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This Month’s Dream: Secret Lubéron

More than fifteen years after British author Peter Mayle first wrote about the Lubéron, a then little-known region in the South of France, it continues to cast a spell over those who dream of trading cityscapes for vineyards—if only for a vacation. It’s true that by now, parts of the Provencal enclave have turned into hopeless caricatures of themselves, which is why you need an insider to explore the off-the-beaten paths. Beyond well-known towns like antiquing Mecca Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, there such totally authentic, tiny villages as Banon and Cucuron to be discovered, in which life revolves around the weekly market, the best local restaurants and this year’s grape crops. Slipping into the languorous rhythm of French country life has never been this easy. Read an insider’s tips on special town and places.

Cultural Weekend: Dallas

In recent years, Dallas has emerged as a vibrant, fast-growing art destination, drawing connoisseurs who come for weekend-long pilgrimages to explore the riches. There’s the well-endowed Arts District, home to the renowned Dallas Museum of Art and the gem-like Nasher Sculpture Center, housed in a luminous Renzo Piano buildling. There are also big plans for the future, including an ambitious new Performing Art Center and contemporary art museum, both to open next year. A great new base from which to venture into the city’s art trove, is the recently opened Joule, which is centrally located, has 129 gorgeous rooms (it was designed by Adam D. Tihany) and a Charlie Palmer restaurant that has local foodies buzzing. Read our review: The Joule.

Indagare in Action: Colombia

The travel world is buzzing about Colombia’s comeback (insiders on Indagare raving about it include designer Moises Esquenazi and Surevolution founder Marcella Echavarria). From the modern capital of Bogota to the beauty of historic Cartagena and the pristine Caribbean coast, the country’s appeal continues to grow as its rocky past fades. Indagare recently collaborated with one of our favorite tour operators, Cox & Kings, on a week-long itinerary for two of our members heading to Colombia later this fall. Highlights include behind-the-scenes tours of Bogota and Cartagena as well as a sojourn at a funky eco resort in Tayrona National Park. Read about the Colombia itinerary.

In the Know: D.C.’s Newseum

Before one of our editors visited Washington D.C.’s hottest new cultural attraction—the Newseum, a museum dedicated to the news—she had heard much about it from friends, who raved about its architectural beauty (it was designed by New York architect James Polshek) and complained about the price ($20). She was not prepared, however, for the huge emotional impact it would have on her. One of the first exhibits is dedicated to 9/11, with a big, mangled piece of the antenna from the top of the Twin Towers presented like sculpture. In a short and tremendously moving documentary, journalists and photographers who covered the event talk about their experiences—the surreality, the chaos, the grief. Also simple and stunning are displays like the armored pick-up truck, its sides riddled with bullet holes, that a Time magazine photographer drove while on assignment in the former Yugoslavia and a large section of the Berlin Wall (the biggest outside Germany). Read her review: Newseum.

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This Month’s Dream: Botswana

Known for its stunning scenery and endless miles of private nature reserves (as well as its stable government and economy), Botswana offers, in the words of our correspondent, “one of the most authentic and mind-blowing wildlife experiences on the planet.” This November/December five spots are available for Indagare members on a walking safari organized by Epic Private Journeys, a company that has exclusive rights to walking tours in Botswana’s northwest. The trip is intense but extremely rewarding. The six participants will trek approximately 81 miles, traversing the stretch of land connecting Botswana’s two main wetlands: the Okavango Delta and the Linyanti. According to guide Brad Horn, who has spent six years working in the bush, “There’s no walk in Africa that comes close to this for wilderness, game density, adrenaline, and endurance.” Read about the Botswana Trek.

First to Go: La Samanna

St. Martin’s La Samanna may not be new (it was renowned as a glamorous getaway after Jackie O. vacationed there decades ago), but there’s nothing old fashioned about the sleek new villas the hotel will unveil this winter. We recently toured the first of eight new homes, four of which will be ready for guests by Christmas. They sit atop a cliff overlooking the sea and feature open living and dining areas, private pools, spectacular views and four- or five-bedroom layouts that work well for families or travelers who seek more space and privacy than a hotel room offers. Learn why this Caribbean retreat deserves a visit. Read our review of La Samanna.

In the News: Beijing

Make no mistake, Beijing, where the Summer Olympics will open in two days, is destined to become the world city of this century. In preparation for the Olympic Games, the city has unveiled a series of astonishing, even outlandish, contemporary buildings, including Herzog and de Meuron’s National Olympics Stadium (nicknamed “the Bird’s Nest”), the nearby swimming stadium (“the Water Cube”) and Rem Koolhaas’s controversial design for China Central Television’s headquarters (“the Trouser Legs”). The infrastructure revamp is the largest the capital has seen since the Ming Dynasty, some 600 years ago. Indagare members headed to Beijing should be sure to take a look at our destination report for tips. Top restaurant picks include Blu Lobster, where the dishes are impossibly complex and wholly unforgettable; the Courtyard, with a 5,000-bottle wine list and a head-on view of the Forbidden City; and the flashy new LAN Club, designed by Philippe Starck. Read our report on Beijing.

