I have travelled some in my life, flown to Europe, Central and South America and have driven across the country a few times. Just the formulation of a trip, pinning a picaresque photo on Pinterest even, can make me giddy. So it was with great surprise that I stumbled on a nearby destination, just as fulfilling and foreign as many of my more exotic jaunts: Big Bear Lake, a scant 100 miles from home. When you grow up in a big city, like Los … [Read more...]
Bolzano Christmas Market
Are you rushing around trying to finish your Christmas shopping? Can't find anything in the shops for love or money? Perhaps you are just looking in the wrong place – the High Street might be fine for boring stuff like perfume, socks and ties but for something a bit different, a quick hop over to one of the many European Christmas markets is bound to do the trick. With time now quite short, you will need to make sure you choose the right one and … [Read more...]
Exploring Napa…as in the City of Napa
Introduction For many years the city of Napa was just a place you passed as you entered the Napa Valley - the city center is not on the main highway (Highway 29) and it was lacking in restaurants, hotels and tasting rooms. When you told people you were visiting the Napa Valley, the city of Napa was not mentioned as your final destination, rather you would have been referring to the wineries up valley; it was those wineries that long attracted … [Read more...]
Italian Food Without Tomato Sauce
Living in San Francisco, there's no dearth of restaurants to choose from on a Saturday evening. A few weekends ago, I was given the opportunity to dine in Oakland and wondered what on earth the food scene would be like - was there even a food scene?! The answer is a resounding yes!! From the Temescal area to the streets around Broadway and Telegraph, Oakland surprises with top notch chefs, hipster bars and a thriving food scene! Then there's … [Read more...]
This Holiday, Send Your Loved Ones Away
As a huge fan of traveling, I think there’s never a wrong time for travel-themed gifts. But the circle I buy for at this time of year falls into two distinct groups: those who always travel, and those who never do. And this presents a problem. The ones who do it a lot have such a practiced routine that they’re reluctant to disrupt it by trying something new. And the ones who never leave their own zip code are often baffled by the process of … [Read more...]
Please Pass the Pommes Frites: My Dinner with Martin Amis’s Son
Ex-expat John M. Edwards is invited as a “standby” to a sumptuous Parisian dinner party near Passy, where perforce playing the devil’s advocate comes with no pricetag at all. . . . “Hello John, how would you like to come to a dinner party tonight,” queried fair friend and picnic partner Julie, a fellow Servas member. A world peace organization affiliated with the United Nations, “Servas,” we joked with devil-may-care abandon, should … [Read more...]
5 Best Hotspots in the UK for Couples
A UK holiday is a very thrifty holiday choice for British couples. Travelling abroad can be very expensive with flights, transfers, visas, baggage fees, currency exchange and more. However, more and more people are choosing to holiday on their very doorsteps. There are some fantastic quaint villages and bustling cities across the UK that are full to the brim with excitement and romance. Whether you want a boozy weekend away with your other … [Read more...]
Dublin at Christmas
Dublin is a fabulous city to visit all year round but it is especially magical at Christmas. Every street, from the wide thoroughfares to the little winding alleys are lit for the season and the shops – always a delight – really rise to the occasion. For a very special Christmas break, Dublin is hard to beat and you can find an assortment of hotels on offer from Hotel Direct. Dublin’s markets are famous and at Christmas they are where you will … [Read more...]
German Christmas Specialties
Many would agree that winter’s most glorious aspects are of the culinary variety. Celebratory food and drink that promise the return of light in the depth of chilly darkness differ in every culture, but epicurean indulgence is a common thread. In Germany, Christmas traditions border on magical. Snow blankets much of the landscape, lights sparkle amidst the frost and festive markets sell handmade crafts and ornaments. On a recent trip to … [Read more...]
Catalina Island: Crown Jewel of the Channel Islands
What: Santa Catalina Island, California When: Growing into a year round destination, but glorious in Spring/Summer Where: 22 miles (35 km) SouthWest of Los Angeles How: Private Boat, Helicopter, Jet Ski, or my favorite ferry… Catalina Express Ever visited the Channel Islands set conveniently off of Southern California? Then you may already be in-the-know. With a blended ambience of old hollywood meets quaint small town, … [Read more...]
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