A Sweet Getaway

Enjoy a bit of pampering and luxury in Hershey

Published on 1/28/11

It should come as no surprise that a family vacation to Hershey, Pa., will meet with an enthusiastic thumbs-up from the entire clan. What you may not realize is that you can have a fantastic time sans kids as well, as I did on a recent girlfriend getaway to the home of the chocolate bar. Read More »

A Fairy-Tale French Chateau

An elegant stay includes modern conveniences

Published on 10/27/10

Who hasn’t had thoughts that in a previous life she was, if not a princess, perhaps a countess, a duchess, or, at the very least, a mere lady of the manor? Read More »

Beautiful Belize

Ecotourism in Style

Published on 10/15/10

Traveling the world with our family of six, I always expect the best but count it a blessing when things actually go right. Our group can be a bit complicated to manage, but over the years Linda and I have learned to keep the agenda flexible. We try to strike a balance between leisure and activity, and in general, with four boys, it’s best to err on the side of activity. Read More »

Cruise Fall Foliage

Pennsylvania residents enjoy discount along with autumn colors

Published on 7/21/10

Pennsylvania residents have a reason to celebrate as MSC Cruises announces reduced rates through August 31 for its inaugural fall foliage cruises to Canada/New England on board the MSC Poesia. Read More »

Castle Country

Ireland off season

Published on 7/07/10

Everyone loves to visit Ireland in summer, but to me, the dramatic fogs and winds of fall and winter best suit this green and haunted island. Read More »

Best Bets are in Your Backyard

Treasure Trail Passport program ideal for family visits to Brandywine Valley hotspots

Published on 6/10/10

Opt for a different kind of summer vacation — one without crowded beaches or the nauseating scent of too much chlorine. Picture yourself right at home in the Brandywine Valley, where a new passport program reduces admission prices at local attractions. Read More »

Magico! San Miguel de Allende

Published on 3/30/10

Not that long ago, an artist friend implored, “Stacia, you must go to San Miguel de Allende. You belong there.” She described a magical, cobblestone village of artists and writers located high in the mountains of the Mexican heartland, where time has stood still. No large hotels. No traffic lights. No crime. No humidity. It was the “no humidity” that sold me. Read More »

Thailand’s Many Faces

Phuket’s beaches and Bangkok’s bustle

Published on 11/09/09

Suzanne and I had met on an Alaskan cruise the year before; our instant rapport consisted in part of our passion for travel. When I had the chance to visit the brand-new Six Senses Destination Spa in Phuket, Thailand, she was the first potential traveling companion I thought of (admittedly, my husband couldn’t get away from work at the time). Read More »

Luxury Brazil

Bahia and Kiaroa

Published on 9/26/09

I am getting a shiatsu massage while listening to the soothing sounds of a waterfall and the songs of tropical birds. Except this time, the sound effects are not on a CD. I am lying, blissfully, in a tree house at Hotel Canto das Águas (Song of the Water) in Lençóis, Brazil, and the only thing that separates me from the parrots, monkeys, and ripe mangoes is a billowing curtain of white parachute silk. Read More »

Meet Me In Seattle

A family reunion weekend yields coffee bars—and fun—at every turn

Published on 6/01/09

It’s not often that I’m impressed with a city from the moment I deplane, but when my husband and I arrived at Seattle/Tacoma airport, the smell of fresh-ground coffee beans was already wafting through the air as we passed a bakery, a wine bar, and a day spa—all on the way to the restroom. Little did we suspect that, while Seattle would in fact live up to its stereotype as the Mecca for all things coffee, indie, grey, and grunge, it would also surprise us with an unanticipated sophistication. Read More »