In 2024, my travel explorations took me to Finger Lakes, Rochester, Laurel Highlands, Paso Robles, Umpqua Valley, Tualatin Valley, Willamette Valley, and Los Olivos. As has become the norm, I traveled both virtually and in person. Enjoy my travel 2024, year in review, as I continue to broaden my horizons with new places to explore.
Before attending the 2024 IFWTWA conference in Finger Lakes, New York, the idea of exploring Rochester NY, a nearby city, never occurred to me. Now that I’ve done a three-day tour, I can emphatically say that Rochester is one of America’s best mid-sized cities. With many unique museums, historical sites from the Abolitionist and Suffrage
One port of call aboard the Discovery Princess from Vancouver to Los Angeles was Greater Victoria. I have visited Victoria, BC, several times before. The city has fond memories for me. As a child, my family vacationed at Shawnigan Lake in British Columbia. The trip always included a stop in Victoria. In the early 1970s,
Heading east from Portland, one travels along the lush green treelined landscape of the Columbia Gorge. The beauty that engulfs is filled with waterfalls and Mount Hood looming in the background. This journey takes you to the Hood River, a city that abounds with days of yore. Nestled along the Columbia River in the heart
Palm Springs, the desert resort mecca for relaxation and fun, is also where the arts come alive through the fine arts and architecture. For the golfer, it is the golf capital of the world. The city is known as a retirement community for some and, during the winter, a snowbird destination. For others, it’s the
McMinnville, Oregon, lies in the heart of the Willamette Valley in Yamhill County, halfway between Portland and Salem. As a wine lover, the town is in the heart of wine country, so the area boasts excellent wine, especially Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Although Pinot Geeks love to visit, there are many other things to do.
The year 2020 took on a different role when it came to travel. Any travel that existed came to a halt in March. Local travel was acceptable, but the bulk of traveling took place virtually. I thought I would share my 2020 virtual travel year, as I discovered many places I hope to visit in
The saying “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” aptly fits the Terenzi winery. Beauty has been part of the Terenzi legacy for some time. It began with cosmetics and eventually turned into the beauty of the land the family owns near Scansano in Maremma. It is also the beauty of the grapes and
In the hills above Padua, within a thirty-minute drive from Venice, lies the small wine appellation called Colli Euganei. Colli Euganie is well worth mentioning because not only is the countryside exquisite, but unlike its neighbor, Soave, which only produces white wines, they produce some pretty spectacular reds. The History The region is known for
Thinking about a summer weekend getaway, the California Coast offers some wonderful escapes. If you are looking for that idyllic locale with charm and quaintness that lives up to its name, Carmel by the Sea is the place to go. Around every nook and cranny, there is something to be found. From its fairytale cottages