Category Archives: Travel Tales

My favorite hobby. I would travel all the time if I could afford it. My goal is to visit all 50 US states and most continents (if not countries) in my lifetime. I’m ambitious like that.

December 2, 2010 · 10:16 AM

Vacation Photos, Part 1 – The Hague (that’s in The Netherlands, ya’ll)

Sorry it has taken me so long to get photos up from our recent trip. I’ve had trouble wrapping my head around how to get started. We visited seven cities in 16 days and took over 1,500 photos. I wasn’t quite sure how to put it all together, but I think I’ve finally decided to break it down by city. So first up is The Hague in the Netherlands. The Complete Package had to go for business, so I happily tagged along. We flew direct from Houston to Amsterdam and took the train out to The Hague. First stop – the Hilton Hotel near the city center. I have to say, I loved just about everything about this hotel. Loved the location, the staff, the modern decor, the room, and the bathroom with its giant soaking tub, slate shower and frosted glass walls. The only thing I didn’t love was the amount they hijacked us for on laundry service. We could have bought new clothes for what they charged, but I digress. I have to say, it really was a lovely place.

The Hilton Hotel in The Hague, Netherlands


The Hilton Hotel Lobby


Deluxe King Bed Room at the Hilton


Oh, how I loved this bathroom

The Complete Package and I arrived on a Saturday morning, which gave us two days to be tourists together. One of the places he took me to was Scheveningen, a resort town on the North Sea (and a quick 10 minute tram ride from The Hague). In the summer, this place is crowded with beach lovers and swimmers.

Scheveningen's North Sea shore

In November, it’s cold and rainy, but still beautiful. And we had the bonus surprise of running into Sinterklaas and Black Pieter. I had never heard of this combination, but it is a holiday tradition here. Legend has it that Sinterklaas and Black Pieter come over to The Netherlands by boat from Spain prior to Christmas. Sinterklaas rewards the children who are good. Black Pieter takes the bad kids back to Spain. It’s an interesting tradition that dates back over 200 years. You can read more at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinterklaas

Sinterklaas & Black Pieter visit the kids on the Scheveningen boardwalk.

We found them just outside the Kurhaus Hotel, with it’s stunning architecture and views of the North Sea. A stroll through this hotel is a trip back in time. They knew we were tourists because my jaw kept hitting the floor.

High Tea at the beautiful Kurhaus Hotel in Scheveningen

I had five days to myself to explore The Hague while TCP attended workshops and meetings. I thought I would be doing it on my own, but I learned that another wife had also tagged along. That’s how I met my new friend Rabecca Ng. She’s Chinese, but lives in Malaysia with her husband and children. Together we spent 3 days exploring the city and surrounding area including museums, shopping districts, and a visit to the town of Delft. I am very grateful to Rabecca. Sightseeing alone is educational, but sightseeing with a friend is just pure fun!

One of my favorite places in The Hague was called “Escher in the Palace.” It’s just what it sounds like – a museum of M.C. Escher’s work located in a former palace building that dates back to the 1700’s. If you don’t recognize his name, you may recognize his work. I find it fascinating, intricate, and sometimes mind altering. You can look at it and see one thing, then look at it again and see something else. If you’re ever in The Hague, do yourself a favor and check this place out. Rabecca had never heard of Escher, and she loved this museum. We spent over 3 hours there, and loved every minute of it. Here’s a sampling:

Besides the artwork, the palace itself was beautiful. Every room featured a different paint color, murals and a unique crystal chandelier. I couldn’t wait to see what I would find in each new room. These are a couple of my favorites:


Next up, a quirky little tourist trap known as The Madurodam. It’s a miniature copy of multiple Dutch cities and landmarks set in a park atmosphere that has been drawing visitors for almost 60 years. I think most locals find it kitschy, but I found it charming. Thankfully, they give you a guide-book with your ticket and each exhibit is numbered, which helps you figure out what you’re looking at. I was stunned by the attention to detail, all in a 1:25 ratio. Judge for yourself:

I loved the architecture of The Hague. It’s a mix of historic and modern all blended together, but it works. Of course, my favorites were the older, more historic buildings with their trademark Dutch features. Here’s a montage of various landmarks I fell in love with:

