South Africa is one of my top five favorite countries — but it’s easily my #1 favorite wine country in the world. The wines here are extraordinary, shockingly affordable, and they have tastes that I don’t experience in any other country. I don’t know what it is about South African wines. I’m more of a red […]
Things to Do in Stellenbosch: A Guide to South Africa’s Wine Region Read More »
Imagine that you have a week in Europe to spare. Where would you go? There are ten European countries you have yet to visit: Belarus, Cyprus, Estonia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Moldova, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, and Ukraine. And your time is bookended by commitments in Cardiff, Wales, and Leipzig, Germany. Turns out that flying out of Cardiff is largely impractical,
Scenes from Košice, Slovakia Read More »
Most of the time when I start dreaming of a new destination for the first time, I can point to several factors. Maybe it’s the setting of a book I’m reading. Maybe it’s getting a lot of press thanks to a news story. Maybe I have a blogger friend or two who visited recently and loved it. I
Welcome to the Florida Keys Read More »
What struck me first about Western Australia was just how sparsely populated it was. I would follow our route on Google Maps for hours and think, “Okay, we’re finally getting to a real town now.” And that town would be, essentially, a gas station. You’d think I’d get used to it. But even after ten
My Favorite Experiences in Western Australia Read More »
It doesn’t feel right to “go back to normal” just yet. Whatever that’s supposed to mean. And writing blog posts about pretty places privileged people can visit feels a bit inappropriate at a time when a white supremacist was hired into a top position in the White House and the rights of a great deal of Americans are in
On the Shores of a Pink Lake in Australia Read More »
If there’s any country that I visit often but need to explore in more depth, it’s France. Again and again I overlook other regions in France in favor of spending all my time in Paris, a city I find difficult to resist. But recently I had an opportunity to see a bit more. There were a few days in
A Taste of Alsace in Strasbourg and Colmar Read More »
“Is it really worth it to visit Johannesburg?” Absolutely. I think it’s great for any trip to South Africa, but especially your first. On my first trip to Joburg in 2012, I was absolutely shocked at how much I enjoyed it. So I definitely wanted us to return for our girls’ getaway to South Africa. This was
How to Rock a Trip to Johannesburg Read More »
Hudson NY came into my life when I moved to New York City. As much as I loved the city, I needed to get away and be somewhere more chill for the weekend. “No matter what, you need to get out of the city at least once a month,” my friends warned me. Of course
Is Hudson, NY the Coolest Small Town in America? Read More »
This summer, I’ve been planning lots of special day trips and short getaways from Manhattan. One of my biggest priorities? The North Fork of Long Island. Long Island extends eastward from Brooklyn and Queens and eventually forks in two. The South Fork gets most of the hype and vacationers — it’s home to the Hamptons and beautiful
A Day Trip to the North Fork of Long Island Read More »
It took three visits to San Francisco before I finally made it over the bridge to Oakland. Did I like it? Absolutely! It’s a great city with fantastic food. But what I found most interesting in Oakland was how different the narrative felt. Go to most major cities in the U.S., learn about their history, and they’ll give
In Oakland, A Different Narrative Read More »