Visiting Istanbul

Istanbul is such an amazing city. Cut in half by the Bosphorus, it belongs both to Europe (its west part) and to Asia as well (its eat side). And Russian ships and warships have to go through it to reach the Mediterranean, what a sight! Previously called Constantinople, it used the be the capital city of the Roman Catholic Empire, and as such it has been rich and influential for thousands of years. Now the main city in Turkey, it Read More …

Long Beach is Booming!

When our kids were little, we spent some really fun weekends in the seaside community of Long Beach. The seventh largest city in California, it’s always been considered a great family destination. Fifteen years later, I just came back from a weekend there as an empty nester and was happily surprised to find a thriving metropolis that has managed to blend urban sophistication with a beachy vibe. With JetBlue now offering direct service from cities as far away as New Read More …

5 Unexpected Reasons to Visit Puerto Vallarta

For most boomers, the mention of Puerto Vallarta conjures up images of Captain Steubing and Julie, the CruiseDirector, on “The Love Boat.” The classic TV show, of which we all have fond memories, ran from 1977 to 1987 and made the destination a household name. But the resort town, on the Western coast of Mexico, is so much more than the beautiful beaches for which it’s best known. I recently visited Puerto Vallarta and was amazed by all it had Read More …

Our Unforgettable Volunteer Vacation at the Elephant Sanctuary

A few months ago, Buick offered to sponsor a bucket list trip for my husband and me. While there are dozens of places we’d love to go, many of which involve beaches, lounge chairs, and massages, we knew this was our chance to do something meaningful. As huge animal lovers, we immediately thought of the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee, which we had been hearing about for quite a while. It’s the largest natural habitat refuge in the country and was Read More …