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Just a short drive away from Austin (an hour and a half to be exact!) is the wonderful city of San Antonio. San Antonio was where Davy Crockett was heading when he famously said "You can all go to hell and I will go to Texas!" I had heard great things about San Antonio and its' famous River Walk and wanted to check it out for myself. Let me tell you, it definitely lived up to all the hype. My daughter and I truly enjoyed our visit to San Antonio and we encourage you to join us and Davy Crockett and head to Texas! Best Place to Stay: There are several hotel options in San Antonio. Wherever you choose to stay, I would recommend choosing a hotel situated on or near the River Walk. We stayed at the Canopy by Hilton San Antonio Riverwalk and I highly recommend it! The location was great as it is literally right on the River Walk and only a short walk away from most of the other things you will want to do. The Canopy also has a highly acclaimed restaurant right on the property that I will highlight below. It is also a brand new hotel so everything is really nice and fresh! Best Things to Do: Gruene Historic District/New Braunfels: About half way between Austin and San Antonio (or approximately a 45 minute drive from each) is the Gruene Historic District located in the city of New Braunfels. Gruene (pronounced "green") is a charming rustic Texas town with a distinct history. It is home to Gruene Hall, built in 1878, which is the oldest dance hall in Texas. Many big name country music stars have played here over the years. Gruene Hall still has live music every day so check the schedule and try and catch a show in this historic venue! There are also several local shops to pick up a memento from your trip, including the Gruene General Store which hasn't changed much since it opened in 1925. If you make a trip to Gruene, make sure to plan to each lunch or dinner at The Gristmill River Restaurant and Bar highlighted below in Where to Eat! Walk or Cruise the River Walk: Once you arrive in San Antonio, the first thing you will want to do is check out the River Walk. You can stroll up and down both sides. There are several bridges that can take you up and over the river whenever you want to get to the other side. Check out all of the restaurants and shops that border the River Walk and decide which ones you want to return to during your stay! There are also free water taxis that will take you up and down the river throughout the day. You can also buy a ticket to take a guided cruise up and down the River Walk. We chose to do a cruise at night so we could see the River Walk all lit up. City Sightseeing Hop On/Hop Off Tour Bus: I always recommend doing these bus tours on the first day or two of your trip when they are available. Riding the full loop gives you a lay of the land and a little history about the area you are about to explore. We bought a package that included a two-day bus pass and the River Walk boat cruise. Having a two day bus pass works to get you around the city and back to any places on the tour bus route that you want to return to. There are other packages that include discounted tickets to additional sightseeing spots. Check out all your options here . The Alamo: The most famous site in San Antonio is a must see! Known as the "Shrine of Texas Liberty", the Alamo represents the heart of Texas pride and the spirit of its' people. I admit didn't know (or remember) the history of the area and I found the tour entertaining and educational. It gave me a whole new respect for the history of Texas in their fight to be independent. To do a self-directed tour you must reserve a FREE timed-entry ticket. Alternatively, you can buy a ticket for a guided tour that will give you a complete history of the Alamo with a directed tour. I would recommend the guided tour for the complete experience. You can find information on securing your timed entry ticket and tour prices here . Historic Market Square: The Historic Market Square is an area "where the culture of San Antonio comes alive". There are over 100 locally owned businesses located in the Historic Market Square that allow you to enjoy the sights and flavors of old Mexico. You can find authentic Mexican curios and artifacts, hand-crafted leather goods and hand-woven Mexican blankets for $10. After shopping you can enjoy authentic Mexican or Tex-Mex cuisine at one of the several restaurants in the Square. Or you can just enjoy an authentic Mexican churro with your choice of dipping sauce! Yum! A trip to San Antonio is not complete without a visit to the Historic Market Square (and it is a designated stop on the Hop On/Hop Off tour bus mentioned above). Find more information on the Historic Market Square here . La Villita Historic Art Village: La Villita Historic Art Village is located on the southern bank of the River Walk and is easy to get to while strolling on the River Walk or after your tour of the Alamo. The "Little Village" is an artisan village that has been listed on the U.S. Government's National Register of Historic Places. The cobblestone streets are lined by historic architecture opening up into spacious outdoor plazas. La Villita has a storied history, but these days serves as a mecca for artisans and entrepreneurs selling their wares in over 25 boutiques and performers entertaining visitors at cultural events throughout the year. La Villita is the perfect place to find unique gifts and mementos to remember your San Antonio experience. I bought a beautiful hand embroidered kaftan at Villa Tesoros that caught my eye and I get numerous compliments every time I wear it! Pearl Shopping District: One of the stops on the Hop On/Hop Off Tour Bus is the Pearl Shopping District. It is a little out of the way, so if you don't do the Tour Bus you will have to have transportation to get here if you don't want to hike all the way over from the River Walk area. If you do choose to go, you will find a lovely shopping area anchored by Pearl Brewery. There are several different retailers with an eclectic mix of items from books, kitchen wares, free trade artisan crafts, home decor and clothing boutiques. There are also a number of different restaurants to choose from aside from the Brewery. On the weekends they have a large Farmer's Market with Saturdays dedicated to local farmers and ranchers and Sundays featuring local artisans. Definitely check out all that the Pearl Shopping District has to offer and plan to make a stop during your stay. Best Places to Eat: As I mentioned above, San Antonio is known for its authentic Mexican food and its Tex-Mex cuisine. We only had a couple of days and were trying to cram in all of our sight seeings so we didn't do too many "sit down" meals. We were able to check out a couple of places (and try a couple of special San Antonio treats, so that can get you started if you find yourself in San Antonio. The Gristmill Restaurant: After checking out Gruene, make sure to grab a bite at the Gristmill River Restaurant and Bar before you head out of town. The Gristmill is located beneath the Gruene landmark water tower in the ruins of a 1878 Cotton Gin overlooking the Guadalupe River. It is included on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Gruene Historical District. There are multiple levels of dining and an outdoor beer garden. We sat on an open air patio nestled in a grove of trees overlooking the River. It felt like we were eating in a tree house! The food was delicious and the setting was beautiful. La Panaderia Bakery and Cafe: For breakfast we stopped at La Panaderia Bakery and Cafe and we were not disappointed with our choice! La Panaderia is owned by two brothers who grew up baking bread and pan dulce with their mother in Mexico. They decided to share their Mexican heritage and love of baking with their San Antonio community by opening the cafe in 2014. They had so many delicious pastries it was hard to choose! Domingo: Domingo is an open-air restaurant located beneath the Canopy by Hilton San Antonio Riverwalk where we stayed. The vide is cool and relaxed enhanced by the open air concept. The patio of Domingo is right on the River Walk so you can watch the boats float up and down the river and the people strolling along the River Walk. Domingo serves Mexican dishes with South Texas flavors. I had the Grilled Adobo Chicken Tacos which were delicious. Madison and I split the Skillet Cornbread made with cheddar, zucchini, and green chiles and served with honey butter. It was AMAZING! The drinks are "agave forward beverages" that are styled with edible flowers creating a drink almost too pretty to drink...notice I said almost. San Antonio is an incredible city with lots to do! I encourage you to plan a visit and suggest combining it with a visit to Austin to do all the things I highlighted in my Austin blog which can be found here . By the time you are done exploring these parts of South Texas you will be saying "y'all" and speaking with a country twang while craving BBQ and Tex-Mex!

I just returned from a long girl's weekend in Nashville, Tennessee and I already can't wait to go back! If you love listening to live music by talented musicians, you need to plan a trip to Nashville, also known as Music City, immediately if not sooner. Nashville has been the launching pad for many past and present popular musicians. As you walk up and down Broadway, there is live music playing in every bar all day and all night by excellent performers hoping to be discovered and make it big. Even if music isn't your cup of (sweet) tea, Nashville has plenty of other things to keep you occupied. There is amazing food, sporting events, museums, history, and lots of shopping. And don't forget the moonshine! This was my second visit and I can tell you it definitely won't be my last. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Nashville and I am sure you will love it too. Best Places to Stay: Downtown : If the main focus of your visit will be the honky tonks on Broadway or attending a concert or sporting event at Bridgestone Arena or Nissan Stadium, you will want to stay in the central downtown area. There are many hotel choices downtown, but the prices tend to be a bit higher due to the location. The trade off is being able to walk a block or two to many of Nashville's attractions. This convenience will come in handy after a full day of sightseeing or bar hopping to listen to all the great music. We stayed at the Drury Plaza Hotel Nashville Downtown and I highly recommend it! The location was fantastic and an added bonus was the incredible free hot breakfast and the free snacks and drinks at the 5:30 Kickback every day. The breakfast was more substantial than the usual free breakfast offered in hotels. There was fresh scrambled eggs, sausage, biscuits and gravy, oatmeal, a waffle station and a cook making pancakes in adorable Music City shapes! The afternoon "snacks" included a full on dinner buffet with alfredo pasta, grilled chicken, garden salad and soup. You also got a punch card for three free drinks every day during your stay (cocktails, wine or beer!). Unfortunately we were usually out and about around 5:30 every day so only took advantage of the Kickback on the first day, but it was there if we wanted it. It would be a good way to keep your spending down as you can potentially cover two meals and drinks everyday! The Gulch : The first time I visited Nashville I stayed in an Airbnb in The Gulch. The Gulch is a newer upscale area with chic boutiques and trend-setting restaurants. It is a great place to stay, especially if you don't plan to spend a majority of your time on Broadway. Broadway is only a quick 15 minute walk away, but The Gulch is definitely removed from the craziness of the main downtown area if you prefer a more low key vibe. The Gulch is where the famous "What Lifts You Up" Wings mural is located for that perfect Nashville Insta moment. There are only a few hotels in this area, so you would most likely be staying in an Airbnb if you want to stay in The Gulch. Best Things to Do: Old Town Trolley Tours: Whenever I travel to a new spot, one of the first things I do is to jump on the hop on/hop off tour buses that most tourist areas have. This gives me a general overview of the area and also highlights those things I want to make sure I see before I leave. Nashville was no exception. We took the Old Town Trolley Tours which has 14 different stops as it takes you around Nashville. Some of these stops will be specifically highlighted in this list, but there are many different stops that may be of interest. The great thing about the hop on/hop off is that it gives you transportation around the city and you can get off and explore where ever you choose. Another Trolley will be around to pick you up about every 30 minutes. To me the cost of the ticket is totally worth the benefits! Honkey Tonk Bar Crawl: Obviously! This is the main Nashville attraction. Most honky tonk bars are located on lower