From the Amazon to the Andes and all of the mystical wonders in between, Mexico and South and Central America are full of stories to tell. Whether you prefer to look for clues to the successes of ancient Incan and Mayan civilizations or take in the unrivaled variety of exotic plants and wildlife, these lands are sure to awaken your inner explorer.

Book your South American vacation before October 26, 2010 and save $300 per person with Monograms.  View offer details today and start planning your trip to Brazil!

Looming above Rio de Janeiro’s most famous beach, the Copacabana Palace would have to be one of the world’s most infamous celebrity hotels.  Modeled on the glamorous resorts of the Riviera, it opened in 1923 and soon became the place to stay for Hollywood stars and European aristocrats during Rio’s “golden age.”

When Orson Welles took a suite here in 1942 with the Mexican actress Dolores del Rio while filming a documentary on Brazil, It’s All True, high drama ensued on and off the set.  The couple fought constantly, and Welles drunkenly threw the room’s entire furnishings from the window into the swimming pool below.  Fifteen years later, in 1957, another room in the Palace was trashed by a movie star, this time Ava Gardner, who was heart-broken by the break-up of her marriage to Frank Sinatra.  (No doubt her mood was not improved when, at one ball, an over-enthusiastic Brazilian admirer came up behind her and tore the back off her dress; when she checked out, her room was found to be strewn with whiskey bottles, the mirrors were broken and furniture slashed).

By this point, staff at the Palace had become accustomed to volatile scenes from its upper crust clientele. The newly-divorced Prince of Wales also became so drunk that he went fishing in the fountain, and Lana Turner was at the Copa when she heard that Howard Hughes had dumped her to marry Jean Peters, pushing her to a nervous breakdown. Today, the Copacabana Palace still dominates the city’s iconic beach. Visitors can still stroll into the splendid lobby and ask to see the “golden book,” a guest register filled with famous names from the glorious past: Errol Flynn, Margot Fontayn, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Clark Gable, Marlene Dietrich, Anita Ekburg, Brigitte Bardot and Brazil’s first international sex symbol, Carmen Miranda.

Carrying on that grand tradition, Copacabana Beach remains an exhibitionist’s paradise – the spot to flaunt your latest eye-popping thong and then samba all night while sipping caiparinhas (a potent mix of lemon, sugar and cane brandy called caxaça).  But be careful.  As Orson Welles would tell you, they really pack a punch.

It’s time to take flight and journey to the exotic country of Brazil, where the welcoming people and the tropical atmosphere will take your breath away. Grab your passport; your trip to Brazil is on!

For the next couple of weeks, we will explore some of the must-see sights in Rio de Janeiro. Soar with us over Iguassu Falls and bask in its 2-mile-wide torrential downpour. Climb the splendor Sugar Loaf Mountain or relax in the comfort and beauty of Rio’s famous beaches. View the awe-inspiring statue of Christ the Redeemer atop Corcovado Mountain and feel the power of the city’s rich cultural history electrifying the air.

Grab your bags and enjoy your tour of Brazil’s cathedrals, natural wonders, and incredible people. Let’s lose ourselves in the color, music, and vibrancy of this incredible country.

We will discover the infamous Ipanema and Copacabana Beaches, participate in a traditional carnival, and dance the samba in the streets. Whatever comes our way, our vacation in Brazil is sure to be an unforgettable travel experience.

Rounding out our series on Hawaii vacations, here are a few must-see sights of Kona:

Big Island Candy Factory
While visiting Hilo, head to Big Island Candy Factory, where you can view production and taste the delectable chocolate macadamia nuts and chocolate-dipped macadamia short bread cookies.

Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation
Take a private tour of award-winning Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation, where you will learn about coffee—from bean to cup—and can sample the delicious brew.

Volcano Winery
Stop at Volcano Winery, located just outside of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Home to some of the most unusual wines produced anywhere in the world, it specializes in tropical fruit blends and honey wine. Be sure to sample the Macadamia Nut Honey Wine, made from the island’s macadamia nut tree blossoms.

Unpack your bags and immerse yourself in the spirit of the Hawaiian Islands on a vacation to Maui.  Here are some must-see sights and excursions in Maui:

Aloha Mixed Plate Restaurant
Head to Lahaina Town to Aloha Mixed Plate Restaurant and enjoy a truly Hawaiian meal and magnificent ocean view. A mixed plate includes two scoops of rice, macaroni salad, and a meat selection.

