Tag: scenery
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 […]
Denali National Park – Musings on the “Great One”
Denali – the tallest peak in the U.S. – has been in the news a lot lately because of its recent name change. What’s the fuss about? In 1896, a gold prospector labeled the mountain “Mt. McKinley” when he heard that Ohioan William McKinley had just secured the Republican presidential nomination. In 1975, the state of Alaska officially changed […]
Coasterra – New San Diego Restaurant Stays Classy
Coasterra – the vibrant restaurant, bar, and event space that opened on Harbor Island in mid-August – is getting good reviews for its Modern Mexican food. However, when I joined other San Diegans for lunch there recently, I was equally impressed with the setting, architecture, and interior design. Authentic San Diego dining On this site, […]
Monterey, CA – Wildlife, Great Food & More
Monterey is a mixed bag. At first glance, it’s not very exciting. The commercial district is chockablock with the predictable chain stores, and nearby lodging and dining options are also ho-hum. So why am I writing about this Central California city? Because the flip side is that Monterey is home to some of the best food, most authentic wildlife […]
Victoria Falls – Best Places to Stay in Livingstone
Victoria Falls – located between the countries of Zambia and Zimbabwe in Africa – is the world’s largest sheet of falling water. It is nearly twice the height of Niagara Falls in North America. In height and width it is rivaled only by Iguazu Falls in South America. As you might imagine, this notoriety has […]
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 […]
Best La Jolla Beach Boutique Hotel
La Jolla beach hotels tend to be busy places, but one boutique property offers a sweet retreat with an ocean view. Scripps Inn faces the Pacific a few blocks south of La Jolla Cove – just far enough from the Children’s Pool seal colony to avoid the masses of visitors that the marine cuties attract. I’ve lived […]
Amazon River – Cruising Peru in Style
Amazon River cruising didn’t sound all that appealing when my friend Nina first mentioned it to me. In fact, just the words “Amazon River” conjured up visions of someone in a grungy boat swatting at flies and dodging Anacondas. However, I sat up and took noticed when I clicked on the link that Nina sent […]
2 Alaska Hiking Trails Locals Love
Alaska hiking trails stretch out across the state. These offer authentic travelers what they came for: gorgeous scenery and a chance to experience nature unrefined. Anchorage-based photographer Victoria Lynn Pennick generously contributed her images and insider comments for this guest post. Both of us hope they will inspire you to explore beyond the beaten path of Alaska’s “must-see” sights and will lead to […]
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 […]
Walking Vikos Gorge, Greece
“Walking Vikos Gorge” was contributed by Helena Dell’Orletta from Barrie, Ontario, Canada. She and Dino Dell’Orletta traveled in Greece during June 2014. Day 1 + 2: Corfu We have traveled to Europe many times, but Greece always seemed to elude us. When our favorite tour company, On Foot Holidays, added Walking Vikos Gorge in Greece, we didn’t hesitate. […]
4 Secret Spots on California Highway 1
Highway 1 winds along nearly 650 miles of the California coast, providing breathtaking ocean views and glimpses of local life in picturesque communities. The road is discontinuous and relatively slow, so most travelers switch back and forth between scenic sections of Highway 1 and “making better time” on Highway 101. Highway 1 is one of […]
New Zealand North Island Trip Report
This “New Zealand North Island” Trip Report was written by Maya & Mark from San Diego, California. They asked for my help with trip planning last spring when they were headed to New Zealand for the first time. I was happy to oblige, since this is an area I know quite well. They traveled during the […]
