Salamanders, giants, horses — a Renaissance palace

Salamanders, giants, horses — a Renaissance palace

How many salamanders can you find? There are dozens carved into fireplaces hidden in paintings in the Palazzo Te in Mantova in northern Italy, a gem of a Renaissance City as yet undiscovered by American tourists.

Aging cheese, lots of cheese, at a special artisan shop in Italy

Aging cheese, lots of cheese, at a special artisan shop in Italy

Welcome to Luigi Guffanti 1876 in the northern Italian town of Arona that has been buying cheese from the same production sites since 1876, then refining them in special “caves,” sometimes for years before they are sold around the world. They are artisans and specialists who oversee more than more than 200 kinds of cheese here.

To Deer Valley, where guests say ‘no snowboarders!’

To Deer Valley, where guests say ‘no snowboarders!’

Instead of frustrating hours at the airport, we spent a blue sky day on Deer Valley’s famously groomed slopes, stopping for an excellent lunch. (Deer Valley is as famous for its eats as it is for its grooming and customer service.)