In the July 2018 edition, Travel and Leisure voted the charming Mexican city of San Miguel de Allende the best city in the world for the 2nd year in a row! I’ve been dying to visit San Miguel de Allende and when I recently had the wonderful opportunity to attend a destination wedding on New Year’s Eve in this city, I couldn’t refuse! It was a blessing to be able to celebrate a dear friend and her fiance in one of the best cities in the world! So here are […]

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Where to Stay Lodging in San Francisco varies depending on the location and season you choose to visit. It’s however no secret that San Francisco is one of America’s most expensive cities and it often leaves visitors wondering how to choose a hotel that fits into their budget. SF Neighborhoods San Francisco has many different neighborhoods to choose from such as: Financial District (downtown), Fisherman’s Wharf, Chinatown, Mission District, Union Square, Tenderloin, Castro, Presidio of San Francisco, Haight Ashbury, Japantown, NorthBeach, Sunset District, Noe Valley, Marina, Russian Hill etc. If […]

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The word Uzbekistan itself carries an air of mystery about it. When I told people I was traveling to Uzbekistan, they exclaimed “Uzbekiwhere?!” and then followed that up by “Is it safe?!”  Uzbekistan IS bordered by Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Turkmenistan, countries that are not very well known in the West. So I suppose the “safe” question was fair enough! I’m here to give you the 411 on this destination and hopefully convince you to come with me as I lead a tour group back to Uzbekistan this September, […]

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Lonely Planet named Colombia 2nd best country to visit in 2017. I first visited Colombia a few years ago, when I set foot into the walled city of Cartagena. I had just finished reading Colombian author Gabriel Garcia Marquez’ Love in the Time of Cholera, and as I moved through the old town in Cartagena, pages of his novel came to life, setting the tone for that trip. I discovered a colorful, romantic city where Latin music and dancing greeted me at every corner. I was in love with Colombia! Fast […]

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Sri Lanka has never really been on my bucket list of countries to see. However, I was recently invited to a destination wedding in this country and decided to take the opportunity to discover the island and what it has to offer. Sri Lanka truly has something for everyone, from its laid-back beach towns, spectacular train journeys, to historical ruins, to tea estates to hiking up mountain peaks. This island nation has been voted top country for travel in 2019 by Lonely Planet so go before the tourism surge. Here […]

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I am careening downhill on my rented cycle, hair streaming behind me, the cool September air of the Colorado mountains rushing past my face. I’m grinning.  Biking is exhilarating, I realize, especially when you’re on a paved path weaving through stunning fall scenery. Yup, I’m in Vail, Colorado to experience adventure, romance, and world-class cuisine with my husband, courtesy of Vail Tourism. Growing up in the Bay Area, Vail and Aspen to me represented the wealthy and elite part of Colorado. I never thought of both towns as more than […]

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The short answer to that question is a resounding YES! For most of us, the Czech Republic begins and ends with the beautiful city of Prague. I recently had the amazing opportunity to visit three lovely towns in the Moravian region of Czech Republic: Brno, Kromeriz, and Telc.. In this article, I walk you through the highlights and explain why you should consider exploring beyond the well-trodden city of Prague.   GETTING IN From the West Coast, it’s about 13 hours with one stop to the Vaclav Havel Airport in […]

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When I think of the Alps, Switzerland most often comes to mind. This summer however, I trekked over the Austrian Alps and realized what a hidden gem this country is! Austria has it all, from amazing hut-to-hut trekking to musical Salzburg to the charming salt-mining village of Hallstatt, which is like stepping into a fairytale. DESTINATIONS Salzburg This city is divided by the Salzach River, with medieval and baroque buildings of the pedestrian old city on its left bank, facing the 19th century new town on its right. The old […]

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I recently attended the launch of Norwegian Air’s nonstop flight from Oakland to Copenhagen, Denmark at a chef’s tasting prepared by Andreas Bagh, Executive Chef at Copenhagen’s Michelin starred Marchal restaurant at the Hotel d’Angleterre.  The event was hosted at the Cookhouse in North Beach, a lovely, intimate venue in a space next to the legendary Vesuvio Cafe in San Francisco. The evening was well attended by local journalists and editors from Zagat and AFAR magazine and it was a fantastic opportunity to learn more about Norwegian, Denmark and of course […]

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I recently had the pleasure of attending a reception to celebrate Virgin Atlantic’s new direct route from San Francisco to Manchester. The event was held at the residence of the HM Consul General Andrew Whittaker who made the announcement, followed by an evening of mingling with journalists.  British food and cocktails kept flowing through the evening as we celebrated this momentous occasion for who doesn’t want more non-stop flights from the West Coast to Europe right?? Indeed the evening was a celebration in honor of this exciting new relationship between […]

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I’m standing at the edge of a mountain, taking in the gorgeous city sprawled below me.  I hear the commands “Run, run!” The body instinctively resists but I take a leap of faith and go. I’m up in the air before I even know it, the parachute lifting me up and away.  And just like that I’m paragliding in Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic. The name Dominican Republic more often than not stirs up images of a blue green Caribbean sea, and miles and miles of sun-drenched, white-sand beaches. But travel further […]

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I’m your typical eggs and bacon breakfast gal, maybe even a slice of toast and butter if I’m feeling adventurous! Recently I had a fantastic opportunity to visit the KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Pop Up in Union Square, San Francisco at 9:00am in the morning and got to partake in the traditional Dutch Stroopwafels for breakfast! These are lovely chewy caramel cookies and are delicious with a morning coffee or heck just as a tasty snack anytime!  A Stroopwafel in hand, I strolled the Pop Up, open till October 14-October […]

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When I was initially invited to be a guest at the Lodge at Nakoma, I admit I had to look up its whereabouts. I was very familiar with the Tahoe region of Northern California, what with the numerous skiing and camping trips I used to indulge in (and still do occasionally), but hadn’t explored past Lake Tahoe. The Nakoma Resort is less than an hour northwest from Truckee/Lake Tahoe and is nestled amidst the pine trees, with the majestic Sierras as the backdrop. Needless to say, the drive from my […]

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I recently discovered a secret Greece has been hiding from the world. It’s called Meteora. The town is a hidden gem, a few hours from Athens. Fully prepared to be swept off my feet by the island of Santorini, I fell in love instead with this magical place, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. My dad was turning 70 in September. I don’t know about you, but that felt like a big deal birthday to me. I could buy him yet another full sleeved shirt, or a brand-name watch, although […]

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The Canadian province of Saskatchewan is a hidden gem. Less well known than its neighbor Alberta, it boasts a population of approximately a little more than 1 million and has roots in Aboriginal history.  The province is named after the Saskatchewan River, which the Cree named Kisiskatchewani Sip, meaning “swift-flowing river.”  In fact Canada, in the language of the Huron is from Kanata, which means “settlement.” Saskatchewan is also a prairie province.  Think flat landscapes and farmland. Picture endless miles of bright yellow fields of Canola under a blue sky […]

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