Fields of Flowers

The beauty surrounding us in CT is staggering. There is so much visual eye candy and the different areas to explore seems endless. We usually begin our summer mornings with a leisurely walk on the beach and then a swim in the Long Island Sound. After that we don't know where the day will take us. We relish in being unscheduled and unplanned, which is how we ended up at Scott's Flower Farm recently. We took a detour home after having lunch in Essex and stumbled upon fields of flowers right off the side of the country road.

Twenty-Four Hours in Islamorada

After going to a wedding in Key West, we left room on the back end of the trip to explore other parts of the Keys. We rented a convertible (of course) with no particular destination in mind and before we took off a local told us to check out Islamorada. We opened up the guide book - it looked good to us...off we went....

Destination: Asbury Park

Now that spring has arrived, I am very excited about all the warm weather weekend jaunts ahead! One destination that I am looking forward to returning to is Asbury Park, New Jersey. Yep, that's right, home to "The Boss," Bruce Springsteen. Last October, V and I had a work event on the Jersey Shore and as we were headed home, on a whim we decided to get off the train at Asbury Park. What we thought was just going to be an afternoon at the beach turned into a very unexpected 48 hours.....

A Mid-Summer Dinner in Ireland

As summer is coming to a close, I have been thinking about our recent travels and primarily our trip to Ireland. We did and saw so many wonderful things while we were there, but what was truly special about the trip was the amount of time we got to spend with Victor's family. Relishing in the unusually beautiful weather (80 degrees & sunny!) and the long evenings (light until 11pm), we shared many leisurely dinners outside.

One evening, we had dinner at my sister-in-law's who lives in a farmhouse about 10 miles outside the town of Sligo. Only a few miles from the sea, the air is fresh and the surroundings are breathtaking. Built in the 1700's, the farmhouse exudes true Irish charm and the enclosed courtyard offered a perfect setting for a mid-summer dinner party.

Destination: The Graham Georgetown

Last Saturday, Victor and I had the pleasure of spending time at the newly renovated Graham Hotel (the former Hotel Monticello) in Washington, DC. Located in the heart of Georgetown (right off M Street), The Graham is a luxury boutique hotel with only 57 rooms. The decor was influenced by Alexander Graham Bell who once lived in the neighborhood; it emphasizes elegant modern comfort with traditional tailored elements. It is a delightful surprise amongst the old world charm of Georgetown. Offering a stunning rooftop bar and a farm-to-table style restaurant that seats only 47 people, The Graham is not just a destination for an over night stay, but also for a night out on the town.

Destination: Wheatleigh Hotel

My hubby is a born explorer. He spent three years traveling around the world and has been to countless destinations. However, he believes that you don’t need to get on an airplane or travel thousands of miles to explore. There is always somewhere or someplace not too far away to check out. On weekends, he often says, “ok, it’s time – let’s go exploring!” We will simply hop in our Jeep and just drive around our neighborhood -  stumbling on back roads that we have never been on before.  Or sometimes, our journey consists of just stepping outside and taking a walk. His love for exploring has been a huge plus in my life and lead me to many near and far unexpected destinations…. which finally brings us to this weeks destination –  the Wheatleigh Hotel in Lenox, MA.

Destination: Sharpe Hill Vineyard

Happy Memorial Day weekend everyone! I am currently in Washington, DC and headed straight up to our house in CT soon to enjoy the long weekend - I cannot wait to get there! This time last year, my parents were visiting us for the long weekend and during their stay we decided to take an impromptu trip to the Northeastern part of the state, also known as the"quiet corner." Victor and I were excited to share with them, what we think to be one of the best kept secrets in CT - Sharpe Hill Vineyard. Located in the town of Pomfret, Sharpe Hill boasts beautiful vistas and much much more.............

Destination: Beltane Farm

Happy Friday everyone! I am so thrilled the weekend is here. The weather is suppose to be gorgeous and we are going to take advantage of every minute. We have lots planned including a black tie masquerade wedding celebration in Brooklyn--very excited! For this weeks destination, I am taking us to Beltane Farm. Located in Lebanon, CT (and not too far from our weekend escape), Beltane is a dairy farm that produces delicious artisanal goat cheese. I first discovered them at the farmer's market in Chester, CT - the owner was there and he was graciously handing out samples of their most popular cheese, Chevre. As I was oohing and ahhing, he let me know about the spring and fall cheese tastings on their farm. Once the fall rolled around, we did not waste much time and headed out one weekend for an afternoon trip with our neighbors (who are foodie's too!). 

Destination: Napa Valley

As we head into the weekend, I thought it would be fun to highlight one of my favorite destinations, the Northern CA wine country. Being that CA is where I was born and raised, I am a bit partial to all the state has to offer. Full of stunning panoramic views and lush landscapes, it is a place where one can relax, rest, rejuvenate and get a bit tipsy......