I was born a traveler, and exploring new places has always been a passion of mine. Born in Europe, I lived abroad with my family for my first 12 years. Fast forward: I married after graduating college, and soon after that, my husband and I began a family. While raising our kids, we traveled all around the U.S. Now empty nesters, we are finding more time to enjoy more of earth’s beauty — its sights, history, culture, people plus its food and wine — in Canada, the United States, and Europe.
Once an Educator, Always an Educator
I’ve spent most of my career as an educator. I worked in the business world after my college graduation. Some years later, I pivoted my career path, becoming an educator. I hold two M.Ed. (Masters in Education) degrees and am a National Board Certified Teacher. I spent most of my professional life teaching in the classroom, mentoring aspiring teachers, and guiding certified teachers through advanced professional development. When I retired, I became a travel writer — marrying my love of education and travel.
Sharing information and ideas with kids is what I did for many years. And I loved it. Now my audience has changed: now it’s adults who are filled with wanderlust. That’s the purpose of this website – to inspire others and to share travel-related ideas and tips. Plain and simple. I write about destinations and unique places to stay, and I offer travel planning and travel tips – all geared for people who want to travel comfortably and enjoy rich experiences.
Travel allows me to explore more of our world, learn about local traditions and culture, and get to know wonderful people the world over. Invariably, I’m taking gobs of pictures of places I visit along with some interesting everyday scenes; I use those photographs in my articles to help give readers a feel of a place. (In the rare instances I use someone else’s images, I always credit them.)
My Travel Buddy
I’m half of a married couple (I’m Lolly; he’s Pop = LollyPop, our grandparent names) with combined experiences in the banking, education, and engineering fields. We enjoy experiencing new lands, their history, and their people. Between the two of us, we have visited over 30 countries while on trips for business and leisure. (Pop periodically writes for this site, sharing his insights about our experiences.)
Traveling Far and Near
As our kids left the nest, one by one, my husband and I spent more time exploring Canada and Europe — favorite destinations for us. With the global pandemic, though, we switched gears and began taking road trips to carefully selected locations (places that weren’t experiencing virus surges) while heeding public health precautions.
What did the pandemic teach me about travel? There are so many fantastic destinations that aren’t far from home. Plus, road trips can be relaxing and fun. (There’s much less stress about packing since I’m traveling in my car and not constrained by airline luggage restrictions, that’s for sure!)
What’s that saying about some of the best things that can be found in our own backyards? So true!
Take a Hike!
Another thing my husband and I learned from those early days of the pandemic (when our ways of life were restricted and gathering with others was challenging) is that we both enjoy getting outside and exploring places on foot — hiking, to be exact. Now we look for trails with scenic views wherever we happen to be. Hiking is another way to experience our amazing world and to often find peace and wonder while slowing down to appreciate the natural beauty that surrounds us.
How We Like to Travel
For many trips, we’ve done it “on our own” — developing our own itineraries using travel books and online sites — and traveled from place to place via planes, trains — and whatever else it takes like ferries, buses, cars, and bikes.
We’ve also enjoyed some organized tours and cruises. Viking’s 15-day European river cruise was a treat as the ship carried us from one incredible European city to another, from Amsterdam to Budapest. We enjoy exploring major cities but also treasure trekking to less touristed destinations. Along the way, we’ve attended week-long cooking schools in Provence and Tuscany, learned a lot from local walking tours, and enjoyed finding hidden local gems — many recommended by locals.
A Word about AI
Recently there’s been a lot of talk about AI (artificial intelligence) and its trustworthiness in online content. Rest assured that I don’t use AI to generate my articles. I write about places I’ve been and experiences I’ve had, and the photographs you see are mine (or else they’re attributed to another source).
Where to Stay
When traveling in the U.S., we favor renting a vacation house or staying in lovely boutique hotels and inns. When we find a place that really rises above the rest, I’ll share it with you. For example, in the U.S., we recently enjoyed our stays in Annapolis, MD, southern coastal Maryland, and Saratoga Springs, NY.
With vacation homes, we enjoy finding places with fantastic views and amenities (private pool, fire pit, private boat dock, outdoor kitchen, pool table — just to name a few) that you wouldn’t find in a hotel. With a vacation house, we choose what amenities our group feels are important. (We want everyone to be happy!)
Otherwise, we prefer to stay in small, locally operated hotels and inns. Many of these places, often operated by families, offer stellar hospitality and appealing creature comforts. Some of our favorite European accommodations are in Denmark, Ireland, Italy (Piedmont and Tuscany), and Norway.
I’ll Share the Best!
I genuinely enjoy sharing my great finds and tips with others. I’ve learned so much by mapping our travels, have been rewarded with lasting memories, and had quite a few laughs along the way. There are so many great memories and trip-planning ideas that I’ve collected — and a suggested trip-planning timeline — and I want to share it all with you.
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