The Hague's Benninhof (Parliament Building) Courtyard

Johan de Witt watching over traditional homes

The interior of St. Jacob's Church

The Hague's Parliament Buildings

Nieuwe Church, The Hague

The Escher Museum - Escher in the Palace

I have one last destination to share – a day trip to Delft. Do you know about Delft and its famous blue & white pottery? It’s lovely. The town of Delft itself is also very lovely, and the fact that they had a market on the town square each Thursday convinced me to visit. It was a quick 25 minute tram ride from The Hague, so my new friend Rabecca and I gave it a shot. Turns out all those photos on the internet don’t really do it justice. This place was beautiful. I won’t bore you by going on and on about it. I’ll let the photos do the talking.

Delft's Nieuwe Church & Market with wooden tulips

Nieuwe Church Interior

Delft Flower Market Stall

The pottery that put Delft on the map - beautiful!

Canals - they're not a cliché, they're a way of life

My new friend Rabecca - thanks for 3 fun-filled days!

Finally, I’m going to wrap this up with one of the things I loved most about The Hague…oliebollen. Oh my heaven and stars above, these are the best fried dough treats I’ve ever eaten in my life. Words escape me. They’re sort of like donuts, but sort of like popovers. They have the most decadent texture.

Great googly moogly - I love me some oliebollen

When you pick one up, it feels heavy so you’d think it would be dense. But then you bite into it and it’s incredibly fluffy and wonderful. They make them plain, with raisins or currants, filled with cinnamon-spiced apples, topped with tart cherries…you name it. And they serve them warm with powdered sugar dusted over them. If heaven is a food, it’s an oliebollen. If I’m ever on death row, my last meal will be a plate of oliebollen. I’d give my left kidney for the recipe. Okay, maybe not, but if I knew how to make these, I’m pretty sure I could rule the world. God bless the Dutch. They now have a very special place in my heart (and stomach). Next up – a weekend in Amsterdam, so stay tuned!

Tonight I shall dream of oliebollen. Sweet dreams, indeed!

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November 28, 2010 · 10:03 PM

How I spent my Thanksgiving vacation…

The Complete Package and I just got back from an awesome 16-day trip. I can’t wait to share more with you in the coming week, but first I need a shower, a good night’s sleep, some Boston Terrier lovin’ and a large pot of really good coffee. Until then, I’ll leave you with this. We went somewhere I’ve never been beforeand saw beautiful places and remarkable things I’ve always wanted to seeand did a little shopping and lots of walking and sight-seeing while we were there. Any guesses? (And yes, family members and close friends, you are exempt from guessing.) I can’t wait to tell you all about it, but right this very minute I’m jet-lagged, blurry-eyed, & a little funky from a long plane ride. We’ve been up for 22 straight hours, and all I can focus on is my tempurpedic mattress. I’ll admit I’m a little depressed that we missed Thanksgiving with our families, but it was worth it…just this once. I hope yours was filled with family, friends and fabulous food.
PS – I took a buhzillion photos on this trip, so stay tuned!

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November 10, 2010 · 9:48 AM

The Austin Nature & Science Center

There’s a place in Austin where nature is a hands-on experience. Where kids are not only allowed to touch stuff, they’re encouraged. And best of all, it’s free!

Inside the Austin Nature & Science Center

Where things that crawl, swim, walk and fly are celebrated and racks of antlers, bins of bones, a table of fur pelts and a bowl of snake skins are at your fingertips.

Have you ever wanted to touch a bowl of snake skins? Me, neither!

Where real snakes rule and rubber snakes drool, a wacky lizard hangs upside down near his own personal heat lamp, and a fat bobcat poses for pictures.

Now this is a lizard I could hang with.

And then there are the live birds of prey, a coyote, a few foxes and a skunk in rehab. There’s also a dinosaur pit where you can dig for replica fossils, a lake surrounded by wildflowers, and 14 foot tile mosaic lizard that climbs a wall.

They have a dinosaur pit! Can you dig it?

The Austin Nature and Science Center is located on the western edge of Zilker Park, which has a wide range of outdoor activities, as well. If you have children, you need to add this to your list of “go to” places in Austin. Pack a picnic, hit a playground, and explore the Science Center all within the boundaries of Zilker Park. It’s cheap, it’s fun, and it’s a great way to spend an afternoon with your kids. They’ll have so much fun, they won’t even know they’re learning.

