November 7, 2010 - Accounts of urban-minded type-A people spending time in quiet natural spaces often trace a well-worn storyline of angst followed by revelation. How am I going to survive without Internet access? What, no Starbucks? Fears of boredom, bugs, rudimentary food supplies... But by day three they almost always get into the rhythm of just being. And they love it. They learn that life is not only possible but wonderful when it's stripped down to basics. Writer David Carr covers media issues for the NY Times. He's a city boy who's all city all the time. He recently spent six days alone with his wife on a private island in the Bahamas ($2000 for the island with house, $300 for food + getting there) .
As he planned a vacation on a deserted island he recounts his first thought:
Alcatraz is an island too.
Within a day he has an epiphany:
These are the things I carried: an jammed with various kinds of media, enough batteries to stock a Wal-Mart, a BlackBerry, a bunch of DVDs, 7,000 songs on my , and a bottle of extra virgin olive oil.
These are the things I needed: My wife.
He tells his tale here.
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November 17, 2009 - Is it possible to take a two week sailing trip in the Caribbean at the height of the season for less than $1000 including breakfast and dinner (not including air fare)? The answer is yes... but... you'll have to help with sails, cooking and cleaning up - not a meaningful distinction for anyone considering a bare boat charter. Experience is not necessary. Read Matt Gross's story about his experience on the 75' schooner SV Illusion 
July 24, 2009 - In case you've been sleeping the big news is that Barack Obama and his family will be spending their summer vacation on Martha's Vineyard at the end of next month. The Vineyard Gazette reports that they will be renting the 28.5 acre Blue Heron Farm off South Road in Chilmark. The property overlooks Town Cove, the westernmost finger of the Tisbury Great Pond. Similar properties rent for between $35,000 to $50,000 per week. Here's the full story by 
July 9, 2009 - In Today's NYTimes Joyce Wadler presents some truly horrible stories about vacation rentals. Read the gory details 