Broadway, known as Honky Tonk Highway. Live music starts at 10 am every morning and goes until 3 am! There are so many bars and honky tonks it is hard to know where to go. Some of it is just a trial and error effort. There are no cover charges in Nashville, so you can just walk up and down Broadway (and the nearby side streets) and pop into any place that looks interesting. Most bars pipe the music being played inside onto the sidewalk, so if you hear someone you like you can run inside to listen some more. Many of the bars have several different floors with a different band on each floor so make sure to check out every floor of a place you like. If it is a nice day or evening, be sure to head to the very top if the bar has a rooftop. Many of the bars in Nashville are partially owned (or inspired) by today's most popular country music stars: Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line, Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton to name a few. So if you have a favorite country musician, check to see if they have a place and be sure to put that one on your list. Having been to Nashville twice now, I have found a few places that I consistently enjoy: Dierks Bentley's Whiskey Row Honky Tonk Central Kid Rock's Big Ass Honky Tonk Rock-n-Roll Steakhouse Luke Bryan's 32 Bridge-Especially the rooftop bar! Lucky Bastard Saloon-One of the newest honky tonks on Broadway. Nudie's Honky Tonk-A great spot for a rooftop selfie capturing Broadway lights in the background! Yee Haw Brewery/Ole Smokey Distillery: We discovered this place after a tip from a local and we are so glad we did! The Ole Smokey Distillery is on 6th and Peabody, just a short walk from lower Broadway. It is a great option for lunch before heading down to the honky tonks. Before lunch, you should definitely do the moonshine tasting. For $10 you get a drink (either a Yee Haw craft beer or a seltzer) and several tastings of the flavored Ole Smokey Moonshine. After you complete the tasting you get a $10 coupon that you can use in the bar area for another drink or you can put it towards the purchase of moonshine to take home or a souvenir from the gift shop. So basically the tasting ends up being free...not to mention fun! We sampled Blue Flame Moonshine (basically tasted like Everclear-yuck!), Sour Cherry, Butter Pecan, Peanut Butter, and pickles and pineapples soaked in moonshine. These flavors are just the tip of the ice berg as the wall was filled with a colorful display of other varieties of moonshine and whiskey! We then made our way over to the bar and my friend Christina (a craft beer fan) bought a flight of Yee Haw brews to try. The snack bar offered several different types of tacos from White Duck Taco that were reasonably priced at $4.95 a piece. Christina got a fish taco while I opted for a Thai chicken taco with mango salsa. What a fun way to spend the afternoon! Line Dancing Lessons at Wildhorse Saloon: The Wildhorse Saloon is an iconic Nashville venue. It has the largest dance floor in the downtown area and an expansive stage for live performances. There are two floors to view the stage and a suspended herd of wild horses on the ceiling. Line dancing lessons are free and taught by an instructor in between sets of live music. We learned two different line dances including one called the NashVegas Shuffle. The schedule for performances and line dancing lessons can be found on the Wildhorse Saloon website . They also have a full menu, so you may want to consider this place for dinner and a show (plus a little bit of dancing). There really isn't too much room to line dance at the other honky tonks, so it was fun to have the opportunity and the instruction. Museums and Historic Buildings: There are many, many museums and historic buildings to tour in Nashville. Admission charges vary. Here is a list of just a few: Frist Art Museum Tennessee State Museum-Located near the Bicentennial Capital Mall State Park This is a stop on the Trolley tour. The Parthenon-Nashville is called the "Athens of the South" primarily because of its focus on higher education, but also because it is home to a full scale replica of The Parthenon. Inside the replica is a museum that houses paintings from the 19th and 20th centuries and, like The Parthenon in Greece, houses a 42 foot statue of Athena. This is also a stop on the Trolley tour. Country Music Hall of Fame-I visited this museum on my first visit. It is substantial and took about half a day to get through it all. There is a lot to see and experience at the museum. I love country music so I enjoyed it, but if you are not a big country music fan it may not be worth the cost and time to you. Ryman Auditorium- You can tour the building that was the original home of the Grand Ole Opry. It is cool to see this historic venue up close and personal. There are still live performances at the Ryman and I have been told it is a fantastic place to see a show, so you may want to check out the schedule during your stay to see if you can catch one. Patsy Cline Museum-I have not visited this museum, but love Patsy Cline. Maybe next visit! Johnny Cash Museum-Christina and I went to the Johnny Cash museum on this trip. It is small and doesn't take long, but costs $22.95. Personally, I didn't think it was worth it as I am not a huge Johnny Cash fan. However, for a true fan there was a lot of cool memorabilia that would be interesting. What I did enjoy was the Johnny Cash cafe/bar right next store. There was a cool "Johnny" vibe to the place. That doesn't cost anything to go in! Gaylord Opryland/Grand Ole Opry: The Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center complex is located outside of downtown Nashville. You will require a car or an Uber ride to visit. If you have not been before, it is worth the trip. The complex is amazing and is a one of a kind 9 acre atrium with indoor streams and gardens. There is a variety of activities, shopping and restaurants, Of course it is the current home to the iconic Grand Ole Opry. I went to a show at the Grand Ole Opry on my first visit and am glad I did it. I didn't feel the need to make the trek out there this time, but something that everyone who goes to Nashville should do at least once. Sporting Events or Concerts: I like to schedule some of my trips around a sporting event or concert that I want to see. That way, I can take in an event I would like to enjoy anyway, but also get to check out a new area! The Tennessee Titans play football at Nissan Stadium which is walking distance from downtown. The Nashville Predators play hockey at Bridgestone Arena which also hosts a variety of concerts and is located right on the Honky Tonk Highway. I planned my first visit to Nashville to see the Zac Brown Band at Bridgestone Arena and got the best tickets I have ever had for a concert at a reasonable price! I am spoiled now. If you are interested in going to Nashville, see if you can schedule it around an event or concert. So easy to do both here! Best Places to Eat: Prince's Hot Chicken or Hattie B's: Nashville is known for its' hot chicken, so you have to try it at least once while you are here. Prince's Hot Chicken is the original hot chicken restaurant. Hattie B's appears to be the most popular. At every Hattie B location there is a long line of customer's waiting to get a taste of the local favorite. Hattie B's has levels of hotness so you don't have to feel left out if your palate doesn't appreciate spicy. Their levels are described as Southern (No Heat), Mild (A Touch of Heat), Medium (Warming Up), Hot! (Feel the Heat), Damn Hot!! (Fire Starter), and Shut the Cluck Up!!! (Burn Notice). How brave are you? Hattie B's also has several other traditional southern foods on their menu so there is something for everyone. Assembly Food Hall: Assembly Food Hall is located on 5th and Broadway so it is a perfect place to grab a bite to eat while cruising up and down Broadway at the honky tonks. Assembly Food Hall has over 30 different eateries (including locations for Hattie B's and Prince's Hot Chicken), bars and three stages so you don't have to miss any live music while you eat. Christina grabbed some sushi while I chose a wood-fired personal pizza. A great space if you are with a group because you can avoid the prolonged discussion about where you should eat when everyone is in the mood for something different. All the different options can be found here . . Biscuit Love: Biscuit Love is located in The Gulch and unfortunately I have never been because there is always a SUPER long line! I have included it in this blog because the consistent long lines are a sign that it must be pretty good. Biscuit Love is a local family-owned business that serves biscuits and breakfast. They started in 2012 with food trucks and now have three brick and mortar restaurants. Their location in The Gulch is open daily from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm. My recommendation if you really want to try one of their award winning biscuits is to get up early and hopefully beat the line. Good luck! Milk and Honey: Milk and Honey is another breakfast place in The Gulch. I got one of the best chocolate croissants in my life from Milk and Honey on my first visit. This time I tried the almond croissant and it was just as spectacular. They have sit down restaurant with a substantial menu, but again long lines have foiled my plans to check out the sit down options. I was "forced" to stick with the walk-up bakery options. Can't say I was disappointed. Goo Goo Chocolate Co.: Goo Goo Clusters are Nashville's Official Candy. The store is located across from the Johnny Cash Museum and Bar. You can buy a variety of premade Goo Goo Clusters or you can design your own personal Goo Goo Cluster that will be made while you wait. The personalized Goo Goo can be made with a variety of sweets and add ins to satisfy your own unique sweet tooth. Click here to start planning what you want to include in the *I nsert Your Name Here * Goo Goo Cluster. We bought a few of the premade and each one was delicious! We tried the classic Pecan Goo Goo Cluster (pecans, caramel, and marshmellow nougat covered in milk chocolate), Lil Goos (peanuts, caramel and nougat covered in milk chocolate) and the PB&P Premium Goo Goo Cluster (peanut butter, caramel, and pretzels covered in dark chocolate). Another Nashville original you don't want to miss! Yee Haw Brewery/Ole Smokey Distillery: I already talked about the reasonably priced, delicious tacos served at the Ole Smokey Distillery above, but wanted to include it here under Best Places to Eat so you don't forget about this option. Best Places to Shop: There is so much to do in Nashville, you might think that you will not have any time for shopping. But that would be a mistake! There are several places you will want to check out in order to pick up those special gifts for family or friends left behind or that special something that will always remind you of your incredible trip to Nashville! The Gulch : You can find some of the usual chain stores like Urban Outfitters and Lululemon in The Gulch, but you can also find chic boutiques that have unique vibes and trendy clothing and home decor items. One store in particular that I loved was Kittenish, a very pink and very girly boutique owned by Jesse James Decker. The branding in the store was on-point and the prices were reasonable. It just felt fun to shop there! There is also a store in The Gulch called Paddywax Candle Bar where you can sip mimosas and make your own candle with a variety of fragrances to choose from. Marathon Village: Marathon Village is a stop on the Old Town Trolley route. Marathon Motor Works is an old automobile factory that has been transformed into a unique retail complex. Stores here include Antique Archaeology (owned by American Picker's star Mike Wolfe), Jack Daniels and Harley Davidson stores that sell licensed merchandise, souvenir shops, an olive oil shop and a distillery and winery that offer tastings. In addition to the stores, there are artifacts from the auto manufacturing history that line the halls giving the location a unique and interesting feel. The half an hour time between Trolleys gives you just enough time to check out this area and hop back on to continue your Trolley tour. Broadway: Mixed in along the honky tonks are stores that sell authentic cowboy apparel like boots and hats. They are ready to outfit you so you can fit in with the crowd. There is also upscale shopping right outside the Assembly Food Hall on 5th and Broadway with stores like Free People, Sephora, the Apple Store, Ariat and the Nash Collection (where I found my really cute NASH sweatshirt to remember my trip!). Nashville is such a unique and vibrant city I have no doubt you will fall in love with it just like I have. There is so much to do, if you discover something fun that I haven't mentioned, please comment and share! I will definitely be back so would love new suggestions! It's not goodbye, Nashville, it's see you later!

