Happy Thanksgiving!!

 

Hopefully, you are all happily settled in to wherever you will be spending your Thanksgiving holiday. If not, you are officially in the midst of the busiest travel day of the year and I wish you much patience and fortitude!

 

During this Thanksgiving week, I would like to express my incredible gratitude towards all of you, my dear readers, for your support and friendship each and every day here on this blog. Thank you so very much!

 

My children are home from Washington, San Diego and Providence, respectively, and my mother is here from Florida. It is officially "family time" for the rest of the week. I will be back to regular "programming" on Monday, December 2nd (yikes!).

 

Have a Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving...wherever you may be wandering!

 

xoxo

 

Give Back While Giving Thanks ~ Passports With Purpose

Oops! Sorry everyone...when I posted this yesterday I thought that the 2013 fundraiser was already live but it actually went live at midnight last night. You are now able to click through here (and below) to see all the great prizes that you can enter to win when you make a donation.

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This week as you sit down with your family and friends to give thanks for the blessings in your lives, I hope you will consider giving back to a wonderful cause as well.  I am excited to be participating in Passports With Purpose, the annual travel blogger's fundraiser. This year's fundraiser kicks off today and runs through December 9th.
 

Each year the organization chooses a worthy cause and, along with sponsors and travel bloggers, they procure gifts of goods and services from the travel industry to create a catalog of prizes in exchange for donations. For each $10 donation you make, you are entered to win a prize of your choice, including  hotel stays, vacation packages, travel gear, tours and gift certificates.



 If you can't view the video, go here.

 

This year's designated beneficiary is buildOn. Passports with Purpose's goal is to raise $115,000 to build three primary schools and fund three Adult Literacy Programs in the Sikasso Region of Mali, Africa.
 

Click below to check out the fabulous prizes and make a donation to help this worthy cause:



You never know, you may win your dream vacation by making a small donation!!

On My Radar Screen

 

Fifty years ago today, the world was stunned and saddened by the assassination of President Kennedy. On the anniversary of his death,  I thought it was important to remember the great man who we lost that day. His quote on gratitude is particularly appropriate as we head into the week of Thanksgiving.  I hope that I am able to hold his words close to my heart as I spend this weekend getting ready for the busy week ahead.

 

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Here are the things on my radar screen this week:

 

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Best giveaway EVER!!

Sharon Santoni of The French Country Home is giving away a week's stay at her beautiful home in Normandy and will accompany the winner on two days of brocante shopping! Oh how I would love to win this!!

 

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You all know how much I love Eataly in New York, right? Well, they are opening  their second US outpost in Chicago on December 2nd. The Chicago Eataly will be even larger than New York (63,000 square feet over two floors with 8 restaurants), will have a thousand parking spaces (another reason to love Chicago - can you imagine that in NYC?)  and will even have a Nutella Bar! Chicago is an amazing food town and will be even better with the addition of Eataly!

 

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The incredible photographer, Gray Malin, is having a holiday sale on his site, Maison Gray through Sunday, so don't wait...his iconic photos would make excellent Christmas gifts. He also just released a Holiday Magalog filled with gorgeous photos and articles.

 

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My favorite travel shoe company, Tieks, is offering their once yearly opportunity to receive up to a 20% discount on their comfy and cute ballet flats (through Monday.) 

 

 

Check back on Monday when I will be sharing more about a great way to give back this holiday season, Passports With Purpose.

 

I know many of you will be heading out this weekend for your Thanksgiving holidays. If you are, I wish you safe travels.
And, I hope each of you has an absolutely fabulous weekend...wherever you may be wandering!

 

xoxo 

Wednesday Wanderlust and A Big Thank You!!!!

 

One and Only Reethi Rah
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Before I share the object of my latest wanderlust, I want to thank everyone who participated in the "No Passports Required" link party! It was my first time doing a link party and it was SO much fun!! Over twenty fabulous bloggers linked their posts sharing some of the amazing places where they have traveled. I have spent the past couple of days being whisked all over the world to some spectacular places.  You are all amazing and I am so pleased to have such wonderful readers!!

 The weather has turned chilly, the autumn leaves have fallen and it is starting to feel like winter...which means I am starting to feel the need to get away to somewhere HOT. How about the Maldives?

