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Traveling around the world

Oh the places we’ll travel! I’ve been fortunate enough to stay at some lovely hotels and resorts worldwide, and love to share my experiences. Be sure to share your experiences with me, too!

Posts in Travel

2021 Rotary Lights Holiday Display - La Crosse, WI

2021 Rotary Lights Holiday Display - La Crosse, WI

Our first cross-country drive (together) from Peterborough, NH to Kalispell, MT happened in December of 2017, and our second stop was La Crosse, WI. I knew I had found a cool little hotel, The Charmant, on the banks of the Mississippi in a town we'd never been to before. And that dogs were welcome. I did NOT know that for the past twenty-odd years the local Rotary Club in tandem with the community hosts one of the most charming Christmas displays I have ever seen. And now I've seen it twice.

TravelAnn WilkinsNovember 29, 2021Where to Stay, where to go, USAComment

The Newbury Hotel & Boston's Back Bay

The Newbury Hotel & Boston's Back Bay

The Newbury Hotel took on a big piece of Boston's history by renovating a prestigious and storied city landmark where many of us have memories -- afternoon tea, people watching over lunch, and if you were lucky enough, an overnight stay in a fireplaced room, complete with a Wood Butler to keep the fire burning. Since we have reason to stay overnight in Boston just as the Newbury re-opened, I had to see for myself how she looked. Let's take a peek.

TravelAnn WilkinsJuly 15, 2021Travel, Where to Stay, what to do, USAComment

National Bison Range - Charlo, Montana

National Bison Range - Charlo, Montana

Bob has been itching to use some of his new camera gear and I am itching to get out of the house, so I decide to plan a road trip amidst the great outdoors. We've gone to Glacier National Park a few times (gotta post about it next time), but a change of scenery is called for. We're headed to the National Bison Range in either Charlo, MT. or Moiese, MT., depending on who you ask. It's probably in both, they're right next to each other. Time for a drive.

TravelAnn WilkinsJanuary 31, 2021where to go, USAComment

Last Day on the Vegas Strip

Last Day on the Vegas Strip

My self-imposed exile will come to an end today, as we have dinner plans at Giada Restaurant by celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis inside the Cromwell Hotel, which just happens to have craps tables with the largest payouts in Vegas. Solid plan.

TravelAnn WilkinsJanuary 9, 2020where to go, Where to Eat, USAComment

Las Vegas Part 2

Las Vegas Part 2

Day 2 in Vegas and I am committed to hiding in the hotel while the rest of the world is at the Consumer Electronics show, scoping out emotional support robots (this is not a joke) and personal hovercraft (this is not a joke either). Bob is up and off to the races, while I order a latte, vitamin C detox juice and croissant with jam while writing up some blog posts. I have backlog and need to devote some time. Once this is done, I do have a plan. Back to the spa for a facial and then to Zen Kitchen for sushi.

TravelAnn WilkinsJanuary 8, 2020where to go, Where to Stay, What to Eat, what to do, USAComment

Las Vegas Part 1

Las Vegas Part 1

Our brief but enjoyable stay in Denver is over and we land in Las Vegas by 10:00am. It is fascinating to see how the terrain changes from snow-capped mountains to desert hills as we travel along. Pretty sure our hotel room will not be available so we try to think of things to do and all I can come up with is breakfast.

TravelAnn WilkinsJanuary 7, 2020where to go, Where to Stay, Where to Eat, USA Comment

Day in Woodstock, Vermont

Day in Woodstock, Vermont

It is the Saturday after Thanksgiving and our family from out of state is ready for a little more New England holiday vibe. The original plan is to get a Christmas tree today and holiday shop in a quaint little Vermont town tomorrow, but the weather says otherwise. Snow on Sunday starts in the early afternoon, NOT great for traveling, yet Saturday is sunny so we are switching agendas! Quaint shopping is today so we are headed to Woodstock, Vermont.

TravelAnn WilkinsNovember 30, 2019where to go, Where to Stay, what to do, What to Eat, What to See, USAComment

The Ranch at Rock Creek Part 2

The Ranch at Rock Creek Part 2

Good morning Ranch at Rock Creek! It is grey and it looks cold out, but I am gonna get my activities on because this place is expensive! For the record, it is all-inclusive, so your food, drinks, tips and activities are all covered. This is a huge motivation for me to not sit around and do nothing. First on our list is a 2 hour hike through the mountains. But not before we hit the breakfast bar and get some coffee, fresh squeezed juice and maybe a little chocolate croissant to split.

TravelAnn WilkinsNovember 3, 2019where to go, Where to Stay, what to do, What to Eat, USA Comment

The Ranch at Rock Creek Part 1

The Ranch at Rock Creek Part 1

We've been spending a lot of time in Northwest Montana, but… Montana is a big state. REALLY big! Time to do a little exploring. Yes, it's road-trip time in Big Sky Country! Headed to Bozeman and Missoula, with a short detour to The Ranch at Rock Creek in Philipsburg, MT. We are ready for a little down time.

