Where Have You Been Lately?

Sean MacPherson, restaurateur/club impresario

Cadaques, Spain

“One reason Cadaques is so great is it’s off the beaten path--north of Barcelona, near the French border--so you don’t see many tourists. It’s famous primarily because Salvador Dali lived there. The landscape is spectacular, very prehistoric. The Pyrenees dive right into the sea.”

Discovery: “There’s a place called El Bulli that is, in my opinion, the most interesting restaurant in the world, hands down. It’s run by Ferran Adria, who has this Willie Wonka meets Sid Vicious sensibility. He prepares these incredible creations and he has four times as many people working in the kitchen as there are eating in the dining room. For example, there’s one guy whose only job is to oversee the poaching of quail eggs.”

John Baldessari, artist

Amalfi Coast, Italy

“I had a show in Naples, which is right on the Mediterranean Sea. Afterward I drove down the Amalfi Coast. The drive is spectacular, and it’s nice because you can stop in these small towns and have lunch and get a good feel for the Italian way of life.”

Discovery: “Take a trip to one of the islands off the coast of Naples. I went to Procida, the smallest by far. Mostly fishermen live there so it’s very laid back. Next time, I plan to rent a house and spend the entire time on the porch with a book and a martini.”

Gena Lee Nolin, ‘Baywatch’ star

Hana, Maui

“Maui has amazing places to hike. The best is the road to Hana. You see all these waterfalls when you’re driving, but if you get out of your car and hike into the tropical rain forest, you find that one waterfall leads to another, each one bigger than the last. Pretty soon, there you are, all alone, swimming in this natural pool with a beautiful waterfall cascading right before your eyes. I mean, it’s really exotic.”

Discovery: “Girls, no matter where you go in Hawaii, all you need is a sundress, bathing suit, sandals and sunglasses, and that’s it.’

Richard Riordan, mayor

River Tay, Scotland

“I’ve just come back from Scotland, where I stayed in the beautiful River Tay area, about 70 miles north of Edinburgh. When I’m on vacation I like to relax rather than look for stimulation, so I spent most of my time riding my bike through fields and hiking around the hills and lakes, soaking up the magnificent scenery.”

Discovery: “This being Scotland, you have to play golf if you get the chance. There’s a little town of about 200 people called Strath Tay that has its own course. The holes are so difficult you almost need ropes to get to them. You also need a lot of balls because if one goes off the fairway, there’s no way you’re getting it back.”

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COMPILED BY PAUL YOUNG