 

The Ithaa Underwater Restaurant at the Conrad Maldives
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Have any of you ever been to the Maldives? I recently came across the above photo of this amazing underwater restaurant in the Maldives. Doesn't it look amazing??

 

 

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The Republic of the Maldives is an independent country in the Indian Ocean made up of a chain of twenty six atolls. Relatively unknown to tourism until the 1970's, the Maldives has recently become a very popular tourist destination and are known for the amazing scuba diving amongst the multitude of coral reefs. There are nearly 50 five star resorts scattered around the islands with outposts of every luxury hotel brand. The islands are very popular for honeymoons (most notably Prince William and Kate Middleton).

 

Four Seasons Explorer
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I haven't been diving in years but I can't think of a better place to break out my scuba gear once again than the Maldives! Maybe I could even embark on the ultimate diving adventure on the Four Seasons Explorer, the twenty-two passenger luxury catamaran, offering a "liveaboard" dive experience with the first class amenities for which Four Seasons is known.

 

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What do you think? Would you like to explore the Maldives?

 

"No Passports Required" Link Party

 

 

Welcome to You May Be Wandering's first link party!!

I hope you will wander along with me and share your travel stories and dreams.

To join in, just click the link below and follow the instructions to add your post. Don't forget to tell your readers that you are participating in a link party over here, so they will find the others who are also joining us today. Linking will be open until midnight tonight.

 

Thanks for wandering with me today!!  

On My Radar Screen

 

Happy Friday everyone!!!  I really can't believe it is mid-November - it is just too scary how quickly time passes. I guess that is all the more reason to enjoy every minute of every day!

 

I am sad to say most of our gorgeous fall color is gone here in Connecticut (the SNOW earlier in the week didn't help much). Maybe these photos will help me hold on to the beauty of fall a little bit.

Here is what is hitting up on my radar screen this week: 

 

 

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This play about travel opening off Broadway in January looks interesting...

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Doesn't this ultra luxury cruise sound amazing?

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How well do you know the world we live in? Take this quiz and see how you do.

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How cool are these train stations? I am happy to see that gorgeous Grand Central is on the list!

This ten minute video is definitely worth watching...it certainly puts life into perspective and you will be happier all weekend.

And, don't forget to post to my "No Passports Required" link party on Monday...the post will go up and linking will be enabled at midnight. I really hope you will be able to join us!

 

 Have a delightful weekend, wherever you may be wandering!!

Off The Beaten Path in Washington, DC

Sometimes it is the spontaneous things we do in our lives that end up being the most special. Faced with a weekend at home alone while my husband was out of town, I decided to hop in the car and head to D.C. to visit my daughter, Caroline, last weekend.  She has lived there for nearly two years and we have visited many times, but this trip was particularly special because it was just the two of us. She was excited to show me all of her "haunts" and I absolutely loved seeing this gorgeous city through Caroline's eyes.



The view from Caroline's apartment



Luckily for all of you, Caroline kindly offered to write a guest post about her favorite places in Washington, many of which I got to enjoy last weekend. You will see the apple doesn't fall far from the tree...we love many of the same kinds of things (food!). So, it is with great pleasure that I give you...

Caroline's  Top Ten "Off The Beaten Path" Things To Do in 

Washington, D.C:

1. Walk north from the Dupont Circle fountain towards the Kalorama neighborhood. For a much prettier view of historic homes and embassies, avoid Connecticut Ave and instead take 22nd St NW, which will lead you to the "Spanish Steps" of DC.

2. While in the Dupont Circle neighborhood, check out the Mansion on O Street. This "museum" doubles as a hotel, tag sale, and tea room. Pay just $8 for a self-guided tour and spend hours wandering over 100 rooms and 32 secret doors.

Bistrot du Coin

3. Bistrot du Coin, my favorite restaurant in DC, is perfect for a special dinner or fun night out. This Dupont Circle mainstay has amazing steak frites, a bustling atmosphere, and disco ball décor. 

4. If you're looking for a quick breakfast in Dupont, head to Soho Tea and Coffee, just before the P Street Bridge to Georgetown, for baked-daily pastries (try the hamantaschen) and coffee in mason jars.

5. Glen's Garden Market is my go-to for a quick lunch - the grocery store, cafe, and bar specializes in local foods from the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Be sure to ask for the grilled cheese of the week - my favorite is goat cheese with red pepper jam and apples.

