Author Archive: Wayne and Judy Bayliff
Princess Cruise Ships: What Makes Them Sparkle
We recently took a Princess cruise to the Mexican Riviera on the Grand Princess. This was our third sailing on the Grand since she was commissioned in 1998. You might wonder, after 20 years of service and tens of thousands of passengers, how does Princess keep her looking fresh and appealing to prospective guests. We …
Best Places to Stay Along the Northern California Coast: Scopa at the Sea
Preface Lodging preferences are so personal. With the advent of the internet, travel magazine advertisements have given way to lodging websites and individual reviews on TripAdvisor and Yelp. Of course, lodging websites are no more objective than print ads – which leaves us to depend on personal reviews to help us decide on the best …
Surrounded by the Spirit of Christmas in a Connecticut Castle
Prelude to Christmas At the turn of the 20th century, William Gillette was a renowned American actor and playwright. In 1914 he purchased a scenic 184-acre plot of land that overlooked the majestic Connecticut River in East Haddam, Connecticut. On a ridge at the site, Gillette constructed a magnificent hand-tooled stone castle where he hoped …
Holiday Gift Guide 2018
Judy and I have posted holiday gift recommendations in various publications for the past several years. Every year we receive a number of unsolicited service and product samples, test them, and those we like are featured as recommendations in our annual Holiday Gift Guide. Out of seventeen tests this year, we are presenting the following thirteen …
Discover the Legendary Powerscourt Estate and Gardens in County Wicklow, Ireland
Ireland is referred to as The Emerald Isle because of its seemingly endless expanses of verdant trees, deep woods, and rolling green hills. County Wicklow is called the Garden of Ireland, and 47 of the county’s best acres are home to the Powerscourt House and Gardens. A long and noble history The Powerscourt site was first settled in …
Monarchs to Visit Golden State
Thousands of radiant winged orange and black Monarch Butterflies will soon be en route to California from as far away as southern Canada. Lucky are those individuals who get a glimpse of these winged beauties as they make their way down and across the Golden State. Escaping from the coming northern winter, the butterflies’ planned destination …
When In Rome
One of our most beloved cities in all the world is beautiful and fascinating Rome, Italy. Join us on a brief pictorial excursion to the Roman Forum, a site within the larger city that is arguably the birthplace of modern civilization. There is much to see and learn in the Forum, and here is what …
A Visit to Québec and the Empress of Ireland: A Titanic Size Catastrophe Forgotten in History
Visiting Québec this summer? Consider a stop at the Canadian national historic landmark Pointe-au-Pére. It deserves a spot on your itinerary. Favoring all destinations that involve water, we were drawn to Pointe-au-Pére’s nautical attractions – the Empress of Ireland Pavilion, Pointe-au-Pére Lighthouse, and the HMCS Onondaga – a Royal Canadian Navy submarine. We were particularly moved …
ATLANTIS: A Submarine Adventure for the Entire Family
If you have never been in a submarine gliding silently and effortlessly along a coral wall teeming with marine life, you are in for a big treat. The US Coast Guard approved Atlantis XI is a 65-foot long battery-powered submersible specially designed for underwater sightseeing adventures in tropical waters –– and where better than the Cayman Islands …
Remembering Fallen Heroes on Memorial Day 2018
Published every Memorial Day to honor our fallen heroes. There are many historical destinations in the United States, but to Americans, few have the emotional relevance of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Located in our National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, the Tomb is dedicated to lost and missing American soldiers from all wars. The …
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