Vermont's Stowe region embodies what comes to mind when envisioning a quintessential Green Mountain getaway. Beyond its renown as “ski capital of the east" surrounded by wide open meadows and working farms nestled among rolling mountains that rise up in every direction, this region is the epicenter of VT craft food producers ranging from household names like Cabot and Ben & Jerry's to local favorites like Cold Hollow Cider Mill and Vermont … [Read more...]
The Inn at Newport Ranch: Northern California’s Premier Adventure Lodge
The Inn at Newport Ranch, located on the craggy Pacific coastline near Fort Bragg, CA in Mendocino County is perhaps the ideal location to explore California's wild northern coast. Simultaneously remote and accessible, this unique boutique adventure lodge boasts miles of uninterrupted oceanfront vistas, upscale dining, as well as an abundance of nature and adventure tours. The Inn was recognized on the 2018 Andrew Harper Grand Award Winner list, … [Read more...]
Franconia Notch – an easy day trip from Boston
One of my favorite things to do when I used to live in Boston was to spend the weekend in one of the adjoining states. I'd load my car with my dog, grab a backpack and head out to either the Green Mountains in New Hampshire or the White Mountains in Vermont. Because the states in the US northeast are so small, getting there was all too easy. So when I visited Boston recently for a conference, I decided to extend my stay through the weekend and … [Read more...]
Today’s Best Western
Phoenix – With its fall 2017 debut, BW Signature Collection by Best Western was the newest addition to the rapidly growing Best Western Hotels & Resorts brand portfolio. Today, the soft brand is on the move, with the arrival of its first international location in Lake Lucerne, Switzerland. As part of the "Today's Best Western" campaign, which launched earlier this year, the company is this month going "Behind the Brands" with a closer look at BW … [Read more...]
Los Angeles Exploration and Public Transportation
Los Angeles and public transportation seem to be diametrically opposed, but the City of Angels does have a well-placed system of buses accessible from numerous reaches of this large metropolis. Yet, the use of public transportation here, unlike many other major cities is unfortunately rooted in classism; people of a certain social strata do not take the bus. This bias seems frivolous, as the buses are clean, cheap and fairly easy to access and … [Read more...]
Stowe’s Simple Surprises
Sometimes luxury is in the simple things. Driving the last ten miles along Route 100 toward Stowe, Vermont, I was entering another way of life. There are no sky-scrapers, no fast-food chains, no billboards or even back-lit signs. There are independent little one- and two-storey shops, selling cheeses and maple syrups and cider doughnuts. I pulled into the parking lot at the recently renovated Topnotch Resort and Spa and quickly ducked … [Read more...]
What Makes Me Get Up and Move
I have been married to a wonderful man for 25 years. We got married very young so as he said we could: "have our children and still play with them." We had three children in 4 years - worked hard and played hard. My husband Wes worked 2 jobs when the kids were little so I could be home with them. Life was not always a bed of roses but we managed to get 3 children into college, two of which also became soldiers. When our youngest … [Read more...]
Traveling in the North Country Fair… Part 1 Adirondacks & Catskills
Part 1 Even though few therapists would agree, sometimes neglect paths to the best possible outcome. Such is the case with the Adirondacks, whose fierce geography, unproductive soil, and hard weather diverted early American settlers to more benign plots. As a result, a state of raw wilderness maintained into the 19th century. Some credit the turning point to William H. H. Murray’s book, Adventures in the Wilderness, extolling the freshness … [Read more...]
Los Angeles, CA – Colleges and Universities
These are a few of the universities that we have visited in Los Angeles and vicinity. Additional universities will be highlighted here over time, as this is by no means an exhaustive list. Cal Poly, Pomona is located just south of the 210 Freeway in Pomona. Originally a satellite campus of what was known then as California Polytechnic School in San Luis Obispo - the two schools became separate entities in 1966. One tradition however did not … [Read more...]
Los Angeles, CA – Los Feliz – Franklin Hills
Los Feliz & the Franklin Hills are perhaps names that probably do not come to mind when you refer to Los Angeles. They are little known outside of Los Angeles but these neighborhoods contain beautiful homes. Los Feliz Village is centered along Hillhurst Ave and contains a number of restaurants and boutique and unique shopping experiences. Parts of Franklin Hills feels like San Francisco. Numerous celebrities and actors live in these small two … [Read more...]