"My only regret in life is that I did not drink more wine." -Ernest Hemingway The second stop on our epic California road trip was Sonoma and Napa Valley. The well-known wine country is 45 miles north of San Francisco and only about an hour's drive (depending on traffic getting out of the city), but there is a local airport if you want to fly right into the region. A getaway to this area is magical and you feel like you have been transported to a whole other world. So grab those cute sandals you couldn't wear in San Francisco, throw on a a cute sun dress and your most stylish sunglasses or sun hat and get ready for an incredible experience! Where to Stay...Napa or Sonoma Valley? This is an age old debate...should you go to Napa or Sonoma when you visit the region. I say, why not BOTH? They are only 20 to 30 minutes apart and if you are there for a few days you can easily spend time in each location! The common advice is that Napa is bigger and more commercialized while Sonoma is quainter and more low-key (and probably a tad cheaper). My personal observation is that this description is accurate, but they are both great spots. In addition to the central area in both Valleys, there are also lots of smaller towns within each region that are also charming and would make a great home base while visiting. I recommend doing some on-line research about the various wineries that you would like to visit, map out your choices to see where most are located and then make a lodging choice based on that. You can either stay in one place for the whole time and drive around (or find transport) to explore the entire region or you could choose to spend a night or two in each location. We stayed at the El Pueblo Inn in Sonoma ( www.elpuebloinn.com ). El Pueblo Inn has been family owned and operated since 1958. It has a good location which is walking distance to local grocery stores and Sonoma Plaza (the shopping area mentioned below). With your stay you also get a good continental breakfast to get your day started, a peaceful courtyard with beautiful landscaping, and a nice pool/hot tub area. Some of the rooms have balconies. The downside was our room was a little dated and dark. However, El Pueblo Inn is very reasonably priced (relatively-most hotels in either Valley are a little pricey) and for the cost, the benefits mentioned above far out-weighed the negatives. Besides, we were really only in the room to sleep so dark is good, right? There are many, many choices for lodging throughout the Valleys and you probably can't go wrong with most of them. What to Do: Uhhhh...wine tasting and tours, of course! See below for just a few suggestions from the hundreds of wineries in the area. I personally would not try to book more than three in a day, but two is probably better. First, you don't have to rush to get from one place to the next and can sit and enjoy the wine and the ambiance of each unique winery. Secondly, you do get full from all of the tastings (especially if you eat at some point in the day-which you definitely should with all that wine drinking!), so you become less enthusiastic to taste as the day goes on. Hiking-If you (or your liver!) need a break from the wine consumption, there are many hikes in the area to get out and enjoy the beautiful scenery in the Valleys. Disclaimer: We didn't do any hikes during our visit, but I saw information about many and I can only imagine the views from some of the hikes is amazing. Go to Alltrails.com to find descriptions of hikes in the area Shopping-Sonoma Plaza located in the center of Sonoma is a beautiful 8 acre square park with cute boutiques, gift shops, and restaurants lining all sides of the park. Downtown Napa is a larger commercial district with more stores and fancier dining establishments. St. Helena in Napa Valley also has a Main Street of cute stores and restaurants (including some of the places recommended below!). Make a note that most stores close at 6, so don't plan to shop after a day of wine tasting because the doors will be locked by the time you get there. We learned this from personal experience. Cruise Around and Take in the Sights-If it is within your budget, I HIGHLY recommend renting a convertible and driving around the area with the top down. Driving through the miles and miles of vineyard lined hills with the wind blowing through your hair and the sun on your face is a feeling like no other. Taking an afternoon to drive around both Valleys (or maybe even over to the coast) is a very enjoyable way to spend the day! Where to Taste: There are literally hundreds of wineries in the area. Making a choice of which ones to visit will depend on a number of factors. What to Consider: Is there a wine you really enjoy that comes from Napa or Sonoma Valley? If so, you may want to visit that vineyard to learn more about it or to try other varieties made by the winery. Alternatively, you may want to branch out and try new wines that you don't already know about. What do they offer? Some vineyards only offer tastings. Others have options to take a tour. Does the vineyard offer food? Most have options to purchase cheese or charcuterie boards, but some have more substantial offerings and you may want to visit these places closer to lunch or dinner. See below for description of Charles Krug Winery which had wood-fired pizza we could order with our tasting and it was delicious! What is the cost? There is a range of costs for the tastings offered at the various wineries. The difference depends on what type of tasting or tour you sign up for, as well as the size or notoriety of the winery. Generally, tastings range from $40-60. The tasting and tour we took at Schramsberg Vineyards was $80. It is important to assess what you get for the tasting fee to determine if it is worth it or not. Sometimes we got less for the more expensive tastings. That was always a bummer. Do you want to go to a larger, more commercial winery or a smaller, family owned vineyard? I suggest including some of both in your schedule. There is definitely a different vibe to each. The smaller vineyards feel more personalized and relaxed, but there is nothing like the magnificence and grandeur of some of the larger vineyard properties. Where are your staying? As I noted above, the areas are close so it is definitely doable to get to both. However, if you don't have a designated driver and/or you are trying to do many tastings in a day, you may want to make sure the vineyards you choose to visit are in a more concentrated area. There are options to take a Wine Train or other organized tours which eliminate this question (and concerns about driving) as they will have pre-arranged stops. If you are overwhelmed by all of the options or don't have a specific preference, this may be the choice for you! Please note that advanced reservations are required for most, if not all, wineries. This could also impact your choices if you wait too long and can't get a reservation at your preferred vineyards. The only exception would be if you take an organized tour or Wine Train because your reservation will be included with your ticket. Wineries We Visited: Below is a description of the vineyards we went to. I started with my favorites first, but it was hard to rank because they all were amazing in their own way. Schramsberg Vineyards- 1400 Schramsberg Rd., Calistoga, CA 94515 www.schramsberg.com This vineyard was my favorite! So much so, that I joined their Wine Club and will receive deliveries of their wine four times a year. Schramsberg Vineyards is a smaller family owned vineyard that makes Chardonnay and Pinot Noir based sparking wines. They were one of the few vineyards that offered a tour along with tasting and I think this really enhanced my experience. The tasting took place in the darkened caves where bottles and bottles of sparkling wines are aging. The Schramsberg Vineyards are home to the first caves dug for wine storage and was the first hillside vineyard in Napa Valley established in the 19th Century. The vineyard was almost destroyed by wild fires recently and as you drive up the hillside you can see from the scorched trees how close the fire came. There is a monument on the property thanking the local firefighters for saving their vineyard. The cave tour was a little more money then other tastings, but you got six tastings and the tour of the caves so it was definitely worth every penny. The tour made it a total experience and I actually learned a lot about wine and wine tasting in general. I highly recommend including this vineyard on your schedule. Domaine Carneros -1240 Duhig Road, Napa, CA 94559 www.domainecarneros.com As described on their website, "Domaine Carneros is a singular winery best known as a small grower-producer of methode traditionelle sparkling wine, Pinot Noir, estate vineyards, and a breathtakingly beautiful chateau." The chateau sits high on a hillside and the patio overlooks gorgeous scenery as you enjoy a flight of FULL-SIZE glasses for your tasting. This is where scheduling three tastings in a day became a problem. By the time we got here we were full and couldn't even finish all of our glasses! If you add this winery to your schedule, make sure to put it earlier on the itinerary before you stomach gets too full. Inglenook -1991 St. Helena Highway, Rutherford, CA 94573 www.inglenook.com Iglenook is the vineyard owned by Francis Ford Coppola (the director of many popular films including The Godfather movies). Fittingly, the entrance and property of the Inglenook winery looks like something from a movie. Funny story-we didn't read our reservation closely enough and couldn't figure out how to open the grand gate. Once we figured that out, we tried to video ourselves driving through the gate but it started closing on us when we where only part way through! Security had to reopen the gate so it didn't close on us. I can only imagine the laughter that was going on in the Security Guard station watching us struggling! Slightly embarrassing, but oh well...you only live once and you have to capture the moment. In any event, we finally got through the gate and took in the gorgeous estate before making our way out to the terrace for our tasting. The woman who managed our tasting was so enjoyable and knowledgable that she made the whole expereince! After the tasting we explored the property a little more and there are exhibits related to cameras and filmmaking due to Mr. Coppola's day job along with the history of the vineyard. Charles Krug Winery -2800 Main Street, St. Helena, CA 94574 www.charleskrug.com Charles Krug Winery is Napa Valley's oldest Winery Estate. It was established in 1861 by Charles Krug, the visionary father of Napa Valley winemaking. It was purchased by the Mondavis, wine-making royalty, in 1943 and for over 75 years and four generations they have been operating the winery. There is some Mondavi family drama related to this winery and the Mondavi estate down the road. Be sure to ask for the details if you visit this winery. The tasting room also has a medallion on the floor that marks the spot of a time capsule buried underneath, so that's pretty cool. The other thing that makes this winery stand out is the delicious wood-fired pizza you can order with your tasting. I would make sure to plan your visit to Charles Krug around lunch or dinner so you can kill two birds with one stone! Beringer Vineyards -2000 Main Street, St. Helena, CA 94574 www.beringer.com Beringer is a large commercial vineyard. The property is definitely beautiful and the wine was good, but this was my least favorite of the vineyards we visited. The cost for the tasting was a little more expensive and you didn't get much for that value. Small tastes, brief description and not much else. Wasn't bad, but wasn't anything special. Where to Eat: I sound like a broken record, but there are many, many places to eat throughout Napa and Sonoma Valley and again, you probably can't go wrong with most choices. My friend Ann is a master researcher, so she found some excellent places for us to grab a bite to eat. I should make it clear right now that I am NOT a foodie. Ann and I both decided before we left on this journey that food was not going to be a major part of our budget, so we did not look for or eat at any fine dining establishments. We looked for places with delicious food that were quick and budget-friendly. If that is what you are looking for, I am your girl! Below are a couple of places we found that met the above criteria in spades! El Molino Central -11 Central Ave., Sonoma, CA www.elmolinocentral.com El Molino Central is a small Mexican Restaurant that serves tortillas, tamales and fish tacos. They also serve beer and wine to go. Its colorful exterior gives you an idea of the vibe. There is no indoor seating, but they have a large patio area that was very crowded when we got there. Always a good sign! The prices are moderate and the food is excellent. I ordered the Chicken Enchiladas Suizas and was in heaven. Living in upstate New York, I have missed authentic Mexican food. I grew up in Colorado and lived in San Diego for a bit so I am spoiled. Ann ordered the fish tacos and gave them two thumb's up. Gott's Roadside -933 Main St. (Hwy 29), St. Helena, CA www.gotts.com Gott's Roadside is a classic American roadside grill that serves a variety of burgers and other traditional roadside options, but it also has vegan choices. They also have some unique California-inspired dishes and seasonal specialities. All menu items use locally sourced ingredients. Their menu also includes sushi, fish tacos, salads and hand-spun organic shakes. There is bound to be something for everyone on their menu. And because it is in Napa, you can also order wine by the glass or the bottle or you can try a Frose, a frozen blend of rose wine, strawberry and citrus. The stars were aligned when we got there because there was no line and we just walked right up to the window to order. However, a few minutes later there was a super long line and every time we drove by Gott's again there was long line. So if you go, be prepared to wait in a bit of a line. But as I noted above, when there is a crowd there is definitely a reason. The food was delicious. Also, keep your eyes peeled for celebrities because I am pretty sure Kristen Chenowith was sitting with a group of LA friends at the table right next to us! Charles Krug Winery- 2800 Main Street, St. Helena, CA 94574 www.charleskrug.com Check out the section above about the Charles Krug Winery to see a picture of the yummy wood-fired pizza we had at our tasting. You don't have to pay for a tasting to go in and order a pizza, so keep this in mind as a dining option even if you don't want to sample their wine. SO BOTTOM LINE-PUT NAPA AND SONOMA COUNTY ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET LIST! If you haven't been to Wine Country yet, start making plans immediately! You won't regret it. Plan that long-awaited girl's trip or romantic getaway, depending on your situation or your mood. Either way it will be an experience you will never forget.

