Being a native Floridian makes me appreciate and love cold weather. I love snow, the cold, and every activity that comes with it. Especially towards the end of Summer, experiencing the non-stop hot days. As the kids are starting to go back to school, and look forward to cooling off in the fall, it is now time to start planning and booking a ski trip. I love to ski and Europe has great ski resorts (Zermatt in Switzerland, Courchevel, Chamonix, Val D’Isere in France, to name a few), but to many skiers, the Western United States has the most and the best places to ski in the world

Autumn is, without a doubt, my favorite time of the year! Football is back, we are easing our way towards the holidays (and there's my birthday), temperatures are starting to cool, and it's usually when I take a vacation! Fall is one of the best times of the year to travel. The crowds tend to be smaller, with the kids back in school, prices are typically more moderate than what you would find in the summer and again...the weather is great.

Wine Country is home to some of the most amazing wines in this country. Fun fact: The Willamette Valley in Oregon is home to 70 percent of Oregon’s wineries and vineyards. The Willamette Valley is known for its pinot noir with more than 230 wineries and vineyards. It also offers the opportunity for many outdoor activities. One of my favorite areas to visit is Napa County, California, which has more than 1,700 wineries and more than 400 tasting rooms.

“I love walking in my ancestors’ footsteps!” “Enjoying local food – Dim Sum for lunch in Hong Kong or eating that croissant while strolling along the Champs-Elysées.” “My passion is music! I cannot live without it. I have traveled the world to see my favorite band perform in amazing venues!” These are just a few of the responses I received when I asked my social media followers what inspires them to travel.

Whether by plane, train, car, or cruise, it's wise to pack snacks for the journey. What is even more special would be to get your kids to help with choosing and packing the food items you'll have on hand during the trip.

Whether painting tiles, touring the old quarter of Santiago, or walking into the magnificent cathedral, the trip was truly magical, and one of those trips that truly touches the soul.

Whether painting tiles, touring the old quarter of Santiago, or walking into the magnificent cathedral, the trip was truly magical, and one of those trips that truly touches the soul.

Everyone’s Irish on St. Patrick’s Day!

Each year on March 17 we celebrate the feast day of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. While the celebration is a bit quieter in Ireland than it is here in the US, it is still a fun and exciting time to explore the Emerald Isle! A few years ago, I had to opportunity to spend St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland with my niece and her high school band when they marched in the annual parade in Cork. It was a fantastic experience, and I did manage to sneak in a few parade steps myself!

When I was in the first grade I learned about the Petrified Forest. In my overly active 6-year old’s imagination this was a magical and enchanted place where gemstones sparkled in the breeze as they hung from the branches of weeping willow trees. A visit to the Petrified Forest was added to my bucket list before I even knew that I had a bucket list!

Las Vegas is arguably one of the most well-known cities in the world. Having grown out of a railroad stop in the desert and blossoming with construction of the Boulder (now Hoover) Dam the city evolved into the dazzling metropolis that it is today. Even if you have never been to Las Vegas you are probably familiar with it from movies and television. Over one hundred movies have featured the city and let’s be honest – we all know that whatever happens in Vegas stays in Vegas!

We made it! The end of the longest year is only a few weeks away! 2020 held a lot of lessons for us – necessity is the mother of invention (quarantine crafts!); streaming is the new cinema; masks can be a fashion accessory; and so much more. Arguably the most important thing we learned from 2020 is how much we cherish time with our family and friends.

Rocky Mountaineer offers unparalleled daytime views, by rail, through the Canadian Rockies and across Western Canada. Rocky Mountaineer recently provided Avondale Travel Travel Advisor, Leigh Elizabeth Israel, a “familiarization trip" which is the opportunity to experience firsthand everything that Rocky Mountaineer has to offer.

If you are participating in a trivia contest and the question is ‘which state is home to the easternmost point in the US’, the answer is Alaska. It is also home to the northern and westernmost points. The 49th state is the largest in the country and is home to 17 of the 20 tallest mountain peaks, more than 3000 lakes, over 34,000 miles of coastline, 100 volcanos, the 2 largest National Forests, and more glaciers than any other state. The Aurora Borealis, the northern lights, are visible on average 243 nights per year in Fairbanks. There are so many things that make Alaska unique that it is a perennial bucket list favorite!

Water is essential for life. Throughout history cities and towns have grown along the shores of rivers, lakes, and seas. These waterways provided transportation, drinking water, and fertile farmland. Today, our modern conveniences allow us to live further away from those vital waterways but many of us continue to look to the water for our leisure activities.

Americans love their automobiles and the freedom that they represent. Throughout the 20th century highways were constructed to cross the country and in the 1950’s, with the start of the interstate highway system, the Great American Road Trip flourished. With a camper and a map, families would set out to explore America and bring back memories to last a lifetime! The 2020 version, the Road Trip – Evolved, looks different than your parents’ road trip but is equally as enjoyable!

Our president Leigh visited Germany. Here she shares all the details, from biking tours and rich history lessons to the energizing chaos of Oktoberfest celebrations. Here’s her itinerary: