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family friendly activities london
Contributing Writer

Nine Things to do in London with Kids

I have yet to visit London but it’s on the list. So I was excited to have Laura Abrar offer to share her list of things to do in London with kids as a guest a post. Do let us know in the comments what other things to do in London with kids you suggest. By

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Italian Wine Merchants Redux: Wine Tasting New York City

Our frequent readers (thank you!) may recall a post I did last year about a trip to New York City that included a stop at Italian Wine Merchants (IWM). I was on a hunt for a New York City wine tasting and much to my disappointment, I didn’t quite get it. Well, my snarky and punchy post did generate a response

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Robert Alexander Travel Langhe
Featured

The Intoxication of Piedmont

By Valerie Quintanilla The food, the culture, and of course the people are nearly as intoxicating as the wines of Piedmont Italy. All have now firmly planted themselves in my heart and soul. Yes, if home is where the heart is, then mine has certainly found a new one. Travel to Piedmont, Italy is an

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visit piedmont
Italy

Hiking and Wine Tasting in Barolo

By Valerie Quintanilla I wanted to hike in Lake Como, but Mother Nature had other plans. Luckily I had a day of hiking and wine tasting in Barolo Italy planned with Kerrie from Australia. We started the near the bottom of La Morra at a small, colorful chapel. The day’s itinerary included a trip up

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Mascato harvest at Pelissero Pasquale
culinary travel

Piedmont Wine Tours: Harvest Lunch in Barbaresco

By Valerie Quintanilla Tuesday morning started low key. I had no Piedmont wine tours planned so I thought I’d just hike it out a bit, write, read, and have a leisurely day in Neive. Returning from my morning walk I found Leslie getting ready to head to Ornella’s vineyard, Pasquale Pelissero, to help her prepare

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Giovanni Rosso Vineyard in Barolo
culinary travel

Wine Tours in Barolo Italy

By Valerie Quintanilla Saturday morning started bright and early with a quick breakfast at my B&B (they just kept bringing food – such is the theme here!) Then, I was off with Robert for a wine tour in Barolo at Giovanni Rosso. We picked up Drew and Jamie from DC, then headed for the hills

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Italian Wine Travels: Ah, Piemonte….

By Valerie Quintanilla If there is a heaven and we each get our own version, mine would mirror Piemonte. Calgone, take me away. In 2009 I had a business meeting with an Italian colleague visiting Denver for a project. I told her of a pending trip to Italy and how excited I was to explore

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Things to do in Lake Como

Day two of my travel to Lake Como brought more rain. Ah well, it wasn’t pouring as it had in Milano or Bellagio (or my first 18 years in Vancouver, Wash.) I still had hiking on the brain and no way was I missing it. Things to do in Lake Como My plan for the

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Technology and Travel

Vacation Home Security: New Rules in Today’s Digital World

According to the FBI the summer months of July and August have the highest rates of burglaries, usually about a 10 percent increase over other times of the year. Why? Simple, summer vacation. However, with the increased usage of social medi and sharing our whereabouts all day, every day – including our travel schedules – we

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Where to Stay in Carlsbad, CA

Per our adventures in Carlsbad, CA I wanted to share a few recommendations on places to stay in Carlsbad. I did include the one we stayed at and a few we checked out for our next trip since there will be more. Many more. I told The Husband I could live in Carlsbad. And for

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Are Airport X-ray Scans REALLY Safe for Laptops?

So are airport x-ray scanners safe for laptops? The answer is no. At least according to me they aren’t. On my first jaunt to Russia I chose only to take my laptop and iPhone, forgoing the iPad. I mean really, that should be enough, right? But no. It happened to me. What everyone says isn’t

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Salzburg

Things to do in Salzburg: Sunday in Salzburg

Altar at the Dom (cathedral) By Teresa Kao Sunday started out with a little surprise: the Austrian version of Daylight Saving Time! It probably wasn’t bothersome for most people because all the stores and many of the restaurants are closed on Sunday. I assume other sorts of businesses like banks are, too. This meant a

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Salzburg things to do
Contributing Writer

On a rainy day in Salzburg things to do?