San Francisco is an amazing city with so much to see that most people take at least three days to take it all in. You could easily fill a whole week with activities (including day trips to outlying areas like Napa/Sonoma or Yosemite...although these areas are entitled to a trip all their own!). I have been to San Francisco on many occasions and am usually there for at least a long weekend. However, on this particular trip, my friend Ann and I were doing an epic journey down the northern California coast and only had limited time (limited=a day!) to spend in the City by the Bay. Ann had never been to San Francisco so we had to be very efficient in our planning to fit in as much as possible. From my previous visits, I had several things I wanted to show her that would have easily filled the day. But Ann is an expert researcher and came up with some additional things to check out that I had never seen and we wanted to add them to the already busy agenda. Lucky for us, we are both hyper-organized and compulsive planners. So between the two of us were were able to come up with a ONE day schedule that pretty much covered the whole San Francisco area. If you only have a day, you can use our plan to make sure you really SEE San Francisco. However, I recommend that you take this itinerary and spread it out over a few more days if you have the time. It would certainly be more relaxing! The "San Francisco in One Day" Agenda Following is the list of the things you can do in San Francisco in a day. You can do them in any order that makes logical sense for you depending on where you are staying. We stayed at a motel right across from the Presidio, so our day started there. I should also note that we did have a car that allowed us to drive to some of the places, but if you are adventurous and looking to get in your steps for the day you can walk (but be prepared for some intense hill workouts as you walk the steep streets!). Alternatively, you can grab Ubers to get to some of the more out of the way locations. First Stop-The Presidio The Presidio is a national park located at the south end of the Golden Gate Bridge. It was originally home to native people, then subsequently became a military post under flags of Spain, Mexico and the U.S. It is 1,491 acres (5% of the total area of San Francisco!) and includes museums, hotels, restaurants, hiking and biking trails, scenic overlooks, picnic areas, beaches, a golf course and other things I am sure I am forgetting because there is SO much there. Entry to the Presidio is free. We walked along a path that took us down to an area called Crissy Field. This restored area used to be an airfield and now has wide green fields for picnicking or sports, a marshy area for bird-watching and nature observation, a wide beach with a stunning view of the San Francisco Bay, and nice flat trails for walking or biking. This is one of many spots in San Francisco to get a great picture with the famous Golden Gate Bridge in the background. Second Stop-Marina District/Fisherman's Wharf From Crissy Field, we followed a walking path heading toward the Marina District and Fisherman's Wharf. The path goes along the coast, so on the way we had more amazing views of the Golden Gate Bridge as well as some great looks at Alcatraz. We walked along the harbor and saw all the beautiful boats anchored there (with the ever-present Bridge in the background) as well as some of the beautiful colorful homes which line the street across from the harbor in the affluent Marina District. Ann is a big coffee drinker so when we spotted a coffee truck parked near the Marina Green with a LONG line (always a good sign) we figured we had to stop for some refreshments. I don't drink coffee, but scored a delicious chocolate croissant! The guys working the truck were extremely energetic and friendly so it was a nice boost to our morning. After our coffee break, we continued along the path to the Fisherman's Wharf area. Fisherman's Wharf is VERY touristy, but you can't come to San Francisco and not see it. That would be like going to Paris and not seeing the Eiffel Tower. Fisherman's Wharf has a lot to see so there is bound to be something for everyone. There is the iconic Ghiradelli market place where you can get delicious chocolate or ice cream treats, the sea lions who are usually swimming and sunning at Pier 39, tons of touristy shops to pick up that souvenir you think you have to have (but then don't know what to do with it when you get home), great restaurants and of course great people watching. Fisherman's Wharf is also where you pick up the ferries to Alcatraz or nearby Sausalito (which we didn't have time for this trip). Unfortunately, we also missed the Pier 39 sea lions because of the season (we were visiting in June but I have included pics from a previous trip I took during September when they were there). We ate lunch at the iconic Boudin Sourdough restaurant. They are known for their clam chowder served in sourdough bread bowls. As I don't like seafood and Ann wasn't that hungry, neither of us had that specialty dish so I cannot personally recommend it. However, as noted above about the coffee truck, when there is such a buzz about something there is usually a reason. So, if you like clam chowder, you should definitely put it on your "Must Try in San Francisco" list! Boudin's also sells sourdough loaves in the most adorable animal shapes that kids (or kids at heart) would love! We were able to watch the masters at work creating these masterpieces. Third Stop-Powell-Hyde Cable Car/Lombard Street Like Fisherman's Wharf, you can't go to San Francisco and not ride a cable car. That is sacrilege! So imagine our disappointment when we found out that the cable cars had stopped running during the pandemic and were not scheduled to restart until August! There is nothing like riding an open air cable car up and down the steep streets of San Francisco. I was so disappointed that my friend was going to miss that experience. But the Travel Gods were looking down on us! We went to the Powell-Hyde cable car station (located across from the Ghiradelli Marketplace) and found the cable car operators were training and preparing for the August re-opening. Ann asked if we could get a ride and they offered to give us a free short ride from Fisherman's Wharf up to Lombard Street (which is where we wanted to go to anyway). Just goes to show it never hurts to ask, because you might get exactly what you want! So Ann and I got on the cable car with one other bold soul who must have asked for a ride and took a trip up, up, up the steep street. It was the best cable car ride I have ever had because there weren't crowds of people blocking my view and it was free! We got dropped off right at the top of Lombard. Perfect! And we didn't have to walk up that hill! Lombard Street is that famous "crooked" street that you always hear about. It gets its reputation from the eight tight turns in one block. It is located in the Russian Hill District just a short (uphill) walk (or if you are lucky, cable car ride) from Fisherman's Wharf. You can walk up or down Lombard Street depending on which side of the block you find yourself on or you can drive down the one way winding street. In addition to the multiple curves, Lombard is also know for it's beauty. The homeowners on Lombard all maintain beautiful landscaping which adds to the iconic reputation. Fourth Stop-Painted Ladies/Haight-Ashbury/Union Square/Chinatown At this point we went back to get the rental car to continue our explorations. We plugged in our destinations to Google Maps and took off. First stop was the famous "Painted Ladies" across from Alamo Square at Hayes and Steiner Streets. You may recognize the Painted Ladies from the opening of Full House. It is one of the most photographed locations in San Francisco. The open space of Alamo Square across the street provides the perfect location to get a good photo of the Painted Ladies with the San Francisco skyline behind them. It would probably be a great photo op at dusk, but our jam-packed agenda didn't allow much leeway for that kind of timing. In addition to the Painted Ladies, there are other Victorian homes around Alamo Square that don't get the same attention, but are just beautiful (if not more so!). We hopped back in the car and drove a short distance to the historic Haight-Ashbury District to step back in time. The District was one of the main spots for hippie and counterculture activity in the 1960's and it maintains that vibe. Back in the day it was home to revolutionaries and famous singers such as the Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane and Janis Joplin. My subsequent research on the area indicated that you can drive by the old Grateful Dead home (710 Ashbury St.) and the old Jefferson Airplane home (2400 Fulton St.). We didn't know to do that, but make a note if you head to this area and are a fan of either of those bands. The Upper Haight area is filled with boutiques and hip restaurants, as well as flamboyant clothing stores, piercing and tattoo parlors, while down the hill in Lower Haight there are alternative bars, consignment stores and music shops with old vinyl. There is definitely a cool, hippy vibe to the place that is totally different then the rest of San Francisco. We didn't take the time to get out and walk around, but it is on my "To Do" list the next time I go back. After we left Haight-Ashbury, we cruised by Union Square in the central downtown area. Union Square refers to a one-block plaza and the surrounding area that has the largest collection of department stores, upscale boutiques, gift shops, art galleries and beauty salons in the U.S. There are also many hotels in this area. I have stayed in the Union Square area on past trips and it is a nice central location, especially if you are interested in shopping while in San Fran. A few blocks from Union Square is Chinatown. We just cruised by the Dragon Gates this time, but I have enjoyed the delicious Chinese food served up here in the past and can confirm that it was delicious! There are so many restaurants to choose from, but I don't think you can go wrong with any choice in Chinatown. Fifth Stop-Land's End-Coastal Trail Land's End is a hidden gem in San Francisco. It is not one of the more obvious attractions, but is certainly one of the most beautiful! The Coastal Trail at Land's End is a hike that takes you along the rugged coastline, weaving in and out of cypress forests. There are great views of the ocean and the Golden Gate Bridge in the distance. It is generally an easy hike, but there are portions where there are increases in elevation that are moderately challenging. You can make it as easy or hard as you like. Even a short walk along the flat part of the trail will give you breathtaking views. If you are a photography buff, be sure to bring your equipment because there are numerous spots to take amazing photos! Below are some examples of the different shots you can get at different spots on the Trail. (Disclaimer: I am a novice photographer so imagine the pictures you can get if you are an expert!) If you go a decent distance on the Coastal Trail, out and back will probably take one to two hours depending on how far you go and how often you stop to take selfies! In my opinion this is a "MUST SEE" when you go to San Francisco. Helpful hint: There is a visitor center with restrooms by the parking lot nearest to the old Cliff House. I would park there and visit the restroom before you head out. Sixth (And Final!) Stop-Golden Gate Bridge Park After the busy day of sight seeing we had, it was time to head out to Sonoma/Napa Valley for the next stop on our California Coastal journey, but before we actually drove over the Golden Gate Bridge on our way out of town, we stopped at the Golden Gate Bridge Park at the base of the Bridge. Here you can get the "up close and personal" shot of the Bridge (like the one at the beginning of this blog). There is also a visitor center area with restrooms, information, souvenirs of the Bridge and food. If you walk down a path past those buildings, you come to a nice little spot to grab the perfect Golden Gate Bridge selfie. So there you have it, how to explore San Francisco in ONE day! If you can stay longer, I would definitely recommend it, but it can be done if timing only permits a short stay. Some Additional San Francisco Tips Here are some other general tips for traveling to San Francisco: Mark Twain once said "The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco." Just because it is in California, doesn't mean it is warm! September is the warmest month in San Francisco, so that may be the best time to visit if you have flexibility. Otherwise, be sure to pack clothes for cooler temperatures or at least throw a jacket and a pair of jeans into your suitcase. Along the same line as necessary apparel to pack, be sure to pack comfortable walking shoes. You will be walking around a lot! You will also be walking up STEEP hills, this is guaranteed no matter what direction you are heading. Although San Francisco is a trendy town and you may be inspired to wear those cute, stylish sandals, you will be regretting that choice pretty quickly. In this case it is better to feel good then to look cute. Save those cute shoes for Napa! Don't be alarmed by the fog you will wake up to every morning. San Francisco is known for its fog, but it generally burns off by mid-day (but this doesn't mean it will be warmer...see above!). You will hear this over and over when you visit San Francisco, but do NOT leave any valuables in your car whenever you are parked. Car break-ins are rampant. Even with all the warnings, I overheard a couple of different people talking about getting their car broken into and their things stolen. They are not joking when they warn you about this problem. If you can't take it with you, try to leave everything else in your hotel or at the very least in the trunk out of sight. Stay away from the Tenderloin District. This is an area of high concentration of homeless and is known for being dangerous. As in a lot of other places, the pandemic has hit San Francisco pretty hard and has increased their already large homeless population. I didn't see an extraordinary increase from my prior visits, but just be aware that this is a problem in some areas, particularly the Tenderloin District. We didn't do it on this day due to time constraints, but I highly recommend a tour of Alcatraz if your agenda allows. You take a ferry over from Fisherman's Wharf and can tour the famous prison. It is very interesting (not to mention the amazing views of the San Francisco skyline you can get while on the ferry!). Another thing we didn't do this time that I have done in the past is a ferry over to Sausalito for the day. Sausalito is a quaint little town with cute boutiques and many restaurants. It gives you the opportunity to get out on the water and enjoy all the coastal views while also letting you see a different location. I hope this blog inspires you to plan your visit to the City by the Bay (hopefully with a few more days to explore!). I highly recommend a trip to San Francisco if you haven't been yet. As you can see, there is so much to see and do! I welcome any other tips or suggestions from your travels to San Francisco as I definitely hope to go back again!

