Travlin’ Girls – Meet Up!
If you’re a travlin’ girl looking to connect with other travlin’ girls, in addition to taking part in #girlstravel chat Mondays at 1 p.m. ET over on Twitter (ahem!), be sure to mark your calendars for the Women’s Travel Fest in NYC on March 8, and the Women in Travel Summit in Chicago, March 14 – 16. Both are being hosted by two fab ladies, and both are sure to be fab times. I wish I could be at both! Read more…
2013 – My Travlin’ Year in Review
Click here to see the year in review – in photos!
I Want My PTO
When I went out on my own last year, I left a full-time job with a local non-profit organization that offered amazing benefits. For a travlin’ girl like me, the greatest lure was the five weeks PTO for exempt staff – to start! Five weeks, in one year. Now, that time was combined vacation and sick, but I’m not one for taking sick time. And no, I wouldn’t go into the office deathly ill! Read more…
Holiday Problems, Be Gone!
And all of a sudden, Thanksgiving is over, Hanukah has some and gone, and Christmas and New Year’s Eve are mere days away. OK, maybe a few weeks – breathe! One thing’s for certain – time is quickly going to fly by and before we know it, it’ll be 2014. Especially for those who plan a week-long trip in the middle of the month (looking in the mirror here)! Read more…
It’s Cold Outside – Here’s Where to Warm Up, Fireside!
Temperatures have quickly dipped and, baby, it’s cold outside! Here are some amazing fireplaces – and cocktails – to keep you warm! Read more…
Get Travlin’ On Cyber Monday (and Black Friday)!
It’s looming… those shopping days that seem to be all-consuming. Take a break from the madness and think about travlin’ with these Cyber Monday deals. Read more…
Get Cultural This Holiday Season
If you’d rather getaway for the holidays, there are plenty of destinations that are rolling out the red carpet and inviting you to partake in their local holiday traditions. Who knows, perhaps you’ll take the traditions home with you and make them a part of yours. Read more…
Curing Holiday Problems
The holidays are quickly approaching… next week brings Thanksgiving and the start of Hanukkah, and just a month later, Christmas. Time is quickly passing by, and the self-imposed pressures of the holidays are quickly mounting. I’m not sure why, but I seem to book travel leading up to the holidays, which results in even less time to ready, and even more stress to get everything done. Here’s how I’m curing my holiday problems… Read more…
Travlin’ Thanks to Our Veterans
It’s Veterans’ Day, the official day a year we thank our veterans for their service to our country, for fighting for our freedom and protecting our ways of life. Read more…
Party of One
Sometimes, it’s fun to travel alone. In fact, many prefer to do just that. Your time’s your own: see what you want to see, go when you want to go. Here are a few ideas of where parties of one feel right at home. Read more…
The Other Side of New Orleans
Walking through the sun-lit streets of New Orleans, there’s a feeling in the air that you just can’t put your finger on. Whether window shopping along Magazine Street, strolling through the Garden District, carefully making your way along the cobbled streets of the French Quarter, or riding an historic streetcar from one end of town to the other, the feeling follows you. Read more…
Orcas and Eagles and Bears – Oh My! An Adventure on North Vancouver Island
Published on JohnnyJet.com Oct. 22, 2013
When I think of Vancouver, I think of the vibrant, cosmopolitan city, filled with amazing restaurants, an incredible art scene, and the ever-so-fun Granville Public Market. When I think of Vancouver Island, I immediately think of Victoria, the charming city on the water. But after a visit to Telegraph Cove on North Vancouver Island a few weeks ago, I’ll certainly think of the wild adventures that can be had! Read more…
Haunted Charleston – Our Pick for a Fun Halloween Destination
Published on GirlsGetaway.com Oct. 18, 2013
With its rich history, Charleston, SC is ripe for haunted happenings. That’s what we were hoping for, anyway, when my girlfriends and I spent the weekend in the heart of the Low Country. Read more…
Make a Difference
When we travel, many of us look for ways to make a difference in the communities we’re visiting, whether that’s delivering books to children in need, volunteering to clean up a shoreline, or help rehab a stranded whale, like my friends and I did a few years ago at the Marine Mammal Conservancy in Key Largo. Read more…
New York City’s on Sale!
