
Islands — A Retrospective
“I feel we are all islands in a common sea.” — Anne Morrow Lindbergh Blue ocean waters and white sands have always fascinated me, even though I grew up in a small town in the Midwest on the banks of the Ohio River. My family vacationed in various parts of Florida most of my growing

Abruzzo—Italy’s Best Well-Kept Secret
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Stretching from the Apennines to the Adriatic, Italy’s Abruzzo region is rich in history, culture, art, cuisine, natural beauty, and traditions that surprise and charm visitors.

Discover the Carmel Valley Wine Village – A Hidden Gem in Monterey County
by Pam Baker
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You may know many wine regions of the world well, but there are probably some you have yet to discover. If you’re on the search for some of California’s “undiscovered” wine regions, you’ll want to explore Carmel Valley Village. This hidden gem, located in Monterey County’s Santa Lucia Mountains, is home to more than 20

Drinks for the Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of Summer
Ready to beat the heat with a cold beverage by the pool or on the patio? As temperatures climb into the 90s or even triple digits in some parts of the country, we asked IFWTWA (International Food, Wine, Travel Writers Assn.) members to contribute a summer drink recipe they’ve enjoyed during the lazy, hazy, crazy

For the Love of Pasta
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Most Italian restaurants in the US cook an Americanized version of Italian food, and few Italians would recognize the over-sized, over-cooked, over-spiced, over-sauced plates served in American restaurants.

Seven Wines to Savor During Those “Lazy-Hazy-Crazy” Days of Summer
by Pam Baker
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Oh sweet, sweet summertime – it’s my favorite time of year. Summer means warm days, long hours of sunshine, birds chirping outside my window early in the morning, and the sounds of children playing in the street. We revel in backyard barbeques, picnics in the park, and time around the pool. And with the warmer

Unexpected Delights of the Dominican Republic
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Russian novelist and poet Boris Pasternak once said, “Surprise is the greatest gift which life can grant us.” That’s exactly what I found on a trip to the Dominican Republic in late 2019. It was full of surprises and unexpected delights, and that’s what made it so special. Occupying half of the large Caribbean island

Summer splendor in New York’s Southern Finger Lakes
Yes, the winters are cold and snowy in the area of central New York encompassing the Southern Finger Lakes, but ah, the summers! They are ideal for summer getaways. June, July and August are the months when locals and out-of-town visitors alike make the most of the just-about-perfect days, when highs rarely top 80 degrees

Exploring Western Australia’s Swan Valley Wine Region
by Pam Baker
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Swan Valley, Australia’s second oldest wine region, is just 25 minutes from Perth, Western Australia’s capital city. Like so many wine regions throughout the world, Swan Valley’s scenery is idyllic. Vineyard-covered hills, small rustic towns, and welcoming wineries, their picnic grounds surrounded by green grapevines and bubbling brooks, invite visitors to slow down and stay

Fair Winds and Following Seas: Spectacular U.S. Destinations to Be on the Water
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American educator, philosopher, and natural science writer Loren Eiseley once said, “If there is magic on this planet it is contained in water.” There’s just something about being on the water. It’s an absolute feast for the senses. The tourmaline waters of the Caribbean, azure crystalline lakes, the salty scent of the ocean, the cool