You don't have to go to London to see a crown jewel (and you can get in a hike at the same time)! Point Lobos State Natural Reserve has often been referred to as the Crown Jewel of the California State Park System and it is just as gorgeous as the Queen's Crown Jewels. This beautiful area is only minutes from nearby towns Monterey and Carmel-by-the-Sea and has a network of well-maintained trails that provide the perfect opportunity to get moving and enjoy the scenery! About Point Lobos Natural Reserve Point Lobos got its name from offshore rocks at Punta de los Lobos Marinos ("Point of the Sea Wolves") where the sound of sea lions carries inland. Part of the California Park System, Point Lobos is actually designated as a natural reserve. This designation affords it the highest level of protection in order to forever preserve the area's unique beauty and ecological significance. This makes Point Lobos an especially great destination for nature lovers and conservationists. There are numerous hikes in the Natural Reserve that can take you along the coastline, through headlands, coves and rolling meadows. As a natural reserve, there is always plenty to observe no matter what time of year you visit. There are rare plant communities, endangered archeological sites, unique geological formations, and rich flora and fauna of both land and sea. You may also catch glimpses of many different forms of wildlife such as seals, sea lions, sea otters and migrating gray whales (December - May). You will most definitely observe many different seabirds, including pelicans. It is amazing to watch these birds soar across the sky and then dip down and skim along the ocean for their food. The Nitty Gritty Details About Visiting Point Lobos Natural Reserve Getting there: Point Lobos Natural Reserve is located right off of Highway 1 about three miles south of Carmel-by-the-Sea. You will see signs for the Reserve entrance from Highway 1. Hours: The Reserve opens at 8:00 am and currently closes at 7:00 pm (with last visitor entry allowed at 6:30 pm). All guests, including walk-in guests must exit the Reserve by the posted closing time. Cost: You must purchase a day pass if you drive in to the Reserve. A general day pass for most vehicles is $10.00, but it drops to $9.00 if you have a senior citizen in the car. There are additional charges for vans and small coaches or buses. Parking: There is parking available at the Reserve, but there is only enough parking for 75 vehicles. Once that fills up, visitors must park on the shoulder of Highway 1 (which can add 1/2 of a mile to a mile extra distance to your hike before you even get to the scenery!). Point Lobos is a very popular destination during the summer months or on holiday weekends. Therefore, if you want to secure one of the 75 parking spots, you should plan to arrive before 9:30 am or after 3:00 pm. Temperature: Even though you are in California, don't expect the temperatures to be extremely warm at Point Lobos. Due to the geographical location, the temperatures in this area remain fairly cool. Temperatures generally range from 57-65 degrees. In the summer months, mornings often have a foggy marine layer blanketing the coastline which burns off by afternoon. You can experience slightly warmer temperatures if you postpone your visit until September. In any event, it is usually breezy by the coastline, so always make sure to dress in layers so you can remain comfortable whenever you visit. Where to Hike: As noted above, Point Lobos has a network of well-maintained hiking trails. There are many different hikes to take depending on the time you have, the ability levels of the people you are traveling with and what you want to see. There are also specific options for those visitors with disabilities. You can start with the Point Lobos website to get a feel for the different options at www.pointlobos.org/plan-your-visit/suggestions . Additionally, you can find many different hiking options at alltrails.com/parks/us/California/point-lobos-natural-reserve . We chose to do the Point Lobos Loop Trail which is 6.7 miles in length and listed as "moderate" in difficulty. I would say that the Loop Trail is generally pretty easy, but the moderate rating probably comes from a few locations where there is an increase in elevation to get to vistas for great views. If you have time, I would highly recommend the Loop Trail because you really get to see it all. We saw stunning rocky coastlines, beautiful inland forests of Monterey Pines and Cypress groves, tide pools, serene meadows filled with wildflowers (it was still spring) and a variety of wildlife habitats. Because we kept stopping to observe things or take pictures, it probably took us a good 3-4 hours to do the complete loop, but it was totally worth it! Look at these shots: A few things we missed on our visit to Point Lobos: There are free docent-led public walks daily. This allows visitors to see the Reserve through experienced eyes and gain insight that you would miss going it alone. These docent-led hikes are usually less than a mile in length so you could take advantage of this opportunity and still have time to explore on your own (with some additional knowledge under your belt!). There is a mobile phone tour and app that you can use on your hike. You can find it at pointlobos.org/media/cell-phone-tour . I wasn't aware of this when we visited, but I probably would have enjoyed getting a little more background and information on the sights we were seeing! I am pointing this out so you won't have to miss this wonderful opportunity to learn more about the Reserve! If you go and try it out, let me know how it is! We did not dive while we were there (primarily due to the fact that I do not dive), but did see a group of divers, probably from the California State Parks or CSU Monterey Bay, doing some research in the area. The Reserve is one of the richest marine habitats in California so there is a lot of research of the marine ecosystem in order to support a healthy coast and ocean and sustain the California Marine Protected Areas. Visitor diving is only allowed at Whalers and Bluefish Coves. Proof of certification is required. If you wish to dive in this amazing ecosystem, you will get permission upon entering the Reserve. Reservations are recommended and a must for weekends and holidays. If you are looking to get active during your visit to the Monterey/Carmel area, look no further then the Point Lobos Natural Reserve. You can go for an hour or the day, you can jog or you can hike, you can take selfies with incredible backdrops or paint pictures of the scenery, you can picnic or you can dive. The choices are endless and the experience is priceless!

When I received my itinerary for my recent Go Ahead Tours trip through the Alps, I noticed that one of the stops on our way to Austria was a place called Liechtenstein. I had never heard of this place and really didn't know much about it. It was in the middle of the Alps, so I had no doubt it would be beautiful. I was pleasantly surprised to discover this little hidden gem of a country that is fiercely proud of its independence and culture. If you plan a trip through the Alps, make sure to include Liechtenstein on your itinerary! Interesting Facts About Liechtenstein The Principality of Liechtenstein is located in Western Europe between Switzerland and Austria, making it one of only two doubly landlocked countries in the world! The total area of Liechtenstein is 62 square miles, about the same geographic size of Washington D.C. The resident population of Liechtenstein is roughly 39,000. The Capital of Liechtenstein is Valduz. German is the official language of Liechtenstein. How to Spend an Afternoon in Liechtenstein As the capital, of course Valduz is the center of activity in Liechtenstein. We took a trolley tour through Valduz which showed us all the sights and gave us some history of this quaint little country. The trolley took us up the hillside through the charming neighborhoods with backyard vineyards and full flower boxes. We caught several views of the hillside palace of the current Reigning Prince and were informed that as all flags were raised that indicated that the Prince and his family were in residence. The trolley also takes you through the center of town where there are plenty of stores for browsing, restaurants to grab a meal and beautiful art work scattered throughout. There are also several museums to tour (including the National Museum of Liechtenstein that explains the history of this unique independent country). After you complete the trolley tour, you can pay 3 Euros to get your Liechtenstein passport stamp! Something unique that not many people will have! While Liechtenstein may not be one of those areas that you hear people talking about all the time, it is definitely worth a stop if you find yourself in the region. I am so glad that Go Ahead Tours included it on their itinerary and helped me discover a beautiful hidden gem that I can share with you!

