Category Archives: Dining – Elegant
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 …
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 …
Notes to Self: On Becoming Lighthouse Innkeepers
There are certain jobs that people dream about. A frequent fancy in a troubled world is being a lighthouse innkeeper where one can enjoy the peace and serenity of the ocean and abundant sea life. We wanted to see if the lifestyle of a lighthouse innkeeper might be in our future. We arranged for a visit …
Don’t Miss the Luau at the Royal Hawaiian
Aha’aina – is a Royal Celebration. We were anxious to experience this renowned oceanfront luau on Waikiki Beach with its spectacular views, excellent food, and top-notch entertainment. We were not disappointed. During our luau celebration at the famous “Pink Palace,” we were treated to a few minutes of Hawaii’s famous liquid-sunshine. It did not dampen …
The Ideal First Cruise for Seniors
On our last cruise we were delighted to meet a number of first-time cruisers in their seventies and eighties. When they heard we were travel photojournalists, they were more than willing to offer opinions and comments that helped form the foundation for this article, which we dedicate to them. The perfect first cruise We had …
Celebrate Veterans Day at the Thayer Hotel at West Point
No other hotel in the United States can boast the patriotic pedigree of the Thayer Hotel at West Point. We paid a visit to the award-winning Thayer Hotel during the holiday season, and felt it especially appropriate to write about this unique hotel on Veterans Day, when we honor the members of the military that have gallantly served …
The Royal Hawaiian Hotel: The Stunning Pink Palace on Waikiki Beach
If you have ever marveled at the iconic “Pink Palace” on Waikiki beach, and wondered about its colorful origin, so did we. Here is what we found out about its interesting history. In the early 20th century, a group of capitalists with substantial interests in Hawaii had the foresight to envision a burgeoning tourism future for the …
The Kempinski Hotel at Barbaros Bay: Still Tops in Extraordinary Turkish Hotels
The Kempinski Hotel in Bodrum at Barbaros Bay is much more than an ordinary coastal luxury hotel in an up and coming vacation paradise. It is also a premiere destination resort for discriminating travelers from around the world. Here is why. The Kempinski Barbaros Bay is about 20 minutes from the Turkish city of Bodrum. …
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