Tag: gardens
Most Romantic Christchurch Accommodation
New Zealand: Christchurch accommodation comes in all shapes and sizes, but Otahuna Lodge is easily the most romantic. The stately Victorian mansion is surrounded by 30 acres of beautiful gardens, emerald green lawns, and fragrant woodlands. Seven spacious bedrooms – most with working fireplaces – are both grand and welcoming. If you’ve ever longed to […]
Rancho La Puerta – Savor Mexico Near San Diego
Rancho La Puerta, the famous spa retreat in Tecate, Mexico, is a great option for visitors to San Diego who want a taste of Mexican culture. The resort is an hour east of San Diego and just 3.3 miles south of the border. Normally reservations are only accepted for one-week stays, but savvy San Diegans […]
Carmel Valley – Where to Stay and Play
Carmel Valley is a popular destination for luxury loving Californians. Resorts, lodges, and restaurants in this area two hours from San Francisco offer the food, wine, and activities that Golden State residents love. Want to connect with the local culture? You couldn’t make a better choice than to spend some time at Carmel Valley Ranch. When I […]
New York Botanical Garden
The New York Botanical Garden wasn’t on my must-see list the first time I visited New York City. Nope. Instead, I chose to wait in line interminably to take the elevator to the top of the Empire State Building, and I rushed back and forth across Manhattan from one mega-museum to another. I don’t regret […]
Giverny – Monet’s Garden Travel Tips
Giverny – I’d dreamed about seeing this garden for at least a decade. Actually, maybe longer. I think I was still in high school when I wrote a term paper on the French Impressionist artist Claude Monet. In the process, I fell in love with his garden at Giverny, France. And now I was in […]
Bainbridge Island WA – Best Things to Do
Bainbridge Island , a 35-minute ferry ride across Puget Sound from Seattle, is not on the “to do” list of most visitors to the Northwest. But maybe it should be on yours. The rustic/chic community is home to affluent commuters and retirees, not unlike Del Mar, just north of San Diego, and Carmel-by-the-Sea in Northern […]
Garden Tours – Meet Locals in San Diego, Seattle++
Garden tours are a great way to get to know a destination. That thought occurred to me yesterday during my “shift” as a Plant Information Volunteer at the Secret Garden Tour of La Jolla. As I’m pretty sure I’ve mentioned before on this blog, La Jolla is the part of San Diego, California, where I […]
Best Romantic Hotel in Tuscany
“We’ve found an exquisite romantic hotel in Tuscany,” readers Deb and Tom Tucker wrote recently. “It’s Borgo Santo Pietro, located about 35 minutes from Siena and one hour from Florence. They offer 15 rooms and suites – all elegantly furnished. It’s the perfect place for Authentic Luxury Travelers. “There is a main building with suites […]
6 Santa Barbara, California Secrets
This wonderful guest post was contributed by Lauren Bray, Managing Editor of edhat.com, Santa Barbara’s #1 website for all things local. Santa Barbara is known for its red tile roofs, relaxing beaches, fine dining, and a burgeoning wine industry. It’s the laid-back vibe and natural beauty that brings many visitors to our American Riviera. State […]
Visit Downton Abbey
The third season of the massively popular TV series Downton Abbey premieres in the U. S. on January 6, 2013. Finally, we’ll find out if Lady Mary and Matthew get married, and we’ll meet Lady Grantham’s mother, played by actress Shirley MacLaine. If watching the show makes you want to visit the garden and the […]
5 Best Hotels in Costa Rica
Best hotels in Costa Rica? This beautiful, eco-friendly country offers some wonderful choices – often surrounded by beautiful gardens. Here are a few of my favorites: Finca means “farm” and Finca Rosa Blanca is a charming 13-room country inn overlooking an organic coffee plantation just outside of San Jose. The artistic décor includes hand-crafted tiles, colorful murals, and […]
