An Athens Authentic At-Home Greek Dinner
Before we arrived, we’d never met the couple yet they were hosting us for dinner—a dinner we would help prepare in their small kitchen
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Mythology Made Easy in Athens
Imagine if you are a competitive Greek god or goddess of ancient mythology with a big ego, not to mention you’re immortal with many superpowers
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A taste of Authenticity in Athens
On a first visit, Kagkas explains, tourists check off the must sees–The Acropolis, the Plaka, the museums, but they don’t experience Athens like a local
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In Athens, a hotel goes over and above
When US hotels are struggling to get enough staff—and whose staff often don’t seem to care–it is nice to find a place that genuinely cares about its guests
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Something For Everyone: Half Moon Resort
Mixology classes for the adults… sailing and diving classes for the kids. And plenty of sun, sand and ocean for everyone
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A Different Kind of Trail Ride
So here I am in the bay at Half Moon Resort, on the North Coast of Jamaica. I’m hanging on to Cutta’s tail as well as I can. But I’m not sure it will be enough
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Jamaican Food at Its Best: Star San
Award-winning and well-known Jamaican Chef Brian Lumley is showing us how to make coconut curry shrimp and just-caught fish—lionfish, parrot fish, snapper
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What’s On Your Bucket List? Add GoldenEye
It’s small enough that there are no conflicts over finding a beach chair. And with its tropical gardens it’s easy to forget what’s happening in the world
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Communing With James Bond at GoldenEye
Fleming wrote every one of his 14 James Bond novels here in a tropical villa off Oracabessa Bay. He took the name of an English ornithologist for his hero
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Good To Have a Plan B – Authentic Jamaica
Cummings explained he has fond memories of growing up in Jamaica until his parents moved him and his siblings to Brooklyn when he was 13
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In Jamaica, it’s all about YA MON
Everyone is so friendly. Even if you don’t know the person, it’s common courtesy to say hi — “YA, MON,”
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Can’t choose entree? Choose everything!
when we couldn’t choose between Duck Bigarde (with an orange sauce) or Carre D’Agneau (rack of lamb) our waiter encouraged us to try both
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Wedding are back at Sandals in Jamaica
The music alerted those of us in the water and on the beach as the bride floated down the dock in her long, white dress to the Gazebo
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Heaven for dogs and humans
Our 10-year-old pooch Jake, a 14-pound poodle mix, was greeted at check in with a packet of treats and is lazing on the couch in our room
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Families connect at White Stallion Ranch
Dolores Day and her husband had gathered her two daughters and three grown grandchildren for the first time in four years from all over the country
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Family activities and, of course, horses!
The Mattsons were so fearful this trip would also get derailed that they didn’t tell their daughters until they got to the historic White Stallion Ranch
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The White Stallion Ranch experience
If you thought a dude ranch was just about horses, think again—even a historic one like the White Stallion Ranch in Tucson, owned by the True family for decades
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The Cactus Garden at The Phoenician
They may sound like a mixologist’s drink names. But they are some of the different cacti here in a unique two-acre Cactus Garden at The Phoenician Scottsdale.
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Scottsdale AZ: family oasis in the desert
Scottsdale is a city of a lot of contradictions. Huge fancy resorts like The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess and The Phoenician with huge pools, more than 50 spas
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Wellness at Fairmont Scottsdale Princess
The Well & Being Spa at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, one of the largest in Scottsdale, is inspired by the Havasupai oasis deep in the Grand Canyon
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The historic hotel on Route 66
The El Rancho Hotel, right on Route 66 in Gallup NM has hosted actors including John Wayne, Katherine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy…
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Off the beaten path near Moab, Utah
Cedar Bend cabin at the Whispering Oaks Ranch that has six bedrooms, six baths, two half baths, a pool table, poker table, outdoor decks and spectacular views
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The joys of river rafting in the rain
I’ve always thought misadventures make the best vacation stories. Our morning raft trip in the cold rain made another one
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Taking the (grown) kids on a vaxication
When I began to plan a spring get together with family, I had no idea everyone would be vaccinated.
