Abbeville, Edgefield, Greenwood & Ninety Six - plus an Upstate bonus: Spartanburg Brilliant sunflowers growing in South Carolina's Old 96 District, near Ninety Six. How many are there? Maybe a million and 96! This time of year makes me think of South Carolina’s...
A stunning 35-foot tall sculpture called Hydrophyllum (water leaf) at Greensboro's Gateway Gardens Greensboro is one of those places that keeps adding another layer every time you think you’ve figured it out—and every day can take you in a completely different...
Signs were hidden in Quilt Blocks: an amazing Juneteenth story. © Jo Clark History of Juneteenth By June 19, 1865, the Civil War had been over more than two months. That was the day Union soldiers rode into Galveston, Texas, and shared news that the War was over, and...
The historic Hunting Island Lighthouse in South Carolina's Lowcountry. Beaufort and Bluffton offer two distinct sides of the Lowcountry experience, and barrier islands dance in between like the jewels in a crown. Beaufort captures your heart with historic homes,...
The Best Places to Eat, Sleep and Play Ready for breakfast as the morning sun begins to color the sky over the Willamette Valley After eleven blissful days exploring the Willamette Valley's wine country, I can confidently point you toward exceptional wineries,...
Pinot Noir Grapes waiting to become wine The Willamette Valley is home to more than 700 wineries (and 800 vineyards). Oregon's wine country holds two-thirds of all the state's wineries and is internationally known for its cool-climate Pinot Noir. Admittedly, it was a...
The Old Orange County Courthouse was one of my favorite stops © Jo Clark Buena Park and Santa Ana are amazing to visit on their own. Still, when you combine the two cities, all I can say is WOW! Each has unique things to see and do, but you know I’m really just there...
New Smyrna Beach's Smyrna Dunes Park has a wide path to the beach as well as a boardwalk © Jo Clark New Smyrna Beach, Florida, has an easygoing charm that’s hard to miss. Maybe it’s the ocean breeze drifting in from the Atlantic, or the way locals welcome you like...
Mama's Oyster Stew is a Christmas Morning Tradition © Jo Clark There I sat, with my mouth full of Oyster Stew and tears rolling down my face. The power of food to transport you to another time and place at work! Only food can take you by the shoulders and turn you...
A beach on North Island, a part of Yawkey Wildlife Center © Jo Clark Georgetown County, South Carolina, is blessed with four rivers, the Winyah Bay, the Atlantic Ocean, and two jewels of nature: Hobcaw Barony and the Yawkey Wildlife Center. Hobcaw means “between...
Gwinnett County's BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir © Jo Clark Gwinnett County, in northern Georgia, holds sixteen distinct cities forming part of the metro Atlanta area, including Duluth, Buford, Norcross, and Lilburn. Gwinnett, second in size to Fulton County with...
Healdsburg vines have entered the home stretch and are glowing with fall colors © Jo Clark Sonoma County’s Healdsburg nestles in a curve of the Russian River in a northern section of the county. Founded in 1857, Healdsburg boasts a central plaza that offers a shady...
Do special food and beverage pairings live up to the hype? There’s only one way to find out. Take the plunge. You know how it works. There’s a cheery place where you like to hang out with your partner and/or friends. The food is good, the beer is cold, and the...
Run, Run Rudolph! Santa is coming to town Myrtle Beach-style © Jo Clark As I hum I’ll Be Home for Christmas, I picture a beach-style Christmas, because I'll be staying home for Christmas. But I can’t help alternating the tune with our local version of Let It Snow, Let...
Soaring over Chemung County and the instrument panel of the glider © Jo Clark Harris Hill, near Elmira, is in Big Flats, New York, and is the glider-soaring capital of America. It is smack in the middle of the Finger Lakes. With an elevation of 1,709 feet above sea...
Ride through a vineyard to have the most exciting time in Sonoma! © Jo Clark Let me tell you how to have the most exciting time in Sonoma: go zipping through the vineyards in a motorcycle sidecar! I spent ten days in Sonoma County and the most fun I had (see that huge...