There's so much to touch and see at the Austin Nature & Science Center.

To learn more, you can go to: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/ansc/exhibits.htm

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September 11, 2010 · 7:30 PM

Dishin’ Some Dirt on Great Gardens

When I travel, there are always three things I look for as entertainment – museums, old churches and gardens. Today, I’m focusing on gardens. I love me some gardens. There’s a true art and beauty to a well maintained garden. I love and appreciate the people who toil in them every day seeking perfection and accepting that they probably won’t get it. When I visit a garden, I like to take my time and enjoy it slowly. Sometimes I’ll meander and take pictures for hours. It makes me a happy girl. I’ve been fortunate enough to see some really great ones. Here are a few I love. I hope you get the chance to see them, too.

The Japanese Gardens in Seattle:

Walking Path at The Japanese Gardens in Seattle, Washington

This small garden is a gem. It was pouring down rain the day I visited and I still enjoyed every minute of it. I’m not ashamed to admit that I have a serious crush on Japanese maples. I tried to grow one here in South Texas, but it just gasped and died and broke my heart. I strolled in this garden for 2 hours and only saw one other person. Maybe it was the rain, but I didn’t care. I was alone in a living piece of art, and it was spectacular. If you’re going to Seattle, put it on your list.

Butchart Gardens in Victoria, Vancouver Island, British Columbia:

The Sunken Garden at Butchart Gardens on Vancouver Island

Oh, Canada! Words can’t begin to describe this remarkable garden. Privately owned by the Butchart family, it was started in 1904 by Jennie Butchart to beautify an old abandoned rock quarry. It easily wins my vote for best and most creative make-over of a giant hole. The sheer volume of dirt and plants it took to make this 55 acre masterpiece come to life are mind-boggling. It’s a top attraction in Victoria, and continues to stun and enthrall visitors year-round. There are many gardens within the grounds – a bog garden, a sunken garden, a rose garden, an Italian garden, etc. When you go to Vancouver Island, save some room in your schedule for Butchart Gardens. You won’t regret it.

The Gardens of the Palace at Versailles, outside of Paris:

The Gardens of Versailles and the Grand Canal

Most people visit Versailles to tour the palace and without a doubt, it is palatial. The Hall of Mirrors, the art collection and the lavender glass chandeliers alone are worth seeing. But it’s also miserably crowded with tourists who try the patience of even the kindest soul. For me, the real treasures are the gardens which date back to the 1660’s. They cover 800 hectares of land (that’s 8,000 acres). If this is on your bucket list, pack your walking shoes and your camera, buy a tram ticket to get out to the far ends of the property, and prepare to spend a full day taking it all in. Here are my favorite gardens at Versailles.

The Orangerie:

The Orangerie at Versailles - Part of It, Anyway!

It is exactly what it sounds like – a formal garden for Louis XIV’s 3,000 orange trees. Built between 1684 and 1686, it was one of the earliest structures at Versailles and was carved out of the southern slope of the palace to provide oranges in the winter. The formal design and its sheer size make this garden a stunner. I love how orderly it is. If you’re a neat freak, this is your garden. There’s not one thing out of place. This photograph shows less than half of this remarkable space. I found it hard to comprehend the history of this place. This garden is 350 years old. Wrap your head around that for a minute. Incredible!

The Botanical Gardens at the Trianon:

The Botanical Gardens at Petite Trianon, Versailles

In 1750, Louis XV commissioned the botanical gardens at Versailles. The Petite Trianon was built as a residence for the king so he could be closer to his new botanical garden and his long-time mistress, Madame de Pompadour, who died before it was completed. Eventually, it became the exclusive playground of Marie Antoinette, who (it is said) much preferred the peaceful gardens to the palace at Versailles. The botanical gardens of the Trianon and the adjacent hamlet became her refuge. It is said that no one was allowed to enter the gardens or grounds of the Petite Trianon or the hamlet without her permission. And it’s the hamlet that became my favorite garden at Versailles.

