California, Road Trip, Travel

Ragged Point and Elephant Seals

The drive was peppered with overlooks and pull offs where people stopped for selfies and panoramic shots of the coast.

spiral notebook pencils and paper clips flatlay
Arizona, Musings

In Praise of 4th Grade Social Studies

I remember fourth grade social studies because it meant LOTS of field trips. For those of you who may have forgotten, fourth grade is when you study the U.S. with a focus on the state where you live.

California, Road Trip, Travel

Skip the Hotel Chains. Stay at an Inn.

From the backroads, you can find hidden gems, peace and quiet and, often, stay in cozy little inns that don’t look like they created their rooms on a copy machine.

California, Food, Travel, Wine/Cocktails

Indulge Yourself at The Canyon Villa

Just outside Paso Robles, California is a Tuscan-inspired villa sitting atop a hill, overlooking a vineyard-covered valley. As the front gates swing wide, you ease your way up the winding, tree-lined driveway toward the meticulously maintained villa. It feels like you’ve suddenly been transported to Tuscany!

California, Food, Road Trip, Travel, Wine/Cocktails

Wine Tasting – Personalized

We stepped onto the patio to a table set for two adorned with a fresh glass for each of the wines we would taste and shaded by an umbrella.

California, Road Trip, Travel

It’s In The Air

On our recent California road trip, with the top down, Greg and I realized you can smell all kinds of things you’d miss with the windows rolled up.  It reminded me of family trips when I was a kid. We had a great big station wagon with wood panels on the side. On vacations, we’d… Continue reading It’s In The Air

Arizona, California, Food, Road Trip, Travel, Wine/Cocktails

Sip, Savor and Sightsee

International travel is nearly impossible in this worldwide pandemic, so we came up with a two week road trip plan to fill our summer travel craving.  The route for S is for Sip, Savor and Sightsee. The route: From home we headed to Palm Springs, then up to Harris Ranch in California’s Central Valley on… Continue reading Sip, Savor and Sightsee

Travel

It’s Not What You Know, It’s Who You Know.

I recently found myself walking past a former place of work. It was a Monday at 6pm. I looked around and noticed there was no traffic. None! This is a place that would normally be jammed with cars honking and jostling for a car length edge at the stop light. It was surreal, even a… Continue reading It’s Not What You Know, It’s Who You Know.

Food, Musings

The Art of Effective Complaining

My mother-in-law turned 90 recently. She didn’t want a party or celebration, but family members kept asking for one until Greg and I told her she should consider changing her mind … peer pressure? She gave in and we decided a small gathering in her senior living facility would be the perfect solution. Her friends… Continue reading The Art of Effective Complaining

Arizona, Travel

Tombstone. It’s Not What You Think.

Tombstone, Arizona. I don’t know about you, but I’ve seen several movies about this shoot-em-up, good-guys-versus-bad-guys Arizona desert town. I added the Gunfight at the OK Corral to my Arizona bucket list when we moved here. This is a classic old-west-meets-tourists-town … right?? WRONG! Above the mine a display invites you to try your hand… Continue reading Tombstone. It’s Not What You Think.