Corning's iconic Gaffer tops the Little Joe Tower © Jo Clark Corning, a city in New York’s Steuben County on the Chemung River, is inching toward the mark of eleven thousand residents. Named for financier Erastus Corning, the town is in the Finger Lakes region, and it...
Wine pairings with French Macarons are ready for taste testing. © Jo Clark Wine pairings with macarons - not something most people recommend: wine pairings with luscious, addictive French cookies. Oh, yes! But you already know I am not “most people.” On my recent trip...
Sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean at the Grand Strand's Litchfield Beach © Jo Clark The Grand Strand is, well, grand! Sixty miles of sensational wide, sandy beaches. And enough shells, starfish, sand dollars, and shark teeth to delight serious beachcombers. Let’s look...
The Blue Ridge Parkway crosses over Virginia's Route 8 atTuggle's Gap © Jo Clark When people hear the word travel, many think of driving somewhere, like a road trip on the Blue Ridge Parkway. But when people hear “National Park,” they don’t think of a highway. I’m...
Writer, Jo Clark, on right and travel buddy Audrey Wagner, share their "love" for Rocky Mount When you roll into Rocky Mount, the largest Franklin County, Virginia town, be sure to come hungry and be ready for mountain music. And come prepared to do some serious...
Buffalo Gals Connie and Carla run a herd of American Bison and the Buffalo and More restaurant. The popular eating place is on Route 8 in Riner, Virginia. Have you heard of it? You will know this shortcut through the mountains if you drive to Radford University or...
Every good boy and girl learn the three Rs—but settle in—I want to teach you about the four Rs every good traveler to the Blue Ridge Mountain’s needs to know: Riner, Radford, Roanoke, and Rocky Mount. I'll guide you from a tiny speck on the map along a crooked road to...
Rocky Knob AVA wineries (American Viticultural Area)are clustered along Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountain Range, close to the Blue Ridge Parkway. If this is your first time visiting the East Coast, for good times and great wine, I have three words for you: Blue...
You can go around the world with international food in Myrtle Beach's restaurants. In an area known for fresh seafood dishes, chefs also serve international foods from one end of the Grand Strand to the other. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina has over 2,000 restaurants –...
You can ride into history in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, in a car, in a horse-drawn carriage, on a bike, or on the back of a horse. You can ride right into an American History book from the town of Gettysburg with battlefield guides. The Battle of Gettysburg Sacred...
A view of the Village of Calheta on Sao Jorge Island with a tall church steeple in the center of town © Jo Clark My First Visit to São Jorge Azores Island The spectacular scenery of the oblong island that is São Jorge begins from the air. A long mountain range...
Even during the coldest months, there are incredible things to do during New York City winters—without freezing in the Big Apple! I have spent time in the city during early January for the last three years. See? It wasn’t so bad that I didn’t go back again! Of course,...
15 Reasons to Explore the Amazing Azores Islands The Azores Islands consist of nine large islands that float lazily in the Atlantic Ocean, midway between Portugal and the United States. Are you thinking, “pit stop”? Hold that thought—it’s a good place to make a quick...
Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, not to mention my birthday, so wine and chocolate are on my mind! Same day! *smile* Why not impress the object of your affection (or me!) with your chocolatier skills, or at least your pairing skills...
Author taking photo of Golden Gate Bridge as Discovery Princess sails underneath Full disclosure: I only had half a day to explore Half Moon Bay. But it was a fantastic excursion during my Discovery Princess cruise down the Pacific Northwest...
The Discovery Princess 360 Experience is so rare and remarkable that I invited seven other seasoned travel writers to join me and tell you the story of the extraordinary affair! In fact, 360: An Extraordinary Experience is offered exclusively on the Discovery Princess...
The Ultimate Halloween Candy Wine Pairings: red wine and chocolate kisses © Jo Clark Get Your Fright On! You have to try Halloween candy wine pairings. Wait. WHAT??!! Halloween candy and WINE?? Yep, that’s what I said! It will rock your world!...