The Hamlet of Marie Antoinette:

I love this rustic arbor with its peek-a-boo garden view

I know why she escaped here. It is the anti-Versailles. While the palace was formal, grand and political, the hamlet replicated a small peasant village. Made up of small thatch-roofed houses and barns, it’s like a trip back in time to a rural French, well…hamlet. There are no palaces, no ballrooms, no pretense or snobbery. It is so peaceful here. There are barns with animals and gardens filled with vegetables and a vineyard that still grows grapes for the wines bottled in Marie Antoinette’s honor. I can’t describe it all, but I fell in love with it. If I had to choose between the palace full of fancy-pants politicians or the gardens with goats and cows and milkmaids, I’d choose the hamlet, too. If you do make it to Versailles some day, buy a tram ticket out to the hamlet and spend some quality time there. It will provide a remarkable contrast to the crowds inside the palace.

Cottage Garden in the Hamlet, Versailles

For me, gardens are magical places. It doesn’t matter if it’s a formal garden, a butterfly garden, a park or a small patch of dirt in your own back yard. I love them all. You never know what’s going to happen when you plant something. You could get something spectacular, or all hell could break loose. All it really takes is time, determination and hope, which reminds me of my pineapple plant that looks fabulous but won’t produce a baby pineapple. I don’t understand it. I’ve loved and nurtured it for 5 years, and I refuse to give up. I just want my baby pineapple! Okay, so gardening can sometimes require patience, but it can also be very rewarding. My motto for gardening makes a great motto for living: “Early to bed, early to rise, work like hell, and fertilize” (credited to Emily Whaley). Some days it’s more about working like hell…some days it’s more about fertilizing, if you know what I mean. What do you think, dear readers? Post a comment. I’d love to hear more about your favorite gardens. Let’s dish some dirt!

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September 2, 2010 · 10:20 AM

Things I Love, Volume 3: Austin’s SoCo

I’m in Austin, Texas this week spending time with My Baby and the world’s smartest grandkids, Jonah Bear and Lilly Bug. While they were at school and daycare, I spent some time in one of my favorite areas of Austin – SoCo.

South Congress Shopping is Funky Fun

South Congress Avenue runs due south from the state capital building cutting through the heart of downtown Austin and into one of the most unique shopping and dining areas in the city. On weekends and evenings, this place is jumpin’. Parking can be a mess (especially on Saturdays) but the variety of shops and restaurants make it worthwhile. Everything from antiques to candy and cowboy boots to cupcakes, as well as great food can be found on South Congress. If you’re into the twinkling lights in the live oak trees on a patio with a cold adult beverage scene, you’ll find lots of good choices here after dark. I go for the shopping. If you’re looking for Austin hot spots, SoCo is on fire. If you’re ever in town, you have to go. To get you started, here are just a few of the shops I love:

Big Top Candy Shop
This candy shop rocks my world. I love the circus themed decor and the absolutely huge variety of treats they offer. This place carries the candy of my childhood – orange slices, circus peanuts, chick-o-sticks, candy corn…I could go on and on. They have a section with gummi everything. They have a retro section with hard to find candies from the past. They have bins of M&Ms in every color. They have a handmade chocolates counter where you’ll find irresistible treats like sea salt caramels, homemade fudge and get this – chocolate covered bacon. You heard me. If that’s not enough to entice you, they also have an old-fashioned popcorn machine and an ice cream counter. This place is a sugar lover’s mecca and a circus lover’s shrine. Big Top Candy doesn’t have a website, but you can connect with them on Facebook or MySpace. You AND your kids will love this place. You can find them at 1706 South Congress.

Inside the Big Top Candy Shop

Farm to Market Grocery
I love this little organic market. It’s tiny, but it’s packed with organic products from all over. They carry local items and produce, as well as items I’ve never seen and that excites me. I like to discover new things and expand my view of the world. My Baby introducted me to Dr. Bronner’s Magic All-In-One organic peppermint liquid soap in this little market. I can’t begin to tell you how much I love this soap. It wakes me up in the morning like no other, and the tingly peppermint senstation feels fabulous after a hot day in the Texas sun. The selection of organic vegetables and carry-out foods like hummus and samosas are just lovely. Drop in for a fair trade fiesta sometime. And don’t forget to pick up some soap. Farm to Market Grocery is located at 1718 South Congress. http://www.fm1718.com

