Category: U. S. Travel
Hotel La Jolla, San Diego, California
I’d like to introduce my charming new neighbor: Hotel La Jolla, a Kimpton Hotel, moved in across the street last summer, and is a wonderful addition to our area. My friends and I walk over for drinks in Hiatus, their cozy patio lounge, and dine in Cusp on the 11th floor. I’ve lived in La […]
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 […]
Winner of the Carmel Four Night Getaway is..
Thanks to all of you who subscribed and submitted comments for the Four Fabulous Nights in Carmel Getaway. It was interesting to see which locations popped up as favorites. Here are the top ten: Country/Location Italy Carmel, California South Africa Indonesia Antarctica French Polynesia Ireland New Zealand Spain USA AND THE WINNER IS… The randomly selected winner of […]
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 […]
Win Four Fabulous Nights in Carmel, California
Win a luxurious four-night stay for two in beautiful Carmel, California! Enjoy innovative meals and fine wines at Carmel’s landmark Cypress Inn and Carmel Valley’s award-winning Bernardus Lodge. Visit the famous Monterey Bay Aquarium, walk white-sand beaches, stroll through vineyards, and enjoy scenic surroundings during the day. Relax by an open fire in the evening. […]
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 […]
Award Winning Bernardus Lodge, Carmel Valley, California
While it can be foggy along the Carmel coast, the sun shines 320 days a year about 15 minutes inland in Carmel Valley. This makes the lucky people who are staying at Bernardus Lodge happy. The sunshine also makes many, many acres of grapes very happy. Northern California insiders know that Carmel Valley produces wonderful wine and […]
The Cypress Inn, Carmel, California
My husband and I just spent two wonderful days in Northern California at The Cypress Inn in Carmel-by-the-Sea, and I can’t decide what I loved most about it. First of all, the inn is pet-friendly and standard schnauzers, labs, and cocker spaniels give it a homey feel and provided natural ice breakers for meeting other […]
Fall Colors ? Check out Story, Indiana
Story, Indiana – gateway to the best-ever fall colors Brown County State Park in Southern Indiana is my favorite place for autumn leaf peeping. The trees here turn magnificent shades of red, gold, and burnt orange in late September or early October and stay that way until winter arrives. Many “peepers” stay in nearby […]
Insider Tip: Chicago Restaurants
The windy city is well known for being the home of deep-dish pizza and Italian beef sandwiches, but on a recent visit a couple of in-the-know foodies took the time to educate me on the current upscale dining scene. “It’s as if a promising new restaurant opens every day,” Gregg Lemkau told me. “If you […]
Hotels Near US National Parks
I’ve already mentioned several hotels and resorts in or near US national parks, including super luxurious Amangiri near Bryce Canyon National Park and the Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite. However, I decided to mention a couple of other options, which might help assuage any concerns you have about having to “rough it’ in order to visit our […]
Insider Tip – Miami Cuban Cuisine
Miami Cuban Cuisine Bless the concierge at Acqualina Hotel in Sunny Isles who steered us to Little Havana Restaurant in North Miami. The place is huge – I had the feeling it was designed to accommodate large wedding receptions – but oh! what food. My husband and I put ourselves in the hands of Alex – waiter, cultural […]
US National Parks – Free & Super Fun
US National Parks are our country’s national treasure. They are great places to get in touch with nature and de-stress, and they provide the perfect setting to reconnect with family and close frends. If you love to travel and enjoy scenic beauty, I can’t imagine a better vacation than one spent in a US National […]
Glamping in a US National Park
As I mentioned in my last post, President Obama’s recent Executive Order has made it easier for overseas travelers to visit the USA and he – and I – hope you will explore our country’s beautiful national parks. I think they offer our best Authentic Luxury Travel. If hiking sounds too rugged, remember that you […]