If you’re planning to visit New York City between January 3 and January 12, 2014, you’re in luck! Nearly 30 of the city’s best hotels are participating in Hotel Week NYC with rates of $100, $200 and $300 for incredible savings to you! Check out these deals, all in NYC! Read more…
My 5 Reasons to Take a River Cruise with Scenic Cruises
My Mom
It may sound corny, but my number one reason to sail with Scenic Cruises is my mom. While traveling over the past several years, she keeps returning to her desire to slow down, enjoy the scenery and have the experiences that can only be found on a river cruise. With a “big” birthday next year, she’d certainly be my guest if I’m selected to set sail and write about our trip! Read more…
It’s a Hotel Tradition
Traditions surround us: brides wearing white for their weddings. Kissing the Blarney Stone in Ireland. Throwing a coin in Rome’s Tivoli Fountain so that you’ll return. It’s fun when hotels develop a tradition of their own, too. Here are a few hotel traditions that you can take part in, from Florida to Hawaii to Guatemala. Read more…
A Year Ago Today…
A year ago today, I set out for my greatest adventure to date – becoming a full-time freelance writer. I left a fulfilling full-time job, working with people a terrific group of people whom I respect, to follow my passion into the unknown. After a year of see-sawing, I decided to take the plunge and make my move – we’ve only one life to live, after all, and I wanted to live mine to its fullest. Read more…
A Different Way to Take Your Cuppa Joe
Traveling, I’ve heard people raving of their favorite spots to grab a cup, or watch a roast. Vanessa from TurnipSeed Travel loves the coffee found in Maui, while Pola of Jetting Around sips hers at a favorite shop in Chicago. Read more…
Celebrate Our National Parks
In the U.S., we’re fortunate to have some incredible national treasures, our national parks. And to entice visitors throughout the year, the National Park Service offers fee-free dates – the next one is Sunday, Aug. 25, the organization’s birthday! (Oh, and mine, too! No wonder I’m such a “green” tree-hugger!). Read more…
Labor Day Travlin’ Deals
Check out these Labor Day travlin’ deals! Read more…
Celebrate an Endless Summer
There’s essentially a month left of summer vacation, but the savings don’t end when school starts back up. Select JW Marriott, Autograph Collection Hotels, Renaissance, Marriott Resorts and Gaylord Hotels in Florida, California, Hawaii, the South, Southwest and Northeast are offering Endless Summer packages. Read more…
Ice Ice Baby!
When I was in Maui last fall, I set out on a personal mission to find the island’s best Hawaiian shave ice. Hey, someone had to do it! Read more…
Want to beat jetlag? Eat chocolate!
I may have just found my favorite author ever. Chef/nutritionist Michelle Dudash, author of Clean Eating for Busy Families, recently came out with snacks that help jet setters avoid jet lag, including dark chocolate. Take a look, pack a sack and say au revoir to nasty jetlag! Read more…
Temperatures are Rising – Cool Down!
With temperatures quickly rising, we’re all looking for ways to cool down. I saw these incredible looking and tasting drinks developed by mixologist Kerry Mekeel at the Hotel Wailea in Maui. One sip and you’ll be island-bound in no time! Read more…
What I would do in five days in Queensland
If I’m selected to visit Queensland, the first thing I’ll do even before my arrival is realize a long-time dream of visiting the Land Down Under. Years ago, a friend and I vowed that we’d go to Australia to celebrate our 30th birthdays. That magical number has come and is well gone, yet my desire to travel south of the equator is just as strong and has yet to come to fruition. Until now. Read more…
Summertime, and the Savin’ is Easy
We’ve all heard of CyberMonday – that glorious day after Thanksgiving when nearly every online store you can think of offers incredible savings. Read more…
Dads Like to be Pampered, Too!
Father’s Day is Sunday, and it’s time to thank the Dad in your life for everything he’s done for you. Here are a few ideas you may want to check out – after all, dads like to be pampered, too! Read more…
Flight Cancelled or Delayed? Be Innovative!
Our long-awaited Belgian vacation finally arrived. We got to the airport, checked our bags and had celebratory drinks near our gate. Boarded our flight, settled in and flight attendants crossed checked. Front door closed, ready to push back from gate and the captain announced, “Folks, we just got word from LaGuardia air traffic control – we’re on a one-hour ground hold.” Our flight wouldn’t take off for about an hour. Read more…
Celebrate Earth Day, California-Style
I’m a treehugger. I have been since my family lived in California when I was in elementary school (4th – 6th grades) in the early 80s. I distinctly remember sitting in an assembly, learning about the importance of conserving water. I remember my dad showing us how to use the crusher in the garage so we could recycle our cans. I’ve held on to those lessons and continue to seek out ways to reuse, recycle and renew. Read more…
F-Easter in Florida!
If you’re in Florida for Easter Break and looking for someplace to feast, are you in luck! Throughout the state, you’ll find hotels and resorts are setting out an Easter Brunch feast for all your senses. Here are just a few you may want to check out, depending on where you are. Read more…
Spring Blooms at the Biltmore
Spring is here – At last!, many may say – and it couldn’t be more vibrant than at the Biltmore in Asheville, NC. Over the estate’s 8,000 acres, more than 90,000 tulips are in all their glory, as well as daffodils and forsythia, acres of azaleas in pinks, purples, oranges, reds and white, and hundreds of roses. You can almost smell them!And you’ve got plenty of time to take in all of this blooming beauty through May. Read more…
A Sneak Peek – Villas by the Sea
While visiting my college roommate and her mom in Delray Beach last week, I had a chance to stop by the Delray Beach Marriott to take a sneak peek at their new, luxurious Villas by the Sea. While the villa I walked through was in its final stages of tweaking and fine tuning, those that were finished were booked and occupied. I’d say they’re already quite popular! Read more…
Raise a (Low-Cal) Glass to St. Patrick’s Day!
