Why Chesapeake Beach is my go-to escape
Sometimes you just need a getaway that doesn’t require a plane ticket, a strategy or more than a small suitcase. For me, that place is Chesapeake Beach, Maryland — a town where I can breathe, write and remember what peace feels like. I discovered Chesapeake Beach about four years ago, when a friend invited me down for the day. As we drove south from Baltimore, the scenery turned... READ MORE
In winter, the beach is a peaceful retreat
Winter at 40-ish degrees had arrived, and I inched toward the ocean through two traffic jams to escape Washington, D.C. Clutching the steering wheel on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, I plowed on through the Maryland countryside in a steady, dreary rain. At my Ocean City hotel check-in, the clerk chirped, “You have a great view of the ocean, and your room is all warmed up.” This was a... READ MORE
Escape the winter in the Cayman Islands
When Mother Nature is battering us with winter’s chill, some of us dream of a Caribbean getaway. I recently visited the Cayman Islands and found that, along with typical sun, sand and surf attractions, these three islands have a wide choice of enticing things to see and do. Their name comes from the Arawak-Taíno people, who visited the islands and called them “Caiman” (crocodile)... READ MORE
We missed the olive harvest but loved Greece
Less than an hour after my wife, Mary, and I arrived in Athens, we hit the road again, jet lag aside. We hopped aboard a bus for a twisty, three-hour ride to Kalamata. For my wife, seeing the renowned olive-growing region in the southern Peloponnese, between the Gulf of Messenia and the foothills of the Taygetos Mountains, had been on her bucket list for years. Her late mother,... READ MORE
Tour Mexico’s hidden archaeological sites
Amid the constant blare of car horns in southern Mexico City, it’s hard to imagine that Cuicuilco was once the heart of a thriving ancient civilization. Yet atop its circular pyramid, now surrounded by buildings and a shopping center, worshipers once revered a pre-Hispanic fire god. “This is incredible,” said Evangelina Báez, who spent a recent morning at Cuicuilco with her... READ MORE
From the Atlantic to the Pacific in a day
I felt like a Lilliputian as I stared up at the imposing oil tanker immediately ahead of our cruiser, the Pacific Queen. The ship was aptly named the STI Magnetic Majura, a mammoth 600-foot oil tanker from the Marshall Islands that can carry 47,500 tons. This floating behemoth was likely eight football fields long, one football field wide and two football fields tall. Thankfully, it was... READ MORE
Lively Madrid awakens all of the senses
Madrid’s many traffic roundabouts, anchored with towering statues softened by colorful gardens, resemble pinwheels for throngs of vehicles circling its many spokes. I love a destination with high energy — it gives me hope for a visit filled with lots of possibilities. Madrid, with its hip, youthful vibe, is just that type of city. Its restaurants, plazas and meandering streets are... READ MORE
The stark beauty of the Faroe Islands
The wind blasted me as I neared the edge of the cliff. Leaning into the gust, I struggled to stay on my feet. Deciding that my safety was more important than another spectacular view, I reluctantly turned back. I was in the Faroe Islands, an archipelago of 18 islands in the North Atlantic about midway between Norway and Iceland. With more sheep (about 80,000) than people (about 50,000),... READ MORE
Historic hotels add character to your stay
Have you ever wanted to go back in time? Try checking into a historic hotel. The hallways of Vermont’s Middlebury Inn are wide enough for ladies wearing hoop skirts to gracefully glide through. This Federal-style hotel, in continuous operation since 1827, has period molding, high ceilings and the original front desk. Another historic hotel, the Athenaeum Hotel in Chautauqua, New... READ MORE
Why take a trip with Road Scholar?
Several years ago, after being robbed on a crowded subway traveling from the Barcelona airport to my hotel and left with no credit cards and only $300 in cash, I decided that as a white-haired senior, I should probably stop traveling alone. For my next adventure, I signed up with Road Scholar and was met at the airport by a guide who escorted our group to a hotel and led us around... READ MORE
