Travel
Revel in Barcelona and Beyond
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 to beat the heat, go in the off-season when you can stroll down the Las […]
Yellowstone Country wildlife. Welcome bear cubs, bison calves and wolf pups
An exciting time of the year to see Yellowstone wildlife, especially newborns, is in the spring. If you ask the locals, most residents of northwestern Wyoming’s Cody – situated east of Yellowstone National Park – will tell you the season truly begins when the babies make their debut. “The first cub-spotting is a big deal […]
Magic in the heart of the Austrian Alps
From ski slopes with stunning vistas to fine food at the top of the world, the Austrian Alps roll out the welcome mat. Not far from the violin harmonies of Mozart in the gilded halls of Salzburg, I discovered a quieter perfection – the sound of a gurgling mountain stream and cowbells while hiking through […]
Iceland by sea: explore the land of puffins, elves and fjords
Despite its name, only 10% of Iceland is actually covered in ice. In fact, the country about the size of Maine, is gloriously green. Wildflower fields, lush meadows, and rich tundra blanket a landscape of astonishing variety: black sand beaches, tumbling waterfalls, active volcanoes, bubbling hot springs in the middle of the wilderness, and snowcapped […]
Ski or hike in Zermatt, Switzerland.
Head to Zermatt, Switzerland for spectacular powder runs, stunning trails and the romantic charm of an idyllic Alpine village. Matterhorn Magic Walt Disney was inspired by the majestic sharp mountain in southern Switzerland and copied it for the famous Disneyland ride. It’s easy to fall in love with the Swiss winter, especially in the shadow of […]
Family Travel. The best and the worst family getaways.
Family travel is a time to make memories that last a lifetime. Over two decades and to over two dozen countries, I traveled with my kids, usually without an adult partner to help out. If you want to do more than beaches and amusement parks, then read on for tips and scroll down for suggestions for […]
Southern Italy where they’ve perfected the art of slowing down
When our cook, Fausta Solfa, mentioned that dinner would be at 7:30 pm, someone in our group asked: “Is that 7:30 pm regular time or Italia time?” The rest of us started laughing. Four days into our week-long sojourn in southern Italy and we were finally getting used to the pace: be ready by 8:30 […]
Active days, comfortable nights in the Canadian Rockies.
The Canadian Rockies Only an hour from Calgary, and three hours from San Francisco, the Canadian Rockies are a fabulous destination for adventurers and nature lovers. Most popular things to do Don’t miss Lake Louise, Banff, Jasper and the Icefields Parkway. If you go, you shouldn’t miss these, but to get a real taste of the […]
Now’s the time to visit Portugal
Lisbon, Porto and the Duoro River Valley have become “all the rage”. One of the Great European River Journeys The Duoro Valley east of Porto, in northern Portugal, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, due to it’s […]
Travel dangers for women
These days, it’s discouraging to read all the stories about travel dangers, especially for women whose vacations have become nightmares. Here’s what you need to know to stay safe while you indulge your wanderlust in this big, wide, wonderful world. Pack your street smarts along with your hiking boots and bikini. Remember Aruba. Natalee Holloway, […]