Lahaina
The Island of Maui offers a wonderful selection of galleries, international shops, designer boutiques, and malls. Here you’ll find many specialty items and products unique to Hawaii. Lahaina is a shopper’s paradise. There is a weekly swap meet in Kahului, and you’ll find numerous craft fairs and farmer’s markets across the island.

Local Luau
Attend a local luau featuring Hawaiian delicacies such as kalua pig cooked in an earthen oven, poi, and haupia (coconut pudding). Entertainment includes Hawaiian music, hula, and even fire dancing.

Tedeschi Vineyards
Sample wines, including pineapple, at Tedeschi Vineyards in Maui’s upcountry. Visit the historic tasting room, enjoy a tour of the property, or picnic at the tables set beneath hundred-year-old trees.

Sugar Cane Train
Enjoy an excursion on the Sugar Cane Train while traveling between historic Lahaina Town and Ka’anapali. Take in the panoramic views of Hawaii as your singing conductor entertains you Hawaiian-style!

Silver Falls Ranch
Discover Maui’s backcountry on horseback. Silver Falls Ranch, near Kilauea, offers trail rides that meander through glorious scenic vistas.

Beat the winter blues and travel to Oahu, Hawaii in early December to witness the Pipeline Masters! This prestigious annual surfing event is named by Frommer’s as one the 300 Unmissable Events & Festivals Around the World is held at the Banzai Pipeline and attracts the top surfers in the world. Be sure to get there early to get a great spot on the sandy beaches of Oahu’s north shore, then kick back and watch as the world’s best surfers battle the towering waves of the glittering turquoise waters of the Pacific. The Pipeline Masters is the world’s longest-running professional surfing event and is the last event of the ASP (Association of Surfing Professionals) World Tour. Considered by some to be the crown jewel in the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing, this event is one that even the Hawaiian locals don’t want to miss!

White-sand beaches are just the beginning of what awaits you in the 50th state. Enjoy all the Hawaiian Islands have to offer on a getaway to Oahu.

No matter when you take a Hawaii vacation, you’ll enjoy exploring the many natural wonders, relaxing on leisurely sunset cruises, experiencing traditional luaus with Polynesian music and dancing, and much more.

Oahu contains some of Hawaii’s most famous attractions.  Here are some must-see sights when traveling to Oahu:

Pu’u Ualakaa Park
Take your car up Round Top Drive to Pu’u Ualakaa Park and enjoy breathtaking views of Diamond Head, Waikiki, Downtown Honolulu, and Punchbowl Crater. This is where Elvis and Joan Blackman had a picnic in the movie Blue Hawaii.

Food Tour
Enjoy a Hawaii food tour that features fascinating history and culinary decadence. You’ll taste, touch, and visit several different food gems and exotic ethnic restaurants that contribute to Honolulu’s delicious melting pot.

Makapu’u Point
Hike to Makapu’u Point for breathtaking views of Waimanalo Bay, Sandy Beach, and Koko Head. The hike takes about an hour each way and is a great spot for whale watching from December to May.

International Market Place
Shop at the International Market Place, an island tradition for years. With over 130 shops and artisan stands, this open-air setting in the heart of Waikiki is a must for that special gift or souvenir. The International Food Court offers a variety of local and international cuisine and free Hawaiian entertainment five nights a week.

The “Garden Isle” of Kauai, the oldest inhabited Hawaiian island, is quite lovely and seems untouched. There’s so much to see and do on Kauai vacation.  Paradise awaits in Hawaii!

When traveling to Hawaii, here are some of the must-see Kauai sights:

Kalalau Trail
Drive north on Hwy 56 through Hanalei Valley to the end of the road at Ha’ena. Take the exhilarating hike on the Kalalau Trail on the rugged Napali Coast for dramatic scenery. The Kalalau Trail provides the only land access to this part of the rugged coast. The trail traverses five valleys before ending at Kalalau Beach.

Poipu Bay Golf Course
Play a round of golf. The Garden Island is home to many of Hawaii’s top golf courses and boasts some of the most scenic and challenging layouts in Hawaii. A favorite is Poipu Bay Golf Course, an 18-hole championship course designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr.

Kauai Plantation Railroad
Ride the Kauai Plantation Railroad to experience plantation life and to learn about Kauai’s agriculture. Journey back through time as you tour fields of sugar, pineapple, banana, papaya, coffee, tropical flowers, and hardwood trees.