Category: Special Interest Trips
YOGA, Food and Wine in Tuscany
I’ve just heard the details for the Il Campo Cucina Yoga Retreat in Tuscany, September 21-28,2013 and it sounds like the perfect dream week. If you’ve already entered to Win A Food And Wine Adventure in Tuscany, remember that you can use the prize for the yoga+cooking week, as well as others that are on the […]
Win a Food and Wine Adventure in Tuscany
Learn about Tuscany’s farm-to-table cuisine at Il Campo Cucina – a unique cooking school located in a picturesque hill town near Siena. Meet the “teachers” – local women who hold classes in their homes, on their farms, and in other historic buildings. Discover the secret to making perfect lasagna, gnocchi, tiramisu and other traditional Italian […]
Tuscan Cooking School
It was a stroke of good luck that I met Marlane Miriello and heard about her Tuscan cooking school. The Italian-American was visiting with friends in San Diego who thought I might find her story interesting. Of course, I was – not just interested, but really interested. Marlane and I are both of Italian descent, and […]
Pet-Friendly Paris
Maggie Espinosa contributed this guest post. What options does pet-friendly Paris offer? That was the question as my assistant and I deplaned in The City of Light. I was sure that man’s best friend was welcome, but I needed to know the details because I’m writing a travel guide app: The Privileged Pooch in Paris. […]
Bucket List Travel
Recently, a close friend boarded a flight from San Diego to New York en route to a meeting in Milan. Shortly into the flight, this very fit guy with no major health issues passed out and collapsed in the aisle. Because American Airlines’ planes are equipped with a remarkable amount of emergency medical equipment and a […]
Rovos Rail Journey on the Pride of Africa
I’m blessed with friends and family that share my passion for travel, so holiday cards are often replete with descriptions of recent adventures. In 2012, Mary Anne and Joe Curray took the prize (OK, there isn’t actually a prize) with their tale of a 14-day Rovos Rail Journey on the Pride of Africa from Cape […]
Can You ID This Surf Photo?
Just for fun – and a prize – can you ID this surf photo? Tell me where I took this picture and I’ll send you a pressie. You’ll need to think outside the box for this one. I see surfers every day in my hometown of La Jolla, California, but I was really taken aback […]
Birch Aquarium Whale Adventures
Birch Aquarium at Scripps is the public exploration center for the world-renowned Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego. Perched on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the aquarium showcases fish and invertebrates from the cold waters of the Pacific Northwest to the tropical waters of Mexico. My family and I particularly enjoy […]
101 Tips for Women Travelers
This little book is chockablock with great travel suggestions I made a cup of tea about an hour ago and sat down to look at 101 TIPS FOR WOMEN TRAVELERS, edited by Harriet R. Lewis, Vice Chairman, Grand Circle Corporation. Frankly I wasn’t expecting to learn very much. I’ve been writing travel articles, guidebooks, and blog […]
Huahine – the Best of French Polynesia
Huahine is one of many spectacularly beautiful islands in French Polynesia. It’s also my favorite, primarily because it doesn’t feel touristy. When my husband and I explored the island on foot and by car, we encountered only friendly locals and felt very welcome. Many readers have told me that if they could go anywhere in the world, it […]
Chasing California’s Surf Culture
Let me start by saying that the surf movie Chasing Mavericks is in no danger of being nominated for an Academy Award. Gerard Butler and Jonny Weston are sympathetic characters, but as one reviewer said “there’s a pretty good 90-minute movie trapped inside this 111-minute extravaganza.” * On the other hand, Authentic Luxury Travel is […]
Best Places to Walk in Northern California
I love to walk and I recently took advantage of a great opportunity to experience the best places to walk in Northern California. It was one of those spur-of-the-moment decisions that authentic travelers make because we’re open to spontaneous adventures on the road less traveled. A friend of mine had planned a walking trip from […]
A Villa In Sicily For the Holidays
I know you’re already thinking about the winter holidays. Americans will celebrate Thanksgiving on November 27, and many travelers around the world will observe Hanukkah, Christmas, and the New Year. Have you ever considered renting a villa in Sicily for the holidays? I’ve already written about vacation rentals in Maui , Tuscany and Florence – […]
Vacation Rentals in Hawaii – Maui & Big Island
Vacation rentals in Hawaii are perfect for families or groups of friends traveling together. As I said in an early post on this topic, rental homes cost considerably less than a flock of hotel rooms and provide more space, privacy, and conveniences. And what could be more authentic than staying in a real home instead of […]
