Today, Alan and I leave for a small group luxury trip to China. Along the way, we’ll be checking four items off our boomer bucket list: flying on the Dreamliner, riding a high speed train in China, seeing pandas and cruising the Yangtze River. Our journey begins in Los Angeles, where we’ll board a United Dreamliner […]
Donna Hull
Luxury and Wildlife at Inn the Estuary
As tidal waters flowed in and out to the Straight of Georgia, two deer moved delicately through the high grasses of Nanoose/Bonnel Estuary on Vancouver Island. If we squinted our eyes—or looked through binoculars—Alan and I could observe a pair of bald eagles surveying the scene from the top branches of a tree near the edge […]
Stopping in Subiaco
On a Subiaco walking tour, cobblestone alleys twist and turn down the hillside from Subiaco’s old town to the commercial center. Alan looks at me and says, “This is the real Italy.” Ochre-colored buildings with stone accents line the narrow streets. The delicious smells of lunch preparations waft through an open window. Is this how […]
Exploring Ephesus on a Cruise Excursion
An Ephesus cruise excursion is easily the highlight of a Mediterranean cruise itinerary, especially for lovers of antiquity. The fourth largest city in the eastern Roman Empire during the 2nd century BC, the city’s amenities included a library and medical school. I certainly enjoyed my one day in Ephesus while on a Mediterranean cruise. Today, […]
Luxurious Winter Fun at The Resort at Paws Up
A river laced with ice and snow winds through rolling hills studded with a thick forest of evergreens. Mountain ranges provide the snowy backdrop. On a frosty hike along the banks of the Blackfoot River, Alan and I stop to inspect bobcat tracks before looking up to see a bald eagle sitting majestically in the […]
One Healthy Change: 10,000 Steps a Day
Is January a goal setting time for you? It is for Alan and me. But rather than making New Year’s resolutions that are little more than wishful thinking, we set goals that are measured with numbers. And believe me, when that goal is met, we celebrate! 2014 Goal: Move 10,000 steps a day Last year, […]
Watching for Bears at Fish Creek in Hyder, Alaska
There are several well-known bear viewing sites in Alaska. The best Alaska bear watching is Kodiak Island, especially Katmai National Park. But our experience shows that you don’t have to fly to Kodiak to see brown bears. On an Alaska Highway road trip, Alan and I chose a convoluted itinerary to reach the actual Alaska […]
And the Angels Sang on Montserrat
Have you thought about taking a Montserrat cruise excursion when your cruise ship calls on Barcelona, Spain? Alan and I had a wonderful time visiting this lovely place. Read our tips for seeing Montserrat. You’ll find them useful no matter the cruise line you favor. Serrated stones dominate the arid mountainside reminding me of the […]
One Healthy Change: Relax
Whenever I’m on a true vacation—whether it’s visiting my mom, taking a long cruise or enjoying the natural setting at a wildlife lodge—I find myself wanting to sleep a lot, especially when there is little connectivity to the internet. Do I have some type of sleeping sickness? No. Without constant interaction and distractions, my body […]