Surfside

6. If the weather is nice, grab a delicious and inexpensive meal at Surfside in Glover Park. The rooftop, tucked away off Wisconsin Avenue, is a quiet respite from the often-crowded touristy spots of downtown DC, and attracts both families and young professionals. The margaritas and tacos are perfect for a hot day! 

7. Visit a DC legend, Ben's Chili Bowl, in the heart of U Street. The half-smoke is revered by locals and presidents alike. If you're feeling adventurous, Fast Gourmet, a gas station famous for its "chivito," is only a few blocks away. This sandwich, often called the best in DC, is packed with bacon, mozzarella, ham, lettuce, olives, beef, mushrooms, peppers, and even a hard-boiled egg.

Wisconsin Avenue, Georgetown

8. The shopping in Georgetown can't be beat. If M Street feels too crowded, head north on Wisconsin for smaller boutiques and a more peaceful atmosphere. Don't miss Sherman Pickey and Britt Ryan for a twist on the classic Georgetown aesthetic, and Random Harvest for lovely home furnishings and accessories.

9. Skip the line at Georgetown Cupcake and get a strawberry vanilla cupcake at Baked and Wired instead - you won't be disappointed! If ice cream is more your style, be sure to try one of the many flavors at Thomas Sweet.

Thomas Sweet, Georgetown

10. Take a class at LivingSocial's headquarters, 918 F Street. The daily deal company's rowhouse in DC's Penn Quarter neighborhood features cooking, art, yoga, and even mixology classes. So far I've taken "Sipping and Painting" (wine and art), watercolor and sangria, and donut-making with the chefs of District Donuts.

If all else fails, just visit one of the many wonderful free museums or monuments  such as the National Portrait Gallery or Lincoln Memorial - you can't go wrong in such a vibrant and historic city!



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Thank you so much, Caroline, for sharing your tips for seeing another side of Washington!

Isn't it wonderful to see your children blossom into amazingly cool adults?

Avoiding the Stress of Holiday Travel

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This is a redux of the same post I did this time last year...it can't hurt to be reminded again of ways to avoid the stress of holiday travel!

 

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Will you be joining the millions of other Americans flying over the holidays?

 

 



Navigating airports, security lines and flying can be stressful any time, but dealing with all that on the busiest weekend of the year can turn into a nightmare very easily.  Here are a few survival tactics to alleviate as much stress as possible:

 



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Plan ahead:

• Consider booking your flights in and out of smaller airports. The security lines will be shorter and air traffic control queues will be less of a problem.

• Book your flight first thing in the morning. Air traffic won't have had a chance to back up and flights are more likely to be delayed later in the day.

• Try to book direct flights even if it costs a little more.
 
• Do not check your bags if there is any way at all you can avoid it. Send gifts ahead. Ship your bags via a company such as Luggage Free.
 
• If you are driving to the airport, keep in mind parking lots may be full. Check out your parking options before you drive to the airport.
 
• Consider paying a little more for faster access through security. Many airlines offer priority lines if you pay an additional fee. If you are ever going to pay extra for this type of service, the holidays would be the time to do it.
 
• Check the weather in both your departure and arrival locations. If the weather is questionable be prepared to make alternative arrangements. The airline may let you change your flights for free before you leave home if there is impending bad weather.
 
• Bookmark airlinenumbers.com on your phone or laptop so you will have the information handy if you need it.
 
• Install an app such as FlightAware on your phone or request text updates on your specific flight to stay on top of any gate changes or delays.

 

Day of Travel:

• Get to the airport VERY early. It's taken me my whole life to learn this lesson and, once I did, it was a game changer. Nobody likes to spend their day at an airport but it's even worse to be standing in a security line watching the minutes tick by just knowing you are going to miss your plane. Arrive several hours early - if you breeze through security, consider yourself lucky and go grab something to eat, sit down and read a book or magazine.
 
• Print your Boarding Passes at home (ideally 24 hours before you are traveling). I am always amazed that people don't do this - it's so simple to print your boarding pass ahead of time and eliminates one entire line at the airport.
 
• Dress and pack your carry-on bags with airport security mind. Be ready with your plastic bags and containers under 3 ounces.  Wear shoes that are easy to take on and off. Don't wear a lot of jewelry and accessories that may need to be removed when going through the scanners.
 
