This was our first post-COVID family get away. Actually, it was our first leisure trip together in a while. Over the past few years there were many trips to Arizona to help Lori’s mom and spend time together before she passed away. We have visited Santa Ynez Valley and Santa Barbara with Indy and wanted [...]
During a time when travel planning is on hold, instead of dreaming about the next adventure, I find myself reminiscing about journeys from days gone by. I have also been thinking a lot about my mother, who passed away two months ago. Like me, Mom loved to travel. I should actually say - like Mom, [...]
I have wanted to check out the Gabba Alley Project for a while. So, on a cool sunny day, Michael, Indy, and I headed out to explore. We consulted the alley map, decided to park in a central location, and found free parking on Vendome Street just north of Beverly Boulevard. As we followed the [...]
Looking for travel inspiration for your next holiday? Thailand is one of those destinations that has something for nearly everyone: big city excitement, small city exploration, beaches galore, island hopping, archaeological sites, and peaceful countryside. You can even meet elephants at one of several elephant conservation centers. Thailand was the second stop on our World [...]
Melrose Avenue is a popular shopping, eating, and drinking destination. It is also a great place to go on a street art walk about – especially between Fairfax and La Brea. Start near Fairfax Avenue and walk east. Keep your eyes out, as there is street art to be found all around. Look up toward [...]
Are you daydreaming about places to go on your next vacation? I am… I’ve been looking at tons of websites to check out destinations I’m hoping to visit one day like Bali, India, Galapagos Islands, Kenya, China, Croatia, and Slovenia. And, there are some favorites I’d love to re-visit like Greece. I’m also reminiscing and [...]
Sometimes we travel to explore new places. And sometimes we travel to re-experience a beloved destination. We first visited Ibiza in 2007 and have returned several times, most recently on our 2013 world trip (twice) – see the Ibiza blog post. Each time, we combined a one-week stay with a visit to another city like [...]
Many countries impose a Value Added Tax (VAT) of up to 25% on goods and services purchased for consumption within the country. Unlike sales tax in the U.S., the VAT tax is built into the price, so you won’t see a separate line item on your receipt. If you are a big shopper, the VAT [...]
Looking for a dog friendly get away close to Los Angeles? Grab your leash and head up the coast to Santa Barbara – it is just 1.5 – 2 hours away (depending on LA traffic). Santa Barbara Sightseeing and Activities Cabrillo Boulevard Cabrillo Boulevard hugs the coast near Stearn’s Wharf. Take a long stroll along [...]
We've tried a lot of travel gear and gadgets over the years. Some were great, and others - not so much. Here are our favorite travel companions. Carry-on Bag This carry-on bag rocks! It has wheels and also converts into a backpack. The backpack feature came in handy when we had to carry all [...]