I had the great fortune of being on a trip organized by Trafalgar Tours, specifically, its Be My Guest program, which opens usually closed doors and permits travelers to utterly savor the tastes and notions of a region. On my trip, I visited gorgeous Tuscany in Italy.

Normally, I avoid group tours, but I was so busy laughing and learning on this trip that none of the usual tour group dynamics—monotone guide voices, instantly forgotten facts, half-stabs at visiting anywhere, etc.—were able to seep in. And joy of joys, there always seemed to be red wine to sip and fried zucchini flowers to munch on. ... Read More

In my first blog, I covered our stay in Prague this past summer. From Prague, we took a long circular route to a series of UNESCO world heritage sites: Kutná Hora, formerly a silver mining town, Český Krumlov (aka paradise), Telc, Mikulov and Kyjov. 

August is a time for harvest related festivals throughout the country and because of some diligent planning by my cousin, we shared some great experiences.... Read More

I recently took my second-ever international trip to Italy. Although I was tempted to jam as many sights into our 10-day itinerary as I could, my husband and I made a tough decision. We decided to spend three days in each of Italy’s major cities: Venice, Florence and Rome.

Although we knew we would miss out on the style and fashion of Milan, the quaint village towns of Cinque Terre and the spicy flair of southern Italy, we thought the sacrifice would be worth it. ... Read More

Girl trips for me have, in the past, involved going to a spa in Phoenix, the beach in Miami followed by a trip to a spa, or Door County where the best thing to do after a weekend of tramping around in cool damp air is to go to the spa.

This summer’s girl trip was a little different. We explored the Czech Republic, with stops in Prague and smaller cities like Kutna Hora, Cesky Krumlov, Telc, Mikulov and Kyjov. No spa. And that was more than fine with me. 

Most of my blog post here is shown in pictures, but I’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have.... Read More

The most special stay we had during our recent trip to Italy was at La Palazzetta del Vescovo in Spinetta. This small villa had nine rooms varying in size from 23 to 36 square meters, the two largest of which were suites. Originally built in 1763, La Palazzetta del Vescovo served as a summer residence for local bishops.

After acquiring the property several years ago, the owners, Stefano and Paola, carefully transformed it into a lovely country home with the intention of providing a comfortable place for their guests to experience. They have achieved exactly what they set out to do.... Read More

This story was written by Kendra Strey and originally appeared in AAA's Westways magazine, the member publication of the Automobile Club of Southern California.

Any good decorator will tell you that your foyer makes your household’s statement. Or that it should. It tells guests whether you’re bold, sophisticated, classic, inviting or that you don’t follow tradition. ... Read More

The inventor of the GPS was obviously a genius.  What this person didn’t invent, however, was intelligent users.  Let me tell you about my recent experience with a GPS enduring during a driving trip in Italy.

Of great importance is the fact that I was traveling with my husband, who had appointed me to be the navigator after his muddled attempts to fill the position.  Armed with written directions, maps, a GPS and little sense of direction, we set off on various driving excursions within Umbria and Tuscany, the first of which to find our hotel.... Read More

In August 2009, I wrote about a trip we took with our oldest grandson. We called it our “Grand Adventure” since it included grandparents (my husband and me) and our 13-year-old grandson, along with our friends and their teenage grandson. Two years have passed, and I’m eager to share a second grandparent/grandchild 17-day trip we titled “Paige’s Princess Adventure,” because we were on the Ocean Princess cruise ship and because Paige is truly her grandma and grandpa’s 12-year-old princess! ... Read More

This past March, I enjoyed a sneak-peek sailing on Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection’s newest luxury river ship, the S.S. Antoinette. The vessel currently sails two different 7-night itineraries along the Rhine River, one themed around castle viewing and the other showcasing European holiday markets. (Detailed article coming soon!) The former either begins or ends in Amsterdam — a spectacular Dutch city that begs for a pre- or post-cruise extension to your vacation. Here’s what I packed into my two-day stay after my cruise. ... Read More

Read Part Three
I've been remiss in my posts up until now in only telling you about the incredible ports of call I've visited. This one is about life onboard--and what a life it is.

Following a short walking tour of Tain L'Hermitage on the left bank and Tournon on the right of the River Rhône, we enjoyed a visit to the local wine cellars and tasting. Then it was back onboard for a day of sailing.... Read More