People often ask about my favorite trip or the best place I’ve traveled to. But for me, it’s not so much about the places as it is the experiences. While I’ve had adventurous experiences, culturally enlightening ones, great foodie trips and so many more, one of the most unique experiences I’ve had was on a Maine windjammer cruise aboard a historic schooner. We departed for our cruise out of Rockland, Maine ready to embark on…

Imagine gliding through the picturesque landscapes of France, surrounded by lush vineyards, charming villages, and historic towns. This is life aboard a beautifully appointed barge cruise. It’s a unique way to explore the French countryside and provides an intimate experience that larger cruises cannot match. I’ve taken just about every kind of “boat” in my travels, from windjammers to river cruises to traditional party cruises. But a recent barge cruise in France was truly unlike…

I’m as guilty as most others about only seeing a destination through the lens of my phone camera. The only way I seem to be able to unplug when I travel is if I go to a destination that has no coverage. And that’s not easy these days!  But you’re kind of defeating the purpose of traveling if you’re constantly looking at your phone. So it’s important to learn to unplug when you travel and…

Cleaning out a loved one’s home after they pass is an emotional and daunting task. Recently, I had to face this challenge while sorting through my mother’s belongings. Like many of her generation, my mother was a collector, keeping everything from her wedding dress to fine china and even plastic salt and pepper shakers she “acquired” on her honeymoon. While these items held sentimental value to her, my kids – like many Gen Xers and…

True confession: I agreed to go on a week trip to Patagonia hiking tours and I didn’t even know where Patagonia was! Despite the long journey and exhaustion from a very adventurous week, it one of my most memorable trips. Patagonia is located at the Southernmost point in South America straddling Argentina and Chile. It is one of the most popular destinations among outdoor enthusiasts. What many travelers don’t realize is that it’s also an…

The Gryphon Press is committed to publishing beautifully illustrated children’s picture books that have received numerous awards and accolades. These books center around the vital theme of the human-animal bond, aiming to instill empathy for animals and motivate children to become advocates for animal welfare. The organization’s overarching mission is to shed light on the pressing issues faced by animals—be they domestic, wild, or farmed—while fostering a deep sense of empathy for all forms of…

Ugh. Those dreaded overnight flights can be so incredibly unbearable and downright uncomfortable. But if you want to travel overseas, you don’t have many options. I’m a diva sleeper so it’s especially hard for me to get comfortable, much less sleep, sitting upright on a plane. I have some tips for packing long flight travel essentials that will help you make the most of it. As a travel writer, I’ve taken many overnight flights and…

Last year, I sailed on Norwegian Cruise Line’s Prima, one of the brand’s new luxury class cruiseships. I’m not a fan of the mega-cruise ships but the Prima is different. Even though it accommodates 3,100 guests, it feels much more intimate because of some cool new design concepts coupled with the highest staff-to-guest ratio. READ MY ARTICLE ON ISLANDS.COM ABOUT MY TRIP ON THE NORWEGIAN PRIMA! About The Norwegian Prima Cruise Ship Launched in 2022,…

Who doesn’t love Aruba? I mean, it’s got a little bit of something for everyone. It’s a top destination for summer vacations since it is outside the hurricane belt, a surprise to many people! Last time I was there was in the winter months (my favorite time to go) so I was excited to go back and explore a bit more of the island, and a new resort on Eagle Beach Aruba. READ MY ISLANDS.COM…

Most of you know that I’ve been helping to take care of my mom since her stroke 30 months ago. Those first few months were nothing short of horrendous. I didn’t know the stress I was under nor did I know the signs of caregiver burnout. According to AARP, as many as 41 million of us are caring for our adult family members. It’s not a role I ever planned for so I was completely…