I set out to explore the Yadkin Valley Wine AVA (American Viticultural Area.) The Yadkin Valley AVA consists of seven counties in western North Carolina, with the Yadkin River as its Southern border. Nearby towns are Elkin, Dobson, Mount Airy, Pilot Mountain, and...
Hotel Zed is Alive with Mid-Century Modern Colors © Hotel Zed Hotel Zed Tofino is proud to say they “Rebel against the Ordinary” and offer an unconventional and fresh perspective on hotel amenities. It is unlike any other hotel and raises the bar for family hotels....
Roanoke is the largest city and largest municipality in Southwest Virginia, and it is often called the Star City of the South—it has a nice ring to it, right? While Mill Mountain, crowned with a star, surrounds the city like a big blue hug, wrapping its arms around the Roanoke Valley. And that enormous star is right up there to remove any doubt about where you are!
Namibia is the second least densely populated country in the world. I’m always looking for hidden gems, but I don’t believe you can get more “hidden” than that! Located in southern Africa, just above South Africa on the Atlantic Coast, Namibia was a delightful spot...
Historic Georgetown SC will surprise you in the best possible ways! Named America’s Best Coastal Small Town in 2018 by USA Today, Georgetown is the third oldest town in South Carolina. Interestingly, historians believe the first European settlement on...
Chocolate Tofino Tasting on a Plate © Linda Sheppard On a trip to Tofino, British Columbia, found on Vancouver Island's beautiful west coast, I savored chocolates at Chocolate Tofino. Chocolatiers Kim and Cam Shaw were recently recognized by Lonely Planet's Global...
River on the Drive to Tofino © Linda Sheppard Tofino will make you fall in love with Vancouver Island’s beauty. Whether you drive or fly, you will see magnificent mountains, crystal-clear rivers, and gorgeous log-strewn beaches as you approach the Tofino area....
Victoria Inner Harbour and the Parliament Buildings © Linda Sheppard Victoria, the Capital of British Columbia, is on the southern tip of Vancouver Island. The city has a vibrant downtown area, Inner Harbour. And it has stunning views, a fantastic food scene, and...
A mess of ramps, ready to be cleaned and cooked © Blake Borchardt Ramps (Allium tricoccum) are a unique West Virginia delicacy that gets mixed reviews; people are either fans of wild ramps or not; I say, ramp it up! Now, maybe you’ve never heard of...
Lafayette Square in LaGrange Georgia The best way to have the most fun in LaGrange Georgia is to stay downtown and be able to walk everywhere. LaGrange, Georgia, is a fantastic place to visit. It’s a small town in western Georgia with plenty of history and charm....
The best things in Cannon Beach include surfing and whale watching. Located in the Pacific Northwest, Cannon Beach is easily recognized by the iconic Haystack Rock, one of the tallest intertidal monoliths in the world. Haystack Rock is flanked by sea stacks, which is...
Enjoy reading my review of an amazing Princess Alaskan Cruise and Excursions. The 3,660-passenger Discovery Princess was the newest ship in Alaska, and we were on her! Departing for an inside passage along the Alaskan coast, the Royal-class Discovery Princess eased...
In the 1970s, hippies and artists moved to the unique funky town of Floyd, Virginia, to “live off the grid.” They made a great choice! This cute town is filled with historic buildings and sits on a magnificent Blue Ridge plateau in the mountains. Floyd holds a...
The Best Places to Eat, Sleep and Play Ready for breakfast as the morning sun begins to color the sky over the Willamette Valley After eleven blissful days exploring the Willamette Valley's wine country, I can confidently point you toward exceptional wineries,...
Recipe courtesy of: Erin Gilchrist, owner/chef of A'Tuscan Estate Bed & Breakfast, in McMinnville, Oregon - the perfect place to stay during your wine-venture in the Willamette Valley. We enjoyed this delicious fig breakfast course and immediately requested the...
