How To Spend A Day On Catalina Island

Our visit to Catalina Island was hosted by Catalina Island Company. All opinions remain our own.

Just a short boat ride from the shores of Southern California, Catalina is an island paradise. If you’re looking to get away from it all and experience a slower pace of life, then book your ferry tickets and set sail for the island’s largest city, Avalon.

Catalina Island offers you the chance to soak in the sun, get out on the water, and explore its wild side, or simply stroll the waterfront, check out the shops, and dine with an ocean view. The tough part will be squeezing in all you want to do before the ferry returns home.

The Descanso Beach Club on Catalina Island. — Descanso Beach Club / Catalina Island Company

Enjoy The Scenic Waterfront

With clear, blue water on one side and colorful shops on the other, Avalon’s waterfront is one of its best attractions. It’s worth setting aside some time just to stroll this part of town — or grab a seat and watch the waves roll in.

Start with a walk on the Green Pleasure Pier, home to the island’s private fishing charters and glass-bottom boat tours. If you have questions or need a map, pop in to the Catalina Island Visitor Center located at the base of the pier. The pier is also a great spot to take photos.

Continue along the waterfront toward the Catalina Island Casino, the large, round building visible from most any place in Avalon. Along the way, you’ll pass a few historic buildings, including the Tuna Club of Avalon and the Catalina Yacht Club.

If you have more time, keep walking, and you’ll end up at the Descanso Beach Club. If relaxation is your main goal, feel free to spend the rest of the day here. Chaise lounges and cabanas are available for rent, and there’s a restaurant on the premises for when you get hungry.

Currently, the Catalina Island Casino and Avalon Grille are closed. However, Descanso Beach Grill is serving food on their ocean-view patio.

Views from the Catalina Island Casino. — Catalina Island Casino / Catalina Island Company

Tour The Catalina Casino

No building on the island is as well known as the Catalina Island Casino — but don’t expect to gamble here. Its name is the Italian word for “gathering place.” William Wrigley built the casino to be a social center in 1929, and to this day, the casino hosts movies and events throughout the year.

A highlight of any visit to Catalina Island is a tour of the casino, and there are three to choose from: Discover the Casino, Behind the Scenes Casino, and Twilight at the Casino. Whichever tour you choose, you’ll get to see the movie theater (with its 50-foot domed ceiling) and the fully restored ballroom. Your local guide will share the history of the building and some facts about the island. Tours can be booked online in advance or at the casino ticket office on the day of your visit.

The Bison Expedition on Catalina Island. — Bison Expedition / Catalina Island Company

Explore The Island’s Wild Side

After enjoying the charming town of Avalon, go in search of the island’s wild side. About 88 percent of the island is a nature preserve managed by the Catalina Island Conservancy. Here you’ll spot bison, bald eagles, and island foxes. You will definitely see some beautiful scenery.

Taking an organized tour is the best way to explore the area, and one of the most popular options is the 2-hour Bison Expedition in a biofuel Hummer. You’ll rock and roll along dirt roads in search of the herd of bison that was originally brought here for a movie in 1924.

You could also take a ride in a vintage bus along Skyline Drive to see the island’s protected areas. This tour also offers a chance to see the Catalina Nature Center and the Airport in the Sky.

It’s possible to hike through the conservancy as long as you obtain a permit first. Catalina boasts 165 miles of trails of varying lengths and difficulty levels, so there’s something for everyone. If you’re really up for a challenge, consider hiking the 38.5-mile Trans-Catalina Trail that begins in Avalon and ends in Two Harbors.

Learn About The Island’s History

Catalina has a rich history that dates back 8,000 years, and there’s no better place to learn about that history than at the Catalina Island Museum. Start with the exhibit The History of Catalina Island, which covers Wrigley’s purchase of the island, the Chicago Cubs’ 30 years of spring training there, and the rise of Avalon as a popular vacation spot for Hollywood stars.

Then explore the museum’s special exhibits like Esther Williams: The Swimming Queen of the Silver Screen. Upcoming exhibits include Catalina Paintings: Night and Day and Frida Kahlo: Through the Lens of Nickolas Muray.

The Wrigley Memorial and Botanic Garden in Avalon. — Steve Heap / Shutterstock

Stroll Through The Botanic Garden

The Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden is a lovely place to learn about the island’s native plants while also getting a great view of Avalon. This 37-acre garden was the idea of Wrigley’s wife, Ada, who worked with horticulturist Albert Conrad to install the original desert plant collection.

While here, spend some time at the Wrigley Memorial, built between 1933 and 1934 to honor the life and legacy of the man responsible for both the development and protection of the island.

To get to the garden, you can walk, rent a golf cart, or take the city bus.

A Male Teenager Scuba Diving at Catalina Island, California . — Brent Barnes / Shutterstock.com

Get Out On The Water

It would be a shame to only experience the deep blue waters of Catalina on land. The waters around the island are teeming with marine life and should be seen up close. Fortunately, there are many ways to do this depending on your time, budget, and interests.

With one of the healthiest marine environments in the world, Catalina is a diver’s and snorkeler’s paradise. If you’re looking to rent gear, contact Diving Catalina or Catalina Divers Supply. These two companies can also assist with a guided experience.

If you’d prefer to see the water from above, then kayaking or paddleboarding might be for you. Descanso Beach Ocean Sports rents equipment and offers guided tours.

For something really unique, take an Undersea Expedition on a semi-submersible vessel. You’ll cruise 5 feet below the water and come face-to-face with a variety of marine life.

Eating On Catalina Island

All this activity will make you hungry, and fortunately, there are plenty of great dining options on Catalina Island.

If you want to dine while listening to the waves, then head to Bluewater Avalon and take a seat on the deck. The menu features fresh fish and other seafood along with sandwiches and salads.

