Unlocking the imposing, creaky door with a brass skeleton key, our guide, Jennifer, escorts us into the hushed and hallowed grounds of the Argyll Mausoleum of Historic Kilmun Church. Here, in the village of Kilmun, Dunoon, Scotland, is the finalRead more
Tours and Sightseeing
Edmond Fallot Dijon Mustard “Cuts the Mustard” in Beaune, France
Unexpectedly, a potent aroma – eye-watering, nose-piercing, heat-inducing – engulfs me. Next, the ground beneath me shimmies, accompanied by loud rumblings overhead. Fortunately, the shake-rattle-and-rolling gyrations are nothing like the undulating tremors that years ago startled me awake from aRead more
Beaune, France, Burgundy’s Wine Capital, is Rich with Ancient History
I’m walking along a promenade on ancient ramparts (La Promenade des Remparts). The pathway encircles the old town of Beaune, the celebrated wine capital of Burgundy (Bourgogne) in the Côte d’Or department in eastern France. This strategic fortification, with itsRead more
Georgia O’Keeffe Home and Studio Offers Intimate Look at Artist’s Life
I stand transfixed at the dominant picture windows inside the studio of the Georgia O’Keeffe Home and Studio, once the residence of one of the 20th century’s greatest American artists. The panorama from the seamlessly abutting panes of glass isRead more
Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena Runs in the Family at Pedroni
A richly pungent aroma envelops us as thoroughly as the warm, humid Italian air wafting through open windows and doorways of a rustic and rural building. The bouquet, at once sweet and acidic and potent enough to tear up ourRead more
Parmigiano Reggiano Reigns as the King of Italian Cheese
We’re standing in the presence of Italian royalty. The experience is not only humbling, but also…mouthwatering. More than 30,000 uniform wheels of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, in various stages of aging, rest row after row on long wooden planks stacked inRead more
Ancient Walls, Outdoor Wonders, and Family Wines in Lucca, Italy
Standing on a broad, tree-lined pedestrian promenade in Lucca, Italy, we’re stories high atop 40-feet-tall red brick walls. Centuries old and remarkably intact, they measure an incredible 2.5 miles long and 100 feet wide at the base. These massive walls,Read more
Santa Monica Sun and Fun at Palisades Park and Weekly Farmers Market
I’m perched 100-feet high atop an eroding and landslide-prone sandstone bluff in Santa Monica, CA. As I begin my fitness walk on this late summer morning, I’m less concerned about the possibility of the ground collapsing and sending me tumblingRead more
Up, Up, and Away in a Beautiful and Bold Hot Air Balloon
I’m flying, silently and leisurely at 11 mph, about 1,000 feet above the Yadkin Valley near East Bend, NC. Standing in a large rattan basket, I’m fully aware that the only thing keeping me aloft above terra firma is theRead more
Majestic Biltmore House Showcases Gilded Age Grandeur
Although it’s summer 2018, I’m thinking about my trip to Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC, as if it’s Christmas Eve 1895. On that date, George Washington Vanderbilt welcomed family and friends for the opening of his new 175,000-square-foot country homeRead more