The first official wine region in the United States isn’t where you might think
It was on June 20, 1980 when the United States designated the country’s first American Viticultural Area – AVA. It wasn’t Napa Valley or Sonoma though. Nope. It was Augusta, Missouri. An AVA is a wine region that has...
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7 of the Best Places to Visit in Philadelphia
By Adrian Rubin, Contributing Writer Did you know the state of Pennsylvania has more than 200 wineries and that the first vineyard in the state was planted in Philadelphia back in 1683 by William Penn? While I highly recommend...
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When in Munich…drink wine!
Germany is famous for its beer and sausage, especially the city of Munich – the capital of Bavaria – and the home of the annual Oktoberfest celebration. But, did you know Bavaria is also famous for its wine? One...
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Three Perfect Pairings for Wine Tasting and Golfing
By Jordan Fuller, guest writer Golf and wine often go hand-in-hand as two classy experiences. But, can we really do both on a single trip? Yes. Having spent the last year traveling around the United States and visiting more...
Read moreBusting 4 common misconceptions about Eastern Europe
By Rich Witty, guest writer Eastern Europe is a region of discoveries. As it proved with me, you find what you look for. No strict planning is needed, and I would advise you to not to relay too heavily...
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From A to Z: Top Wine Festivals in Every State Not to Miss
The number of wine festivals popping up across the nation are increasing. However, not all are created equal. Here are some of America’s best wine festivals in each of the 50 United States. This list will be updated annually...
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The tale of a European sommelier turned California winemaker
Interview with a Winemaker: Leo Hansen, Stuhlmuller Vineyards (and Leo Steen Wines) I’m a huge fan of Cabernet Sauvignon, which Alexander Valley in Sonoma County is known for, yet I’ve never spent time sipping my way through the valley....
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TRAVEL PHOTO ROULETTE #125
And the winner of TRAVEL PHOTO ROULETTE #125 is… When you think of roadside attractions and tourist diversions you may think of a life-size Tyrannosaurus rex you can climb, an ice cream shop built inside a 30ft milk bottle...
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Green Travel Trash Talk: 10 Simple (and fun) Beach Clean-up Ideas
It’s summer! Well, at least according to the school calendar here in Colorado. While it may not be beach weather – yet – we are gearing up for a spending a few weeks in Florida. For millions of Americans,...
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Napa Valley Wine Tasting Reservations Worth Making
You can easily sip your way through Napa Valley wineries without a reservation, but there are some Napa Valley wine tasting reservations worth making. The older I’ve gotten the more non-committal I’ve become, especially when I travel. Don’t get...
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Wine Facts Every Wine Lover Should Know About Napa Valley
15 Napa Valley Facts You Might Not Know I’ve spent a lot of time in Napa Valley exploring the different vineyards and wineries but it wasn’t until this last trip that I wanted to really dig into it. Literally,...
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Respect the fruit and great wine will follow…
Interview with Jeff Freeland, the Winemaker at Oso Libre Winery in Paso Robles “Respect the fruit.” That’s one of the keys to great winemaking at Oso Libre Winery, according to Jeff Freeland, the winery’s winemaker. And, it shows. “Oso...
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Things to do in Crested Butte…besides skiing
Colorado’s “last great ski town” has a lot to offer those who want to skip the slopes. We’ve made our way around the state of Colorado trying to find the best skiing. From Steamboat Springs, Snowmass, Telluride, Copper Mountain,...
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Check-In: The Grand Lodge in Crested Butte, Colorado
Value Luxury at its Finest On a trip to Crested Butte, Colorado last week my family and I spent a few nights at The Grand Lodge. Have you stayed at this hotel in Crested Butte before? What was your...
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Grand Canyon Fun Facts…Clark Griswold Style
Welcome to the second article in Carpe Travel’s Grand Canyon series by Janalee Card Chmel. Over the next few months Janalee will be sharing a series of articles covering everything from booking campsites in the Grand Canyon to family...
Read more10 of the Top Reasons to Visit Berlin NOW!
Not that you need a reason to visit Berlin, but just in case. Did you know that Berlin is home to three UNESCO World Heritage sites, 180 museums and memorial sites, three opera houses and at least 14 Michelin-starred...
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Best Gifts for Travelers: 2015 Gift Guide
I’ve been making the list, checked it twice and now it’s time for you to determine how naughty or nice the traveler is in your life. This past year I’ve been noting some of the best gifts for travelers...
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Fly Away with Ritz!
Enter to win $5,000 in Southwest gift cards – #LuvRitzSweepstakes My first airplane ride was on Southwest Airlines, which seems like a million years ago. I vividly remember wearing my “fancy” Sunday church dress for the flight. As a...
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Turning a Botched Day in Fort Lauderdale Into a “Carpe Travel” Kinda Day…
What started out as a let down of a vacation day, became one filled with exploration, discovering nature and new things to do in Fort Lauderdale. Fort Lauderdale is traditionally known for Spring Break, beaches, shopping and a vibrant...
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Reasons to Visit Iceland
“Iceland? Why Iceland?” That’s the exact thing my husband said to me when I told him I wanted to visit Iceland. Followed by, “Of all the places to go, you want to go to Iceland? In the winter?” Yes....
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