TravelAnn WilkinsNovember 2, 2019where to go, Where to Stay, What to Eat, what to do, USAComment

Visiting NYC Part 2

Visiting NYC Part 2

I talk about spending time in different neighborhoods of a big city and concentrating your efforts in one spot, especially if you are pressed for time, so you eventually stitch together a feel for a city as a whole. Today we are in NYC again and I am going to Chelsea/Meatpacking District.

TravelAnn WilkinsMay 23, 2019where to go, What to Eat, USAComment

Visiting NYC Part 1

Visiting NYC Part 1

We've got an impromtu trip to New York City and I am always down for that, so we leave tomorrow. Bob has meetings and I do not. The weather is looking sketchy, and I really want to go to Brooklyn, but I am keeping my options open. No shortage of things to do in New York. We take the train out of Boston, which skirts the ocean through Rhode Island and Connecticut, so I just stare out the window and daydream for a few hours while Bob answers e-mails, calls people, etc. He's a busy guy.

TravelAnn WilkinsMay 22, 2019where to go, Where to Stay, Where to Eat, USAComment

Turks & Caicos Part 1

Turks & Caicos Part 1

We've fallen into a cadence here -- pool time, beach time, punctuated by activities and the occasional lunch or dinner out, though we have been cooking at the house quite a bit. Especially since the guys go deep sea fishing mid-week. They pull in quite a catch. We use Grand Slam Fishing Charters and they do not disappoint. Here is a compilation of the other charters, activities and restaurants we are able to utilize/visit during our stay (please see my previous T & C posts for other restaurant/venue/charter recommendations).

TravelAnn WilkinsMay 18, 2019where to go, What to See, What to Eat, Where to Stay, caribbean, CaribbeanComment

Turks & Caicos Part 2

Turks & Caicos Part 2

In honor of Mother's Day, 5 of us fled the United States and left our children thousands of miles away in order to relax. To be honest, when we booked the trip, Mother's Day was not on our radar, but hey, it's a good strategy when you think about it! Our plan for the day is to chill on the beach and by the pool, followed by dinner at Coco Bistro. It is a beautiful day in Paradise and we plan to make the most of it while exerting the least amount of effort.

TravelAnn WilkinsMay 12, 2019where to go, What to See, caribbean, CaribbeanComment

Turks & Caicos Part 3

Turks & Caicos Part 3

It has been a while since we've spent quality time with our Seattle friends and one brilliant person decided we should all rent a house in Turks and Caicos. T & C has long been on my travel list, so the decision was an easy one. We settled on a date, and then selected a 5 bedroom property on the ocean, all with en suite bathrooms. No bathroom sharing is key if you all wanna get along! It is a party of nine and I mean it.

TravelAnn WilkinsMay 11, 2019where to go, Where to Stay, Where to Eat, caribbean, CaribbeanComment

Visiting Salt Creek & Laguna Beach

Visiting Salt Creek & Laguna Beach

By 6:30am the sun is barely out, but there are a decent amount of people in wet-suits, bobbing in the waves to get their surf on before work or wherever they are headed next. The walking trail from the hotel winds down to beach level. It is paved and the hillside is covered in flowers. A small surfshop and restaurant sits in front of a green and grassy park, surrounded by beautiful homes. These people know how to live, judge for yourself.

TravelAnn WilkinsApril 2, 2019where to go, What to Eat, Where to Eat, USA Comments

Visiting Laguna Niguel, California

Visiting Laguna Niguel, California

We leave Telluride, Colorado at 9am on Monday and drive down 3,000 feet to the Montrose Regional Airport. Our next destination is at sea level: The Ritz Carlton, Laguna Niguel, CA. Before we get there we will fly at 35,000 feet, but in a pressurized cabin. Telluride, you took my breath away literally and figuratively! Later today I will walk on the beach and inhale some ocean air deeply into my lungs. So ready.

TravelAnn WilkinsApril 1, 2019where to go, Where to Stay, What to Eat, USAComment

Day 3 in Telluride, Colorado

Day 3 in Telluride, Colorado

Saturday is a sunny day - to start - so Bob hits the slopes while I do some blogging. After a few hours, he comes back and we take a leisurely walk (Ann is still stopping to catch her breath) and then get ready for a lovely wedding in town. Now it's Sunday, our final day. The plan is to ski, but it is snowing and windy with zero visibility. Not for me. We are headed to town, as we have not spent much, if any time wandering the streets of Telluride. Gotta do it.

TravelAnn WilkinsMarch 31, 2019where to go, What to See, What to Eat, USAComment

Day 2 in Telluride, Colorado

Day 2 in Telluride, Colorado

We wake up to sunshine on the San Jaun mountain range and it looks like it's going to be a great day weatherwise, but my breathing is another story. I have skied in Utah, Montana and all over British Columbia, Canada. But the only two places that have affected me like this are Vail, Co. and Telluride. It makes sense, because Colorado is at least 3,000 feet higher than the others. Experience tells me to take a day to acclimate and save the skiing for later. So Bob heads out skiing with a group of 7 or so, and I stay in the room to blog and suck on a canister of oxygen I bought at our hotel.

TravelAnn WilkinsMarch 29, 2019where to go, What to Eat, What to See, USAComment