Ice skating in San Diego? "Skating by the Sea" ice rink at The Del! Few people think of San Diego as a winter holiday destination. But, for me, there is no place more magical during the holidays than San Diego's Coronado Island. Coronado sits directly across San Diego Bay from Downtown San Diego. As my…
Hit the slopes in Idaho for a relaxed and budget-friendly skiing experience. Empty groomed slopes at Lookout Pass, Idaho Panhandle. We went straight onto the lift after popping on our skis and admired the 100-mile views on the way up. We swooshed down the mountain for more than a mile, making fresh tracks, then skied…
Downtown St. Pete skyline from Whitted Park “This is the reason we live in Florida,” I exclaimed to my husband when we were recently stuck in a blizzard in New York City. “I’ll take heat over cold any day.” He rolled his eyes because as much as I love warm weather, I always said I…
Rafters getting ready to brave the Colorado River rapids The American West is famous for its breathtaking beauty, with the red pinnacles of the Arches National Park rivaled only by the Rockies’ snow-capped peaks. But driving through these gorgeous gorges—often on narrow, winding roads edged on precipitous cliffs—is not for the faint of heart. Too…
Vineyards in Santa Ynez First Cluster – Photo by Karen Steinwachs Bud Break In wine speak, the cycle of life for the vine begins in the spring. The vineyard starts to come to life as bud break approaches after laying barren and dormant during the winter. It is a new beginning and a new vintage…
Take in this quintessential coastal Maine scene. The popovers at the Jordan Pond House in Maine’s Acadia National Park are famous. But until you try them, you might be skeptical of their reputation. After all, they’re popovers. How good could they be? It only took one bite of my Jordan Pond House popover to know…
Lightner Museum, once a resort hotel also built by Flagler, is lit so brilliantly it is a favorite among visitors. In its 28th season, the St. Augustine Nights of Lights is considered a ‘must see’ event for the holiday season. In fact, National Geographic named it one of the top ten holiday light displays in the world. With millions of…
It’s Christmas all year long at the ‘A Christmas Story’ House—yellow clapboard house with the green trim at 3159 West 11th Street in Cleveland’s Tremont neighborhood. Want to spend Christmas reliving the classic holiday film ‘A Christmas Story?’ You could catch the 24-marathon of the movie on TBS or TNT on Christmas Eve. Better yet,…
Ringing in the New Year by breaking trail on snowshoes For 360 degrees it was a winter wonderland. It was like being in the middle of the Sierra with mountains as far as the eye could see. What a glorious way to welcome in the New Year; a snowshoe just outside of the Lake Tahoe Basin…
The beautiful stone Rangeley Library was built in 1909. Some people prefer to spend the holiday season lying on a sun-drenched beach beneath the shadow of palm trees. Others take to the seas on a cruise ship or check into a resort to gorge on food and festivities. Then there are those for whom nothing…
