Oh, what a ride it’s been! I first met Chief Wanderer of Wanderlust and Lipstick, Beth Whitman, when she signed up for my “Travel Writing for Fun & Profit” class more years ago than I care to remember. We exchanged books, her then brand-new Wanderlust and Lipstick: For Women Traveling to India for my Work […]
Florida Keys & Key West Winter Getaway
As you gaze into your 2016 crystal travel ball, imagine a getaway to one of North America’s friendliest, most fun-loving destinations. Head to the southernmost site of the U.S. – the Florida Keys & Key West – for your great winter (or anytime) escape. Enjoy blue, sunny skies, soft, sub-tropical breezes and emerald waters as you kick […]
Roadtripping Down the Oregon Coast
Nothing quite beats the fun of roadtripping down the Oregon Coast to enjoy the beauty of the Pacific Northwest. While not quite as iconic as driving U.S. Route 66, the Oregon Coast offers plenty of spellbinding scenes, best beach towns and destination dining. Whether planning a family vacation, girlfriend getaway or romantic escape, why not take to the road […]
Get Away to Sunset SAVOR the Central Coast!
If savoring the pleasures of food, wine and travel are high on your list for the Fall season, why not plan a September weekend getaway to Sunset SAVOR the Central Coast in San Luis Obispo County? Hosted by the editors of Sunset Magazine, this year’s 6th annual event runs from Thursday September 24th through Sunday September […]
Vacation on the Romantic Danube with Viking River Cruises – Part I
If you’re like many wanderboomer fans of the PBS hit series, Downton Abbey, you’ve seen the sponsored commercials for Viking River Cruises, enticing you to explore exotic destinations from the deck of one of their deluxe ships. No doubt you have imagined yourself cruising down the Danube, Rhine or Seine Rivers, perhaps a glass of wine in hand, wistfully watching […]
How to Pack Light for Your Luxury Cruise Adventure
Over the last two years my mantra has been “Pack light. Pack light. Pack light.” I ditched my DSLR camera in favor of a small point-and-shoot, then scaled down further with an iPhone 6. I swapped out my paperbacks (because I could never just take one) for a Kindle. I gave up my clunky laptop in favor of a MacBook Air. […]
How to Make the Most of Your Great Escape to Charlevoix, Québec
The more I travel to Québec, Canada, the longer I want to stay . . . From following the culinary trail in Montréal, to celebrating Winter Carnival in Québec City, to sampling the restorative spas in Lanaudière and Mauricie . . . For my latest exploration, I’m off to the charming Charlevoix region an hour northeast of […]
Solo Travel for Adventurous Boomer Women
It’s no secret that we encourage solo women travel here at Wanderlust and Lipstick. Yet I marvel at how often my traveling alone to exotic destinations provokes a variety of reactions from fellow women travelers who are not, ranging from: “You’re so brave!” “Really?” (as in, Why would anyone want to do that?) to: “Wow.” (as in, How do you get […]
Ziplining 101 with Ziptrek Ecotours
Ziplining has never been high on my bucket list of travel adventures. While I’m not overly scared of heights, I’m respectful of the distance between heaven and earth with a strong preference for staying grounded unless winging through the air from one exotic destination to another from the comfort of a Boeing jet. Think cushioned seats, seatbelts and […]
Beyond “Gong Xi Fa Cai!” in Richmond, BC
Smiling faces and friendly greetings of “Gong Xi Fa Cai!” follow me as I stroll through the bustling Asian shopping extravaganza. Here at Aberdeen Centre, hundreds of Chinese lanterns hang high overhead. Everywhere I look, a sea of red and gold, lucky colors in Chinese culture, light up storefronts in dazzling vendor displays. Packages of red envelopes, […]