It’s a big celebratory weekend, and the calories will quickly add up if you order a pint of ale one after the other to toast everyone’s favorite saint. Instead, try one of these festive cocktails developed by Polar Seltzer and get all the great cheer and taste without the dreaded calories! Wherever you’re celebrating, be sure to be safe and, as always, have fun! Read more…
Let’s Run Away to the Circus!
First published on GirlsGetaway.com, March 14, 2013
When asked if I wanted to take a trapeze class while on a girls getaway to Sarasota Florida, without hesitation or really even much thought, I exclaimed “Yes!” What could be more fun than flying through the air, ideally with grace and strength? Read more…
Chill Out In Montreal’s Snow Village
I remember the first time I’d heard of a snow hotel and an ice bar, first built in Sweden in 1990. “How cool,” I thought. And for this sun – and warm weather-loving girl, what a novel idea! I recently had the chance to visit the Snow Village in Montreal – North America’s first. Cool, indeed! Read more…
London Fashion Week – In Cocktails
First things first – I’m no fashion plate. In fact, I couldn’t tell the difference between Armani, Dolce & Gabanna, or Givenchy. That I even know those are designers (with the help of a Google search) is impressive. (NOTE: Not that I wouldn’t want to learn, say, with a dress up day?) So when I came across an email regarding Fashion Week in London, my first inclination was to delete. And then I saw that the info was cocktail-themed. Read more…
Warm Thoughts
For those of you buried in snow in the Northeast, a few beach/water/sunny photos to help with warm thoughts… Read more…
Living Like a Queen in Denver
I first visited Denver more than 15 years ago, for a work conference. We all know how those go – 18 hours in a hotel conference room with little time to explore the city which you’ve traveled to. Read more…
Let the Good Times Roll at the Super Bowl in the Big Easy
Time spent in New Orleans is always fun-filled, what with the French Quarter, Bourbon Street, incredible dining and the all-around revelries that can be found year-round. When the Super Bowl comes to NOLA, everything kicks up a notch, to take a note from the city’s favorite son. Read more…
Bradley Cooper’s Hometown, Philadelphia
Did I have you at Bradley Cooper? Now that I’ve got your attention…
The City of Philadelphia, Bradley’s hometown, has developed a two-day itinerary for fans of Bradley, and his hit film Silver Linings Playbook, to see the spots highlighted throughout the movie. Here’s how you can spend your time in the City of Brotherly Love. Read more…
Girls May Be From Venus, But We Love Jupiter!
First published on GirlsGetaway.com, Jan. 14, 2013
Jupiter is a quiet beach town tucked along Florida’s east coast, just about an hour and a half north of glitzy South Beach and Miami. Though it’s quiet and more eco-oriented than its sizzling sister to the south, Jupiter is big on fun, delectable food and ample opportunities for relaxing and soaking in the warm Florida rays. And I’m lucky enough to have spent a few days doing just that – all of that! Read more…
Is It Really the End?
First published on TheFullMoxie.com, Dec. 21, 2012
The Mayan calendar ends today, and a lot of people think that means the end of the world. Well, here I am in Playa del Carmen to find out, and enjoying myself immensely!
So, is it really the end? Well, maybe, but probably not. The locals don’t seem concerned in the slightest.
In any case, we’re going out in high style here at the ROYAL Playa del Carmen in the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, ground zero for the End of the World. The ROYAL Playa del Carmen and The ROYAL Cancun are both presenting Mayan Culinary Festivals on the beach, and I got a sneak peek at the preparations earlier today!
Maui: By Land
When approaching Maui by air, it’s immediately apparent that the island is filled with extreme varieties of landscapes. From the verdant, rolling hillsides to the waves thundering against the hard volcanic cliffs to the roads that weave their way across and around the island. The best way to really see the island, though, is to get onto it! Read more…
Maui: By Air
Most times, the only way I experience a place by air is when I fly in. But not during my recent trip to Maui! During the week I was on the magical island, I had the chance to experience the island by air – in three different ways! Read more…
Maui: By Sea
A visit to Maui can’t be complete without getting out on, in, or below the water’s surface. Whether you’re a surfer (board or kite), snorkeler, SCUBA diver, or sailor, the waters that surround Maui and the Hawaiian Islands are spectacular, and certainly command time to discover. Read more…
