Sip in the latest guides & articles

Read the latest from our certified wine experts.

Learn the latest about Wine Travel, Pairings, and more.
SIP IT IN
things to do in steamboat springs besides skiing
Colorado

11 Things to do in Steamboat Springs…Besides Skiing

There’s more to Steamboat Springs than being a winter destination for skiing, although that is a top activity on my list… But activities thrive year round and you only need to take stock in order to see all the things there are to experience in Steamboat Springs. Following is a list of the top things

Sip in this article »
Hotel Prince De Galles bedroom view
Check-In

Check-in: Hotel Prince De Galles in Menton, France

On our recent visit to the the French Riviera, we visited the town of Menton and stayed at Hotel Prince De Galles much to the thanks of the reviews on TripAdvisor and ratings on American Express Travel – two of my go-to resources when booking hotels. There were a few things the reviews didn’t share though,

Sip in this article »
downtown menton france
France

The French Riviera: A Short Guide to Menton

Located on the French Riviera, along the Franco-Italian border Menton has been nicknamed “The Pearl of France” and it’s very apparent as to why. Nestled in between the mountains and the Mediterranean Sea, Menton provides a slower pace to life all while giving its visitors much of the wonders its neighboring towns – Nice, Monaco, Monte

Sip in this article »
hotel glenwood springs
Check-In

Check-In: Hotel Glenwood Springs

This summer the family did a little Road Trippin’ in Colorado with Glenwood Springs being one of the stops. With it being named “America’s Most Fun Small Town”, how could we pass it by?!? There are several hotels in Glenwood Springs to choose from, however all you luxury travelers take note – none of the

Sip in this article »
National Pina Colada Day
Puerto Rico

Happy National Piña Colada Day!

Did you know today is National Piña Colada Day? When I visited San Juan, Puerto Rico my family stayed at the Caribe Hilton hotel. Upon doing my research I realized a bartender at THIS hotel was responsible for creating the infamous Piña Colada. Apparently Ramón ‘Monchito’ Marrero Pérez is said to have made the FIRST

Sip in this article »
July 4th Photo Essays

The Fourth of July Photo Essay: Celebrating Independence Day

The immigration officer stood up from his desk, waved us forward yelling, “NEXT!” The Husband handed him our two blue passports, a stack of papers and Princess Two’s red, Russian passport. The two blue passports were opened, checked and set aside. He turned to the red passport, it was opened and held with one hand

Sip in this article »
paso robles wine region
California

20 Things to Know About Paso Robles

It’s Wine Wednesday! Time for a little wine trivia for you wine lovers – and those traveling to Paso Robles. The Paso Robles wine region is California’s third largest and fastest growing wine region and it’s becoming quite the wine destination for travelers. Here are 20 fun facts, try quizzing your friends on your next

Sip in this article »
YMCA of the Rockies
Check-In

Check-In: YMCA of the Rockies Estes Park Center

When I think of the YMCA, I tend to think of Carolina, my spin instructor who likes to push me to my limits every week. I have never thought of the YMCA as a vacation destination, until now… Living in Denver, I’ve made my way to Estes Park on several occasions to hike, fish and

Sip in this article »
California

Check-In: Sand Castle Inn Seaside CA

The few motels I’ve stayed in have not been somewhere I could shower without wearing flip-flops. Think Spring Break, college, $25 and five people sharing a room. I’m past that stage in my life…and prefer to stay in higher-end places. With that said, on a recent press trip to Monterey County in California we stayed

Sip in this article »
rose wine to try this summer
Contributing Writer

The Wines of Summer: Three Rose Wines to Drink this Summer

There is a lightness to the summer breeze as friends and family gather outdoors. There is a lovely fragrance of flowers and budding fruits in the air as the earth gives forth it’s bounty under the steady gaze of the smiling summer sun.  Whether indoors or out, the perfect summer Rose wine can add so

Sip in this article »
SteinbeckCenter
California

The Steinbeck Center Celebrates 75 Years

I read The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck back in high school, have you read it? Seen the movie? It’s a classic tale – and Pulitzer Prize winner – that’s set during the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl. Most of us can probably relate to many of the same challenges people in the book were

Sip in this article »
The Wild Animal Sanctuary
Colorado

The Wild Animal Sanctuary

No running. No jumping. And keep your hands to yourself. Three rules that don’t usually go well with kids. Or so I thought when we were given a short introduction by staffers at The Wild Animal Sanctuary. I’ve visited countless zoos and driven through different types of animal parks but never have I visited a