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Family ties run deep at the historic Alta Lodge
Bill Levitt fell in love with Alta when he brought his family for a ski holiday, building a house in 1954 and buying the Alta Lodge, one of the first ski lodges in the country, in 1959.
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Fine cuisine on the slopes and at the Alta Lodge
These days, the chefs say, guests tend to want lighter dishes with a more international flair and expect the Alta Lodge to accommodate all varieties of diets.
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Family traditions endure over generations at the Alta Lodge
By Eileen Ogintz ALTA, Utah — All it took was one Sports Illustrated cover to start a family tradition that has lasted more than 50…
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Yin and Yang: Alta and Snowbird ski resorts in Utah
Snowbird is known for its steeps and deeps; its cliffs, glades and moguls as well as The Cliff Lodge, which boasts one of the best spas in Ski Country
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Alta, Utah: Old-fashioned family ski resort and home of a legend
Located in Little Cottonwood Canyon, Alta is about 30 miles from Salt Lake City and enjoys a unique micro climate characterized by over 547 inches annually
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Steak, lobster, chicken, trout: Gourmet fare at a dude ranch in Colorado Springs
By Eileen Ogintz COLORADO SPRINGS, CO — We are at over 8,000 feet up a steep gravel road from Colorado Springs in the Pike National…
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The Ranch at Emerald Valley – history, charm, family-central by The Broadmoor
Today, all that is left of the Nanny’s cabin is the foundation and a huge stone fireplace after a fire many years ago. Camp Vigil is now The Broadmoor’s Ranch at Emerald Valley.
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Dreaming of a Sustainable Trip to Norway In 2021
We might not have been doing much traveling this year with our families because of Covid-19, but that doesn’t mean we can’t start bookmarking some of our favorite spaces and places for 2021.
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A quick fall getaway to Vail. Forget something? The Antlers can substitute most anything
Unlike most rental condos, The Antlers at Vail come equipped with aluminum foil, plastic wrap and containers, a fully equipped kitchen and more. The location also can’t be beat—at the Lionshead base area a short walk on a pedestrian path from Vail Village.
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Sailing the BVI: stopping for lobsters in Anegada on a chartered catamaran
We’ve been sailing around the BVI on a chartered catamaran. We sail to Anegada for the lobsters as well as the beautiful empty, wind-swept beaches
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Better and best: Thoughts on our last day rafting the Grand Canyon
Everyone is glad to have been unplugged from the news for a week, didn’t mind the mitigations that are the result of the Pandemic and are genuinely glad to be here
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Three waterfalls in one day in the Grand Canyon!
The first waterfall on the agenda is Elves Chasm, requiring a difficult, steep hike and scrambling over rocks and boulders. “But definitely worth it when we got there”
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Big rapids, beautiful waterfalls: Day 4 of our raft trip down the Grand Canyon
We navigate more than two dozen rapids including “the big three,” starting the day with Hance Rapid, which drops 30 feet over its length; Hermit with its 10 consecutive “haystick” waves, and Crystal rated a 10
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Day 3 in the Grand Canyon: tragic crash site, fun on the Little Colorado River
The hot hike is soon forgotten. We all consider how privileged we are to be playing in a place few Grand Canyon visitors ever see – the Little Colorado River
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Day 2 in the Grand Canyon: exploring the “ancients,” a dubious crowd estimate and birthday cake!
I sit up in my sleeping bag and look around. We are steps from the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon. The light on the multi-hued rock—pink, orange, brown is spectacular as the sun comes up
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Rafting the Grand Canyon with Western River Expeditions
We are diverse group of 32 (not including four guides) on this seven-day rafting adventure in the Grand Canyon, from across the country and generations.
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A hike to remember: North Rim of the Grand Canyon
After a five-mile hike, we’re sitting on a rock taking in the panoramic view from the North Rim of the Grand Canyon
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Bryce Canyon National Park: Hoodoo you think you’re feeling?
