlight here. We also loved the seaplane flights (barefoot pilots!) between resorts — you fly over islets that resemble geodes, a turquoise middle encircled by tawny sand. And the Island Spa at Kuda Huraa is on an actual island, reachable by dhoni (Maldivian-style boat), where guests indulge in 'flying meditation' and a 'healing waters' massage. Back to that 'Is it worth it?' question: Are you the kind of person who loves to seek out the best sushi in Tokyo, the best pizza in New York, the ultimate … anything? Would you rather take one amazing trip to a fabulous resort than three 'nice' trips? Are you a beach lover to the depths of your soul? If so, this will be the best 8,573 miles you've ever traveled. If you go. . . Emirates and Qatar Airways are among the airlines that offer connecting flights from Boston to Malé, typically around 25 hours. The Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa has 96 villas (room rates from $1,000); Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraaviru has 103 villas (from $1,700); Diane Bair and Pamela Wright can be reached at
Boston Globe
26-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- Boston Globe
The stuff of nightmares. Here's how to avoid the dreaded bag check.
Some travelers swear by the 3-3-3 packing rule for trips lasting less than a week — three tops, three bottoms, three pairs of shoes. This is a guy's summer version. What do you think? Diane Bair Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 3-3-3 or 5-4-3-2-1? A few days before you go, spread out everything that you think you want to pack on the bed. Try stuff on and take a look in that one truth-telling mirror that we all have. This will avoid packing something that has odd stains or (gasp!) no longer fits well because you're in much better shape than you were last summer. Advertisement You've probably heard the 3-3-3 rule, created by a fashion stylist. 'I use this consistently for trips less than seven days,' says Katy Nastro, company spokesperson for subscription-based travel service ( An updated take on this: The 5-4-3-2-1 packing formula. This is basically tailoring your wardrobe to your trip. As Nastro explains it, 'Say you are heading on a beach vacation and realistically will live in breezy dresses and bathing suits. So, you pack five dresses because you'll reach for this item the most, followed by four bathing suits, and then go down the list,' limiting or eliminating the items you won't wear as much. Skip the 'just in case' stuff — you probably won't need sequins or a tuxedo on that trip. Your closet probably holds one magic travel piece: A perfect dress or fabulous linen shirt that looks great and gets compliments everywhere you go. Bring it! And plan to wear it a couple of times. Nobody but you will know that it's on repeat. Advertisement Traveling as much as we do, we're fanatics about how much clothing weighs. We've found that casual clothing — gym clothes, leisurewear — can eat up a sneaky amount of luggage space. Our latest obsession: The feather-light pieces for men and women from Beyond Yoga ( Foldable shoes? Now you're talking. These Beemotion shoes by UYN are rollable, so you can pop them into your backpack for travel. Diane Bair The elephant in the bag: Shoes Shoes are always a major space-suck, which is why we advocate wearing your clunkiest pair on the plane — unless you're on a red-eye; then, put them in the carry-on and fill them up with socks and underwear. Still, shoes are problematic. We were happy to discover a new store on Newbury Street called UYN ( Some people buy shampoo and sunscreen when they arrive at their travel destination, but we'd rather be prepared. These squishy bottles are available at Target and CVS and they hold almost a weeks' worth of shampoo, conditioner, and sunscreen. Diane Bair Clean me up, Scotty! On to toiletries. Those L. L. Bean travel organizers ( Advertisement Madison Blancaflor, managing editor at The Points Guy ( We buy one of these for every traveler we know. They fold down well, and have a hook for hanging on a hotel towel rack. This one is slightly beat up, but still has some miles on it. Diane Bair As for hair tools? Not unless absolutely necessary. That said, 'in a pinch, I can use a hair straightener as a small iron for a shirt or dress if there is no iron or steamer in my short-term rental,' says Nastro, a fan of anything that can serve two purposes. To cube or not to cube 'Packing cubes are a game-changer — specifically compression or vacuum-seal packing cubes,' says Blancaflor. Agreed. We were committed to the roll-up game until we tried a set of these. In addition, they're great for organizing; we use a big one for outfits, a smaller one for workout gear and pajamas, a tiny one for underwear, and so on. Bring an extra one to hold any clean clothes left at the end of the trip. Blancaflor uses a mix of compression and vacuum-seal cubes, rolling the latter to get the air out. We're fans of the double-zipping mesh compression version. Advertisement Not a cubist? Some people roll, some people fold, and some people petal, Nastro says. 