Avoid the crowds: visit Athens in winter
As a seaside metropolis with a lively outdoor vibe and dozens of picturesque islands beckoning nearby, Athens is more often considered a summer tourist destination than a winter escape. An early morning visit will put the sun behind you as you gaze across the city toward the Acropolis, with the shores of the Aegean Sea lapping in the distance. Part of the fun is getting there via a... READ MORE
A bucket list trip to exotic Bora Bora
Somehow, I convinced my husband that the fifth wedding anniversary is the Tahitian anniversary. (The traditional gift, actually, is wood.) For years, I had dreamed of going to Bora Bora in French Polynesia. The lagoon’s glimmering turquoise, jade and cobalt blue waters, the overwater bungalows, the seclusion — for me, it was the ultimate bucket list destination. Some of the... READ MORE
Good times in Louisiana Cajun country
Let the good times roll, they say. In French, “Laissez les bons temps rouler.” And roll they do in southern Louisiana’s Cajun Country. Locals love to sing, dance, cook, eat and party hard in year-round festivals that celebrate cracklin’s, catfish, crawfish, shrimp, boudin, gumbo, okra, frogs, ducks, alligators, zydeco, petroleum and sugarcane, for starters. And that’s all in ... READ MORE
Sites to see in Stockholm (via Iceland)
Last fall, Iceland-based Wow Airlines initiated its new route from BWI to Stockholm, Sweden, through Reykjavik, Iceland. With fares beginning at just over $200 each way, I declared to my wife, “Wow! How can we pass this up?” At such low fares, we did have to pay extra for all drinks, food and entertainment in flight. While fares are somewhat higher now, the Wow stopover option... READ MORE
Vacation bliss in the colorful Cook Islands
Swaying in a hammock hung from coconut trees, floating down a cyan-blue channel, or swimming in a cloud of tropical fish, all I could think was, this place is too perfect to be real. Aitutaki consists of a handful of small islands encircled by a lagoon in the middle of the South Pacific. It’s the paradise you always dreamed of, but never quite believed could exist: uncrowded,... READ MORE
Visitors love Scotland’s misty Isle of Skye
Bonny Prince Charlie saw Scotland’s Isle of Skye on the run. He was fleeing government troops after his Highland rebellion ended disastrously at the 18th century Battle of Culloden. My visit was hurried, too, although due to nothing more exciting than a tight schedule — no redcoats on my tail. Luckily, even a short stay is long enough to glimpse why the Misty Isle of Skye is one... READ MORE
