As you can see in the title banner above, our Travel Maestro blog is all about “Insider tips and trends for living the art of travel.” During 2011, we posted 94 new travel stories that were read by just shy of 20,000 faithful readers and new visitors. We sincerely appreciate your interest and hope that you will continue to return in the new year to keep up with new travel trends, learn about interesting destinations and get the scoop on luxury travel.

In case you missed any of the top posts, here are our most-read stories of the year:

1)  Top 10 Romantic Destinations for 2011 – Thinking about whisking your sweetie away for Valentine’s Day (or any day, just because you’re in love)? Well, here are my top 10 picks for hand-holding, eye-gazing and lip-locking. Each of these places will melt your heart and deepen the bond with your honey as you share their unique charms.

2)  What’s In Dallas Besides Football? – The American passion for football is alive and well as all eyes turn toward the upcoming Super Bowl. On February 6, 2011, the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers will play in Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. For the thousands of visitors who descend on the Dallas metropolitan area for the event, there will be plenty of football events, but Dallas also has ample attractions besides the big game.

3)  Whale Watching on the Pacific Coast – A huge black and white orca fully breaches out of the water and his eight ton body lands with a terrific splash. His pod of 30 family members frolics playfully as they jump and slap their tails on the water’s surface. A baby whale hangs vertically in the water with his head held high out of the water “spy hopping” to see what is going on. A massive 50-foot long, 35-ton gray whale swims along side of the boat to “people watch” to the delight of the whale watchers.

4)  A Royal Tour for the Wedding of the Century – If you don’t have Royal connections, but want to be part of the Royal wedding celebration of Kate and William, here are the Royal UK sights you should not miss.

5)  The Gravity-Defying SkyPark of Singapore – The SkyPark is a huge boat-shaped, cantilevered observation deck crowning three 55-story towers of the Marina Bay Sands hotel in Singapore. It is an engineering wonder that gives visitors the most spectacular 360º views of the city and marina of Singapore. The view at sunset, as the lights of the city come alive, is particularly enchanting.

6)  Must See & Do in Puerto Rico – Puerto Rico is a wonderful mixture of old and new with glamorous resorts, casinos, historic colonial forts, leafy rain forests, coral reefs and impressive beaches.

7)  Live like Richard Branson at Necker Island – Sadly, on August 22, 2011, the magnificent Great House on Necker Island was destroyed by a fire caused by a lightening strike. All of the 20 guests escaped harm, but the luxurious house was a total loss. Sir Richard Branson says that he will rebuild.

8)  The Historic Greenbrier Resort – The historic Greenbrier Resort is a timeless haven with a legacy of luxury. Golf, spa, casino gaming and fine dining are just part of the Greenbrier experience.

9)  Need a Reason to Travel? Think Figure Skating – Figure skating is a spectator sport enjoyed by millions and the perfect excuse to travel! Championship events are held throughout the year and throughout the world.

10)  Revealed: Fabergé Burlesque – Who in their right mind would attempt to combine classical ballet with strip tease, an audacious Drag Queen with the exquisite art of Fabergé, vintage clothing and sparkling spandex? The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) and the Richmond Institute of Burlesque did just that in an inspired performance to a sold-out audience last Friday evening. The effect was sexy, funny, artistic, entertaining and educational. It proved once again that the VMFA is a dynamic and progressive purveyor of art in many forms.