Gardens, Staycation Vacation, Travel

Day trips from northeast Ohio: botanical gardens, arboretums and garden centers

As spring days grow warmer and flowers burst into bloom, botanical gardens and arboretums inspire us with grand ideas for our own yards and garden beds. A half day walk through a garden followed by a visit to a great garden center is a dreamy day trip for anyone who aspires to be a great… Continue reading Day trips from northeast Ohio: botanical gardens, arboretums and garden centers

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Travel, Travel Plans

Road Trip: Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway

Featured Photo by Brandon Frie on Unsplash As Covid threatens to screw up another summer of travel, a road trip focused on seeing the sights of Mother Nature can satisfy the desire to get away while avoiding planes and other modes of tight-space transportation. If you live within practical driving distance, Skyline Drive and the… Continue reading Road Trip: Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway

Travel, Travel Plans

A Travel Plan: Holiday Break in Central Ohio

For an explanation of travel plans read "important notes about my travel plans." I designed this plan to immerse myself in all things Christmas. Undecided about who I will be traveling with, I chose options that can be included or removed to meet the interests of my travel companions allowing me to use this plan… Continue reading A Travel Plan: Holiday Break in Central Ohio

Happy Holidays, Travel

Weekend in Columbus: Let the Holidays Begin!

I like to Christmas shop early in the season. I wait for the Christmas decorations to go up but like to be finished with my shopping list before the post Thanksgiving frenzy begins. It’s not that I don’t shop in December. But I find shopping in December to be a lot more fun if I… Continue reading Weekend in Columbus: Let the Holidays Begin!

Travel

Looking for cheap travel? Start with a staycation!

When it comes to travel, I'm not a fan of waiting until the time is right or the money is more plentiful. There is no wrong time to travel. And the money that you spend won't be missed any more than if you bought anything else. Travel while your kids are young. Travel before you have kids. Travel… Continue reading Looking for cheap travel? Start with a staycation!

Travel

Is travel worth the cost? You bet your sweet bippy it is!

I can't begin to tell you just how important I believe travel to be. Travel changes the way you view the world. It makes you smarter. A lot smarter. It makes you a more interesting person. If you have children, I truly believe that vacations, weekend outings, and day trips are the best things you can… Continue reading Is travel worth the cost? You bet your sweet bippy it is!

Travel

A Winter Vacation Escape: Five Nights Aboard the Queen Mary Hotel

Sunny Sky Blue

5california 2016-01-18 014 Our harborview port hole

We boarded our flight at around 6 p.m. on a Saturday evening in mid-January. We lost three hours in the air and landed at LAX before 9. Six of us–myself, my husband, my sister, my daughter, son-in-law, and grandson were traveling. We had rented two cars. We were shuttled to the rental locations, picked up a small SUV and a mini van and were soon on the 405 South headed to Long Beach. The traffic was heavy but moving.

I had booked the Queen Mary Hotel. The Cunard Line had spared no expense on building this legendary ocean liner which made her maiden voyage on May 27, 1936. The Queen Mary quickly came to represent an era known for its grand elegance. In her lifetime she had hosted royalty, dignitaries, and Hollywood celebrities.

27california 2016-01-19 022 The bridge of the Queen Mary

Throughout the ship today you can see photos of past guests like…

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Happy Holidays, Travel

A Christmas Junkie’s Jaunt: The National Christmas Center

Leaves were glowing in shades of red, orange, and gold the weekend my sister, my daughter, and I made a trip to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. We went for the shopping where numerous boutiques, outlet malls, antique marts, and other unique shopping spots fill the small towns and roadsides of this traditionally Amish area west of Philadelphia. Christmas shops at Christmastime are… Continue reading A Christmas Junkie’s Jaunt: The National Christmas Center