'The petal fold method is newer to the packing scene, designed to help with wrinkling and the odd bulge that makes it nearly impossible to close your bag. You simply lay each item flat, one on top of the other, letting the ends overflow from the bag,' she says. 'You're creating a clothing sandwich, letting the ingredients spill out a bit. When you're done laying your items, you fold in the ends, tucking them into the suitcase, so when you open it back up, the petals are the only thing that gets folded and potentially creased.' Petal power to the people! We've been using the Away standard carryon for years and it has never NOT fit into an overhead compartment. But we'd avoid this color (Salt White); it gets really marked up when the airline gate-checks it. Go for a darker shade. Diane Bair Papa's got a brand new bag We saw something distressing on our last trip — a traveler whose bag wouldn't fit into the overhead bin. One of those soft-side bags, stuffed to the gills, it was too wide to fit in the American Airlines bin, so the passenger frantically opened it and started pulling things out to make it skinnier. Clothes were flying around the cabin. (Did he eventually put some on? We don't know.) Don't be that guy. We swear by the Away standard carry-on ( If you really, truly need to check a bag, but don't want to pay for it . . . Many of us fly a variety of airlines, so we don't accrue the level of loyalty needed for a free bag check. And, unfortunately, there isn't a one-size-fits-all credit card that allows free checked bags, Blancaflor says. 'Most of the US airlines offer multiple co-branded credit cards that will allow at least one free checked bag,' so choose a card associated with the airline you fly most often. Advertisement For example, a loyal JetBlue flyer out of Boston Logan might choose one of the three JetBlue co-branded credit cards to get yourself and up to three travel companions (traveling on the same reservation) a free checked bag, Blancaflor says. If Southwest is your jam, you'd want to look at the Southwest line-up of Rapid Rewards credit cards. The Points Guy has a regularly-updated guide that outlines the co-branded cards offering a free checked bag across US airlines: 'If you're not particularly loyal to a specific airline, another option is Chase Sapphire Reserve ( Note that this card has an annual fee of $795. Chase recently raised the fee from $550, making it one of the most expensive premium travel credit cards on the market. Diane Bair and Pamela Wright can be reached at
Boston Globe
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Some other water park options in New England
Located in Saco, this is actually two parks; you can buy a combo ticket or waterpark only ($48 adults; $43 kids under 48' tall). This one has nine waterslides, including Amphitrite's Challenge, a 45-footer, a corkscrew, and a tube slide, plus a pirate-themed kiddie area with eight water slides and a wading pool. Massachusetts: Hurricane Harbor at Six Flags New England, Part of Six Flags New England in Agawam, Hurricane Harbor offers water slides, a 500,000-gallon wave pool, lazy rivers, a kids' lagoon, and a kiddie pirate ship-themed area. The Tornado (for big kids and adults) shoots you through a tunnel and a funnel — no lie — aboard a four-person raft. From $35 (online); $49 on weekends. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Advertisement Wicked Waves Cape Cod, Opened in 2024 alongside Cape Cod Inflatable Park in West Yarmouth, Wicked Waves is a watery wonderland of water slides, a lazy river, a wave pool, a water coaster, and Devil's Drop, a trap-door slide that goes through an area of darkness. The Boomerang Slide gets you airborne. They've also got a Flow Rider (one of those surf-type pools), available for an extra fee. Pro tip: Arrive early on a weekend to snag parking. The Cape Cod Family Resort offers overnight packages. Day pass: From $48 (includes Inflatable Park.) New Hampshire: Kahuna Laguna, Advertisement Set in bustling North Conway, the state's largest indoor water park is a perfect rainy-day option, when you can't get your posse out on the hiking trails. Attractions include four high-speed tube slides, a three-story slide tower, a wave pool, water cannons, a tipping bucket, and a Little Kahuna play area. Unique elements here: a 25-person hot tub and water basketball. For stay-and-play packages, check out Birchmont Resort & Spa ( Diane Bair and Pamela Wright can be reached at
Boston Globe
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Meet the city that inspired Beverly Hills
