Category Archives: Romantic Getaways
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
Skagway: At the Top of Alaska’s Inside Passage
Skagway is one of the best-preserved gold rush towns in Alaska. During the 1896 stampede for riches it played an important role as the last outfitting post along the Inside Passage seaway before the prospectors headed inland over treacherous mountains to the Klondike gold fields. This tiny seaside village with wooden sidewalks and gold rush …
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