• Pack snacks for the airport and plane (just no liquids). Airlines rarely serve food any more and even if they do, if you are in a long delay situation, that bag of chips will not last you all day. Protein bars, apples and nuts are all things that are easy to toss in your carry-on just in case.
 
• If your flight is canceled or it looks like you may miss a connection, call the airline from your cell phone rather than waiting in line at the customer service center (or call while waiting in line and deal with whoever you reach first).
 
• Patience, Patience, Patience - A good attitude even in the craziest situation will help reduce your stress level considerably.

That's a lot of information - I hope it helps! Do you have any other strategies for reducing stress while flying during busy times?? If so, I would love to hear them. I won't be traveling this Thanksgiving or Christmas - MY number one strategy for travel over the holidays is to invite everyone to my house!!

You Are Invited...

 

You are invited to join my first ever "No Passports Required" link party on Monday, November 18th!

 

Do you have tons of vacation photos that you have been dying to share?  Or do you have a Pinterest board filled with photos of places on your bucket list? This is your chance to share them all! For the first link party, the topic is wide open, as long as it is related to travel. You can link to an old post or write a new one. Just be sure to come back here on Monday, November 18th and add your link, and let your readers know that you are participating in a link party at You May Be Wandering. (If this is your first time participating in a link party, don't worry...I will have instructions for you that day.)

 

For any non-bloggers who might like to participate, feel free to e-mail me your photos or stories and I will compile them into a post for you!

On My Radar Screen

 

Happy Friday!!!  I am SO ready for the weekend - how about you? It has been a busy week both around my house and in the blogosphere...here are a few things that are pinging my radar screen this week:

 

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Two perfect pairs of shoes for travel - as road tested by yours truly while walking miles in Europe...Tieks ballet flats and Clarks Privo 'Quest Fire' mary janes. The Tieks are beautifully made in the softest leather - they may truly be the most comfortable shoes ever to grace my feet. I wish I owned them in a rainbow of colors.  However, as much as I love them, they just don't have enough support when walking long distances. For the miles of pavement pounding I did in Europe, my Clark's were absolutely perfect. Honestly, I  probably could have managed the entire trip with just this pair of shoes.

 

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I forgot to share my favorite thing I bought in Paris (although the Laduree macarons and Poilâne punitons were pretty amazing)...remember this post about Hermès? I never did find the elusive "Fleurs D'Indiennes" but I did bring home the hottest new Hermès scarf - the Maxi Twilly.  I just happened to read this post from Mai Tai's Picture Book where she compared the cost per square inch of silk of each of the Hermès scarves and determined that the Maxi Twilly is a great value...so never being one to turn down a bargain, I couldn't resist adding one to my collection. I bought the "Cavalcadour" in orange and it is now my "go to" scarf!



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Vicky from French Essence has been in Paris all week sharing her trip with us through stunning photos...she is also sharing her score of vintage postcards with a few of her readers. Wouldn't it be fun to receive one of these in the mail?

 

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Nancy from Powell Brower at Home just returned from an whirlwind trip to Italy...her post on Florence made me want to hop on a plane today (how amazing does that gelato look?)

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 Pamela from The Style and Travel Journals has been visiting Boracay, the island in the Philippines that is getting so much buzz. After seeing her photos I am not surprised at all.

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Miss B from Bobo Chic has been sharing her recent visit to Doha, Qatar. I found her study in contrasts of this city fascinating.

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 Kristy and Beth of Design Chic have an eye for gorgeous interiors...but this post caught my "wandering" eye. How gorgeous are those rooms wallpapered with maps?



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 Finally, while not necessarily travel related, I really enjoyed this post on the definition of true luxury from The Simply Luxurious Life.

 

Okay, my friends, I am OFF for my weekend adventures...more on those next week.
Have a glorious weekend...wherever you may be wandering!

 

Did You Know...

 

...that December is a great time to take a vacation to a warm weather destination??

 

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Recently, I was helping a client book an anniversary trip. Even though her anniversary is in December, she wanted to travel in January since December gets so busy with holiday activities. What she didn't realize was that the hotel rates in the Caribbean, Mexico and Florida for the first three weeks of December are half what they are in January!

