Spa cuisine has come a long way from the foods of yore.

It used to be going to a health spa meant eating nothing but carrot sticks and cottage cheese.

But these days, not only does spa cuisine taste much better, but you can learn to make it yourself.

Sure, a hotel bar is a place to mix and mingle.

But what if you put your time at the bar to good use and bring home a lifelong skill?

Courtney Crowder reports on hotels around the country where guests can mix it up with a hands-on mixology class.

On January 30, 2010, Peter is broadcasting from the Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay in San Mateo County, about 25 miles south of San Francisco. Featured guests include:

Costas Christ, editor at large for National Geographic Traveler, sharing his expertise and stories of his adventures on the Belize Barrier Reef and Southern Yucatan;

Ian Cauble, lead sommelier for The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay and winner of the “Best New Sommelier in the United States,” teaching you everything you need to know about grapes and wine tastings;

Cat Cora, executive chef for Bon Appetit & winner of Iron Chef, dishing on her favorite foods for 2010, The Master Chef Challenge and more. But most importantly, as president and founder of Chefs for Humanity, she’ll discussing helping Haiti in the wake of its recent earthquake;

Josh Field, press director for the Peace Corps, talking about how the program has changed since it began almost 50 years ago and how you can continue to get involved.

 

 Chefs for Haiti, the Peace Corps & Half Moon Bay - Hour 2 - PGW Radio: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Florida’s Everglades National Park has been damaged by urban pollution over several decades. In light of two promising environmental restoration projects, Lynn Langway investigates active adventures and scenic beauty in an underappreciated American national park.

It’s a sparkling Sunday morning in the Florida Everglades, and 16 alligators have congregated for some serious sun worship at the base of the Shark Valley observation tower.

For someone who loathes sleeping in a tent and loses interest after 20 minutes of hiking, a visit to a national park only has limited appeal. Sarika Chawla investigates intriguing winter activities for those non-athletic types. 

Color me surprised when I discovered I’ve been trying to unleash my inner wilderness explorer at the wrong time of year.

Forget about high summer when trails are overflowing with backpackers and dogged rock climbers. Nope, the best time of year for us non-outdoorsy types to visit an outdoorsy destination is winter.

Dear Peter,

Although most of my postcards to you are destinational, this one is conceptual.

I have to start by explaining that my email account is filled with offers for bargain air tickets and I was especially drawn to low prices on domestic routes from Virgin America and Southwest.  You can buy now (at everyday low prices) and travel through some date in April or past … it depends.

Peter Greenberg Worldwide Radio is coming to us live from the new Veranda Resort and Residences in Grace Bay, on the island of Providenciales in Turks and Caicos.

Locally known as “Provo,” the island has long been a favorite destination for diving, snorkeling, fishing, or just plain lazing around on the beach.

Keep reading to find out where to discover local island experiences … straight from the locals themselves.

Dear Peter,

Feeling very spiritual on my recent journeys through the sun-soaked vines of California Wine Country, I decided to double date a couple of saints, combining St. Clement Vineyards and Chateau St. Jean.

My first lesson is that neither of these is pronounced in the French fashion and Clement, it sorta rhymes with “ciment.”