Character in Carmel

Character in Carmel

It’s not as though I was surprised those three days in Carmel-by-the-Sea were so pleasurable.  How surely this one square mile penetrated my psyche was the zinger. Homebound along the Salinas Highway, smiling at the fog as it tended the vines in the Highlands beyond,...
Kringle, the Official State Pastry of Wisconsin

Kringle, the Official State Pastry of Wisconsin

There is a lot to enjoy in the charming small town of Racine, Wisconsin. Located on the shore of beautiful Lake Michigan between Milwaukee and Chicago, Racine has lovely beaches, parks and trails; Frank Lloyd Wright architecture; an amazing art museum; zoo; and the...
Mayakoba: So Much More than Its Cuisine

Mayakoba: So Much More than Its Cuisine

  “Casual dining by the sea” is how the concierge described Punta Bonita Restaurante, located on the pristine beaches of the Riviera Maya. That description didn’t even come close to capturing the essence of our visit to Mayakoba or our exquisite, memorable...
The Vatican’s Brand New Tourist Attraction

The Vatican’s Brand New Tourist Attraction

By now everyone knows that Pope Francis lives simply in the Casa Marta guesthouse and not in the elegant Papal Apartments overlooking St. Peter’s Square where he does, however, receive important guests and bless the crowd below during the Angelus on Sundays at noon....
Traveling in Italy, Crowd-Free

Traveling in Italy, Crowd-Free

    You’ve wanted to go to Italy your whole life, and now the dream is coming true. You can already taste the fresh mozzarella in Rome and hear the soft, rhythmic splash of the gondolier’s oar as it slowly propels you through the quiet, moonlit canals of...
FIKA

FIKA

  Every so often one stumbles upon a culinary gem in the most unexpected place, as happened to me recently on a visit to the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis. Even without the restaurant, a visit to the institute would be worth a side trip if...
Napa and San Francisco on a Budget

Napa and San Francisco on a Budget

While every state now has a winery, when one hears the term “wine country,” I’d bet the farm that California is the first thought that comes to mind. Each of California’s wine regions has its charms, and you really can’t go wrong in visiting any of them.  ...
Why Stay at a Bed and Breakfast?

Why Stay at a Bed and Breakfast?

Hotels of all shapes, sizes, and price ranges exist all over the world and you can have privacy, room service, an amazing array of amenities, and the convenience of never having to clean the room yourself. Restaurants, shops, tours, transportation are all available...