A family outing for late summer beauty in Northern Vermont

A family outing for late summer beauty in Northern Vermont

I’m at the Topnotch Resort Spa, one of the largest in the quintessential New England mountain town of Stowe, Vt. where I’m indulging in the Little River Stone Massage, one of the expansive spa’s signature treatments that uses hot stones, cold stones, massage and aromatherapy.

Great way to stretch your vacation dollar – Orlando

Great way to stretch your vacation dollar – Orlando

There’s a lot more to Orlando than theme parks—and a lot of ways to stretch your vacation dollar while having plenty of fun, especially in September, the cheapest month of the year to visit with deals up to half off.

On a culinary tour of New Orleans with a former history teacher

On a culinary tour of New Orleans with a former history teacher

We’re in the so-called Mystery Dining Room at Antoine’s in New Orleans, the famous restaurant that has been operated continuously by the same family since 1840, our first stop on a wonderful New Orleans Culinary History Tour through the French Quarter led by former history teacher Naif Shahady.

Fish right out of the water, strawberries, goat cheese and more

Fish right out of the water, strawberries, goat cheese and more

At Pillar Point Harbor in Half Moon Bay near, where we were staying at the Beach House, locals either have downloaded the free FishLine App or call 650-726-8724 to see what fresh-caught fish commercial fishermen are selling “off the boat.”

Half Moon Bay, CA — no crowds or rush yet near San Francisco

Half Moon Bay, CA — no crowds or rush yet near San Francisco

My daughter is planning her wedding near Half Moon Bay. I can see why she loves this area — between the mountains to the East and the Pacific to the west. The best part—it’s not busy or crowded, though we’re less than hour’s drive from San Francisco.

Sonoma County: the right locale for a trip with a grown-up kid

Sonoma County: the right locale for a trip with a grown-up kid

Who says grown kids don’t want to travel with their parents? I don’t get to see my daughter that often and was determined to make our few days together as fun and as stress-free as possible for both of us. The key, I discovered, is choosing the right locale.