If wine tasting was an Olympic sport, I’d win gold. Seriously. I have this sport down to a science. I’ve done a number of wine tasting trips from Napa to Italy and I’ve learned a few things along the way. The key is having a plan and pacing yourself. Whether you’re new to wine tasting or an experienced oenophile, here are 10 tips to get the most out of your trip and really learn how …

Last fall, I convinced my husband that he really needed to experience all of the beauty that Umbria, the lush, scenic region that borders Tuscany,  had to offer — including the picturesque rolling vineyards and incredible wine tasting experiences. I had traveled throughout the region when we lived in Italy, but he had never seen the true Italian countryside. So we set off to tour a few wineries in the region and received the VIP …

Just like fashion, I’m prone to jumping on the trend of the moment. I followed the Paleo diet for the past couple of years because it lets me bacon at every meal. But the more attention I paid to my daughter’s vegan diet, and then reading about how it changed Bill Clinton’s and James Cameron’s lives, I decided to give it a try. Not to mention having the bejesus scared out of me by watching …

Boy how my packing has changed since those COVID days! I used to travel so much that I kept a “go bag” of my essentials that never changed. I just threw it in my suitcase each time I packed. I had a minimal travel medical kit. But getting (very) sick overseas has changed the way I pack now. My new travel packing list includes some just-in-case and must-haves, you know, just in case I need …

Sonoma County, California is on the radar of every oenophile, but let’s be honest, sometimes it’s great to experience the region without so much of a focus on wine. I love everything California and spent a few days in downtown Healdsburg and discovered there are some great activities that don’t necessarily involve day drinking. Walking and Biking Tours in Healdsburg, CA Wine Country Walking Tours leads guided walks throughout downtown Healdsburg that will take you …

Nashville is known for two things – country music and barbecue. I was a big country music fan when I lived in Texas (it would have been quite the travesty if I had not been – there’s two things Texans are serious about, their barbecue and their country music). I digress…. So when I visit Nashville, I’m always on the lookout for something to do that doesn’t involve country music. The city is really underrated …

New Orleans’ iconic Pontchartrain Hotel is a top choice among travelers looking for garden district hotels. It sits on a quaint street corner , surrounded by 200-year-old oak trees, with Mardi Gras beads hanging on their branches from years past. It’s the prefect location, away from the hustle and bustle of the French Quarter, but still within walking distance to Magazine Street and the central business district. The original streetcar route runs right in front …

I’ve always thought that North Florida has the most beautiful beaches in all of the state. Perhaps in all of the U.S.  I’m talking wide, powdery, white sand beaches. And Atlantic Beach, just north of Jacksonville, has one of the best hotels in Jacksonville Beach offering a truly luxurious beach vacation experience. Despite living just a few miles inland, my husband and I would often just sneak away for a night or two to enjoy …

A few years ago, I sent my 21-year-old son off to backpack to travel abroad through Thailand and India for seven weeks on his way to a semester abroad. I’m the consummate trip planner; he is not. Today’s Millennials are adventurers with a strong sense of wanderlust who want to see the world. As more parents find themselves in my position of sending their children into the unknown, I’d like to share a list of …

My husband likes to golf; I like to drink wine. But the two don’t have to be mutually exclusive. I originally wrote about some of the best golf and wine resorts for Orbitz, but I’m on the hunt to discover more. I’m happy to head off to the tasting room while he’s on the first tee, sprinkle in a few spa treatments, and then meet back up at the tasting room at the end of …