Clearly I am a huge fan of travel. I think there are so many benefits to traveling including expanding your mind and exposing yourself to different ways of life. But on one recent sleepless night thanks to jet lag following my return from an epic two week European adventure, it occurred to me that traveling actually teaches us some important life lessons. Learning these lessons on a micro level while traveling, can have a huge beneficial impact if you apply them on a macro level to your life's journey. Here are the most important life lessons I was reminded of on my trip: Stay Flexible When traveling, it is more likely than not that you will face some unexpected challenges. A flight will be cancelled or delayed, the weather will not be what you had hoped, a traffic jam will disrupt your schedule...the list goes on. It is important to stay flexible and get creative about how to handle the problem. On my recent trip, we planned to take a bus from Chamonix to Lake Como with a stop at an historic Italian village for lunch. What a lovely day! However, leaving Chamonix, we got stuck in a miles long traffic jam trying to go through the tunnel leaving the valley. We found out that the tunnel was closed for some reason and would not reopen for three hours. Instead of sitting there frustrated for several hours, the bus driver found a different route to get us to our end destination. We missed out on the historic Italian village, but alternatively we got to see a different part of the Italian countryside and stopped at a small roadside restaurant which served the BEST fondue of the entire trip! Staying flexible allows you to roll with the punches and reduce anxiety while sometimes delivering some delightful discoveries. Let Go of Control I am a person with well established control issues. Just ask my friends and family. I have definitely gotten better as I've aged. Also, the pandemic definitely taught me a bigger lesson that the control we think we have is often just an illusion anyway. This realization has helped me to relax in many ways. I am still generally a planner and I like to feel prepared. However, I have learned to loosen my grip a bit. On this trip I gave up total control and let the tour group plan all aspects of my trip. I just paid and showed up. Everything else was taken care of! While I had some moments of anxiousness not be able to dictate my own schedule or order my own meal at a restaurant, overall it was a great experience just sitting back and letting the details be handled by someone else. I saw areas of Europe I wouldn't have even thought of, I tried food I definitely wouldn't have tried if left to my own devices, and put myself in a position to meet a bunch of new people who were amazing travel partners and now friends. Applying this to my life, I plan to try and relax and just let life unfold for me without trying to control all of the details. I will put my energy in the direction of things and people that interest me, but I will try not to be attached to a particular outcome. Go with the flow and see what happens! Keep an Open Mind and Try New Things As I mentioned above, by letting go of control I was forced to try new food and experience things I might not have been inclined to do if it were up to me. But I promised myself at the beginning of the trip that I would try whatever was presented to me, including food that didn't look that appetizing or was not something I normally enjoy. In all honesty, there were several meals where I took a few bites and decided it was not my thing so I didn't finish it. Good thing I had snacks back in my hotel room so I didn't go hungry! However, there were many things I tried that I was surprised to find I enjoyed. The meal in Innsbruck with a fried egg on top of a mixture of salted beef, onions and potatoes comes to mind as well as an authentic German meal with Flädlsuppe (a rich broth soup with thin strips of flädle pancakes) and German bread dumplings. And of course there is the Tartiflette that I talked about in my Annecy blog that I thoroughly enjoyed! The life lesson is that it is important to be open to new things in order to discover more about yourself. Pushing your limits either confirms what you thought to be true or shows you that self-limiting beliefs may be keeping you from making your life bigger and more interesting. This goes beyond just trying food. It also applies to being open minded about experiences, people and places. You never know what you might discover! Stay Curious In order to find new things to be open to try when traveling, you need to stay curious. What is the history of the area and how has it evolved, what is the area known for, what do the locals like to do, what is it like to live in the area, what is the traditional food to be tried? As you find out more information about a place you are visiting, it gives you a new perspective on the area, the people who live there and their experience. You can see how it is different from your experience and how you live your life. You can see how the area and its' history has impacted how people live and what they believe and value. Learning about this impact can make you grateful for the advantages or blessings you have, or it may make you question your belief system and how you live your life. In any event, in life, it is important to stay curious and continue learning as long as you live. The more you learn, the more you know and ALSO the more you learn how much you don't really know. Staying curious keeps you engaged, keeps you learning and keeps you open. Respect the Differences One thing I love about traveling is the ability to see how different places are and how differently people live. Especially when traveling abroad, things can be very different from the US. From simple things like the type of currency used and the type of plug to use for electricity to the language spoken and the values of the country. I don't travel to a new place expecting to do things exactly as I do them at home. And why would I want to? I am going to have a new experience. If I am going to another country, it is only courteous to try to assimilate into their culture as much as possible. Even though I do not speak any other language besides English and it is fortunate that most people in other cultures know English, I still try to respect the area and the culture by at least attempting some basic communication in the country's language. Generally I observe an appreciation by the locals for this effort. The uniqueness that each place and person brings to this world is what makes it interesting and beautiful. It is important to appreciate and respect these differences whether we observe them abroad or in our own back yard. We don't all need to believe the same things, live the same way or have the same values. Giving people the space to be different and respecting those differences makes the world a better place to live. Appreciate the Backstory I always find that when I do some research or take a tour of an area I am visiting and learn the history and how the place has developed and evolved over the years, I have such a deeper appreciation for everything I am seeing and experiencing. Some of the areas I visited on my trip, specifically Munich and Innsbruck, had been directly impacted by WWII. Many of the buildings had been damaged or destroyed by bombing, many of the citizens of those areas had been forced to flee to nearby countries and rebuilding had influenced the development of the city. Looking at the cities through this lens allowed me to more deeply connect with what had happened in these places and realize the extreme price paid by the people who lived through that time. We also toured the Dachau Concentration Camp that sits just outside Munich which serves as a constant reminder of that horrific time. Even though both cities are now thriving and bustling, there is still the memory and the impact of what happened that influences many aspects of their culture. Failing to appreciate the backstory of these places would have made the visit one-dimensional and superficial. This can be true of people as well. How many times in your life have you had an unpleasant experience with someone only to find out that something awful had happened to them or they were having a bad day before they crossed paths with you. Appreciating someone's backstory gives you greater understanding of why people act they way they do, feel the way they do about certain things or why they overreact to something that seems minor. It doesn't mean we have to like or accept bad behavior, but it gives us a better understanding of the person and may influence how we respond in a situation. Travel Light In full disclosure, I am an AWFUL packer. I like to have outfit choices and I have a tiny obsession with shoes so like to bring several different pairs to go with the various outfit choices. The silly thing is, I never wear all of the clothes and I end up wearing the same one or two pairs of shoes because they are most practical and comfortable for the walking I will be doing while sightseeing. This problem was particularly annoying on my Alps trip as I was trying to move my large suitcase from place to place as we followed along our tour. And even if my suitcase was primarily taken care of by porters at each hotel, I still had to lug my overpacked carry on from place to place and through the airport (and the hassle of customs). I was cursing myself on many occasions during this trip and vowing to become a better packer so I could travel lighter in the future. Why do I need to bring so much stuff? Especially when I didn't use or need most of it? Do I feel more comfortable and secure knowing I am prepared for anything...even though generally nothing out of the ordinary happens? I load up with snacks like I think I won't have access to grocery stores or restaurants along the way. Although having some snacks on hand was definitely needed when I didn't like the local fare as I mentioned above! This life lesson can translate to trying to keep life simple on a day to day basis too. Do I need to fill my space with so much stuff? Why do I need one more pair or shoes or one more piece of clothing when my closet is filled with plenty of perfectly good stuff? Why do I buy so much "back stock" of certain food items when I have limited space and can easily go back to the store when I am getting low? I can also apply this principle to my mind and my mental state. Do I need to stress about so many things that never happen or oren't really my concern? If I really think about it, there are only a limited number of things that run through my mind that really matter, are in my control or that directly impact me. If I kept my thoughts focused on only those things, my mind would be a lot quieter and more calm. Easier said than done and something I am working on every day. If you figure out a way to do that, please share! Traveling light by keeping things simple, whether on trips or day to day living, makes things so much easier and enjoyable. Be In The Moment When traveling I like to be fully engaged and take in all the sights and sounds. I fully immerse myself in the experience. Sometimes while riding on the tour bus through the countryside, I had the urge to pull out my phone and mindlessly scroll. I resisted that urge most of the time and made sure to pay attention to the beautiful views out the window. I saw some amazing scenery that I would have missed if I was looking down. I will admit the white noise of the bus engine and the cozy seat did cause me to drift off occasionally. I don't want to think about what I missed when my eyes were closed! I would touch base with the girls or my parents at night while I was getting ready for bed, but during the day I tried to keep myself in the moment of the epic experience I was having. Generally there is nothing from back home that needs my attention while I am on vacation. This can also be applied to daily life. How much do I miss while looking down at my phone or engulfed by the thoughts in my head. Worrying about something that happened in the past that can't be changed or something that may or may not happen in the future prevents me from being present in the moment and engaging with the people and experiences that are happening RIGHT NOW! Being in the moment is essential for authentic connections with friends and loved ones as well as for creating vibrant memories. I hope these lessons can be of use to you to fully enjoy your next trip as well as every valuable life moment in between.