Hoodoos actually have eroded out of cliffs, forming thin walls of rock called fins.Isn’t nature amazing?! Here at Bryce Canyon we are at the top of what is famously called “The Grand Staircase”
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The short strange ride on an E-bike, up to Maroon Bells near Aspen CO
We headed up eight miles to the Maroon Bells, one of Colorado’s most iconic rides along Maroon Creek Road from Aspen Highlands to Maroon Lake
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Pizza in Aspen? Pizza in Heaven? This is Colorado
The Gant Aspen not only is Aspen’s only condominium hotel that offers food and beverage right here, but the new artisanal take out pizzas from Boulder’s popular Boss Lady Pizza has proved a huge hit on weekends.
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Pandemic Summer reunion in Crested Butte CO
This Pandemic summer, Elk Avenue has been made one way to allow for more outdoor socially-distanced seating and masks are required for those strolling on Elk Avenue.
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A picture perfect day in Jackson Hole WY on the last day of our epic #CovidSummer2020 road trip
The big difference this pandemic summer: Families wearing masks when they are near other people or inside shops. Clerks and restaurant servers are wearing masks too.
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Away from it all: At River Dance Lodge in scenic central Idaho
We’re spending a couple of days in a cabin at River Dance Lodge in Idaho, part of the Row Adventures portfolio, known for their rafting and sea kayaking trips.
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Families give Paws Up high marks
Suha Jhaveri opted for a mom-son road trip to the Resort at Paws Up, where they stayed in a huge safari-like tent
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Chuckwagon caps a day of weather challenges
When it rains, you just soldier on as we did horseback riding and riding ATV vehicles
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A cold summer rain can’t stop the fun: Paws Up
At least we are cozy and dry in our tent. That’s right—our tent. electricity, an in-suite bathroom, and heated floor.
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Navigating Glacier National Park during #COVIDSUMMER2020
So far this summer, the east side of the park remains closed due to heavy winter snows—we could only go as far as Avalanche, where we went hiking to Avalanche Lake, about a two miles each way with a gradual gain of about 500 feet in elevation.
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At Glacier National Park: a Covid summer like no other
Glacier National Park is only partially open this Covid summer. No park lodging. Eastern side closed completely. So be prepared for scarce lodging, food, even hiking options
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Flathead Lodge: Kids discover friendships and much more
After months sheltering at home, “This place encourages you to make new friends,”
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Best Bacon Ever: On a breakfast trail ride
“The breakfast ride is my favorite thing at the ranch. Breakfast tastes so much better,” says Sydney Byrne, 17, a guest at Flathead Lake Lodge in NW Montana
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Three generations, 75 years: The Averill family and Flathead Lake Ranch
Flathead Lake Lodge is much more than a lodge – it’s a ranch, farm and acre upon acre of wilderness and lakefront.
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A huge menu at Flathead Lake Lodge in Montana
What should we today? that’s the biggest decision a guest must make with nearly two dozen activities—including those just for kids and for teens.
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Flathead Lake Lodge copes well with Covid Summer
At Flathead Lake Lodge, rather than 125 people spread out in 22 cozy log cabins and the main lodge, there are 83, including 30 kids
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A mind game: fly-fishing in Yellowstone National Park
Fly fishing in Yellowstone is a big deal. If I could have only one fishing license in the world it would be here at Yellowstone National Park,” says Almond, who traded an executive career to become a fly fishing guide.
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Big Geyser, Little Geyser – social distancing at Yellowstone NP
We’re at Yellowstone National Park but we’re not at Old Faithful. We’re a few miles away at Lone Star Geyser that required a little over a two-mile hike—really a mellow walk along a beautiful steam.
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On the Road – Covid Summer 2020: 1st stop Jackson Hole; it’s cold, rainy and tourists and businesses are coming back
ckson, of course, is the gateway to Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. This time of year, the town should be buzzing with tourists, including many from overseas. Summer is high season—typically.
