Are you sitting down? Because I have some sad news to tell you. Lonely Planet and I broke up. Now, now. Don't worry. I'm going to be fine...in time. It was for the best, really. We'll be happier now. I'm ready to play the field again, see what's out there.

What happened? Well, we got in a bit of a row while I was in Thailand. You see, LP mentioned in passing that we might experience "high winds" in Koh Samui in November. I live in San Francisco! High winds are nothing! I laugh in the face of high winds.

Editor's Note: Inspired by Follow Friday on Twitter, I am profiling (in far more than 140 characters) extraordinary travelers who you, too, should follow! Through these profiles, I want to introduce you to globetrotting souls that follow their hearts to places near and far, so join me each Friday in my quest to be inspired by some of the most intriguing adventure seekers on our planet!

Be inspired by: Andy Hayes
Follow him at: @andrewghayes

Summer starts on Sunday, June 21, and I for one can't wait.  Michelle Doucette, our friend and fellow blogger, shared her picks for the world's best places to celebrate the summer solstice with USA Today.

Today I'm stopping by The View from the Bay to do a round-up of the best summer travel gadgets. Savvy Window Seat readers already know about a few of the gizmos I'm going to talk about, but here are my top five (in no particular order):

Okay, so reading The Other Boleyn Girl doesn’t exactly qualify as preparation for a trip to London. But it did introduce me to the goings on at the infamous Tower of London, one of London’s most notorious sights. Set on the lovely Thames River right downtown, the Tower dates all the way back to the times of William the Conqueror, in 1078. It’s an amazing anachronism, standing as it is surrounded by modern buildings.

I’ll admit it – I’m biased. I love Mexico. I’ve been twice so far this year – once to Riviera Maya and once to Riviera Nayarit – and am hoping for a third trip later this year.  That may be a little aggressive, even for a super fan like me, but the deals are so good right now, I’m not sure I can stay away.

Take our poll on the right side of the page! Would you travel to Mexico right now? Yes or no? Vote now!

Please join us in welcoming Catherine Sanderson to The Window Seat. She lives in Paris and is the writer of the popular blog Petite Anglaise.

Many visitors to Paris remain unaware of the existence of the Canal Saint Martin, a waterway constructed in the early nineteenth century to bring fresh water and freight into the French capital.

Please join us in welcoming Martha Stewart to The Window Seat! This is an abbreviated version of Martha’s first travel column that debuted in the April 2009 issue of Martha Stewart Living Magazine. This article is a part of the new quarterly travel section and her next piece is scheduled for the August issue, which hits stands July 20, 2009. An abbreviated version of the next travel article will also be featured on The Window Seat so be sure to check back soon.

In the summer of 2008, I decided to travel to England, Ireland, and Poland to visit some of our company’s strategic partners. I also planned to sightsee and to film several segments for my TV show. This is not an unusual scenario. I frequently combine my love of travel with business because I go places that I think most of us would enjoy seeing and experiencing.

Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match…at 40,000 feet?! If your mom has set you up with every available soul within a 50-mile radius, you’ve tried Match.com more times than you care to admit, and you’re still looking for Mr. or Ms. Right, you might try heading down under.

Air New Zealand is introducing the world’s first Matchmaking Flight. Adventurers looking for amour can book this flight from Los Angeles to Auckland on October 13, 2009 and see if sparks fly in the air. And you’re going to love the price. Round-trip flights are starting at just $780*. The airline will also treat you to a pre-flight gate party, themed food, drink, and games to encourage mingling on the flight, and a singles-only bash at the SKYCITY Convention Centre in Auckland.