Lots of events have conspired over the last few years to bring the fragility of the environment into the spotlight. As a self-proclaimed eco-geek, I couldn't be happier. About a month ago, President Bush announced his National Parks Centennial Initiative which, among other things, would fund $100 billion dollars over 10 years to prepare the parks for the National Park Service's 100th anniversary in 2016. I wouldn't even want to imagine our country without our Grand Canyons, Shenandoahs, and Yosemites--that would eliminate some of my fondest vacation memories.

Back in November, I was riding the elevator up to work--staring as the numbers lit-up… 2, 3, 4..., and then I started eavesdropping. During our six-floor ascent, I overheard someone mentioning that soon travelers will be able to hook up iPods in-flight. No pun intended, but that was music to my ears.

At our holiday party a few months ago, I won the Grand Prize: A trip to Paris! The last time I toured the City of Light, I was a junior in college. It was 1994 and I was studying abroad in Stockholm, so I spent my spring break visiting pals in Madrid and Paris. I'm sure Paris has changed a lot in the (gulp) 13 years since my last visit. One change I'm especially excited about is that Paris is rolling out a bike-loan program to provide thousands of bikes to commuters and tourists for free.

The Amazing Race: All-Stars premieres this Sunday. It's the eleventh season of this, my favorite, reality show, and they're featuring competitors from past races. Deep down, I've always wanted the chance to battle for a million dollars while discovering exotic places that I might never see otherwise. What's holding me back? Part of it is that I can't find that perfect partner. (The other part is that I get cranky when I'm hungry and nobody needs to see that!)

Actually, even when a million dollars isn't on the line, selecting a co-traveler is tough.

As an east coaster transplanted in California, I didn't make it to Hawaii until my 31st birthday. Since then I've been nine times, including the trip I just returned from--celebrating my 34th on Kauai. Averaging about three visits a year, I can't seem to get enough. Plus, with tourism being the islands' biggest moneymaker, I rationalize that I'm doing my part to support their economy. Truthfully though, I just love it.

It was my first time in Kauai, and we didn't stop for six days straight.

The other night I was up in Healdsburg and ate at Cyrus--one of four restaurants to receive two Michelin stars in the Bay Area (see article). From start to finish, the experience was sublime, more like a tightly directed performance than mere dining.

Maybe I've read too many women's magazines in my lifetime, or maybe I'm a just a sucker for a quiz. So when I was reading an article in the January issue of Condé Nast Traveler that had a test in it, I immediately jumped online to take the 15-question Travel Personality Test. I mean, who doesn't want to know what their travel type is, right?

My movie-watching style is more Netflix than film fest, but one day I'd like to rub elbows with Hollywood celebs and film buffs in and around Park City and catch a glimpse of the latest indie flicks. After all, I've loved Napoleon Dynamite, An Inconvenient Truth, and Hoop Dreams, plus getting outdoors in Utah is a blast.

Today's the kickoff for the Sundance Film Festival, which is the largest film festival of its kind in the country. And although I've never attended this event, our U.S. version of Cannes in France, I have been to the Sundance Resort--and would return in a heartbeat.

The other night a few of us were at a bon voyage dinner for a buddy who was taking off for three months to study ice cells in Patagonia. This time last year, I went to Buenos Aires, but I couldn't take the extra time to fly down for glacier viewing at the tip, and I've regretted it ever since. Back at the restaurant, we were trying to feed our cravings for adventure with summer rolls and clay pot salmon, but it wasn't working, so we started to plan our own trip: Kilimanjaro in 2008!

Few things are more decadent than starting a day opening gifts, ending it with a steak dinner accompanied by a hearty bottle of Syrah, and filling up the hours in between at the spa. That was my Christmas.

Don't get me wrong. I love a Christmas back home surrounded by family and home-cooked meals, but every now and then it's nice not to lift a finger, or step foot in an airport.