Indagare Access: Private Jet Trip

Renowned adventure trip outfitter Abercrombie & Kent is making a very special, very limited trip offer: the first few people to book their private jet journey Southward from the Peak: From Hong Kong to Bora Bora (December 27, 2008 – January 19, 2009) will receive a complimentary cabin on the company’s November cruise to Antarctica. The trips, though very different, are both once-in-a-lifetime experiences. The private jet journey makes stops in Japan, Hong Kong, Macau, Vietnam, Cambodia, Singapore, Thailand, Australia and Bora Bora. Activities include a cooking class with top chefs in Hong Kong, a visit to an elephant camp in Chiang Mai and a tour of a private botanical garden in the Australian rainforest. All accommodations are top-notch and throughout travelers will meet with various locals and insiders—like a preservation specialist from the World Monuments Fund (in Cambodia)—and attend several special events, including a New Year’s Eve dinner at the prestigious China Club in Hong Kong. Read about the Private Jet Trip.

In the Know: Boston

Boston isn’t known for its exciting food scene, but a new restaurant has everyone raving; Frank Bruni of the New York Times recently declared it the number one new restaurant in the country. Read how an American chef and his sake sommelier wife are turning a forgotten corner of the New England city into ground zero for creative Japanese cuisine. We’ll have a report on the city soon. Read our review of O Ya.

New on Indagare: a destination guide to the Amalfi Coast special Indagare Family Trips for memorable long weekends this fall, including access for Connoisseur members to the private Turks & Caicos Sporting Club, and special offers at Relais & Chateaux properties like the historic Clifton Inn, in Charlottesville. Plus a profile of Indagare member and blogger Tiffany Schauer who has shared dispatches from her recent travels to Thailand, including visits to an elephant sanctuary, an orphanage, a women’s rights summit and an innovative eco-resort.

Coming soon: Reports on Anguilla, Boston, Botswana, Mumbai, the Turks and Caicos and Washington, D.C.

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This Month’s Dream: Donna Karan’s Sanctuary

Parrot Cay, in the Turks & Caicos, has long been known as the kind of far-flung beach-chic destination where stylish travelers go to drop out, sans BlackBerry. This season, the big news is Donna Karan’s stunning, recently completed Sanctuary. The estate, with two four-bedroom villas, a Balinese screened-in pool pavilion, three pools and high-tech amenities throughout, was in the works for more than three years—and well-worth the wait. The décor throughout is pure Karan: subtle, inspired, creative. With the rest of the Turks & Caicos undergoing a building boom, the Sanctuary remains true to what drew travelers to this part of the world in the first place: natural beauty, seclusion and total tranquility.

Where to Go Next: Egypt

I have spent the last ten days in Egypt, visiting Cairo, Alexandria and taking a Nile Cruise aboard Oberoi’s new five-star boat, the Zahra. For sophisticated travelers, the country has never had more to offer. Cairo boasts two fabulous Four Seasons hotels (with cabanas by their pools), the only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World still in existence (the pyramids) and chill-out restaurants on the Nile, where four can dine on fabulous cuisine (Lebanese, Italian or sushi) for less than $100 for the whole party. But it’s for the antiquities—one-third of all the world’s are here—that you come. And there’s no better way to see them than by staying on Oberoi’s sleek floating palace that has raised the bar for the region. For these reasons and many more, which I will outline in my upcoming Destination Report, plan a trip soon. And yes, it’s hot in July, but worth it because seeing the pyramids at Giza with no other tourists is unforgettable. M.B.B.

First to Go: Special Family Packages

We know that finding family vacations that balance the interests of well-traveled parents with the fun and comforts of young children can be a challenge to orchestrate. To make things easier, we are introducing our first signature Indagare Family Trips, so you can book memorable getaways designed with activities that appeal to all ages built in. From the moment you arrive, there will be family-friendly excursions already planned. Our introductory Family Trips include journeys to Sea Island in Georgia; Esencia and Cuixmala in Mexico; the historic Clifton Inn in Charlottesville and a special offer—for Indagare Connoisseur members—at the exclusive, brand-new Turks & Caicos Sporting Club. To find out about the special amenities, perks and activities offered during these trips, click on the resort names above or call us at 212-988-2611.

Insider Access: Vienna Art trip

Long known for its imperial museums and palaces, Vienna has also cultivated a booming contemporary art scene in recent years. One of the best times to see what’s new and buzzing is during the annual ViennaArtWeek, when culture aficionados descend on the Austrian capital. To get a VIP glimpse behind the scenes, i.e. dine with artists, meet with curators and mingle with the art world at private events, travel with expert Gioia Zwack, whose recently launched company, The Other Europe, offers access to people and parties off-limits to most. Of course, those who want their fix of old-world Vienna need not worry: itineraries are flexible and can also include visits to the staples, like the Museum of Fine Arts. Read details on upcoming trips with Zwack.

Indagare Exclusive: Villa in Umbria

Italian aficionados have long been praising the unspoiled glories of Umbria— less overrun but just as stunning as Tuscany—and for Indagare members still looking for a European escape this summer, we are pleased to announce a special, last-minute offer: Casa del Lago, a property in the renowned portfolio of villa company Sanctuary, can be rented at a steep discount during the period of August 2-23. A beautifully restored farmhouse, tucked into vineyards near Lake Trasimeno, it has six bedrooms, a swimming pool, an open kitchen-living room and lots of outdoor spaces from which to soak up the serene ambience.

New on Indagare

An interview with Winston Churchill’s granddaughter about the travel tours she’s planning this Fall in the footsteps of her grandfather; a member postcard about a women’s rights seminar, instigated by Mia Farrow, in Thailand; a dispatch from Johannesburg an Indagare Insider on hot spots on Mallorca ; and a best-kept secret of New York City’s shopping scene (hint: it involves haute labels and a consignment showroom). Plus: an update on what’s new in Marrakech and a destination report on the British Virgin Islands, including a stunning new villa to get.