Need some travel inspiration?
Rancho la Puerta
Some trips are about the exotic and unusual. And some are about the familiar and comfortable. Some manage to combine both. I have been going to Rancho la Puerta, a fitness and spa retreat in Tecate, Mexico off and on for the last 16 years. And while the setting is familiar, it never fails to provide me with something new. It’s a travel ritual that I feel fortunate to repeat.
The Danube River
Our first look at the Danube River in Budapest. It was a grey, cold day but the twists and turns of the river through the city were still impressive. Unfortunately, the boat we were spending the week on was docked in Slovakia, instead of Budapest, due to record low water levels on the river.
Copenhagen
Five days to attempt to understand Hygge (pronounced hoo-ga), the Danish term for all things cozy and comfy. While we were in Copenhagen, I opened the online NYTimes mini crossword and found hygge was the answer to 7 across… It seems as if everyone is talking about hygge!
Napa Valley
While enjoying my coffee on our balcony over the river, I waited for the knock on the door that would announce our custom breakfast had arrived. Such is life at the Milliken Creek Inn and Spa in Napa, CA where we recently spent three nights. The previous evening we sipped local wine and ate cheese in the garden, compliments of the Inn as well. And when we arrived, there were cold beverages and warm cookies available in the lobby. So far, so good.
The Azores
The nine islands of the Azores Archipelago are volcanic in origin and are located in the North Atlantic, 890 miles from Portugal. They are also wild and largely unknown to most people. When I mentioned where we were going, I typically received a blank stare and a mumble about where they might be…so to save people the embarrassment I would say “we are going to the Azores, islands in the North Atlantic that are part of Portugal. It’s a non-stop flight from Boston.” Oh. Non-stop? Hmmm. And the conversation usually ended there.
Nevis
Nevis is 36 square miles of paradise. A leeward island in the Caribbean that along with St Kitts forms the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis. It’s southeast of Puerto Rico, west of Antigua and just small enough to make it challenging to get to! That is also what makes it special…no casinos, no cruise ships, no worries…The only traffic jams are usually because some goats or donkeys are crossing the road! It’s been a favorite winter escape of ours for over thirty years and it never fails to charm.
Costa Rica & Panama
Unrushed. Uncrowded. Unbelievable. That is how UnCruise Adventures describes their trips and I agree! We just spent a week on the Safari Voyager boat with 39 other passengers traveling from Costa Rica to Panama, ending with a trip through the Panama Canal. UnCruise brags about having small ships and big experiences. They’ve got that right!
Botswana & Victoria Falls
I am smitten with Botswana. A land locked, semi-arid country in Southern Africa, roughly the size of Texas. The incredible wildlife, friendly people and stable economy all contributed to an amazing trip with African Travel Inc in mid-November.
Quebec City
This has been a summer of driving to various provinces in Canada…NB, PEI, Ontario and, most recently, Quebec. We spent a night at Manoir Hovey, a charming Inn in North Hatley QC on our way to Quebec City a few weeks ago.
Travel Consultant
I’m excited to announce the launch of Heather Robinson Travel. If you’ve been reading this blog you will know that travel has always been a big part of my life. I am channeling all those years of traveling into my new consulting business – Heather Robinson Travel -and I am looking forward to creating customized travel plans for anywhere you want to go. Contact me at heatherrobinsontravel@gmail.com to start planning your trip
Italy - The Lakes
The scenery was spectacular, the weather was perfect and the food was amazing for the six days we hiked around Lake Orta, Maggiore and Como the last week of September. We arrived in Milan a day early so we could adjust to the time change and see some of the city, including the Duomo.
Vacation Thoughts and Global Entry
The destination is less important than the change of pace – disrupting the routine and exploring something new is what I love…
Portland, OR
Not sure where to begin…this was our first time in Portland OR and I hope it’s not our last! It’s a friendly city that is easy to walk around. People were polite. When the traffic light said ‘don’t walk’—no one walked! Cars didn’t attempt to run the yellow light, they waited!
Southampton, Ontario
I grew up swimming in Georgian Bay in crystal clear, cold water. When I first moved to Massachusetts and went swimming in a lake, I was horrified. The water was warm and the bottom of the lake was squishy! What a treat to return to Ontario this past weekend and swim in Lake Huron. This is what a lake is meant to be!