If you don't already have going to Oktoberfest in Munich on your bucket list, make sure to add it immediately! Even if you are not a big beer fan, there is nothing like this traditional festival and you will find plenty to enjoy. If you still aren't convinced, I think you will change your mind by the end of this blog! How the Party Started: The first Oktoberfest occurred on October 17, 1810, at a horse race held in further celebration of the wedding of Prince Ludwig of Bavaria (later King Ludwig I) to Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen. The celebration was such a success it was decided to hold it every year. As the annual festival moved forward the length of the celebration was extended. It was extended forward into the month of September most likely to enjoy the more pleasant, warmer weather that Munich typically enjoys in September. The festival now runs for two weeks every year beginning on the first Saturday following September 15 and runs through the first Sunday in October. Interesting Oktoberfest Party Facts: Approximately 5.7 million festival goers attended the 2022 Oktoberfest! Only beer from Munich breweries may be served at Oktoberfest. The six breweries that provide their newly brewed Wiesn beer to the festival are Augustiner, Hacker-Pschorr, Hofbräu, Löwenbräu, Paulaner and Spaten. 5.6 million liters of beer were served at the 2022 Oktoberfest. 112,551 traditional Oktoberfest beer mugs were confiscated from souvenir hunters who didn't want to pay for their own from the souvenir stands. How to Enjoy the World's Best Party: Access to the festival grounds (Theresienwiese fairgrounds) and the beer tents is free. A smaller, more low-key Oktoberfest called Oide Weisen takes place on the northwestern corner of Theresienwiese. Entry to Oide Weisen is 4 euros for adults (children under 14 are free). There are beer tents with genuine Bavarian customs and a special dark beer brewed using historical recipes which is served in stone mugs. Oide Weisen is Oktoberfest with lots of nostalgia. Oktoberfest kicks off with a Weisen tapping by the Oberbürgermeister (also known as the Lord Mayor) of Munich. The tapping occurs at noon on the first Saturday of the festival in the Schottenhamel Festhalle. A rousing "O'Zapft Is!" starts the beer flowing for the annual Oktoberfest. There are 17 large tents and 21 small tents to enjoy beer, wine and food. Each tent is privately owned and has its own distinct vibe. Don't worry, the typical Oktoberfest atmosphere can be found in every tent! Check out a description of each tent here so you can decide which one sounds like the best fit for you before you go. You don't have to have reservations to enter a beer tent and a proportion of tables in each tent are kept open for walk ins. However, if you plan to go to Oktoberfest on the weekend, in the evening or in a large group, it may be difficult to secure those open spots or even get into a tent. Tents will close due to overcrowding and you will only be able to enter if you have a reservation. You can only make a reservation for a full table which seats 8-10 people. You need to contact each tent directly to make a reservation. (WARNING: Reservations cannot be resold so do not attempt to buy a reservation any where other than directly from the respective proprietor of the relevant tent. A reservation that has been sold will be automatically cancelled so you could be left stranded.) A table reservation itself is free, but in order to secure the reservation you will need to buy and pay for vouchers for 2 liters of beer and half a chicken per person. Price may vary by tent but is generally around 350 euros for the full table. In addition to the beer tents, there are all kinds of things to be enjoyed at Oktoberfest. There are many booths with traditional Oktoberfest foods, souvenir stands where you can purchase your own Oktoberfest beer stein or flower head wreath, and a wide selection of carnival rides. Looking at many of the rides, it doesn't seem to me that they would be a good mix with drinking lots of beer, but who am I to judge? I did enjoy a ride on the symbolic Willenborg's Ferris Wheel and a Toboggan ride that I will discuss below, but I passed on any spinny rides (that honestly I couldn't handle even before drinking beer)! Lots of families were enjoying this part of Oktoberfest and there were apparently plenty of beer drinkers who have a stronger stomach than me. You don't have to dress in traditional garb to attend Oktoberfest, but it definitely makes it more fun! Women generally wear a dress that is called a dirndl with a matching apron. How you tie the apron bow will tell any interested admirer whether you are single, married or widowed, so be careful how you tie it! Men wear lederhosen which are leather shorts with suspenders. They can accessories with Loferls which are "calf warmers" only worn on the lower leg. You can order these outfits before you go, but you can also purchase them in Munich at almost any store. I didn't wear a dirndl, but I purchased a traditional skirt and a flower wreath to join in the fun! Find out more information on putting together your perfect Oktoberfest outfit here . My Oktoberfest Experience: I had a fantastic time at Oktoberfest and I can't wait to go back again. We had reservations in the Schottenhamel Festhalle, the beer tent that kicks off the Oktoberfest celebration with the tapping of the beer and the "O'Zapft Is!". Oktoberfest was in full swing by the time we arrived so we missed that tradition. Reading the descriptions of each beer tent, apparently the Schottenhamel Festhalle is the oldest Wiesn tent, but also has the reputation of being the best tent to flirt so many of the youngest guests head here. I'm sure any beer tent has great potential for flirting given the crowd and the amount of beer being served, but this is the Schottenhamel story and they are sticking to it! As noted above, you don't have to have a reservation, but if you have a large enough group or plan to go during a peak time, I would highly recommend it. Reservations will guarantee you a spot in your favorite tent. Reservations are generally made in three hour increments throughout the day. We were there from11:00-2:00, but don't think that being there that early in the day means a more subdued Oktoberfest experience. The early time didn't seem to have an impact on the amount of celebrating that was going on! It was so fun to experience Oktoberfest with the travel group I had been with for the past two weeks, but it was also fun to meet new friends from all over the world who were also there to experience Oktoberfest! Our reservation time ended and three BIG beers later I wandered out into the festival grounds to check out the rest of the Oktoberfest scene. As I mentioned above, I did grab a ride on the Willenborg's Ferris wheel. The Ferris Wheel has been in operation since 1979 and goes 50 meters high over the Oktoberfest grounds. I then wandered over to the infamous Toboggan ride. I was watching people slide down a really tall slide and decided that would be something fun to do...it was safe because there was no spinning involved! However I failed to notice the really fast magic carpet ride that you needed to hop on (with the assistance of a very handsome young man dressed in lederhosen) that whipped you up part way to the top of the slide where you then have to climb several more sets of stairs to reach the entry to the slide. Apparently it is common knowledge that you can stand and watch drunk people try to maneuver the speedy conveyor belt for hours of festival entertainment. I don't think I provided any laughable moments, but the whole thing is a little hazy thanks to those three BIG beers so who knows. I won't see any of those people again. I made it safely to the top and rode the tall, winding slide down to the bottom. I don't have any video or pictures of me enjoying the Toboggan ride. I think that is probably a good thing. I wandered around a little more taking in all of the sights and enjoying some warm toasted almonds. I loved seeing the horse drawn keg carriages that each brewery had decorated in true Oktoberfest style! Planning Your 2023 Oktoberfest Visit: The 2023 Oktoberfest is scheduled for September 16, 2023 through the first Sunday in October (although it may be extended through the public holiday on Tuesday, October 3, 2023). The 188th festival will kick off with the traditional tapping happening at noon on September 16, 2023 in the Schottenhamel Festhalle. Once the tapping has occurred, the beer can start flowing in all the other beer tents and Oktoberfest 2023 will begin. Reservations for tables will not open until sometime next spring, usually around April or May. Note that each beer tent handles its own reservations. You can click here for information on the reservation process and to keep updated on when each beer tent will begin accepting reservations. If you have a specific tent you really want to visit, I would jump on the reservations as soon as they open as the most popular tents fill up quickly. I hope this blog has encouraged you to plan your own Oktoberfest trip. I promise you will not regret it! After experiencing the festival you can explore Munich and the surrounding Alps. Check out my other blogs for inspiration regarding exploring nearby places.

Chamonix-Mont Blanc is a charming alpine village and world famous ski resort situated near the junction of France, Switzerland and Italy. It sits in a valley surrounded by majestic mountain peaks, including Mont Blanc, which is the highest summit in the Alps and the highest point in Europe. At 4810 meters high, Mont Blanc is always covered in snow hence the name which translates to "White Mountain". The area become more of a tourist destination after hosting the Winter Olympics in 1924 and continues to be a popular vacation spot. If you are an outdoor enthusiast, Chamonix-Mont Blanc is a must-see destination for you. In the warmer months, Chamonix-Mont Blanc is a mecca for hikers, mountain bikers, rock climbers and paragliders. There are hiking routes for all ability levels and many trails have alpine huts and chalets along the trails for refreshments and meals. There are also overnight accommodations if you want to continue your hiking or biking journeys over multiple days. To find the best hiking or biking trail for you in the Chamonix mountains, check out AllTrails . If you are visiting during the Winter months, of course you will want to ski at the world renowned ski resorts in the Chamonix valley. There are five different resorts offering a variety of terrain for skiers and snowboarders alike. Check out information about the Chamonix valley ski resorts here . If you need a break from all the activity, or if outdoor activities are not your cup of tea, there are many other things to do in Chamonix-Mont Blanc. Shopping. The picturesque village of Chamonix is filled with tourist shops, ski shops, and upscale boutiques. Dining. Dining options in Chamonix range from casual cafés to traditional brasseries to fancy gourmet restaurants. We had dinner at restaurant called Joséphine that is right on the Main Street. Joséphine has a charming outdoor patio looking out at the breathtaking mountain vistas. There are blankets on each chair in case you get chilly while eating (a lot of the European cafés had these blankets matching their decor and I think it is a wonderful idea that American restaurants should incorporate!). I had a delicious bowl of French Onion Soup (which I ate too quickly so no mouthwatering photo) and a yummy Nutella crepe for dessert. Take Those Insta Worthy Pictures. As you walk around the village there are amazing photo ops around every corner. From the stunning mountain peaks, vibrant flowers bursting with color (in warmer weather obviously), street art, historic architecture, and any number of other visually stimulating scenes, you will not want for pictures to remember your visit. Some of the best pictures I took from my whole trip were captured in Chamonix-Mont Blanc. L'Aiguille du Midi. Take a 20 minute cable car ride from the heart of Chamonix village to L'Aiguille du Midi. From here you can get to the highest viewing terrace at 3842 meters giving an incredible 360 degree panoramic views of the surrounding Alps range and looking directly at Mont Blanc. There is also a clear plexiglass viewing platform called Step Into the Void that lets visitors feel like they are floating over the mountain range (I would guess only interesting to those who do not have a fear of heights!). There is no extra charge for this, but apparently there are usually long lines. If I am lucky enough to return to Chamonix-Mont Blanc I will definitely include this excursion and can't wait to Step Into the Void. Ride the Panoramic Mont Blanc Gondola. From the top of L'Aiguille du Midi, you can hop on the Telecubine Panoramique Mont Blanc Gondola. The Gondola will take you on hour long journey to Courmayeur, Italy, past Mont Blanc and over a landscape of glaciers, mountain tops and valleys. Tramway Du Mont Blanc. Take a train ride on one of the highest rack railways in France. The train runs from Le Fayet and Saint-Gervais ending at Mont Blanc. If the exertion of hiking or rock climbing is not your thing, this train ride can give you the mountaineering experience by giving you panoramic views of the vistas of Mont Blanc and the surrounding mountain peaks. Mer de Glace. One of the largest glaciers in Europe, Mer de Glace is just a short train ride up from the Chamonix village. Mer de Glace, which translates to "Sea of Ice", is rapidly shrinking as a result of climate change. Once you get to the top, you have the opportunity to enter the Grotte de Glace, a 100 meter long ice cave allowing visitors to have an inside view of a glacier. There are lots of places to stay when you visit Chamonix from independently owned condos to 5-star luxury hotels. Our group stayed at Mercure Chamonix Centre which was conveniently located in the heart of the village, just a very short walk to the stores and restaurants. The included breakfast was an incredible buffet of choices, including gluten free options (which I always appreciate having two daughters with Celiac Disease). I highly recommend this hotel for its location and amenities. Find out more about rates and availability here . So whether you want to visit Chamonix-Mont Blanc in the warmer months to hike, bike and explore or in the winter to shred the slopes, you will find a charming alpine village with spectacular views and plenty to do. I hope to get back some day to soak in more of the beauty and experience more of the local atmosphere!

