Find travel guides, planning tips, advice, and resources for where you want to go for all the destinations I’ve visited! Everything is sorted by country and/or state for easy searching. Great for dreaming, planning, and making your trip a reality!
When I travel, I try to fully maximize my time at my destination. As a mathematician, I refer to this as optimization. As a traveler, I refer to this as waking up in the middle of the night to make a 5 a.m. flight so you can land in time to explore the city all […]
All over the country, Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture has become a part of Independence Day celebrations. I’m not sure how exactly it became a staple of the Fourth of July, but Richmond, VA might be the only place in the world where it’s performed as intended when it was written: with real artillery and carillon bells. Fewer than
Why the Fourth of July is My Favorite Time in Richmond Read More »
This post has been sponsored by the North Dakota Tourism Division. If a state is beautiful enough to inspire the entire National Park System, it needs to be on the top of my “must-visit” list. North Dakota is a state focused on ideas and experiences, some of which made Theodore Roosevelt fall in love with the area,
The Great Wall is the most recognizable site in Asia and hiking the Great Wall of China is an iconic experience. I had to do it, but I didn’t consider its history until I was in China. “Construction on the wall began in the seventh century B.C. It spread more than 21,000 kilometers over almost 2500 years of
Hiking the Great Wall of China from Jiankou to Mutianyu Read More »
Every city has its vices, but in Hong Kong, that’s part of what makes a visit so enjoyable. We gave in — to all seven — and I don’t regret a thing. If you’re going to Hong Kong, here’s what you’re in store for. Gluttony From cheap eats to three-star Michelin fine dining, Hong Kong
With eleven Finger Lakes to choose from, there’s no way I could single one out as my favorite. I grew up closest to Canandaigua Lake, always loved Cayuga Lake and Ithaca, and Seneca Lake holds a special spot in my heart. But Keuka Lake is the one I’ve spent the most time at. We have
When my sister invited me to New York City to celebrate her birthday, I knew I had to plan something special. For a girls’ getaway there are really only two options: spa treatments or desserts. And since it was a birthday, cake of some sort needed to be on the agenda. There’s never a bad way
The SoHo Sweeties and a Quest to Devour New York Read More »
Nestled just two miles from downtown Boston and close to Cambridge lies Somerville, a quirky part of town gaining gastronomic respect. As hipsters move into the area, they’re bringing café culture and with it, independent coffeehouses, organic restaurants, and craft cocktails. Opening daily at 7:00, Union Square Donuts takes Boston’s doughnut-loving stereotype to the next level.
Seneca Lake will always have a special place in my heart, since it’s where my husband and I got engaged. Despite this connection, I hadn’t been back since then. As always, life gets busy and half-hearted excuses interrupt good intentions to return. With such a long hiatus between visits and such an exceptional set of
Lately, it seems I’ve gotten a lot of messages from readers who disagree with my opinions. I actually love these emails (who am I kidding? I love all emails!) because debating about travel is one of the things I enjoy most. More often than not, these passionate messages are from locals who love their home
