Category Archives: Dining – Casual
How to Plan a Storybook “Christmas in Connecticut” 2022
We originally researched and published this article over a decade ago, and it has proven to be a winter holiday favorite among our readers ever since. Some things have changed In a decade things change. Some of the wonderful people we met are no longer with us. The children have grown up and been replaced …
Smokin’ Camels in the Nevada Desert
Have you ever noticed that the beautiful state of Nevada has an abundant collection of oddities? Maybe that’s why we keep going back – there is always something fun, unusual, and quirky to write about in the wide-open Silver State. Because of Covid, last year there was a significant annual event missing in Nevada. We …
How to Plan a Storybook “Christmas in Connecticut” 2020 Style
We originally researched and published this article in 2012, and it has proven to be a winter holiday favorite among our readers ever since. We believe there is magic in the air in the small towns of Connecticut at Christmas time. See if you agree. Here is our story: Note: We check every year to …
Cruise Food: Is It As Good As It’s Reputed to Be?
Absolutely! We have been cruising for decades in all manner of ships. One thing that has been consistently good throughout is the food. Yes, we have experienced an occasional disappointment along the way, but far too few to mention among the hundreds of wonderful meals we have enjoyed at sea. A picture is worth a …
How to Find the Perfect 19th Century Connecticut Inn
The scenic Litchfield Hills in northwest Connecticut is home to several historic inns and restaurants. One of the very best is the Hopkins Inn. Overlooking the northern shore of beautiful Lake Waramaug and the Berkshire Mountain foothills, the Inn was opened as the Hopkins Place, a summer boarding house, in 1847. It operated as such …
How to Plan a Storybook “Christmas in Connecticut”
We originally researched and published this article in 2012, and it has proven to be a winter holiday favorite among our readers ever since. We believe there is magic in the air in the small towns of Connecticut at Christmas time. See if you agree. Here is our story: In 1945, Hollywood coined the phrase …
A Five-Star Experience at the Hayfield Manor in Cork, Ireland
Hayfield Manor is an elegant boutique hotel near the city center of Cork. When you combine a spectacular attraction like Blarney Castle with an extraordinary hotel like Hayfield Manor, you have brewed up a “must do” itinerary while visiting the Emerald Isle. “Leave the hectic pace of city life and enter the tranquil country garden setting …
A Vacation in Mexico Where Much of the Fun is Getting There
It’s been a rainy winter at our home on the Oregon coast, so we decided to hunt for some sun and sand on the western coast of Mexico. There’s a lot of ways to get to the famous Mexican Riviera. We decided on a Princess Cruise, and we are so glad we did. Our cruise …
Best Places to Stay Along the Northern California Coast: The Historic Benbow Inn is an Oasis of Comfort and Luxury Among the Giant Redwoods
Wherever you decide to stay, a drive along the northern California coast is visually breathtaking, and if you find a comfortable inn to lay your head, so much the better. The Benbow Historic Inn is just such a place. It is also as interesting an auberge as you will find anywhere along the great and …
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 …
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