When visiting Boston, there is no shortage of museums to explore to get your cultural fix. But if you haven't checked the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum off your to-do list, I suggest you move it to the top for your next visit to Boston! I will admit that art museums are not generally my favorite (I tend to prefer photographs over paintings and admittedly don't have enough art history knowledge to fully appreciate what I am seeing). However, the story behind the creation of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and the intrigue surrounding the unsolved art heist that occurred here in 1990 made this art museum a favorite for me! Isabella Stewart Gardner Isabella was a progressive woman for her time. She was known for being a free-spirit and used her strong, out-spoken voice during a time when women and their rights were severely restricted. She and her husband shared a love of art and culture and after her father's death she used her inheritance to begin collecting art. Over the years she amassed quite a collection of paintings, sculptures, tapestries, furniture, manuscripts, rare books and decorative arts. Following her husband's death in the late 1800's, she decided to fulfill their dream of creating a space to showcase the treasures. The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum was opened in 1901 and Isabella moved into a private residence on the 4th floor of the museum building so she could dedicate her time to personally arranging the works of art in her private collection in the historic galleries on the first three floors. She never fully explained her reasoning or thought process behind some of the arrangements or the pairings of works in certain rooms, leaving the observer to contemplate the scene and try to make their own connections. Isabella believed that art possessed the power to change lives and she made it her life's mission to collect art from around the world and share it with the public. When she died in 1924, she left the Museum "for education and the public forever". She funded an endowment to operate the Museum after her death, stipulating that nothing in the galleries be changed or moved and that no items be acquired or sold from the collection. When you visit the Museum you will see the items she personally chose and they are displayed exactly as she personally arranged them over the years! The Museum The Museum has three floors that surround an open courtyard. The structure of the Museum resembles a Venetian palace. This is an intentional design concept created by Isabella as a nod to Venice, a spot that she and her husband frequented to soak up the art and culture of the time. The three floors are divided into various galleries or "Rooms". Again, each Room was very intentionally established and organized by Isabella. You will receive a detailed map to guide you through each Room. The map also highlights the certain pieces of art to keep an eye out for in each section as you make your way through the Museum. In addition to the map, you can also access a free guided audio tour on the Museum's website to give you additional information about the Museum and the art pieces in each Room. We used this audio tour on our visit and it was very informational! Be sure to bring headphones with you so you can listen to the audio tour while you wander through the rooms. Access the audio tour here . The Museum is full of beautiful art pieces collected by Isabella over the years, but the heart and soul of the Museum is the center courtyard. It is the first thing you see when you enter into the Museum building. Only women inhabit this space. All figures depicted in the artwork and statues in this space are female. This is a reflection of Isabella's strong feelings about female empowerment and women's place in the world. This part of the Museum is a living, breathing art installation as the plants in the Courtyard are changed about every six weeks. As you can see from the picture, mums were being highlighted in the garden when we were there. The Courtyard was definitely my favorite part of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum! The Art Heist One of the more intriguing aspects of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is the unsolved art heist that occurred in 1990. In the early morning hours of March 18, 1990, two men dressed as Boston police officers obtained entry into the Museum by claiming they were responding to a disburbance. Breaking protocol, one of the security guards allowed them in through the employee entrance and at the fake officer's request left the watch desk. The two security guards on duty were handcuffed and tied up in the basement. The Museum has motion detectors, so the movements of the thieves in the Museum were recorded. Works of art were taken from the Dutch Room, the Short Galley and the Blue Room. The thieves made two trips to their car with stolen artwork and left at 2:45 am. The whole theft took 81 minutes from entry to getaway. It remains the single largest property theft in the world. They ultmately stole 13 works of art valued at $500 million dollars, including three original Rembrandts, five Degas drawings and a Napoleonic bronze eagle finial. The Rembrandts were cut from their frames and the empty frames remain hanging in the Dutch Room. The frames are kept empty as placeholders for the missing works and symbols of hope that they will one day be returned. While the crime remains unsolved, the Boston police have narrowed the suspects but have been unable to close the case. There is still a $10 million dollar reward for information leading directly to the recovery of the works. There is a separate $100,000 reward for the return of the Napoleonic eagle finial. If you want to learn more about the theft at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and the investigation, there is a good Netflix series titled This Is a Robbery: The World's Biggest Art Heist. Visit the Museum The Museum is open every day except for Tuesdays. Admission is free for kids under 18, $20 for Adults, $18 for seniors and $13 for college students with a current ID. One cool fact about the Museum is that if your name is Isabella, you have lifetime free admission! The Museum is popular and tickets for busy days sell out fast, so I recommend reserving a timed entry ticket online here if you are planning to visit. We were lucky to be able to pop in on the spur of the moment, but it was a Monday in November so not a high traffic time. Although I am not a huge art museum fan, I really enjoyed my day at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum for the art, the history and the intrigue! Plan your visit soon!

Are you a seasoned veteran of NYC and looking for something new to do? Or maybe you are a visitor to NYC looking for something unique and special to do in addition to the typical touristy experiences? I have a recommendation that works for either camp. Sign up for a baking workshop at Atelier Sucré. Not only do you get a unique experience, but you leave with tasty treats that you made yourself! Sounds like a win-win to me. Atelier Sucré is the vision of New York based French pastry chef Simon Herfray. Atelier Sucré provides high quality French pastries and other delicious food as well as providing fun cooking experiences for customers. Atelier Sucré is located in the heart of East Village and utilizes state of the art appliances and tools to allow would-be chefs to create culinary delights! My daughter Madison had purchased a workshop to make French Macarons as a Mother's Day gift for me. French Macarons are a treasured treat in our house as they are gluten free and both of my daughters have Celiac Disease so need to avoid the gluten that is in most cookies and pastries. We finally scheduled the workshop and we had so much fun! They place you in groups of four to utilize the supplies and ingredients. We were paired with a nice couple visiting from Switzerland. That added even more international flavor to our French Macaron making. The workshop started promptly at 6:30 and was over by 9:00. The chef teaching the workshop prepared the meringue (which I understand is the trickiest part of making French Macarons) and we mixed the dry ingredients that we folded the meringue into. If you are a fan of Schitt's Creek you will chuckle at the requirement to "fold in" the meringue. If you know, you know. :). We were able to pick a color for our cookie shells and all the different choices made for a colorful display! After the cookie shells baked, we were provided three different fillings-chocolate caramel ganache, strawberry preserves and lemon curd to make the Macaron cookie sandwich. We had fun creating an assortment of French Macarons and were provided with a box to bring our creations home to share (or eat ourselves!). They also gave us the recipe for the shell base, the meringue and the fillings as well as the cookie template to use at home to make each cookie shell a consistent size. Bakers of all experience levels are welcome at Atelier Sucré and they provide all the equipment and tools that you will need. There are numerous workshop times available and there are a variety of choices of what you can bake. Most workshops are around $90/person. Here is a sample of the other types of workshops to choose from: French Croissants Christmas Yule Log New York Bagels Crème Brúlee, Chocolate Mousse and Madeleines Chocolate Soufflé and Apple Tart Eclairs and Cream Puffs To view the different dates and times for the various workshops click here . We had a great time and our French Macarons were delicious. I highly recommend this unique experience for a girl's weekend, a bachelorette party, family experience, special date or just because you are looking for something fun to do! Bon Appétit!

I am lucky enough to live a short distance from New York City so I like to plan a visit every Christmas to take in the sights and sounds of the City during the holidays. Even if you don't live close enough to make an annual trip, you should make plans to visit NYC at least once during the holiday season. If you come, be sure to bring a large dose of patience, warm clothes and comfortable walking shoes because there will be lots of people, probably cold weather and you will be logging a lot of steps as you make your way around the City. BUT you will also have an experience you will never forget and you will leave with the perfect gifts from the holiday markets. You will also be full of holiday cheer to carry you through the season! Best Places to Check Out Decorations Around New York City Rockefeller Center: Of course the decorations at Rockefeller Center are the most iconic image of Christmas in New York City. The Rockefeller Christmas Tree stays lit 24 hours a day and towers over the ice skating rink in Rockefeller Center. Ice skating at the Rockefeller rink is a quintessential NYC winter experience. You need to buy a ticket to reserve a time for your ice skating. You can buy tickets here . The Channel Gardens, lined with 12 iconic Clarebout angels, are also located in the Rockefeller Plaza and lead directly to the Tree or directly to the Saks Fifth Avenue light display if you look the other way. Department Store Windows and Interior Decorations: Be sure to check out the holiday displays of the many retailers around the City, particularly along 5th Avenue and around Herald Square. The big retailers like Saks Fifth Avenue (which is on Fifth Avenue right across the street from Rockefeller Center), Bloomingdales and Macys at Herald Square are particularlly known for their extravagant decorations and window displays. The window displays are usually centered around a particular story or theme. The pictures I have included in this blog are from a 2019 visit. Every year the window displays are different so it is fun to visit every year and see what designs they have come up with for the season. Here is a link to a Time Out article highlighting the best window displays of 2023. In addition to the window display at Saks Fifth Avenue, they have a classic exterior light show that starts at sundown and lasts for about 5 minutes. It replays every 10-15 minutes after dark. Larger Than Life Decorations Around the City: Placed all around the City are larger than life decorations perfect for that holiday Instagram pic. The large string of Christmas lights shown in the picture at the start of this blog are located at Rockefeller Center. There are also the iconic large red Christmas ornaments that are one of the most photographed holiday decorations in NYC. They are located on Sixth Avenue right across from the Radio City Music Hall. The fountain outside of the Plaza Hotel also has some beautiful decorations for that perfect holiday photo. There are so many places with amazing decorations for taking that Instaworthy photo around the City. Just keep your eyes open and you will find them around every corner. Hudson Yards Mall: The Shops and Restaurants at Hudson Yards is an indoor mall that is stunningly decorated for the holidays in thousands of white lights. It is breathtaking when you enter through the doors. It is the perfect place to go when the weather isn't great because it is an indoor mall with lots of great shopping and dining choices. You can also find several other things to do besides shopping and dining like going to the Edge and taking in a 360 degree panoramic view of the City by standing on a clear glass platform that is 100 floors up. The Vessel, an iconic NY art installation is also located in Hudson Yards right next to the mall so you can see that as well. Best Holiday Experiences to Have in New York City The Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes. The Christmas Show at Radio City Music Hall is a Christmas tradition that has stood the test of time. We took our daughters when they were younger and it was quite the spectacle. It lived up to all of the hype and I highly recommend going at least once if you find yourself in NYC at Christmastime. You can grab some pre-show photos at the Red Ball Ornament display mentioned above or a Large Candy Cane display that is right across the street from Radio City Music Hall. Christmas Markets at Union Square and Bryant Park. If you are looking for a unique gift for that hard to buy for person on your list, I recommend going to the holiday markets in NYC. The two biggest markets are the Urbanspace Union Square Holiday Market and the Bryant Park Winter Village. Each market has hundreds of vendors in outdoor booths selling crafts, art, home accessories, clothing and other unique items. Each market also has a number of vendors selling food and snacks to give you energy to keep shopping. We went to both markets and there are a lot of the same vendors at both. The Bryant Park Winter Village is a little bigger and also has ice skating and a bar. Either one provides a great venue for finding unique gifts, grabbing a bite to eat and getting in the holiday spirit! Oscar Wilde NYC. If you are not feeling the Christmas spirit, the first place you need to stop is Oscar Wilde NYC on West 27th Street in the NoMad District of New York. If you can't get in a festive mood after visiting the extensively decorated Christmas bar, we will just call you Scrooge! This bar is so unique it is a great spot to stop even when its not decked out with Christmas decor. Interestingly, the Victorian styled space was home to the Prohibition Enforcement Headquarters in 1919 and it was subsequently discovered that the phone lines of the Headquarters had been tapped for months (allegedly by the Mob!). After Prohibiton ended the space was inhabited by a number of different businesses until it was finally turned into the unique Oscar Wilde NYC. The bar has a large art and object collection that is displayed all around the space. It also boasts the longest bar in NYC at 118.5 feet. When Christmas comes around, this already unique space is transformed into a Christmas wonderland. They have a food menu , a specialty cocktail menu , and a selection of reserve whiskey/mezcal/tequila. There is also a live DJ spinning Christmas music and throwback dance tunes to keep the festive energy high. It is a must see if you are in the City over Christmas. Apparently they also go all out with their Halloween decor so keep them in mind if you are visiting the City in October! It is a popular spot, so make a reservation to be sure you can get in. Craft and Carry (Several Locations). After a full day of holiday activities, you may be looking for something a little more low-key. Craft and Carry has several locations throughout New York City. They are a tap room with the best local, hyperlocal and independent craft beers, hard seltzers and ciders on tap. They also offer bottles and cans so you can "carry" the craft beers and ciders out to your home or function. Between the taps and the bottles there are over 300+ options! In addition to the selection of beverages and the comfy, cozy atmosphere, each Craft and Carry location offers free skee ball for your entertainment. Check out their website here to see what's on tap and find the location closest to you! Obviously there are hundreds of things to do in New York City over the holidays. The suggestions in this blog are just a few to get you started. If you find something new on your holiday visit, please let me know in the comments so I can add it to my to-do list for next Christmas! Happy Holidays!