A few months ago, I was invited to a new resort in the Caribbean to write about it. My husband tagged along (every chance he gets!). We arrived at the resort and I was struck by the beauty. And the newness. And the emptiness. I believe there were fewer than 100 guests at a resort that has almost 500 guest rooms. Granted, it was in the middle of the pandemic and travel outside the U.S.…

I recently read an article in Joanna Gaines’ Magnolia Journal, “Nurtured for Generations,” about the legacies of grandmothers who cooked, and the home chefs – and the family food culture – they spawned. I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately, as I grew up in one of these families, and recently lost my mother who held so many recipes, cooking tips, and family food memories. I fear that so many of those treasures are…

I recently packed for my first trip since COVID and realized how many different things I chose. 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 – you know, all those sample-sized bottles of everything. I had a minimal first aid kit. But boy have things changed. I now have a COVID-19 travel packing list. My recommended…

If you’re looking for the best all-inclusive resort in Mexico for families, head south of Cancun to the Riviera Maya. The Barcelo Maya Grand Resort, on the Yucatán Peninsula’s pristine stretch of Caribbean coastline known as Riviera Maya, is the destination for those families looking for the perfect mix of fun and tranquility. And the best news of all: it’s all-inclusive.  The resort is actually six resorts in one sitting on a mile-long stretch of white…

True confession: I didn’t even know where Patagonia South America was when I first agreed to go on the trip. Then the shellshock of the 26-hour journey to get there set in – flights to Patagonia are not that flexible. Then, the fact that I was embarking on a solo travel trip to Patagonia Chile kicked in so be sure to read my article at on the Lonely Planet Chile page. But all that quickly…

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…