Osaka was our launch pad for two nights while we explored and attended a maiko dinner performance at the Ganko Mansion House Takasegawa in Kyoto. Maiko are geisha in training as they master the art of and music and dance.

My first impression of most castles is, “Wow! How did any army defeat this enormous fortress?” Then, I realize I’ve answered my own question because it would take several battalions to defend a complex as large as Kumamoto Castle, and it would be just a matter of time before they ran out of provisions and water.

We recently started a train journey across several countries beginning in Zurich, Switzerland. The central rail station is a wonderful artery within about an hour’s journey to picturesque Bern, cozy Lake Lucerne or artistic Basel.

However, you may get distracted by the plethora of restaurants, shops and unusual sites you’ll encounter at the station. Hello lady carrying a spinning wheel on her head!

Ireland! It’s known as the land of mischievous leprechauns, wish-granting fairies and pots of gold at the end of the rainbow, but what makes Ireland magical is her people.

We wanted to enjoy all we could pack into 10 days, so decided a private tour...

It was wet and cold with a foggy mist drifting across Pollacappul Lake. The weather deterred other tourists, and I found myself alone on the wooded paths around the stately former castle of Kylemore Abbey bordered by the lake on one side, the Connemara Mountains on the other...

Early last year we thought we had seen the worst of the virus that would change the way we travel. New strains have developed so we have had to adjust to those changes.  If you think you are ready to travel again I’d like to offer some suggestions to help you navigate the global changes of air, sea and rail travel with as little stress as possible.

Following our Botswana safari with friends this summer, we explored two other countries on the continent of Africa. First Zimbabwe for a quick trip to Victoria Falls. And since the water shortage in Cape Town has improved, it was a great place to decompress...

When temperatures hit 98 degrees in Prescott, my friend and I fantasized about sitting by the water in the shade with a cold drink and a deli nearby that delivers. I laughed and told her I was at the perfect place at Christmas but thought we would have to settle for a restaurant that offers poutine.

Spain was a revelation to me and it’s one of those places where I want to return for a more extended stay.

No meal is complete in Spain without beginning with jamón ibérico, sliced so thinly you can read the menu through it. 

Not that I don’t love preparing dinner on Dec. 25 for up to 30 people, but the cleanup is exhausting. Experts tell you to visualize your goals for successful results. As the holidays begin, I am visualizing a Christmas market cruise in Europe next year. I think it’s a more realistic goal than a live-in housekeeper.

When friends visit our home and see the diverse collection of objects acquired and photos assembled from various trips they often remark, “You guys really must enjoy traveling.”

I love the tourism part of travel, but the travel component I only enjoy if it’s relaxing or exciting.

The rowing machine I was sitting on was located in the front of the ship, a repositioning cruise from Europe aboard a 3,600-passenger vessel. I had been on the machine for about 25 minutes when a fellow passenger tapped me on the shoulder and asked if I could row a little harder and get us out of these rough seas. It was an exciting crossing through the English Channel...

After returning from a European cruise with two friends, it became clear that I misunderstood the meaning of the Mediterranean diet. I gained some weight and a new appreciation for areas around the sea from which the diet earned its name.

A couple of years ago my husband won a photo contest sponsored by a major airline. Because we plan our travel about a year in advance and already had a journey scheduled elsewhere, we had to pass on the prize, a trip to Australia and New Zealand.

Growing up in Florida our favorite summer activity was rafting and swimming at Rock Springs. The natural spring water was 68 degrees and my brother would only wade in to knee level with his arms crossed, before his lips started turning blue and he’d wade out goose-fleshed before trying again a few minutes later. I was more pragmatic and deployed the shock and awe technique of diving in immediately. 

My husband, who is the most romantic man I’ve ever met, surprised me a few years ago with a luxury cruise through Russia. Full disclosure: The trip was a bribe to get me to go on a tent safari in Africa. It worked, and we both learned something valuable about each trip. While we don’t mind roughing it if need be, we will spring for luxury when possible and not feel a pang of remorse.

It’s overcast outside, and the air smells like burning wood from the neighbor’s fireplace. But inside, it’s warm and my home is fragrant, thanks to a batch of “cheater” apple butter, which bubbles away in the crock pot.

It’s hard to believe that I’m thinking about summer vacations when most people are still skiing.