A Local’s Guide: These Places Will Make You Fall for Stowe
In 30 days, I'm moving to Stowe. If my teenage self knew she’d one day be living in rural Vermont, she’d laugh that layer of AquaNet right off her teased head. That girl wasn’t destined for the slow life. She wouldn’t be caught dead in Muck Boots slogging along snow-covered roads. She’d be clicking down city sidewalks in stilettos. Forty years later, that girl is a middle-aged woman. Now I’m the one laughing. Part giddiness and part nervous energy. How did I get here? What...
What’s Love Got To Do With It? At Wolf Cove Inn, Everything.
Historic Maine inns are some of the last vestiges of simple and timeless country gatherings. Whether as a natural stop on the way to a big city or as a place to break up a long road trip, the classic Maine inn is as quintessential as a Maine lobster. So when millennial innkeepers Geoff and Nicole Skidmore decided to buy Wolf Cove Inn, they didn’t miss a beat turning it into a destination that honors the past but walks headfirst into the now. Follow me...
It Takes a (Kona) Village: The Big Island’s Most Well-Loved Property Gets a New Life
Why is Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort, so well-loved? Maybe it’s their prized location, a crescent bay where the Pacific Ocean stretches into the horizon without interruption. Or, the well-appointed 'hales' and locally-sourced cuisine. Maybe it’s the staff who welcome every guest with a natural smile. It’s all of that, and more. But what truly sets Kona Village apart is its connection to the past, where the traditions of this former fishing village are literally etched into the island’s volcanic landscape. We peel off the...
Don’t Drive Maui’s Road to Hana Without This One Simple Thing
I wrestle with my iPhone, trying to connect it to CarPlay as we race out of the Enterprise parking garage. Speed bumps ignored, the Jeep lurches and bounces like a bronco at a Texas rodeo. Was a 4x4 really necessary? The answer will be clear soon enough, but suffice it to say—hell, yeah! Finally, I pair successfully and set up the Shaka Guide—an app designed to expertly navigate the Road to Hana—a drive on eastern Maui known for its crazy switchbacks, towering waterfalls, and dramatic...
3 Sensational Summer Days in Stowe: A Vermont Secret No Longer
Think Stowe is only for leaf peepers and ski bums? Let me introduce you to summer—my favorite season in Stowe. Sure, it’s not even spring yet, but it’s never too early to plan for summer. Read on for inspiration—what to do, where to hike, eat, drink, and stay. Discover some off-the-beaten-path places only locals know about, like eerie covered bridges and how to sniff out the best coffee in town. Ready to take on Vermont’s not-so-best-kept secret? I round the bend, obeying the speed limit...
10 Amazing Gifts For Birders, Travelers, and Frequent Fliers
It's never the wrong time to buy a gift for the birder in your life. Do you have a birder in your life? A traveler? A traveler who likes to birdwatch? Look no further. A few of the best gifts for birders, travelers, and frequent fliers are summed up right here. On our honeymoon, my husband and I went to Africa on safari. The first morning in Tanzania, we woke at 6am to descend into the Ngorongoro Crater. Just behind us in the jeep sat...
Why off-season is the best season in Kennebunkport, Maine
Kennebunkport, Maine, is an ideal escape in the summer, as everyone knows. But a visit to the Kennebunks in the off-season is just as rewarding. Maybe even more so, as the crowds have left and a level of calm is restored to this coastal town. Kennebunkport, Maine, has something to please every kind of traveler. Read on to discover my favorite places. Oftentimes, the best trips are the least planned, last-minute escapes. The ones that fall into your lap at just the right time. Instead...
The Most Inspirational (Non-Skiers) Guide To Stowe
I love to ski in Stowe. Ummm, let me rephrase that. I love to ski in Stowe when the sky is cloudless, cobalt blue, and the temperature is firmly north of 32 degrees. I love to ski when the slopes are blanketed in fresh powder and are crowd-free. Because I despise early wake-ups, I usually don't hit the slopes until 9am. Then, I only ski until lunch because once I’ve devoured a cheeseburger and fries, I’m as active as a lioness after a kill. You...
Stowe in Summer: 10 of the Best Ways to get Local
A few summers ago, my husband and I decided to head north. To live village life, country life, and a less rushed life in the mountains of Stowe. My parents’ house was empty, and it seemed an ideal way to escape the oppressive DC heat—a way to break the monotony that had gradually manifested over the past few months. We packed up only the most essential items: our kids, our dogs, a few hundred Nespresso capsules, and cornhole. As it turned out, our essentials don’t fit in...
21 amazing local things to do in Georgetown DC
What are the best things to do in Georgetown's historic neighborhood? Read on to discover the best shopping, dining, art, and more in one of the most beautiful parts of our nation's capital. I grew up in a small town in New Jersey. My earliest hometown memories include Pizza Hut, Friday night high school football games, and hanging out at Dairy Queen. I never gave much thought to my hometown as a destination; it was just where I happened to grow up. Fast-forward thirty years...