Exciting Brand New Empty Nester Adventures in Montana

February 28, 2020August 10, 2017

So Many Adventures in Montana!

Adventures in Montana can come in all shapes and sizes. It is a place of great beauty, outdoor activities, lots of meat-eating, wild animals and tons of fun. Our friends were excited to show us “their Montana” and create a once in a lifetime first experience. They accomplished their goal with flying colors.

We traveled as a foursome with our longtime friends, Troy and Brad, who were accomplished fisherman and knew how to have fun. Craig was already a camper and he has fished and shot guns before we traveled to Montana. Although he hasn’t participated since his teens, he was still familiar with what was going to happen. However, my experience with fly fishing, shooting (any type of gun), off roading and horses was just about nil.

Princess Suzanne was in for a new awakening, a HUGE new Montana adventure and I was embracing it. I think all three guys were pretty impressed and amazed that I didn’t complain and just stepped up to try all of these new activities. I even peed in the woods…twice!

Montana :: Picture Postcard Views of Glacier National Park

February 28, 2020August 7, 2017

Our newest adventure to Montana offered many spectacular views of Glacier National Park.

Our Montana vacation included two of our oldest (40 years +) friends, some great Bourbon, a couple of huckleberry pies, a visit to the shooting range, a rodeo, a farmer’s market, boat rides around two lakes, fly fishing… and today’s AMAZING photos of our time in Glacier National Park

I have only been home for a couple of days and I have been struggling with what to share with you first! Our ten day trip was so packed with activities that it is a challenge to organize my thoughts. Montana is without a doubt one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited. Big statement. Big state. Big sky Montana. Seriously, everywhere you look is a picture perfect postcard, a page in a calendar, an oil painting.

A Montana Adventure ~ A Vacation with Longtime Friends

February 28, 2020July 29, 2017

A trip to Montana with “old” friends ~

We have a small handful of very good friends from high school that have moved to Montana. I don’t like to use the word “old” friends because this is a young bunch of fifty year old people! They have left So Cal for good and started businesses or have found a haven from the hustle of LA. Either way they live there for all or part of the year and are truly enjoying it!

What to See and Things to Do in Barcelona – A list of 10 must dos!

February 28, 2020July 24, 2017

Glory is light, light gives joy & joy is the happiness of the spirit – Antoni Gaudí

Ten Terrific Things to do in Barcelona ~

The cosmopolitan city of Barcelona is one of my favorite (maybe even my most favorite) cities in the world! After returning from a spectacular trip to Spain, I wanted to share why I love it so much and to offer some suggestions for your next trip!

I think it is the allure of the Picasso Museum, the vibrancy of the people and a gorgeous dish of authentic seafood paella. It is also a glass of sangria, strolling the tree-lined streets and sitting in an outdoor cafe in the Gothic Quarter. On a larger scale, Barcelona his home to the architectural wonders created by Antoni Gaudí and it is a modern city with an interesting long history. The combination of old world and new gets me every time.

Los Angeles :: A Fun Afternoon Visit to The Broad

February 28, 2020July 20, 2017

A Visit to The Broad should be on everyone’s list!

What is it? The Broad is a newish contemporary art museum founded by philanthropists Edy and Eli Broad that opened in September 2015. It is located in Downtown Los Angeles (DTLA) and sits right next door to the Disney Concert Hall. Craig and I were finally able to schedule a visit to The Broad and we just LOVED it. The building is unique and not too terribly large, so you can take a tour in a couple of hours or less. The collection consists of over 2,000 works of art, but the art gallery is only two floors of exhibits and the entrance is FREE. Yes, free and that is awesome.

Hot Tips for Traveling Abroad

February 28, 2020July 17, 2017

Hot tips for traveling Abroad ~

Terrific travel bloggers like those writing for the online magazine Getting On Travel,are a great resource for tips for traveling abroad. I always google the destination I am traveling to and see what blog posts have been written and honestly it is always incredibly helpful. Do you do your travel research this way? I know that I am biased, but these knowledgable bloggers are an excellent source of practical suggestions and have contributed to my trips in ways I never knew possible! They are also extremely generous with their help and offer excellent personal tips from their journeys.

Although safety and security regulations are much stricter than they were 10-15 years ago, I think overall, travel is easier. With our ability to communicate so easily on a world-wide basis, we can solve problems via phone and computer instead of running all over a new European city. We can also do so much advance research. Years ago, we only had travel books as a resource and they could have been published years before!

Cotton House :: An Exquisite Luxury Hotel in Barcelona

February 28, 2020July 13, 2017

When I set out to find a luxury hotel in Barcelona my first stop was American Express Travel. I had planned to use our travel points to pay for our upcoming hotel stay in Spain. We typically stay in Hyatt Hotels, but there aren’t any in this city, so I moved on to find something else.

A Perfect Day in Siena with Tuscan Women Cook

February 28, 2020July 7, 2017

Every day is a perfect day in Siena ~

The title of this post is a bit misleading. It should read “every day is a perfect day in Siena and Tuscan Women Cook”! Ask any traveler fortunate enough to have visited this remarkable city and they will tell you it is their favorite.

Tuscan Women Cook :: My Italian Cooking School Dream Adventure!

February 28, 2020July 3, 2017

Tuscan Women Cook My Italian Cooking School adventure

Tuscan Women Cook - an Italian cooking school — One of the stunning views from La Chiusa and Tuscan Women Cook in Montefollonico, Italy

Staying & eating & learning at La Chiusa with Tuscan Women Cook ~

When I sat down to write about my experience attending an Italian cooking school called Tuscan Women Cook, I honestly struggled with where to begin. There were so many incredible experiences, new friends, Italian hospitality and food and wine so good it could make you cry, which makes describing it all a challenge! We visited historic churches and cathedrals, family wineries, cheese and wine shops, local restaurants, walled medieval cities and managed to take a shopping trip or two!

An Exciting Empty Nester Adventure in Europe

February 28, 2020June 8, 2017

Our adventure in Europe ~

Hi Friends!

Tomorrow I take off for my adventure in Europe. If you recall, I was invited to attend Tuscan Women Cook, an Italian cooking school in the hills of Tuscany. Yes, it is a pinch me moment.

So Many Adventures in Montana!

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-17801" src="https://www.adventuresofemptynesters.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/IMG_4942-e1502139836522-600x451.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="451" />

Our newest adventure to Montana offered many spectacular views of Glacier National Park.

A trip to Montana with “old” friends ~

Ten Terrific Things to do in Barcelona ~

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-17660" src="https://www.adventuresofemptynesters.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/IMG_4556-600x450.jpg" alt="A visit to the Broad" width="600" height="450" />

A Visit to The Broad should be on everyone’s list!

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-17638" src="https://www.adventuresofemptynesters.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/IMG_3827-600x800.jpg" alt="tips for traveling abroad" width="600" height="800" />

Hot tips for traveling Abroad ~

Every day is a perfect day in Siena ~

Staying & eating & learning at La Chiusa with Tuscan Women Cook ~

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-17442" src="https://www.adventuresofemptynesters.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Me-in-the-wine-fields-2-600x800.jpg" alt="adventure in Europe" width="600" height="800" />

Our adventure in Europe ~

I am grateful and excited to be invited and I can’t wait to share it with all of you!