Come Tour the Incomparable Home of Frank Lloyd Wright with Me

February 28, 2020August 31, 2017

While planning a trip to Chicago I stumbled (luckily) upon a tour of the home of Frank Lloyd Wright. There were twelve different tours to choose from and I chose to take the Wright Around Chicago tour.

“Truth is life

Good friend, around these

hearthstones speak no evil

word of any creature”

Frank Lloyd Wright

I am absolutely fascinated with Frank Lloyd Wright and have been for years, but I actually never knew that I could tour his home! While I was in Chicago, I wanted to divide my time between the more touristy places like the world-class museums, Cloud Gate, aka “The Bean”, shopping on Michigan Avenue and Millennium Park, as well as satisfying my passion for architecture. There is a long list of architecture tours to enjoy directly in the city, but on this day I was trying something different.

Welcome to Los Angeles :: 25 Very Fun Things to do in LA!

February 28, 2020August 21, 2017

Welcome to Los Angeles ~ 25 Awesome Things to do in Los Angeles!

Summer is still here and the daytime sun is blazing. I know that doesn’t make Los Angeles sound too enticing, but come anyway we have air conditioning! Or if you live in So Cal – Get out and come visit! Maybe wait until the kids go back to school (which is like, now.)

How come they go back so early now? When we were kids we had the luxury of enjoying much more summertime because we returned to school after Labor Day.

A visit to Los Angeles includes a HUGE geographic area. From Disneyland to the South to Venice in the west and Universal Studios to the Northwest. It doesn’t just include Downtown Los Angeles (DTLA). The traffic is awful so you may want to break your time down in to day trips or stay in a centrally located spot and venture out like spokes on a wheel.

Park Hyatt Mallorca – Our Pick for the Luxury Resort of the Year

February 28, 2020August 14, 2017

A one of a kind resort – The Park Hyatt Mallorca ~

The travel year is barely halfway through and we can already pick the Park Hyatt Mallorca for the luxury resort of the year. It is five star and beyond amazing. When we decided to plan a relaxing retreat in Mallorca, we knew it would be special, but it was not only special it was probably our favorite hotel experience of all time.

Where on earth is Mallorca? Mallorca is the largest of Spain’s Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean. It is known for beach resorts, sheltered coves, limestone mountains and Roman and Moorish remains. It was just a forty minute plane ride from Barcelona and is truly the quintessential Mediterranean postcard. It’s gorgeous.

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.

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.