Cruise Planners/Martha Boyer

04/30/2024

If you want a slightly different ocean cruise (and some surprise ports), consider a 2-week trip on Viking Ocean from Venice to Athens. The "surprises" were the ports in Montenegro, Croatia (had only been to Dubrovnik), and Slovenia.

We added a 3-night extension into Tuscany before joining the Viking Star for the 11-night cruise - and lucked out this month with the best weather imaginable. Five countries, ten ports/cities.

04/10/2024

Consider a 3-night land stay before boarding your Viking Ocean cruise from Venice. This is our accommodation at the 14th c. Villa II Poggiale near Florence.

03/12/2024

Finishing up a two-month stay in Mazatlan, Mexico, and will be returning next year. Our border country to the south is lovely and the residents are so welcoming. There are numerous resorts to enjoy, or you can rent a condo (as we have) and immerse yourself in the local foods, traditions, and history - and it makes for a great family vacation.

01/09/2024

Two views from our stateroom – 4 PM yesterday and 2 AM this morning. I’ve said it more than once – this is one place I wish I could stay awake 24/7!!

01/08/2024

Antarctica. Well worth it in every aspect - and Atlas Ocean Voyages does it well.

Spectacular scenery, wildlife, shore landings, sea kayaking, a polar plunge - even overnight camping on land.

01/03/2024

Buenos Aires, Argentina, is a truly beautiful city - and a great start to any expedition cruise to Antarctica. Spend a few days here before your charter flight to Ushuaia to catch your ship.

10/16/2023

Travel is not just Europe, it’s also what’s here at home in our own backyard.

We’re 4 weeks into a 9-week trek through VA, NC, and GA, to see the fall colors outside of the northeast - most of our time on the Blue Ridge Parkway and in the Appalachian Mts. Today we head for the last bit of the BRP at the southern end and a week at another National Park - the Great Smokies ( #20, including numerous Nat’l Forests, Nat’l Memorials, and Monuments).

Just a very few pix of the hundreds taken and hope it inspires you to check out your own backyard.

10/04/2023

It’s been a busy year, but was definitely not expecting this.

09/25/2023

A week into our 10-week RV trip, it occurs to me how beautiful our own country is and that one doesn't have to travel far to enjoy interesting history and gorgeous scenery. We've been to ⅓ of our NP's and try to add one to every trip. Acadia, Glacier, Roosevelt, Yellowstone, Badlands, to name a few, as well as Nat'l Monuments, Nat'l Memorials, Nat'l Trails, Recreation Areas, Sites.... And don't forget the State Parks - almost 7,000 nationwide!

09/10/2023

"Atlas Ocean Voyages" sails the open waters with three beautiful ships that host less than 200 guests each, and a 1:1 crew-to-guest ratio.

Our culinary cruise from Barcelona to Nice this spring on the "World Navigator" hosted two Food Network chefs and allowed us into ports that the large ships can't get near. Beautiful towns of St. Tropez, Cannes, L'Ile-Rousse, St. Paul de Vence...

These ships also cross the Drake passage to Antarctica. (Pictures in January.)

09/03/2023

Back from our latest cruise, so time to post some more!

I could spend all day in European markets! The freshness and presentation is so inviting. This one is in Poitiers, France, and surrounds the beautiful Romanesque church of Église Notre-Dame la Grande. (I always buy fresh flowers for our stateroom whenever I can!)

08/26/2023

In October of '22, we cruised through the Bordeaux region of France. The Garonne and Dordogne rivers themselves aren't as pretty as the Rhine and Danube, but it's the interior of the region with its miles of vineyards and gorgeous Chateaux. Start or end your trip in Paris for a few days.

The Château de Chenonceau and gardens - one of my favorites.

08/21/2023

Some views of Iceland. A truly beautiful country. Visit as we did in the spring. Only one day out of twelve of rain.

08/19/2023

08/18/2023

A drive from Loen, then a boat cruise along the river to the Kjenndal Glacier. Glacial melt turns the water opaque.

08/13/2023

Ålesund, Norway, summer 2022. Considered the country's most beautiful city. Founded in the 9th c., destroyed by fire in 1904, and rebuilt by Kaiser Wilehelm, who loved the city and vacationed there for years. Ride the local bus to the top of Aksla for the gorgeous views, walk down the meandering staircase, and enjoy lunch along the water.

08/11/2023

The sounds of these massive waterfalls are thunderous. I imagine the locals don't even hear them after awhile!

08/11/2023

Another summer of '22 was a 12-day Norway/Iceland cruise - two beautiful countries with waterfalls around every corner. On Princess (or any cruise line), when traveling more than 12 days, get a larger stateroom such as the Mini-Suite we had. Room darkening curtains are a must when the sun sets for only a couple hours and it never truly gets dark.

Our first port was Skoljen, Norway. Overcast and low clouds - SO pretty!

08/10/2023

It's time to get back to posting some travel pictures! With all our travels and clients getting back to travel, I've been remiss in my posts.

So, let's start with the beautiful country of Costa Rica that I enjoyed with my daughter and granddaughter in the summer of '22. A lush country, best visited in the cooler spring or fall. This was a perfect trip with Collette, and with four other children there, Ireland had a blast!

05/19/2023

Yes, this is real - and, yes, you can book your seat on it. Deposits increase on June 1st.

As the world’s first and only carbon-neutral space travel experience, Space Perspective officially partnered with to activate the environmen...

04/30/2023

San Antonio's "River Walk" looks like Venice, but with a festive twist! It's been years since we've been here - time to go back! :)

04/27/2023

The Kleine Scheidegg mountain railway at the foot of Eiger Mountain in Switzerland. One European country I've not visited, even though my maternal ancestors all come from Switzerland. Hmmm...I best get a move on!

04/24/2023

Barafundle Bay in Pembrokeshire, Wales, is one of Britain's best beaches. It's isolated, which means no facilities, so everything you take in has to come back out.

04/21/2023

Maui, Hawaii - not just beaches.

04/18/2023

Bruges Rozenhoedkaai (Rosary Quay) in Belgium is a stunning picture-perfect spot any time of year. Visited on our first river cruise with Amawaterways in early spring for tulip and spring-flower season!

04/15/2023

Off to Northern Ireland? For one of the best views, you must brave the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge in Northern Ireland. I'll be on it this summer!!

04/12/2023

The Piedmont region of Italy - truffles and cheese. A food lover's paradise.

04/09/2023

Too cute, and only in France! Check out these his and hers change cabanas on the beach at Sète on France's Med coast! :)

04/06/2023

Sunny skies or rainy day, I'm in love with Ireland no matter the weather! :)