Park Hyatt Seoul

Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year with special events, the rare design hotel in South Korea proves it stays timeless

While there isn’t a cloak of glamour surrounding it like its sister venue in Tokyo (the backdrop to Sofia Coppola’s film “Lost in Translation”), Park Hyatt Seoul balances design and luxury in a respectful, low-key manner. From its modest height at 24 stories to its minimalist room furnishings, the hotel is a rare gem in the capital of South Korea. The international Park Hyatt brand …

Vintage Bikes, Gravel and Wine in Water Bottles: Eroica California

Experiencing the soul of bike racing by going back in time—and suffering

Leave your Lycra at home, forget about carbon fiber, stop meticulously counting the grams of your new crankset and prepare for a healthy dose of fatigue. At the inaugural Eroica California ride—part of the Italy-based Eroica series of non-competitive rides and festivals with editions in England, Japan, Spain—vintage bikes and apparel are the rules of the day. That means steel and aluminum frames, olive oil …

Experiencing Virgin’s First-Ever Hotel in Chicago

Richard Bransons's foray into city lodging and hospitality is full of design flourishes and fun surprises

Lifelong philanthropist and billionaire entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson has shaken up traditional industries with his adventurous spirit and design sensibility. His companies encompass everything from banking stem cells and future space travel to an entire island in the British Virgin Islands. While most of us probably can’t make the minimum seven-night stay at the private Necker Island compound anytime soon, Branson’s latest foray is a …