Welcome Gutsy Travelers!

Mass tourism is causing havoc in many European cities. Fueled by low cost airline seats, cruise ships, and online room rentals like Airbnb, iconic tourist destinations are over crowded. In the summer months popular destinations such as  Amsterdam and Barcelona have 20...

Paso Robles, mid-way between San Francisco and Los Angles, is known for wine tasting and summer concerts. Recently  my husband and I drove 3 ½ hours south of San Francisco to visit the famous wineries. An added bonus was the temporary outdoor exhibition of British...

Think Telluride is all about powder skiing and film festivals? Thing again! This is the place where Butch Cassidy began his bank-robbing career at the San Miguel Valley Bank on June 24, 1889.  After the heist, Cassidy and two buddies mounted their steeds, shot their...

When you think of Sonoma County, images come to mind of vineyards and vine-covered hillsides, elegant tasting rooms and fabulous dinners at intimate restaurants. Beyond the famous food, wine and vineyards, Sonoma offers plenty more to discover. Go West Beyond the...

Do you recycle your trash, compost your garbage or drive a hybrid car? Do you travel with a water bottle - as opposed to buying plastic water bottles? If so, you most likely look for ways to “go green” on vacation. Here’s the bad news: cruising is not a green...

With the famous span of the Golden Gate Bridge as the backdrop, The Presidio is San Francisco’s great escape. This huge National Park is nestled along the Bay and Crissy Field extending through 262 acres of historic forests to the cliffs above the Pacific Ocean. The...

  Australia and New Zealand kept calling our names, but let’s face it, they are a long way from home. I was a little overwhelmed by the complicated planning aspects of trying to fly around the huge continent of Australia and how to navigate both islands in New...

  Travel safety for woman is the number one concern for students, seniors and world adventurers. I've written chapters in my books and spoken at universities and at travel shows about "how to stay safe and travel the world". Here are ways to be prepared and avoid...

Hut-to-hut hiking and Freedom Camping is the way to go in Norway if you love the outdoors and want stay on a budget. Last summer my partner and I hiked above deep fjords, slept in comfy huts, drove scenic remote roads, soaked in panoramic views of sheer mountain faces...

Barcelona’s sensory-rich food scene, stunning Gaudi-designed architecture and glitzy nightlife lure big crowds in the summer. Last year over 18 million tourists descended upon the Catalan metropolis of 5.5 million people. If you want Barcelona to yourself and you want...