A Sanctuary in the Valley of the Sun As new residents of Arizona’s Valley of the Sun with a home in Scottsdale, my husband and I are eager to learn about the great places and activities in our new community and surrounding area. We’ve been pleasantly surprised that there is so much to see and do! Recently, we got a glimpse of the beautiful Sanctuary on Camelback Resort and Spa, a luxury resort for relaxation and recreation in nearby Paradise Valley. Take a look. Sanctuary on Camelback Resort and Spa Property Highlights Sanctuary evokes […]

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Discovering treasures in every port Embarking in Portugal upon our first-ever cruise, my husband and I looked forward to the quality and service that have earned Viking River Cruises their outstanding reputation.  There were many aspects of this river cruise that we loved, and having a wealth of compelling shore excursion opportunities was a big part of the experience for us. Portugal is known for its famous explorers of centuries past who left the shores of the Iberian Peninsula searching for new lands and treasures. During our 8-day cruise of the Douro River, we discovered many treasures along […]

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On the culinary trail from Bozeman to Missoula Sipping wine on a breezy summer day in a place called Paradise was a little slice of heaven, indeed. And it wasn’t the only experience that had me in high spirits on a three-day road trip that began in Bozeman and took us northwest to Missoula. With the guidance of our local Montana companions, my husband and I sampled surprisingly innovative dishes, traditional Montana classics, fine wines, craft beers and distilled spirits. Come along for a few tastes on our Montana culinary road trip. “… Buy local. Be […]

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Highlights of a three-day Québec road trip For three days this summer, it was a delight to be on the road in parts of Québec that I’d never visited: Bas-Saint-Laurent and Gaspésie, two of the province’s maritime regions on the St. Lawrence River. Driving north from our starting point in Québec City to our first destination about 100 miles north, the village of Kamoraska, my travel companions and I were soon passing through rural areas with views on our left of the river with mountains in the distance. Before long, we would be enjoying maritime cuisine, culture, and natural beauty. Kamouraska […]

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As someone who lives in Marseille told me, “Marseille is a way of life”. It’s the playing of pétanque (similar to bocce), the imbibing of pastis (an anise liqueur developed in Marseille as a substitute for the banned absinthe in 1915), the savoring of Bouillabaisse (for which Marseille is famous), and a certain “joie de vivre”. It is also a way of life that embraces the diversity of this melting pot on the Mediterranean and its rich culture, history, and art — giving an ample number of reasons for its designation as […]

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During a busy and fun-filled getaway weekend, my husband (“Mr. TWS”) and I visited El Dorado County, South Lake Tahoe, and Carson Valley, Nevada. These three Sierra Nevada locations, easily reached from the San Francisco Bay Area and many other places in Northern California and Nevada, can be enjoyed as individual destinations or an itinerary trio. We packed a lot into three days (and would recommend taking much more time), but we got a good feel for what each area has to offer. Here are some of our recommendations for […]

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“Qu’a vist Paris, se noun a vist Cassis, pou dire: n’ai rèn vist,” “He who has seen Paris and who has not seen Cassis can say … I have seen nothing.” Frédéric Mistral (1830 – 1914), beloved Provençal poet and Nobel Prize laureate How could anyone make such a bold statement about Cassis, France, a medieval village in Provence? After just a few hours in this village on the Mediterranean coast, I began to understand. I always feel a bit sad on the last day of a trip. I think about how quickly […]

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From the land and the sea, Nova Scotia is a treasure chest of epicurean bounty. For me, that bounty included several first-time experiences and a few surprises. I didn’t know very much about Nova Scotia food and wine prior to my visit which made the prospect of my culinary road trip all the more exciting. I was eager to broaden my horizons with new seafood experiences and discover the province’s quickly-growing wine industry. Since Nova Scotia is renowned for having an abundance of fresh seafood harvested from the cold, clean […]

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Lush greenery and countless bodies of water dominated the serene view I saw as my flight descended into Halifax Stanfield International Airport, providing evident contrasts to the dryness of my drought-ridden state of California and the bustle of making a connection in Detroit. I was excited about my upcoming road trip through part of Nova Scotia, but first would be a day in this Maritime province’s capital city of Halifax — a return to a place I had only briefly visited during a family road trip as a teenager. During […]

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After several visits to Kauai, Maui, Molokai and the Big Island of Hawaii, I finally had a chance to visit Oahu, the most populated of the Hawaiian Islands and home to the state capital of Honolulu. My travel opportunity came with an invitation to Honolulu to attend the launch of the new Hawaiian Airlines World Elite MasterCard issued by Barclaycard. Although primarily a business trip, I got a wonderful taste of what Honolulu has to offer leisure visitors as well. With just three days to discover a bit of Honolulu, […]

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Up to $100,000 Total Donation to the Polynesian Voyaging Society For All New Credit Cards Activated Between Today and May 31, 2014 HONOLULU – Hawaiian Airlines® with MasterCard®, Barclaycard US and Bank of Hawaii today announced the official launch of the richly rewarding Hawaiian Airlines World Elite MasterCard® for consumers and the Hawaiian Airlines Business MasterCard for small businesses. In celebration of the new card, new consumer and small business cardmembers will be rewarded with 35,000 bonus HawaiianMiles® when they spend $1,000 or more on purchases in the first 90 […]

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As San Francisco Bay Area locals living just south of the city, we have many opportunities for great day trips and getaways. One of the well-known areas within our reach for short visits is the Napa Valley wine region. Recently, we took a ride on the Napa Valley Wine Train and had a tour of Long Meadow Ranch during a two night stay at the Napa River Inn. I’d previously heard very positive reviews of the hotel and can now understand why it gets such high marks and has the […]

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Back when my husband (“Mr. TWS”) and I first got married in September, 1991 we were given a wedding gift certificate for a ride and lunch on the Napa Valley Wine Train. At that time, the Wine Train had been in operation for only two years. We were thrilled because we’d heard so much about it as the new must-do experience in Napa wine country. So the following summer, we boarded the train in Napa for our three-hour ride and gourmet lunch. It was a great time, and we’ve often […]

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Wine, camera, action! Luscious wines and innovative independent movies in enticing venues on a gorgeous fall weekend in the Napa Valley? The Napa Valley Film Festival gets two thumbs up from my husband (“Mr. TWS”) and me! As film buffs and wine enthusiasts with a special affection for Northern California wine country, Mr. TWS and I indulged our senses at the third annual (but our first) Napa Valley Film Festival, which ran from November 13 – 17, 2013. Setting the scene Napa is beautiful any time of the year but the […]

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There’s no place like home, but when a trip is ending, I’m always a little sad unless I’ve got the next excursion in mind. Coming home after almost three weeks of having a fantastic time in the Emilia-Romagna and Puglia regions of Italy, I needed to plan a getaway! I found solace in Carmel-by-the-Sea. About a two-hour drive south from San Francisco, Carmel is a convenient getaway for area residents or visitors to San Francisco Bay Area. It is a one square mile, quiet village in the midst of a […]

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