St Barths is always a good idea
If a picture is worth a thousand words, then this post will virtually write itself. With boundless blue skies, and streaks of white clouds that read more watercolor than a photograph, St Barths is one unending photo op after another. To paraphrase a famous quote "St Barths is always a good idea." I couldn't agree more. St. Barthélemy Not more than a speck in the West Indies, St Barths was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1493. With a population that hovers near 10,000, French-speaking and...
Snow-capped Summer in Chamonix, France
Face to Face with Mont Blanc, Chamonix, France / You don’t have to be an intrepid mountaineer to get up close and personal with majestic Mont Blanc in Chamonix. You can do as we did, which was to take the first cable car up and be gratified instantly. We stood on the chilly observation deck, gawking at the looming mountain, not believing it could be so cold up here, while at the base the July temps were soaring into the high 70s. Suddenly, what could...
The Best (and Only) Lunch in Erbonne, Italy. Pop. 11
Often, my husband and I head off the beaten path, so to speak, and wing it, when we travel. When we visited Lake Como, we did just that one morning and were rewarded with the best lunch to be found just outside of Lake Como, at the only restaurant in the tiny hamlet of Erbonne. It was a surprise that one of our best lunches in the Lake Como area was not at a stone grotto-ed Michelin-starred restaurant, or on a lakeside patio with the...
Cumbria. Many Lakes. One Star.
The Lake District may be England's best kept secret. The Lake District, England / Dungeon Ghyll, Crinkle Crags and Harrison Stickle. No, these aren’t characters from a Harry Potter novel, they are the illustrious names for ravines and peaks in the majestic Lake District of England. Where, if you are American, you won’t see a fellow countryman for days and wonder why this place has seemingly escaped our radar. It is a mere four hour drive from London, which by US standards, is a typical...
8 Amazing Days Exploring Cape Town, South Africa
Wandering Cape Town and the Western Cape of South Africa / About 15 years ago my husband came back from a trip to Cape Town and declared it one of his favorite cities in the world. A bold and hyperbolic statement from an otherwise understated and pretty well-traveled guy. Fast forward a few years and I can’t disagree. If there was ever a city that had it all, Cape Town is hard to beat. Beaches, museums, lush wine lands, world-class restaurants, and hotels. Unique ethnic...
Delaire Graff Estate is The Jewel of Stellenbosch
Delaire Graff Estate, Stellenbosch, South Africa / Sometimes lunch is lunch. And sometimes lunch is a destination. A place where you want to settle in and make yourself comfy. That was definitely the case when arriving at Delaire Graff Estate in the Stellenbosch Winelands of South Africa. It was clear that this was one of those places that you wanted to linger, take your time with, and fully absorb. Delaire Graff Views It was the kind of winter’s day where you could happily sit outside,...
Dunton Hot Springs, A Home away from Home
Dunton Hot Springs is a remote getaway filled with wildlife and hiking adventures, farm-to-table meals, and a western vibe that had us dreaming of simpler times. Dunton Hot Springs—a little escape from reality in the cool, breezy San Juan mountains of Colorado. Remote, restorative, and secluded, are buzzwords that have always piqued my curiosity when reading about travel, but never as much as they do at this particular moment in time. I long for fresh air and wide-open spaces. I have a pressing need to...