Farm to Market Grocery - An Organic Dream

Hey, Cupcake!
I couldn’t get a good photo of this place. It’s a cupcake shop inside of a stainless steel Airstream trailer, and it catches the sun like a kaleidoscope. Every photo is pure glare. Maybe it’s not the sunshine. Maybe it’s the aura coming off the giant rotating cupcake on top of the trailer! When you try them, you’ll hear angels sing. If you love cupcakes (and let’s be honest, who doesn’t) this place needs to be on your radar. The cupcakes are big and fluffy and delicious, and for a few pennies more they’ll even pump a big shot of whipped cream right down the middle of it. Flavor choices include red velvet, carrot cake and winner of my favorite name, the Michael Jackson. It’s a chocolate cupcake with white butter cream frosting. I can state from personal experience that the carrot cake and red velvet cupcakes are extraordinary. Want to try them? I like to visit the trailer at 1600 South Congress, but there are other locations around Austin. Visit their website to find them. But find them you must! http://www.heycupcake.com.

Uncommon Objects
I saved the best for last. This is one of my favorite shops to kill an hour in. It’s fun and funky and literally filled to the rafters with antiques and collectibles.

Uncommon Objects - Floor to Ceiling Fun

That’s a winning combination in my book. If I were a hoarder, this place would be crack to me. There’s so much to see, you really need to go back again and again. I love that every nook and cranny is filled with unexpected treasures.

Nooks & Crannies Galore at Uncommon Objects

Some nooks are sorted by color. Some crannies are sorted by item type. Whatever you’re looking for, they’ve probably got it. I love that you never know what’s around the next corner. This ain’t no ordinary antique shop!

This Place is Full of Uncommon Objects

Lots of stores advertise that they carry “something for everyone” but Uncommon Objects exemplifies it. There is truly a treasure for every treasure hunter. Uncommon Objects is located at 1512 South Congress Avenue. http://www.uncommonobjects.com

And so, my friends, if you’re ever in Austin and need some “me time” and a spa isn’t your cup of tea, visit South Congress, or SoCo, as the locals call it. There are 5-6 blocks of unique shops to browse, coffee spots to soothe your caffeine addiction, and a multitude of restaurants with fabulously shaded patios and views of the state capitol. It’s a great place to stroll with friends and family and take in the funky fun Austin has to offer. Don’t forget to pick up some chocolate covered bacon. I got mine!

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August 21, 2010 · 1:06 PM

Hanalei Bay, Kauai – My Hawaiian Vacation Dream Come True

The Complete Package (my beloved) and I went to Hawaii this year on vacation. It’s been on my travel bucket list, and I’m happy we finally made it. There are many lovely islands to choose from in Hawaii. Each island offers travelers something different. We were looking for solitude, lush scenery and little or no crowds. For that reason, we chose Kauai, and more specifically the town of Hanalei on Kauai’s north shore. Have you ever seen the Dr. Beach list of top beaches worldwide that gets released every year? Well in 2009, Hanalei Bay was rated the best beach in the world by Dr. Beach. He’s right. This place is beautiful – 2 miles of stunning, wide beach lining a beautiful crescent-shaped bay.

Hanalei Pier & River - Inside NanaBread's Head

If you’ve read my travel post about HomeAway.com, you’ll know that I’m partial to renting vacation homes over hotel rooms, especially when the prices are comparable. I found the NamiNori house in 2009 while searching for possible vacations. When we decided to go to Yellowstone instead, I bookmarked it for later. In early 2010, we were ready for a beach vacation, and this house came back up. It had everything we were looking for, including a fabulous location adjacent to Hanalei’s historic pier. Although we found the house on HomeAway, the owners have since launched a new website, which is much slicker and has better photos. If you’d like to see NamiNori House for yourself, open this link in a new tab: www.naminorihouse.com. I’ll warn you…once you look, you may dream of going there yourself.

