The Seattle summer may be starting to edge into fall, but that doesn’t mean it’s time to go indoors yet. Grab your jacket, just in case, and head to Pioneer Square for a weekend soaking up Seattle’s history. On a weekday Pioneer Square is full of people in suits, the King County Courthouse and numerous office buildings are close by, but on weekends you’ll find a mix of workers, shoppers, tourists, and a few men and women who call the park benches home. Walk around and discover Seattle history, wander through the shops and galleries, or grab a table at a restaurant or café. TMobile Park and CenturyLink Field are a short walk away. Here are 12 suggestions of things to do in Pioneer Square to get you started. Meet at the Pergola in Pioneer Square Located at the triangular […]
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When I’m 64
I remember singing along: When I get older losing my hair Many years from now Will you still be sending me a Valentine Birthday greetings bottle of wine When I’m 64 was written by Paul McCartney as a teenager, and the song was released in 1967 on The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album. It was also featured in the movie Yellow Submarine. It’s a catchy tune. A song about aging with a young man querying his love about whether they’ll remain together through the ages. It’s about choosing to grow old together, about finding ways of staying connected. At the precipice of my teen years, and the accompanying angst, I sang along, although the words didn’t have much relevance at the time. Now, I find myself humming the tune more often. I now know what the song […]
Read MoreWeekend Getaway: Playa del Carmen & All-Inclusive Reef 28
Mexico is an amazing place to head to for a girls-only vacation, and destinations don’t come much better than Playa del Carmen. If you’re looking for a Playa del Carmen all-inclusive vacation that combines a great location, unbeatable amenities, and top-notch dining, you can’t go wrong with the adult-only Reef 28. One of the best Playa del Carmen resorts, Reef 28 might have a reputation for being a romantic resort, but there are also many reasons why you should consider it for your next weekend getaway with your best gal pals. Here’s our guide to this amazing resort. Getting to Reef 28 Located in the heart of the Riviera Maya, Reef 28’s location combines the best of a beach getaway with the best of a city getaway. Most visitors from the U.S. will into Cancun (airport code CUN). You can […]
Read More7 Places to Sip Wine in France
When I think about traveling in France, food and wine are at the top of my list of things to enjoy. From simple peasant fare to exquisite fine dining, my mouth waters thinking about the choices. It’s been awhile since I visited France for longer than making a connection at the airport, but I still have fond memories of delightful combinations of food and wine. You can enjoy this experience with minimal effort. Arm yourself with some basic wine information, hone in on a destination or two, maybe even limit your “research” to one or two types of grapes. For your consideration, I suggest seven places to sip wine while you’re in France: My top recommendation, however, is to enjoy the moment. Savor the experience as much as the food and wine. The experience is as much about enjoying life as it […]
Read MoreYou’ll Love These 9 Art Masterpieces in Florence, Italy
Florence, Italy, attracts millions of visitors each year and is well known for its art – art museums and galleries housing many of the world’s great art masterpieces. It has long been considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The city is just one of the many reasons that I love Italy. Since the 15th Century, Florence has been an economically prosperous city due to an Italian banking family known as the Medicis. Cosimo de’ Medici became a patron of art, science, philosophy, and architecture, which helped the city to become known as the birthplace of the Renaissance. The Historic Center of Florence is a UNESCO World Heritage site, with significant architecture, monuments, and cultural history combined with its art history. Artists like Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Donatello, Botticelli, and Ghiberti created masterpieces thanks to his patronage. […]
Read MoreA Dozen Gardens From Around the World
The days are getting longer, and with flowers blooming in the yard along with a few peeks of the sun in the sky, it’s a great time to be in Seattle. Spring is finally here! Since the flowers in my garden are not terribly impressive yet – things will be in full color in another few weeks – I turned to some of my blogger friends to get a take on some of their favorite gardens around the world. I selected a dozen of them, one for each month of the year, and hope you can work a visit into one of them during your next vacation. 1.Springtime tulips at Araluen Botanic Park, Western Australia Western Australia conjures up images of red desert, barren gorges and rugged wilderness, but half an hour’s drive from Perth we found Araluen Botanic Park. […]
Read MoreTravel for Library Lovers
If you’re a lover of books and literature, you probably already visit libraries when you travel. Whether it’s stopping off to do a little research or get an internet connection at a local library, or to visit a historically or culturally significant site, sleuthing out a library in advance of your travels is worth your time. And if you’re going to be in one destination or an extended period of time, you may be able to get a temporary library card giving you access to books and services for the time you’re there. For a book lover, that’s a big travel bonus. (If you’re looking for reading ideas, you can find some of my recommendations here.) I asked a few traveling friends to share some of their favorite ideas about libraries. The Long Room, Dublin: when Jedi knowledge meets monastic […]
Read MoreGuadalajara Cathedral in the Central Historic District
As Mexico’s second-largest city, there are many reasons to visit Guadalajara: it has high-quality museums, some of the best street food in Mexico and is the birthplace of mariachi, the quintessential Mexican musical genre. It is a wonderful combination of cosmopolitan city and historic center, blending the old with the new, the modern with the traditional, and the hip with the historical. It also has a massive jewel in its crown – the Guadalajara Cathedral, a minor basilica that is part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Guadalajara. Visiting the Guadalajara Cathedral is one of the top things to do in Guadalajara, whether you’re exploring the city on your own or joining an organized walking tour of Guadalajara. Located in the downtown Centro Historico (Avenue 16 de Septiembre, Hidalgo y Morelos), Guadalajara Cathedral is known for being one of the […]
Read MoreCelebrate World Wildlife Day
Today, March 3rd, is UN World Wildlife Day. The UN General Assembly made this proclamation in 2013 as a way to celebrate and raise awareness of the world’s wild animals and plants. I’m not an eco-blogger or traveler, but I do make every effort to respect the world around me, making sure that I don’t engage in any behavior that harms the earth and its creatures. Or, if I’m to be more honest with myself and you, I try to minimize the damage my behavior causes to the earth and its creatures (because, yeah, air travel is not eco-friendly). Although I don’t write much on the topic, either, I’m pretty pleased with this podcast I did with Bret Love about Rwanda’s ecotourism attractions, and how tourism is bouncing back after the terrible atrocities of the Civil War and genocide. I […]
Read MoreHow to Use the NYC CityPASS for Savings on New York Attractions
So you’re finally making the trip to the Big Apple. You plan to see all the sights, take in a Broadway show, and check out the amazing dining scene. But all that is going to be heavy on the wallet. While there are a free things to do – wandering Times Square, looking for admission-free museum days, walking the High Line in NYC – most of the top attractions are going to cost you. If you want to get more for your dollar, you should buy a New York CityPASS. Offering admission to up to six New York attractions, the NYC CityPASS is a smart way to save money when visiting New York attractions. What’s Included There are two types of passes to choose from: the New York City CityPASS and New York C3 Pass. There are ten attractions in […]
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