(photo of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome by Angela Nickerson) Aside from being a master of plot and suspense, author Dan Brown also excels at giving his readers wanderlust. It's difficult to read (or watch) The Da Vinci Code and not feel the urge to run off to Paris, London and Scotland to save vital […]
When I was at the Monterey Bay Aquarium I came across this sign (and this octopus) and it made me giggle. I mean he's cute and all, but does he really get flashed that much? I hope not, especially since the aquarium is full of kids. Don't worry, I didn't use a flash to take […]
Our day in Napa Valley had some ups and downs. Literally, since we took the aerial tram up to Sterling Vineyards and then back down to the parking lot. But ultimately, Sterling was a bit of downer because we were disappointed in the wine. The view was gorgeous, but we did not come to Napa […]
When we went to the restaurant Nepenthe in Big Sur, the view was better than the food. But that was okay because the view was utterly spectacular and the food, while nothing special, was enjoyable. As you might have figured out by now, I'm a big fan of scenery. So when I was planning our […]
The Beach Boys mostly sang about Southern California, since they grew up in Hawthorne, which is just outside of LA. But surfing culture thrives all along the Californian coast, and we saw plenty of surfers on our trip around the Northern half of the state. While the water may be cold (low 50s) up there […]
When this is the restaurant’s view, it would be almost impossible for the food to trump the spectacular vista. Luckily, our meal at Big Sur’s Nepenthe wasn’t bad at all.
I truly grappled with this one… I've already written two posts about seeing seals in Santa Cruz and on 17 Mile Drive. Could I really get away with a third one? And so soon after the first two?
Sometimes when you finally see a famous landmark of which you have seen countless renditions, it can be a letdown. But this was not the case with San Francisco's glorious Golden Gate Bridge. It looks even better in person than it does in the the movies. I'm no bridge aficionado but I must say this […]
I am terrible at sleeping on overnight flights. I am normally an excellent sleeper, but the combination of excitement to get to my destination plus the pressure to fall asleep plus the uncomfortable coach seat almost always results in a frustratingly sleepless night. So last year, when I was planning my trip to Greece I […]
(photos by Marla Decker) Is there anything more romantic than Paris in the springtime? Marla and Erik Decker returned yesterday from their first-ever trip to the City of Light. They had a wonderful time staying at the Hotel D’Aubusson, a charming boutique hotel in the 6th arrondissement, just a short stroll to the Notre Dame. […]