Sunrise Over Hanalei Bay - From the Pier

We absolutely loved walking out to the pier every day to watch the sun rise and set over Hanalei Bay. The beautiful Hanalei River joins the Pacific ocean right there at the Hanalei pier and the adjacent Black Pot beach park. Families like to gather at the pier and park for sunset picnics. It’s a great atmosphere. I loved the sand. Walking on the beach was like walking through warm powdered sugar. It was heavenly. It didn’t hurt that George Clooney was there all week filming his new movie “The Descendants” so really, it couldn’t have been more perfect. We saw George and his crew filming on the beach frequently. They also filmed in a house on our street (Weke Road), and the film crew rented several other houses on our street and around town, as well. We had no idea they would be there and were surprised to find ourselves in the middle of it all. Other than a few impromptu parades of film trucks, a small occasional crowd on the beach, and a brief traffic jam, you’d never know they were there. We’re looking forward to watching the film when it comes out now so we can relive our time on Hanalei Bay. It’s like the best vacation video ever, right?

Clooney Sitting on Hanalei Beach While Filming

Kauai is called the “garden isle” of the Hawaiian chain because it has such a lush, remote landscape. Most of the island is inaccessible due to rough terrain, and the famous NaPali coastline on the north shore is a great example of this. It’s one of the most photographed shorelines in the world, and the best way to see it is by air. There are several helicopter tour companies on Kauai, but we chose to see it in a Cessna with “Wings Over Kauai” – a small family outfit working out of the Lihue airport. We’d never flown in a plane this small before, and I admit to being nervous. I had a real fear of small planes and air sickness. But Bruce Coulombe, our pilot and the owner of WOK, talked me through it, giving me tips on how to best enjoy the flight. His experience and patience were greatly appreciated, and our flight was fabulous. We spent almost a full hour flying over most of the island, including the NaPali coastline, our beloved Hanalei Bay, and Waimea Canyon (often called the Grand Canyon of Hawaii). Bruce was an excellent tour guide and pilot, and the flight was one of the best experiences of our vacation. Kauai is a gorgeous place, but you’ll only see a fraction of it if you don’t get up in the air, so conquer your fear and get up there!

Wings Over Kauai View of NaPali Coast

Beaches are the reason most people vacation in Hawaii, and there are some marvelous beaches on Kauai. We spent nine days trying to see them all. Of course, we had our favorites. Hanalei Bay beach was our refuge, and an awesome place to stay. But Secret Beach, so named because it’s really hard for tourists to find and not too easy to get to, was stunning. The views of the Kilauea Lighthouse made it even better. Like I said, it’s called Secret Beach for a reason, but if you can find it, it’s well worth a visit.

Secret Beach with a View of Kilauea Lighthouse

Haena Beach on the far north shore, west of Hanalei, was also a favorite. It had a cool dry cave right off the road you could explore, a lovely creek that ran down the mountainside and into the ocean, and a great little beach park with all the amenities you needed – bathrooms, an outdoor shower, and a concession truck selling snacks and ice-cold drinks. The wide beach and random lava rock outcroppings also made it a great place to hang out and a lot of fun to explore.

Haena Beach on the North Shore of Kauai

The most relaxing and most memorable part of the trip for me was the sunsets at the pier. Each night provided a different show. Daily changes in the weather made each sunset unique. It was the best free show on the island. Having other couples and families gather each night to share it made it even more special. Locals would get out and walk their dogs, surfers would paddle in from a day riding the waves, fishing boats would slowly drift in, and as the sun set, everyone would stop and quietly enjoy the spectacle. I’m thankful for the opportunity to travel, a loving husband to share it with, a camera to capture the best moments, and the beauty every part of the world has to offer. And I’m grateful that my dream to visit Hawaii was fulfilled. Oh, Kauai, I dream of you still…

Siblings Celebrating the Sunset over Hanalei Bay

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August 12, 2010 · 5:23 PM

HomeAway Ruined Hotels for Me

I’m not a spokesperson for HomeAway.com, paid or otherwise. But I am a fan and a frequent user of their service because it has provided me with some of the best vacation experiences ever. Have you seen the site? It and VRBO (Vacation Rentals By Owner) have changed the way we vacation. We’ve had so many great experiences that I am forever ruined where hotels are concerned. You can search for vacation rentals worldwide and find places that suit your preferences – like air conditioning, a laundry room, king size beds, waterfront or downtown locations, and much more. They post photos so you can see the homes in detail, and I always pay attention to the comments from previous renters to see what they thought of each place. You have to do your research on these sites, but the results can be fabulous. Like this house in Hanalei on Kauai’s north shore:

NamiNori House in Hanalei, Kauai

Wow. It’s a great house in a fabulous location – just off the historic Hanalei Pier on beautiful Hanalei Bay. Dr. Beach named this the best beach in the world in 2009. And now I know why.