Not to mention, Beverly Hills, Calif., was named after our fair city by real estate developer Burton Green in 1907. (Our Beverly was founded in 1626.) The Massachusetts Beverly has hills, too; one of the prettiest is Long Hill ( Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up And there's this: Beverly Harbor was a base for early American naval operations. Privateer Hannah, converted from a fishing schooner to a warship armed with guns and cannons, was the first ship commissioned by General George Washington during the Revolutionary War. In 1775, Captain Nicholas Broughton patrolled the coast in the Hannah , engaging with the British Royal Navy sloop HMS Nautilus. Advertisement Culture — we've got it Fast-forward 250 years: What is Beverly like today? This North Shore city, with a population of around 42,500, 'packs a punch for a town of its size,' says Erin Truex, executive director of Beverly Main Streets ( Why are we sharing this now? On June 14, Arts Fest Beverly ( The best-known spot in Beverly is probably the 103-year-old Cabot Theatre ( There's no Rodeo Drive, but Beverly, Mass., offers its own form of eye candy — art. This piece by artist Jennifer Toler at Porter Mill Studios is one (very cool) example. Diane Bair Musical theater fans may also be familiar with award-winning North Shore Music Theatre ( Advertisement The old warehouses along downtown's Rantoul Street have been renovated and transformed into housing and maker spaces like Porter Mill Studios ( Montserrat College of Art campus ( If you want to make art, not just admire it, Beverly offers some options, including Score & Slip ( Clay Dreaming ( One of Beverly's more unique businesses is The Castle, a board game cafe with 1,000 games. (Tip: If you're drinking, don't play Uno!) Diane Bair Wandering around Beverly's downtown, you'll get a whiff of 'college town vibe,' which makes sense: In addition to the art school, Beverly is home to Endicott College ( The Castle ( Gentile Brewing Company ( Advertisement Mission Boat House sits on an iconic spot in Beverly, with views of the Beverly-Salem Bridge. Diane Bair Local haunts (minus the witches) Those who remember the old McDonald's restaurant on the Beverly-Salem bridge will notice a spiffy waterfront restaurant in its place, Mission Boat House ( A&B Burgers ( Rosetti Restaurant ( Don't let the strip mall location fool you: The Italian and Italian-American food at Rosetti Restaurant Beverly is worth a visit (shown here: shrimp flatbread). This is the sister location to Rosetti Restaurant in Lynn. Diane Bair One of us lived in Beverly for several years, and after a nine-year absence, we were happy to see some old favorites still operating, including Soma ( Siam Delight ( For dessert, there's an outpost of Harbor Sweets ( Henry's Fine Foods ( Advertisement You haven't really seen Beverly until you've gone to Lynch Park , the city's unofficial backyard. There's a small beach, perfect for watching kite-surfers in the cove, and a wide green lawn with picnic tables and lawn-facing benches. There's a snack bar, open seasonally, a band shell, and paths that lead to the ocean. The park's famous tiered Rose Garden is modeled after Italian gardens, and a much-loved spot for wedding photos. Another irresistible photo op: the Falconer statue, a replica of the original in New York's Central Park, which was sculpted by George Blackall Simonds in 1872. Given all of this, we were happy to be back in the old haunt. Yes, it's a bit gussied-up with all of those reimagined warehouses, not to mention a Whole Foods Market. But it still has a friendly feel, good places to eat, and a burgeoning art scene. 'Everybody knows Salem, but Beverly is a sleeper,' says Mark Jaffe, who's on the board of the Cabot and has lived in Beverly for most of his life. 'And the history is incredible. I can't imagine living anyplace else.' Diane Bair and Pamela Wright can be reached at
Boston Globe
23-05-2025
- Boston Globe
How to build a perfect visit to Sandwich
First things first — a cup of Joe and a good book Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Are you thisclose to losing it after a long drive? Treat yourself to a stop at Snowy Owl Coffee Roasters ( Please don't tell us you're bringing an e-reader or other device to the beach. Nooo! The beach is the place for real newspapers, magazines, and actual books, things that won't be destroyed by gritty sand and sunlight. Find a killer selection of new and used tomes at Titcomb's Book Shop ( Advertisement It's worth bringing your bike to take a ride along the Cape Cod Canal Bikeway. There are benches along the way, people fishing, and views of boats plying the canal. Diane Bair Best reason to bring your bike: Cape Cod Canal Bikeway You drove over this sparkling blueway as you crossed the Sagamore Bridge; now get to know it on two wheels. The bike path is actually a service road for the US Army Corps of Engineers, but locals know it as a recreation hot spot for cycling, walking, and fishing (stripers, bluefish, and sea bass.) Flat, wide, and paved, the bikeway runs on both sides of the canal, with seven miles on the north side and 6.5 miles on the south. The bikeway connects several recreation areas along the Cape Cod Canal, including Most colorful place in town: Sandwich Glass Museum Glass was manufactured in Sandwich two centuries ago by the Boston & Sandwich Glass Company; Sandwich glass is now highly prized and collectible. The Sandwich Glass Museum pays homage with a gorgeous collection of blown and pressed glass pieces. Exhibit rooms take you through the history of glassmaking, with beautiful displays and some unique items like witch's balls, used to protect homes from evil spirits since the 1800s. It offers glassblowing demonstrations daily, on the hour, and sells art glass made by local and national artists in its gift shop. $14; Advertisement Best place for garden inspo: Heritage Museums and Gardens Hostas, heather, herbs, rhododendrons, and daylilies galore — those are just some of the reasons to wander through these landscaped garden paths overlooking Shawme Pond. The property also features a Shaker Round Barn filled with antique cars, an art museum showcasing New England folk art, and a classic, working carousel. It's a nostalgic vibe that will tune you into the slower side of the Cape. $25; Charlotte Cucchiaro of Brooklyn, N.Y., explores the newly-reconstructed Sandwich Boardwalk. Diane Bair Best short-and-sweet walk: Sandwich Boardwalk Newly reconstructed after a brutal winter storm in 2022, the ¼-mile-long Sandwich Boardwalk off Wood Avenue offers a scenic walk across marshland, over Mill Creek and on to Town Neck Beach. The new bridge, like the old one, is a favorite spot for fishing, kids clamming, and just hanging out. Now, it has pressurized wood, metal pilings, and sits four feet higher than the old version. It's wider, with accessible ramps (Town Neck Beach is not yet fully accessible). Free, but you'll pay for parking; Tourists are welcome at Cafe Chew in Sandwich. If you love a hefty sandwich and some Cape Cod chips, this is your place. Diane Bair Best place for a sandwich in Sandwich: Café Chew Looking for a quick, hearty bite to bring to the Cape Cod Bikeway, or just can't resist a chunky sandwich on good bread? This little place in Merchant's Square offers indoor and outdoor dining and a nice array of sandwiches, breakfast items, pastries, and salads. The owners are new-ish, (2023) but the menu is the same, so you can still order, say, The Pilgrim ($14.25), a delicious stack of roasted turkey, sage stuffing, cranberry mayo and lettuce on cranberry-pecan bread, served with Cape Cod Potato Chips (of course) and a pickle. The blackboard specials are worthy, too. Advertisement Best place for seafood-with-view: Fishermen's View For boat-to-table dining for lunch and dinner, this is a dandy choice. Owned by two commercial fishermen (who are also brothers), this upscale casual spot offers a sleek waterfront setting (with views from nearly every table) and an expansive menu of fresh oysters, crab baskets, sushi, steamed lobster, or whatever just came off the boat. Live music in season adds a festive touch. Entrees from $34; Twin Acres ice cream. Diane Bair Best place for ice cream: Twin Acres Ice cream shops on the Cape are like Dunks in the city; there's always one nearby. Our favorite in Sandwich is Twin Acres, serving 70-some flavors of hard ice cream, soft-serve, vegan ice cream, sundaes, and sausage rolls, in a pretty landscaped setting. How do you know this place is excellent? People line up for cold treats when it opens in mid-March, regardless of weather. Flavor to try: Campfire S'mores, a perfect blend of toasted marshmallow ice cream, sandy graham cracker swirls, and chocolate chunks. Best place for that classic B&B experience: Isaiah Jones Homestead B&B So, you're thinking you might want to stay awhile? Yay, you. Many Cape visitors are looking for an inn or B&B since it fits with the Olde Cape Cod motif. One that fits that description, located right in the village: A c.1848 Italianate Victorian, the Isaiah Jones Homestead. Originally built for a doctor and his family, the house offers six tastefully-appointed guest rooms. Three queen bed rooms and one king room are located in the main house, with two king-room suites in an adjacent carriage house. New owners Robert and AnaLisa Luippold live onsite, and have overseen major renovations to the property, so it's not just old, but old and comfortable. They offer a hot breakfast, including house-baked pastries (or purchased at Beth's Café nearby) and a daily port and sherry reception. Rates from $279; two-night minimum may apply; Advertisement For more information: Sandwich Antiques Center offers 5,000 square feet of browsing, with everything from Fiesta to old farm implements. Diane Bair Diane Bair and Pamela Wright can be reached at
