travel: Throwback Thursday: Queen's Bath in Princeville, Kauai
- 01/26/17 04:56 PM
Queen's Bath in Princeville, Kauai
On our last trip to Kauai, and hopefully soon to be repeated, we spent a fair amount of time exploring the island, both north and south shores, but still found plenty of time to just dump and unwind.
Near the end of our 8 days we explored the Queen's Bath in the Princeville area where we stayed on the North Shore. It was pretty cool, not crowded, and while not the easiest walk down the hill on a rather slippery path then over the lava rock to get to the Bath, it was great fun.
That said, I did some … (10 comments)
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travel: Wordless Wednesday: Multi-purpose Italian Bar
- 01/25/17 02:00 PM
A Multi-purpose Bar in Italy
We spent a breathtaking 8 days in Tuscany a couple of years ago and enjoyed many hours, while not just relaxing and enjoying the countryside views from our condo, exploring all the nearby towns and villages. Dining, of course, was a big part of that experience and we enjoyed many wonderful meals by stumbling upon local eateries in the various towns we visited.
L'Antica Trattoria was a very pleasant and quite tasty lunch experience in the charming Tuscan town of Colle di Val d'Elsa, about 45 minutes from where we had our condo. We both thought this multi-purpose … (25 comments)
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travel: Throwback Thursday: The Big Sur Coastline in California
- 08/18/16 06:30 AM
The Big Sur Coastline in California
California has some really beautiful coastline, about 800 of miles of it. The Big Sur area in Monterey County is spectacular and a beautiful drive on a 2-lane road that will have you oohing and aahing at every turn..and boy, are there are lot of them.
This is one of many vistas from our drive from Carlsbad to Napa along the coast back in 2012.
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travel: Almost Wordless Wednesday: Muir Woods in Marin County CA
- 06/08/16 07:46 AM
Muir Woods in Marin County CA
How can one really be wordless when you are standing in this forest of majestic redwoods at Muir Woods. The sheer size (the tallest there they say is almost 260 feet) and age (the average age is in the 600 to 800 year range), while making you momentarily speechless will also cause you to comment, out loud, in amazement. Definitely worth a visit north of San Francisco over the Golden Gate Bridge and near Mt. Tamalpais (Mt. Tam).
… (19 comments)
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travel: Almost Wordless Wednesday: Chinatown in San Francisco
- 05/25/16 02:32 AM
Chinatown in San Francisco
A visit to Chinatown in San Francisco is a treat for all the senses, perhaps even a sensory overload - sights, sounds, foods to try, smells from butcher shops and bakeries, the list goes on and on.
This one in San Francisco is reported to be the oldest and largest outside of Asia. Definitely worth a visit and spending a few hours exploring. You can expect plenty of crowds and challenging parking, in my experience, and maybe some tired feet!
… (25 comments)
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travel: Art and Wine in Napa
- 05/24/16 12:39 PM
Art and Wine in the Napa Valley of California
As dedicated wine lovers a trip to Napa, and now several of them, presents incredible opportunities to enjoy a wide range of wonderful wines from some of the best known, and lesser known, California wineries.
A most pleasant discovery during these trips was the abundance of art that graces so many Napa wineries. As art lovers and collectors, having both wonderful wines and beautiful works of art to enjoy in the same place was a most pleasant combination.
I certainly can’t present a definitive traveler’s guide to wine and art in Napa – here are … (14 comments)
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travel: Almost Wordless Wednesday: Snow, Rhubarb and the Catskill Mountains
- 05/18/16 03:34 AM
Snow, Rhubarb and the Catskill Mountains
We were in the Catskills in Roxbury NY this past weekend visiting family for a wedding, and despite being the middle of May the weather was pretty winter-like, with temps one day in the high 30s and heavy snow flurries both Saturday and Sunday.
From this Southern California guy there were plenty of words! The views were pretty nice, however.
… (37 comments)
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travel: A Visit to Roxbury Mountain Maple in Hobart, NY
- 05/17/16 02:37 PM
A Visit to Roxbury Mountain Maple in Hobart, NY
I’m a big fan of maple syrup, and have been for years (sorry, but no Mrs. Butterworth’s syrup for my home-made waffles or cottage cheese pancakes), so our visit to Roxbury Mountain Maple in Hobart, NY in the heart of the Catskill Mountains, this past weekend while we were in neighboring Roxbury for a family wedding was a real treat.
Do you know where maple syrup comes from?
No, not maple syrup trees, but close. Sap is gathered from sugar maple trees. The sap, I learned, is mostly water and so that must be boiled … (6 comments)
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travel: It’s Been a Day of Waiting and Waiting and Waiting
- 05/10/16 02:19 PM
It’s Been a Long Day of Waiting
I just arrived in DC a few hours ago for the CRS meetings for several days, then off to NY for a family wedding on Friday before heading home to Carlsbad Monday afternoon.
It’s been a day of waiting and waiting, as travel tends to be these days. I normally don’t pay all that much attention to all the waiting, and get all sorts of things done on my phone during these times unless I’m in the car. It seems I paid more attention to all the waiting today and it made me grumpy.
I had to … (42 comments)
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travel: Throwback Thursday: Crystal Cove Cottages
- 05/05/16 03:57 AM
Crystal Cove Cottages in Laguna Beach CA
Crystal Cove is a state park along the SoCal coast just north of Laguna Beach, and includes the historic Crystal Cove cottage colony.
Apart from being a charming look back in the past and a fine place to vist (the Beachcomber Restaurant right on the beach is terrific!), these cottages can be rented during the year.
High demand from regulars might make particular favorites more difficult to rent and reservations fill up quickly. But I understand there can be some saem day openings at certain times of the year.
This seaside colony of cottages was built in the … (33 comments)
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travel: Throwback Thursday: Ducks at the Peabody Hotel in Orlando
- 04/28/16 11:13 AM
Ducks at the Peabody Hotel in Orlando
I was at a CRS convention in Orlando, FL in 2011 and stayed at the Peabody Hotel.
At the time the hotel was famous for their duck parade, with the ducks ushered in at different times of the day on a red carpet to gather at the fountain in the main lobby area. It was a treat to see.
Here is a video (not mine).
My understanding is the ducks' last parade at the Peabody Hotel was in 2013 when the hotel was turned into a Hyatt but parade at the Memphis, TN location.
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travel: Almost Wordless Wednesday: Art and Wine in Napa
- 04/27/16 12:36 AM
Art and Wine in Napa
For lovers of both art and wine, there is an abundance of wineries in the Napa Valley where you can enjoy galleries, scuptures, an occasional artist in residence, and the artistry of the architecture itself, plus the vineyards, grounds and landscaping, and of course amazing wine. Artesa was one of our favorites. It's time for a return trip!
… (14 comments)
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travel: Throwback Thursday - Honolulu Views from Diamond Head
- 04/07/16 07:22 AM
The views of Honolulu are spectacular on a beautiful day in Hawaii, which it was back in 2008 when we hiked up Diamond Head.
If you haven't done this, it's well worth it if you visit the island, and not overly challenging, between the stairs and the trail - I even climbed it in my reef sandals. I was there for a CRS convention and had a half day for sightseeing.
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travel: Throwback Thursdays: Italian Road Noise
- 03/31/16 08:46 AM
Some buyers here complain about potential road noise at the homes they are considering. But it doesn't compare to what you might get living in one of these village homes.
This was the main street through the small town in Montagnana where we stayed in the Chianti region of Tuscany. Only a 3-foot sidewalk separated these homes from the Italian drivers whizzing by.
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Queen's Bath in Princeville, Kauai
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