July 7, 2016
Whenever I bring up the Azores in a conversation, most Americans say, “Hmm, I’ve heard of it, but where is it exactly?” The Azores is actually an archipelago (cluster) of nine volcanic islands in the middle of the northern Atlantic Ocean, 850 miles west of Portugal and 2,561 miles east of New York City. They […]
June 15, 2016
Driving through Indiana might not be the first place that comes to mind when planning a road trip, but it’s a route that definitely should be considered. Road trips can be a ton of fun, especially when there are stops all along the way that blends together a mix of fun, good food, adventure, history, […]
May 10, 2016
It had been four months since my near-death experience. Flying cross-country was challenging enough – I really was not aware of the obstacles that lay ahead. Death Valley, California. Death Valley is the lowest place in the United States with the highest recorded temperature (134°F in 1913) in the world. I wanted to celebrate the […]
April 18, 2016
Face as brown and tough as leather, with deep, deep smile lines crinkling around sparkling black eyes, Don Alberto Martinez welcomed us warmly to his organic mezcal tequila farm just outside Oaxaca City. His firm, rough handshake spoke volumes of a labor-intensive but honest life of living and working his land on the outskirts of […]
April 13, 2016
“He was a bold man that first ate an oyster.” -Jonathan Swift My agreement with that statement made me somewhat of an outcast among my trendy Baby Boomer friends. I’d watched them shuck open some unsuspecting barnacle-laden shell, tip it up, and let a pulpy, slimy mass of flesh slide down their throat. No thanks, […]
February 9, 2016
Mexico is one of my favorite countries and the only destination that I return to year-after-year. I travel solo much of the time, and it’s always been safe. For those who are still concerned, there are other fantastic ways to see the country, such as a small-group or curated tour. Tours groups like Cantimplora Travel […]
January 18, 2016
Have you ever looked at a friend’s Facebook pictures of frolicking fun on exotic islands and wondered how they could afford it? Have you lamented being able to visit the Bahamas on a budget? You’re not alone. Taking a tropical vacation with a limited budget is easier than you think. Carnival’s cruises to the Bahamas […]
December 30, 2015
I’d really never considered a back-to-back cruise, i.e. combining two cruises on the same ship, until a friend suggested it. I was in the process of booking a cruise to the Caribbean out of the port of Miami – one of Carnival’s shorter five-day cruises which would visit Grand Cayman and Jamaica. After returning to […]
December 22, 2015
Now that winter is upon us and an end to the frenzy of the holidays in sight, visions of escape routes to warmer climates are starting to dance in our heads. Coastal escapes and beach towns along the southern Atlantic seaboard are offering off-season rates and special weekend packages making their charming destinations and temperate […]
December 17, 2015
Sherry Stoppelbein and her Datil pepper sauce have a long history in St. Augustine. Both lay claim to a heritage from the Minorcans. Transported in 1788 from the island of Minorca off the coast of Spain to northeast Florida as indentured servants to Scottish speculator Andrew Turnbull, the Minorcans eventually rebelled against the harsh conditions, […]