By Teresa Kao, guest blogger After the stretch of beautiful weather we’ve been having, it was bound to happen eventually: rain. So on a rainy day in Salzburg things to do? Salzburg Things to Do on a Rainy Day My first stop was the train station. I hoped to gain a bit more understanding of

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Russia

Things to do in Moscow: A Visit to Red Square

We’ve made three trips to Russia since November and really have only been able to experience a little taste of what Moscow has to offer. On the list of things to do in Moscow – Red Square, The Kremlin…and shopping.  Things to do in Moscow It was a Sunday when we first went exploring in Moscow and

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New York City: A Trip to Italian Wine Merchants

Next stop on the Playing Italy Train: NYC for wine tasting at Italian Wine Merchants.I read Sergio Esposito’s Passion on the Vine over the New Year’s holiday in 2010/11, finishing the book in two days. I was enamored with the lifestyle, the food and of course the wine. With every page, I could almost smell and taste

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California

Napa Valley: Newton Winery

A visit to Newton Winery was a must on our visit to Napa Valley. They produce wines we’ve only enjoyed out and about, but never at their winery so this trip we made it priority. I had not realized just how far up Spring Mountain Newton was when I booked the 11am Newton Winery tour,

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Wine tasting in Napa Valley - Regusci Winery is a must!
Napa Valley

Regusci Winery in Napa Valley

I don’t believe in coincidences. When people say something to me it feel like there’s a reason. So, when TWO different groups of people recommended I visit Regusci Winery when were in Napa Valley it was a clear sign we needed to head that way. Regusci Winery in Napa Valley Now, to be honest, both groups of

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Wine Facts: In 1965, Napa Valley icon Robert Mondavi broke away from his family's Charles Krug estate to found his own. This was the first new large scale winery to be established in the valley since before prohibition.
Napa Valley

Sipping in a Robert Mondavi Winery Tour

After having read The House of Mondavi: The Rise and Fall of an American Wine Dynasty, I became a little obsessed with the Mondavi family, it helped that I loved their wines. So, during one of our Napa Valley wine vacations, I made it a point to sip in a little more Mondavi than I

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Napa Valley: Opus One

I’m mildly obsessed with Robert Mondavi and his family’s story in the Napa Valley. The Mondavi family really helped shape what the Napa Valley wine industry is today by introducing higher quality wine making equipment and techniques to the area. They also put the Napa Valley on the wine map for the rest of the wine world through strategic

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Colorado Fall Foliage Drives
Colorado

Great Colorado Fall Foliage Drives

Today officially marks the first day of Fall. For many of you it still feels like summer but for those of us in Colorado Fall is right outside our windows. The leaves are just starting to change in the Front Range and are starting to peak in mountains. There are only a few weeks left

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The hills and wines of Piemonte

Today I start my Piemonte wine tours.I don’t think words can truly describe Piemonte (“Piedmont” to Westerners). Somehow breathtaking, beautiful, and awesome all seem quite hollow. The land showcases rolling hills, acres and acres of vineyards (150,000 acres to be exact) and gorgeous colors. I can truly say that my first one tour in the

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New York City with Kids

Elaine and Princess One in New York with Elmo New York City has always meant shows and/or work for me. That was until this summer when we took Princess One into the city before heading into New Jersey for a family reunion. I now had somewhat of an adventure on hand; how to do New

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Headed West: A Little Gold, a Little Wine, a Fine Time

By Meredith Bagnulo This summer, my husband and I decided to visit his parents in Lincoln, California (near Sacramento). But instead of flying, we thought a road trip with our kids, ages 6 and 8, would be a most excellent adventure! We’ve only done one long family road trip before when our kids were much younger.

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