Featured Contributor
that the majority of what I do –
wine, food and travel – is already like
a vacation. I am so fortunate to do
what I love, and therefore my
“hobbies” are actually what I love to
do: visit places and write about
them. I simply cannot go without
working. For example, my wife was
speaking on a cruise to the Bahamas,
and I went along to support her. We
visited several ports during what
was vacation time. But being me,
when in Nassau, I ended up visiting
several properties for Forbes Travel.
Work? Kind of, but not really. I
sincerely love my job, and the
thought of “working” while on a
cruise seems perfectly logical to me.
Maralyn: What are your thoughts
on the luxury travel market?
Michael: Luxury travel is indeed
changing, and as I see it, a higher
level of travel is opening up to many
people who could not otherwise
afford it. And that is a positive
thing. Of course, there is always
that ultra luxury travel experience
that most of us will never get to,
but more and more, hotel and tour
operators are offering a better level
of concierge service to “average”
travelers, and I support that.
remember being in Germany and
visiting a small winery where the
winemaker’s wife made spundakas
– literally spoon cheese - fairly
common in Germany. However, her
iteration of it was amazing. It was
one of those stunning moments of
eating something so simple, but so
unique and original to exactly where
you are at that moment that made it
so special. I obtained her recipe, but
have lost it along the way (never a
good thing), but to this day I recall
the fresh, potent flavors; dipping
chewy pretzels into the spundakas,
generally making a pig of myself, and
being fascinated by my environment.
Maralyn: How do you enjoy
spending your free time?
Michael: It may sound odd, but I
don’t really vacation. By this, I mean
Books by Michael Cervin
Moon California
Wine Country
(Moon
Handbooks)
www.amzn.
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Moon Santa
Barbara & the
Central Coast
(Moon
Handbooks)
www.amzn.
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Moon Spotlight
Cambria and
San Simeon:
Including Hearst
Castle and
Morro Bay
www.amzn.
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Generous
Fiction
www.amzn.
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Maralyn: If you were stranded on
an island, name one person and
three items you would bring.
Michael: As obvious as it sounds, I
would have to be with my wife. Not
only is she my best friend and laughs
at my jokes, but we travel
exceptionally well together.
• My smart phone–not because I’d be
calling anyone (though I would want
to get off the island), but because
there are so many photos and videos
of friends, family and my highly
adored cats on it, and those
memories are powerful things.
• Leaves of Grass, by Walt Whitman
– This collection of poems speaks to
me on a very tangible and sensory
level.
• My camera – To be able to
document moments of time (I shoot
with a Canon Rebel Eos T3 – pretty
basic but immensely powerful) is a
luxury and near duty to me. Life
passes quickly, and I find that still
images slow us down, give us pause
and help us recall the things we truly
find important.
Maralyn: If we came to your
hometown of Santa Barbara, what
would we do?
Michael: Living in Santa Barbara and
having penned five travel books on
the region, I’m the best person to
ask, and I have a long list. But to
keep it manageable: My favorite
restaurants include Toma (terrific
Italian food), The Shop Café (a small
diner-type place with killer, fun
food), Paloma (excellent Mexican and
South American food).
Santa Barbara has a wealth of things
to see and do, but often overlooked
is a visit to our County Courthouse
– literally one of the most beautiful
public buildings in America, with
Moorish and classic Spanish
detailing.
A visit to the Channel Islands is a
must; it’s a step back into time, and
the majority of the islands are
pristine land. While there, you can
hike and scuba dive as I have done
– and snorkel and kayak around the
gorgeous volcanic islands.
Maralyn: What are three
necessities you won’t travel
without?
Michael:
• Lip balm - perhaps an odd thing to
mention, but cracked dry lips,
regardless of where you are, is never
a good thing.
• Water – this might seem obvious,
but often, we can get stranded
without water. I recall a flight back
from Europe where they announced
on the flight as we were mid way
over the Atlantic Ocean that they
had run out of water on board. The
moan from the passengers was
nearly deafening. I had my (filled)
water bottle with me, so I was good.
But it’s also important to know that
many of us experience the
beginnings of dehydration without
actually noticing it. Water can help
quickly refresh us and also fight
fatigue.
• Yes, plastic baggies, mainly for
food, leftovers, to keep something
fresh, to store food along the way,
whatever. It’s been a great thing to
have in case you need it. Plus, it can
act as a waterproof bag should you
need one.
Maralyn: What does Luxe Beat
Magazine mean to you?
Michael: The fantastic thing about
Luxe Beat is that it puts travel and
related content within reach for
everyone. It doesn’t cater to just the
wealthy, it caters to anyone who has
a desire to travel, try new things,
see new places and evolve as a
citizen of the planet. With such a
breadth of seasoned travel writers,
the magazine provides a stunning
array of opportunities to explore.
It is certainly a pleasure having
Michael represent Luxe Beat
Magazine.
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