Sip in this article »
Reviews

Review of the RideSafer Travel Vest for Kids

I don’t like to lie to my kids, and I rarely if ever do. So, when we grabbed a taxi cab during a trip to Florida and had to ask Princess Two to “pretend” to be five-years-old, when she was only four, we were in that gray area. A very gray area that she couldn’t

Sip in this article »
Family Vacation

Things to do in Beaumont TX: Gator Country

Imagine a teacher looking outside the window at the playground before recess to check the weather and instead of seeing cumulonimbus or cirrus clouds she sees an alligator. A REALLY BIG GATOR. Who’s she gonna call? Gator 911. Yes, it’s not a joke, there really is a Gator 911 and this really happened, or so

Sip in this article »
wine

Wine on a Plane: World’s Best In-Flight Wine Lists

Did you know airlines are judged on their inflight wine selections? I didn’t but I do love having wine on a plane. Not only are they “judged” on the wine selections but they’re given an award for their list of wine. The annual Business Traveller’s Cellars in the Sky awards, which recognizes the best business and

Sip in this article »
Is Playa del Carmen Safe
Family Vacation

Things to do in Cozumel with Kids: Chankanaab Park

I’ve been to Cozumel in Mexico a few times, but this past Thanksgiving marked the first time I’d traveled there with with kids. In other words, no Senor Frogs or lazy day at beach with a bucket of Corona – we needed to find things to do in Cozumel with kids. Enter Chankanaab Park. The park

Sip in this article »
Elk Cove Vineyard Oregon wine country
Interview with a Winemaker

A Winemakers Tale: Adam Campbell, Elk Cove Vineyards

Welcome to this month’s edition of A Winemakers Tale where I feature interviews with winemakers from different wine regions around the world. Seeing as I’m still feeding (or rather sipping) my mild obsession with Oregon wine country I have discovered yet another AMAZING Pinot Noir to grace my dinner table. It seemed only fitting to try and interview its

Sip in this article »
Interview with a Winemaker

A Winemakers Tale: Alexandrine Roy, Winemaker for Phelps Creek Vineyards & Domaine Marc Roy

Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are two of my favorite summer wines. This summer I discovered two new favorites from Phelps Creek Vineyards in the Oregon wine country. I  recently had the privilege to interview its winemaker, Alexandrine Roy who brings a bit of old world to new world winemaking. Alexandrine is a fourth-generation winemaker at Domaine Marc Roy in the village of

Sip in this article »
On the Piemonte Wine Trail: Barbaresco Tasting in Neviglie
Contributing Writer

The Piemonte Wine Trail: Barbaresco Wine Tasting in Neviglie

Happy Wine Wednesday! We’re in for a treat this week with a guest post from Valerie Quintanilla, one of Italy’s newest expats, living her dream in Piemonte, Italy and sharing her wine tales at GirlsGottaDrink. Her recent wine adventures took her along the Piemonte Wine Trail. Sounds amazing…read on to see why. Valerie Quintanilla We

Sip in this article »
summer music festivals with kids
Contributing Writer

Best Family Friendly Music Festivals Around The World

By Marcela De Vivo, Contributing Writer The summer months play host to hundreds of music festivals, many of which make great family outings, with entertainment that’s enjoyable for kids and parents alike. While you might be tempted to assume that you would have to stay closer to home to find a family-friendly summer music festival,

Sip in this article »
On the Piemonte Wine Trail: Fresia
Contributing Writer

On the Piemonte Wine Trail: Stella Giuseppe

Happy Wine Wednesday! We’re in for a treat this week with a guest post from Valerie Quintanilla, one of Italy’s newest expats, living her dream in Piemonte, Italy and sharing her wine tales at GirlsGottaDrink. Her recent wine adventures took her along the Piemonte Wine Trail. Sounds amazing…read on to see why. Valerie Quintanilla From

Sip in this article »
Russia

Sometimes a Souvenir Can Be Much More Than Just a Souvenir

It wasn’t just any courtroom. It was a Russian courtroom, in Chita, Siberia – The City of Exiles. The famed city in Russia where prominent intellectuals, including the Decembrist and many more were exiled. A “closed city” that foreigners and many Russian citizens weren’t allowed to visit until the collapse of the Soviet Union. I

Sip in this article »
hearthill paso robles
Paso Robles

Paso Robles Wine in Pictures

Ten years ago the Paso Robles wine region was home to only 35 wineries, that number has since grown to more than 200. As Matthew Liberty noted in a guest post for Carpe Travel, Paso Robles is not so much an up and coming region since its already up there, but that seems to be

Sip in this article »