North America
The New York Botanical Garden | New York
A day trip you’ve heard about before from me is the easy drive down to the New York Botanical Garden. It may sound like a great exertion at the wrong time of the year. However let me tell you that the gardens are just gearing up for the holidays – so now is the time to plan to go. We observed Read More…
Hartford is Happening | Connecticut
Hartford was once the center of my world. Well, the center was really G.Fox & Co., the legendary department store of the 20th Century, where they would deliver my packages to my car as I left the parking garage. Well, that was long, long ago and G.Fox is no more. Hartford declined as did other Read More…
TENEMENT MUSEUM | New York
Last night I watched a very old film, called A Tree Grows In Brooklyn. I remember seeing it when I was a child. It starred Peggy Ann Garner, as the imaginative daughter of a poor Irish family living in a tenement. This little girl would have been about my age, was reading her way through the Read More…
New Britain Museum of American Art | Connecticut
I don’t think I have ever suggested a day trip because of a Ladies’ Room, until now. In fact I hardly ever remember rest rooms at all. Except one in Alsace at the Haeberlin brothers three star restaurant. But that’s another story. In my zeal to find trips near home this summer for all of Read More…
Steinhardt Gardens – Mount Kisco | New York
As one of my companions said, “If God had money….” (the assumption being that if God had money, God would have created the Steinhardt Garden.) I was able to join a private tour of these magnificent gardens in Mount Kisco recently. I wouldn’t even tell you about it, except that the gardens Read More…
Stone Barns – Hands On Agriculture | Westchester County, New York
I first heard about it as “Blue Hill at Stone Barns.” It was broadcast as THE most wonderful organic upscale restaurant EVER. And I gather it IS. But I knew there was more to the story, so I was glad to have the opportunity to have a look at what it really is. What I discovered is staggering. The Read More…
Palm Beach | Florida
The name just oozes elegance doesn’t it? But Palm Beach has several sides, and not all so expensive. The first rather inexpensive part was flying to Palm Beach on JetBlue from Newburgh. What a treat! It is just one flight, at very good prices, flying from one small airport to another. You Read More…
Brunswick | Maine
Maine at the end of winter is not everyone’s dish of tea, but I beg you all to reconsider. Actually, it’s an excellent choice. Not many tourists, open highways, calm scenery, and muted winter landscapes, in addition, of course, to the chance to see some old friends. – and maybe read a book Read More…
Oaxaca | Mexico
Oaxaca is hard to pronounce, but easy to take. (It’s Wah-Ha-Kah, by the way.) We spent ten days at Christmas there; it was a lovely mixture of holiday fiestas, ancient ruins, delicious food and gentle people. We arrived late, as you will remember if you read the last column, but just in time Read More…
The Realities of Travel | Mexico
Here in this column, I am usually very positive about all the places to which I am lucky enough to travel. I try to be honest about what I see, and to give you a fair opinion of the diverse places I get to go to. Therefore, I think I should tell you about the realities of travel and how really bad travel, Read More…