Travels

Maui - 2005

White sand beaches, palms swaying in the ocean breezes and crystal clear turquoise waters... I do.  Well... we did!  Such was the description of our wedding some 20+ years ago as this tropical girl got her island wedding and has never looked back.

Luckily my husband shares my tropical travel fever, and in our time together beaches have been explored from deep in the South Pacific to the shores of the Caribbean.

Liv shares our love of everything ocean as does our son, and our vacation destinations range from the beaches of Hawaii to deep into the Caribbean. 

However we realize the world isn't all sand and waves, and recently our travels have taken us to the other side of the world as we've explored historical regions such as Rome and Dubrovnik along with delightful holiday excursions including Corfu, Greece.

Food, thankfully, always enhances our explorations, and we have enjoyed meeting people from all over the world at local farmers markets, mom and pop restaurants and fine dining locales throughout our travels.  Watching the world expand through a kid's eyes is truly the treat of a lifetime, but now that we are empty nesters the world has opened even more!  Well... once we've paid those tuition bills anyway ;)

Come along with us as we see the world!

Greece

Corfu - Excursion with Nautilus Daily Cruises - A day cruising the Ionian Sea filled with traditional Greek food, generous Greek hospitality and a dose of Greek dancing.

Corfu Town - Shopping in the old town centre, Greek hospitality and Baklava

Rome/Italy

Visions of Venice - Tips for Venice Travelers

Venice - The Jewel of the Adriatic and the Palazzo Pisani (includes hotel review)

Rome - The Eternal City.  Romance, the Amaranto Romano and Lasagna (includes hotel review)
The Colosseum, Roman Forum, Angel Tours and the quintessential Italian lunch at Ristorante Mario in the Piazza del Grillo.  Nothing says "Rome" quite like the Colosseum.  A wonderful tour with Angel Tours provided a beautiful day topped off with a wonderful lunch at Mario's.

The Vatican.  Another tour wonderful with Angel Tours topped off with a delightful dinner at Cul de Sac.
Rome -  Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Piazza Navona, Campo di Fiori.  Our last day in Rome and a memorable evening at I Colori del Vin. 
The Seabourn Legend - our Italian Idyll.  Cruising the Med in style
Taormina, Sicily - Greek and Roman Ruins, fashionably modern shopping, and the ultimate in cannoli.
Lipari and a scenic cruise of the Aeolian Islands - Stunning views of erupting volcanos, a brilliant sunrise and the charming island of Lipari

Montenegro
Kotor, Montenegro - a day in the medieval city... stunning vistas, a hike to the fortress, gelato and the Church of Our Lady of the Rock

Bahamas

Atlantis Resort - Paradise Island  Review of the Reef Hotel, Atlantis Resort and Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill (Island Style!)    (includes hotel review)

Hawaii

Oahu and Waikiki - Onolicious!  Roy's, Waikiki, KCC Farmer's Market, Arizona Memorial and Pearl Harbor, Kona Brewing Company

Oahu - Kailua and North Shore day.  Looking for Five-O - Kailua, Boots & Kimo's, North Shore, Waimea, Hali'iwa, Matsumoto's Shave Ice,

Shipman House Bed and Breakfast, Kauai

Yosemite

Yosemite Valley, Frazil Ice and the Ahwahnee Hotel

Yosemite Valley - Yosemite Falls, Fern Creek, snow in the Valley, Lunch at the Ahwahnee

San Francisco

The San Francisco Tourist - Union Square, Chancellor Hotel, Alcatraz, Fisherman's Wharf, Ghirardelli and lunch at Boudin's  (includes hotel review)

San Francisco Treat - Honey Honey Crepery, Lombard Street, Exploratorium, Palace of Fine Arts

San Francisco Ferry Plaza Marketplace - SF Farmer's Market and Ferry Building Marketplace, Chatty Cathy

Santa Barbara 
A Day in Santa Barbara - The Queen of Missions, Crushcakes Cafe and The Lucky Llama - UCSB
Santa Barbara Getaway - The Upham Hotel and Louie's Bistro
Santa Barbara - Farmer's Market, Dinner at Jane

New York
Maxwell House Bed and Breakfast - A weekend in Sodus Point, New York

Cruises
The Seabourn Spirit - Venice and Adriatic Gems = Living the advertisement.

The Seabourn Legend - Mediterranean.  The Italian Idyll - Rome, Sorrento, Taormina, Valetta, Trapani, Lipari, Gaeta.
Cruise Critic review of the Paul Gauguin - South Pacific, Tahihi, Raiatea, Huahine, Fakarava, Moorea, Bora Bora
Cruise Critic review of the Adventure of the Sea, Royal Caribbean, Southern Caribbean - San Juan, Barbados, St. Maarten, St. Lucia, St. Croix, Antigua

Carlsbad/San Diego, CA

Bite San Diego - Coronado Walking Foodie Tour - A day on the island of Coronado
A Day on the San Diego Bay - A Photo Essay
Carlsbad/San Diego Fires - A little too close to home
Carlsbad, CA - Our Spring Break Staycation 
Cafe Elysa, Agua Hedionda - Carlsbad in Spring, the Cafe Elysa becomes the idea stop for breakfast or a cup of coffee.
Carlsbad Flower Fields - Spring in Southern California, ribbons of spectacular ranunculas in Carlsbad

Asia
The Pacific Rim stopping in Anchorage, Shanghai, Qingdao, Seoul, Osaka, Singapore, Shenzen and Taipei

Flying
The Joys of Flying and some In-flight Entertainment Ahhh... the joys of flying!