-
Normandy as painted by the Impressionists
Normandy is like a beret perched askew on a Frenchman’s head, the 360-mile Normand coast curls along the north and northwest of France. After visiting Rouen, I headed for the coast to soak in the beaches and soft-green landscapes bathed in shifting light. Claude Monet’s Etretat “I count on doing a large canvas of the…
-
France. Impressionist painters in Normandy
Normandy attracts anyone who loves the impressionists and their paintings, as well as food lovers. Last spring I jumped at a chance to go to Normandy to follow in the footsteps of the Impressionist Painters. I criss-crossed the countryside from Giverny to the cobble-stoned streets of Rouen, across a patchwork quilt of emerald jewel fields…
-
Wildlife viewing in grand teton national park in wyoming
Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming is filled with wildlife like bears, moose, elk and eagles. The national park is an Aspen-light mixture of hikers, cowboys, art galleries and families on vacation. The nine mile Wilson-Moose Road from Teton Village (ski resort), to the Grand Teton National Park Headquarters is a wildlife hot spot. The…
-
America’s best music cities
Where can you find the best jazz, rock, folk, or symphony? From Austin to Nashville, Chicago to Branson, here are top ten music cities in North America. 1. New Orleans, Louisiana, www.neworleanscvb.com “New Orleans bleeds music – it’s in the air, in the water, in the people. You can’t go to New Orleans without the music…
-
Unusual packing tips for frequent travelers
My five most useful packing tips for frequent travelers. Packing is always stressful. Even though I’ve packed for trips to over 100 countries on seven continents, it is always stressful and I keep learning ways to make it easier. Also check out: Ten Mistakes That Could Ruin Your Vacation and Ten Things to Pack in…
-
Travel advice. three tricks to get the kids involved on a family vacation
The Three Ps of Engaging Your Kids in Your Family Vacation Every year, I’d take my kids on a family vacation—the Grand Canyon, the Monterey Aquarium, Yosemite. When they were little, it was easy to keep them engaged and happy. Then they hit their teenage years and it was all I could do to get…
-
First hour, first day in europe at the frankfurt airport
The two weeks before my departure were a whirlwind of activity and emotions: stress, excitement, anxiety, parties, sad goodbyes, painful packing and uncomfortable unpacking. Great. I can order a beer at age 20 here. My jet lag remedy. I’ve heard some people drink a cold beer in a hot shower to minimize the agonizing…
-
First hour, first day in europe at the frankfurt airport
The two weeks before my departure were a whirlwind of activity and emotions: stress, excitement, anxiety, parties, sad goodbyes, painful packing and uncomfortable unpacking. Great. I can order a beer at age 20 here. My jet lag remedy. I’ve heard some people drink a cold beer in a hot shower to minimize the agonizing…
-
Ten ways to protect your eyes when traveling
Some of us have to learn the hard way. After my two-year-around the world trip I discovered I had damaged my eyes by not wearing proper eye protection. My perfect 20/20 eyesight was compromised due to over- exposure to harmful UV rays. How do you protect your eyes from dry airports, hotels, and the elements?…
-
Chef’s holidays at yosemite
Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul – John Muir Hike through Yosemite Valley surrounded by waterfalls, or cross-country ski along the Merced River beneath granite walls, then return to the giant fireplaces and soaring ceilings at…
-
Relaxed island life in southern california
Coronado Island is a world away from skyscrapers, freeways and malls, yet it’s only a bridge away from downtown San Diego. Blue skies and warm sun keep watch on 70 miles of beaches in the San Diego area where a gentle Mediterranean climate tempts you to go to the beach. Coronado’s wide, white sand beaches…
-
Adenaline rush and hiker’s heaven in the Swiss Alps
For adventure addicts, Interlaken Switzerland is the perfect place to set up base camp. You’ll see hand gliders land in the town square every afternoon (in good weather). Vendors along the main street have booths offering hang-gliding, scooter bike, mountain biking and climbing excursions. It’s so easy to do get an adrenaline rush in the…
-
The top of europe and the alps
I could see France, Germany and Italy from the observation terrace perched above a 14-mile long sea of ice in the Alps. Did I climb there? No it’s easy with the Swiss Jungfrau Railway. If you love mountains and train travel, there’s no place where it’s more reliable, clean and spectacular than in Switzerland. From…
-
New york city speak-easy for cocktails and food
Little Italy in New York offers much more than red sauce dining and the Feast of San Gennaro. Read more from New York City Contributing Writer, Meryl Pearlstein who shares the inside scoop with us. Perhaps you know a bit of the rich and tenacious history of the area, first populated by Germans, then by…
-
Seven best things to do if your flight is cancelled
Airline Passenger Rights 1. Request rule 240, which in the US stipulates that the airline must deliver you to your destination within 2 hours of your scheduled flight time. If it can’t (and delay isn’t due to weather) it must arrange your ticket on another flight at no additional cost. But you must ask for…
-
Fitness tips for travelers
Five simple exercises you can do in airports, hotel rooms or a rental car. When you hit the road, skies or waterways, you don’t have to “fall” into old habits! Give your body a daily fitness boost with five simple slimming exercise tips – courtesy of the vibrant, 75-year-old health expert Sheila Cluff, founder of…
-
Don’t let the bed bugs bite
I love traveling in the developing world, but I don’t love dealing with insects – and I especially don’t want to bring them home with me. However, as more and more travelers vacation in exotic places, that’s exactly what’s happening. As suitcases move around the world, insects get a free ride. In the U. S., New York tops…