I was in town for the SLO Film Festival & really lucked out. Located downtown, it’s a short walk to the theaters & restaurants. The famous Bubblegum Alley is literally behind the hotel. If you just want to chill, Hotel Cerro has everything you’d need. A gorgeous rooftop pool, drinks, patio, gardens, gym, bikes, spa & restaurant. I had breakfast at their spacious restaurant, Brasserie SLO. The kitchen was speedy & my server was all smiles, no attitude. Eggs and bacon cooked as ordered, three cheers for the cook. The rooms are beautiful, large, spacious shower, complete with l ..read more

I was fascinated and challenged from the moment this film started. At first I thought it was going in and out of focus or maybe the theater reel was just a bit off on timing – finally it dawned on me I was watching 2D Animation. Artist oil pastel renderings over each frame of footage. Once I accepted the challenge it presented for holding my attention visually while listening to the audio – I marveled at the approach and begin to enjoy the storytelling. Especially the haunting soundtrack filled with original music by Polish music producer/rapper/composer L.U.C. (aka Lukasz Rostkowski ..read more

A vacation is one of life’s greatest pleasures, a welcomed escape from our regular humdrum daily routine. But no matter how well planned, the experience may not always be restful and relaxing. Some travelers may prefer a high energy adventure. But those vacations often are exhausting and require recovery time upon return. I believe most of us are longing for some real downtime to find the reset button to bring balance and joy back into our lives. It may take a unique curated experience to help us destress and decompress by clearing the clutter and chaos from our minds. I discovered one such ..read more

Rose and I got up around 4:30 am, grabbing our ready to go hiking packs, spare water, and shoes before getting into the rental car and setting out for the one and half hour drive from Palm Springs, California to Joshua Tree National Park. With high winds ripping across the sandy landscape, I drove slowly through the sand that whipped around the car. By the time we had reached the South Entrance, the sun was rising and the mountains and hills surrounding the park were illuminated in a cream orangesicle glow. Our goal was to sneak in two hikes before the heat of the day settled in. The first, Ma ..read more

Cruising has seen an uptick this year with increased consumer demand, expanded destination and thematic offerings and the launch of new ships and lines. Atlas Ocean Voyages, a relative newcomer, now three years in the industry, is getting noticed. Launched during the height of a pandemic was a setback, but Atlas sailed through the storm and is now on the fast track as a real contender in a crowded category. Understanding the levels of luxury cruising is much like understanding wine. It is all a matter of opinion or taste, based on individual perception and palate. But certain factors like cost ..read more

My fellow Pacific Northwesters know well that the winter months can be harsh. Weeks of rain (I know, we love the rain, its part of why this region is so beautiful), grey skies, and short days with sunset at 5:00 pm make December through February particularly brutal. My friends and I cling to regular social interactions to get us out of our homes, and we have learned a few tricks for making those months a little more enjoyable and a little less all-consuming. In March of 2023, I tested out a new tool for my winter happiness arsenal. When a friend called me, asking if we could plan a trip to cel ..read more

Summer may be officially over, but Florida’s eternal sunshine beckons us to return to the beach. A festival on the shores of the Atlantic, minutes from beautiful Historic St. Augustine, gives us even more incentive to pack our bags for a wonderful weekend escape. Coastal breezes, culinary delights and wine tasting are hard to resist! Whiskey, Wine & Wildlife, a culinary coastal celebration returns to Vilano Beach the first weekend in November. Four days of wine, food, whiskey, music and nature-inspired events in a magical setting. Vilano Beach – St. Augustine, Florida November 2–5, 202 ..read more

Let’s talk about the perfect setting for a girlfriend getaway, your special someone, which may be you, because you deserve it. Rent a car, Paso Robles is halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, both great starting points. The city is inland, east of San Luis Obispo, another great location, but that’s for another post. So where to stay? This Diva decided to check out the Allegretto, and in the courtyard ran into a friendly woman who invited me to her birthday party. Well, that does it, I’m staying here for the weekend. As you can see, life is good. Need more convincing? Hello lounge c ..read more

If you are planning a cruise to the Mediterranean, Malta may be part of your travel itinerary as a port stop or point of embarkation/disembarkation. This was indeed the case for me on my summer cruise with Atlas Ocean Voyages. Malta is a very small country, an archipelago of five islands with just under 140 miles of coastline. But despite its tiny size, Malta is a big tourist destination. Even the most seasoned traveler, will find Malta to be a new-found treasure. A rich history, mix of cultures, flavorful diverse cuisine, breathtaking architecture and natural beauty, make Malta irre ..read more

Planning for an end of summer European escape, led me to a fabulous Central Florida hotel find in the most unlikely of places, The Villages. The Brownwood Hotel & Spa, a haven of hospitality and comfort, is nestled in the southern end of The Villages, a sprawling community well known as a playground for retirees. The hotel is a popular haunt of local residents and hopeful future residents. You will find the lobby bar and onsite Wolfgang Puck restaurant buzzing with activity most evenings. The Brownwood opened during a turbulent time when the pandemic was at its height. But in just a few s ..read more