Hanalei Bay and Pier, Kauai

We spent 9 glorious days on this beach in May, and it was stunning. Hanalei is a wonderful laid-back surfer town on the lush, mountainous north shore of Kauai. It’s quiet, beautiful, and it’s worth adding to your bucket list. A walk on the beach here is like a walk through warm powdered sugar. And sunsets over the bay are spectacular and only a few steps from your door. One week here is not enough. Yep, this beats a hotel for me any day.

Children Enjoying the Sunset in Hanalei


Then there’s the fabulous house we rented in Paradise Valley, Montana. This beauty is north of Yellowstone National Park, and we enjoyed the house as much as we enjoyed the park. Let me tell you something – they call it Paradise Valley for a reason. And this beautiful place is my idea of paradise. The house is three stories built into a rolling hill overlooking the Yellowstone River, and everything about this beautiful home was perfection. This was such a wonderful vacation. And after long days in Yellowstone National Park, this living room with its rock fireplace and its stunning view of the mountains was our refuge. Laying on that sofa looking out over those mountains is good for your soul.

Loch Leven Living Room - Paradise Valley

And I would be happy forever if I could use this kitchen every day. I mean it.

The Kitchen - Paradise Valley House

And imagine having access to this view of the Absaroka Mountains as a sunset storm blows through the Yellowstone River valley. Words can’t explain it.

View of the Absaroka Mountains

Nope. No, sir…I am not missing those hotel rooms. Not one little bit.

And let’s not forget the farmhouse in Southwest Harbor, Maine, outside of Acadia National Park. This place has very special memories for me, since my daughter and her family joined us on this vacation. Little Jonah Bear was only two. It’s a lot of fun seeing the world through a two-year old’s eyes again.

Farmhouse in Southwest Harbor, Maine

This farmhouse built in the 1880’s has so much history and charm. It’s only 900 feet from the Atlantic ocean and you can pick fresh apples in the fall in the back yard. I know this because I baked a pie with those apples. Again, it’s another example of what HomeAway has done for our vacation experience. Southwest Harbor, Maine is located on Mount Desert Island along with Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. It’s on the “quiet side” of the island, away from the crowds that flock to Bar Harbor. It’s a working fishing village, and it’s so peaceful and quaint here. It’s like something out of a storybook.

Southwest Harbor, Maine

Fall in Acadia National Park is crisp and colorful and magical. Once you’ve been there, you’ll never forget it. Especially if you love fall leaves and fishing villages and the ocean and sailboats and lobsters.

Somesville Bridge on Mount Desert Island


And I’ll never forget the cabin on Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park in Montana. We loved this place more than words can describe. I don’t know about you, but I’ve never seen a view like this from a hotel room.

Lake McDonald from Fox Run Cabin

This place had to have been built back in the 1930’s or 40’s and is one of the few private residences inside the park. In fact, it was built before the park was created.

Cabin on Lake McDonald, Glacier Natl Park

It was on the southwest shore of the lake and had a spectacular view of the mountains. Glacier is one of my very favorite places on earth. It’s gorgeous, pristine, rugged and endangered. There are very few glaciers left in Glacier National Park. I’m glad we got to see them before they’re gone. This place is magical if you’re a nut for mountains and water like me. Those glaciated lakes with their unnaturally blue water just knock me out. And don’t get me started on bear grass. I love bear grass so very much. It speaks to me. It says, “Come run through the fields with us and sing ‘The Hills Are Alive With the Sound of Music!’“

Bear Grass in Glacier National Park

Can you see now why a hotel room holds no charm for me? I have discovered that I don’t need room service, or valet parking, or overpriced mini-bar peanuts. I need peace and quiet, and breathtaking scenery, and all the comforts of home, and a significant absence of crowds. Yep, HomeAway.com is one of my favorite things about the internet. And I’ll never get excited about a hotel room ever again.

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