SO...if you were thinking of planning a trip for early in the year, you might want to consider clearing your calendar for a few days and going in December instead!

Away From Home For The Holidays? Perfect Getaways for Thanksgiving

Ever think of going somewhere other than "over the river and through the woods to Grandmother's house" for the Thanksgiving holiday? While over a third of Americans will be traveling somewhere for Thanksgiving, the majority of those people will be staying with family or friends.  For those of you who might be thinking of using the long weekend for a family vacation, here are some excellent places that know how to do Thanksgiving right - you can enjoy the spirit of the season AND have an amazing vacation at the same time...


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Blackberry Farm, Walland, Tennessee: You won't miss your home cooking here - voted "#1 Resort for Food Lovers" by Bon Appetit, Blackberry Farm, in the Great Smoky Mountains, is known for it's excellent farm to table cuisine and luxurious accommodations. For the holidays, they pull out all the stops for families with carriage rides, pumpkin hunts and cookie baking. Children can go to Camp Blackberry while the adults go horseback riding, fly fishing, skeet shooting,  take culinary lessons or just relax in the country. Don't miss the famous Thanksgiving Turkey Fry or the multi-course Thanksgiving feast.

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Ritz Carlton, Amelia Island, Florida: We spent one of my family's most memorable Thanksgiving holidays here when my children were young. Offering a multitude of holiday activities over the long weekend - from the tree lighting, dinner with Santa and the arrival of the gingerbread pirate ship the evening before Thanksgiving, to the magnificent buffet on Thanksgiving Day, to Santa tuck-in's, storybook teas and gingerbread cookie decorating, everyone in the family will remember a Thanksgiving weekend at the Ritz Carlton, Amelia Island.  They are offering some excellent family packages for Thanksgiving weekend and throughout the holidays.

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St. Regis, Aspen, Colorado: For those of you who want to kick off the holiday season by hitting the slopes, there is no better place to do that than at the St. Regis in Aspen. Lifts open at 9am on Thanksgiving Day so you can get in a few runs before the hotel's Thanksgiving buffet or the unique epicurean experience presented at the Food & Wine Chef's Club. Don't miss the nightly champagne sabering ritual or the annual tree lighting which takes place on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. They are currently offering some excellent deals for the fall, including Thanksgiving weekend.

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Hotel Del Coronado, San Diego, California: Where can you ice skate on the beach? The Hotel Del, of course! Enjoy their many Thanksgiving dining options from oceanfront brunch to elegant dining with views of the Pacific. The resort’s holiday programs are kicked off on Thanksgiving weekend, including seaside ice skating against the backdrop of 100,000 white lights. 

It would be fabulous to experience any of these hotels during the holiday season, not just at Thanksgiving. Do you have a favorite place you love to visit during the holiday season?

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Each of these luxury properties is part of the Virtuoso network...if you book your vacation through me you will also have access to many additional privileges and amenities!

A Penny For Your Thoughts??

I have been writing this blog for a little over a year now and pretty much write about whatever comes to mind when I sit down to write a post. But, I am curious...what would YOU like to read about? Do you love travel tips and suggestions? Or do you love lots of photographs of gorgeous places so you can escape for a few minutes each day? Is there a recurring post I do that you really enjoy (Wednesday Wanderlust, On My Radar Screen, Thirsty Thursday)?

One idea I have on which I would love your feedback...who would like to participate in a monthly linking party sharing a favorite place or some place you would love to go?

The ball is in your court, so please comment away!!

Blue and White Heaven ~ Santorini

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One of my favorite bloggers, Jennifer, from The Pink Pagoda shares gorgeous blue and white décor every Monday on her blog. Today, she has organized a link party for her fellow bloggers to share their favorite blue and white inspirations.  Not surprisingly, my inspiration usually comes from my travels. While you won't find me blogging about my home décor any time soon, I do love the timeless combination of blue and white.

And, there is no better place in the world to see blue and white in all its glory than on the islands of Greece.  In fact, the Greeks loved the combination so much the decided to make their flag blue and white!

 

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So in honor of today's "Blue and White Bash", come escape with me to a place where blue and white reigns supreme...

Santorini

 

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My own photo





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Definitely click on over to The Pink Pagoda and check out all the blue and white loveliness in the "Blue and White Bash" Link Party!!

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