Another option for dining with a view is the Descanso Beach Club. This casual spot requires a longer walk, but you’ll be rewarded with classics like burgers and hot dogs. Since you’re on vacation, don’t forget to order one of the original cocktails.

If you’re looking for a snack and have a sweet tooth, be sure to try the homemade ice cream at Scoops. There are the typical flavors like chocolate and vanilla, but there are also unique options, including cinnamon rice pudding and toasted almond coconut.

And don’t miss Lloyd’s of Avalon, a classic candy shop selling saltwater taffy, caramel apples, peanut brittle, and fudge. This place has been in business for 75 years, and it feels like you’re stepping back in time when you enter the shop.

Shopping On Catalina Island

Avalon may be a small town, but it’s loaded with places to purchase that perfect gift or souvenir. Many of the shops are along the waterfront or in the nearby Metropole Market Place.

The island has long been known for its Catalina pottery, originally made from locally sourced red clay. If this sounds like the perfect souvenir for you, head to Catalina Pottery Bath & Body or Silver Canyon Pottery.

If you’re in the market for a really unique Hawaiian shirt, then check out Latitude 33. Their shirts are specially designed to feature all the iconic Catalina sights, including the casino, Green Pier, and the waterfront.

The little ones in your party will enjoy Catalina Seashell Co., which sells a wide selection of natural shells, seahorses, and sand dollars.

Avalon is a resort community with the waterfront dominated by tourism-oriented businesses on Santa Catalina Island. — Darryl Brooks / Shutterstock.com

Where To Stay

You’ll soon realize that one day on Catalina is not enough. So consider spending the night at one of the island’s hotels, and you’ll have more time to explore Catalina’s attractions.

The historic Hotel Atwater was opened in 1920 but underwent an extensive renovation in 2019. Today, the stylish hotel offers its guests well-appointed rooms, an evening wine reception, breakfast at the Avalon Grille, and even a tour of the casino.

If you don’t want to walk too far, the Pavilion Hotel is just steps from the beach. This beautifully landscaped property offers plenty of indoor and outdoor seating areas. Like Hotel Atwater, the Pavilion includes an evening wine reception, breakfast, and a casino tour.

Aerial view of Catalina Express speedboat next to Santa Catalina Island. — bonandbon / Shutterstock.com

Getting To Catalina Island

Most people get to Catalina by ferry. You can select the Catalina Express, which departs from San Pedro, Long Beach, and Dana Point, or the Catalina Flyer, which is available in Newport Beach. Schedules vary at each location and according to the season, so be sure to consult the websites. Ferry rides last between an hour and an hour and a half. During the summer and on weekends, reservations are recommended.

Planning a trip to Los Angeles? Don’t miss the crowded city’s hidden gems and unique restaurants.

11 Traditional Foods To Try In Ireland

When most people think about Irish food, they think about boiled potatoes or maybe corned beef and cabbage for a Saint Patrick’s Day meal. But there are many other delicious dishes that highlight the fresh and seasonal bounty provided by the sea and land that make Ireland a beautiful country to visit.

Here are just a few examples of the mouthwatering foods that await visitors to this wonderful country.

A traditional Irish breakfast. — Sue Reddel and Diana Laskaris

1. Traditional Irish Breakfast

Unlike some places where breakfast consists of a cup of coffee on the run, Ireland revels in the first meal of the day.

The items in a typical Irish breakfast vary from town to town. An Irish breakfast in the west, sometimes called the full Irish breakfast, consists of pork sausages, fried eggs, baked beans, mushrooms, and a fried tomato. Rashers, also known as back bacon, and black and white pudding, which are made from grain with (black) or without (white) pork blood, are also typical.

In the north, the Ulster fry is comparable but is eaten throughout the day and often includes soda or potato bread.

2. Boxty

This traditional Irish food is best described as a hearty potato pancake. It’s commonly made with flour, baking soda, eggs, and grated and mashed potatoes, and it finds its way onto menus in restaurants alongside other Irish favorites.

It often shows up for breakfast, but with its resurgence in popularity, chefs are finding fun new ways of using boxty. Gallagher’s in Temple Bar in Dublin is a great example.

A loaf of soda bread and Irish butter. — Olga Bilobram / Shutterstock

3. Irish Butter

Butter may be a guilty pleasure, but if you’re going to indulge in it, then Irish butter is the way to go. In Ireland, the dairy cows are grass-fed. The cream takes on a sweeter flavor that infuses the butter. Irish butter also has more butterfat, making it extra creamy, and the bright yellow color comes from the high beta-carotene levels provided by grass-fed cows.

Nowhere in Ireland is butter more revered than in Cork. You can visit the Butter Exchange, which is now the Butter Museum, to learn about the history and process of buttermaking in Ireland.

4. Soda Bread

If you’re going to have some delicious Irish butter, you’ll want something tasty to spread it on. Irish soda bread is a traditional Irish food that has made its way to tables around the world. In Ireland, it became popular out of necessity during a time of great poverty and hunger. It required few ingredients and used baking soda for leavening to create consistent results.

Today, Irish soda bread is often eaten with breakfast or tea. It can be found plain, with dried fruit, or with herbs. Some take the tradition so seriously that there is a Society for the Preservation of Soda Bread.

A traditional Irish stew. — svariophoto / Shutterstock

5. Irish Stew

Traditional Irish food does include stew. In its classic form, Irish stew incorporates onions, potatoes, and lamb. If you head to the southern part of the country, you’ll probably find carrots or different root vegetables included. Other places use goat’s meat, and though it wasn’t common back in the day, beef is sometimes used now. Though less than traditional, we found the beef and Guinness stew at the Guinness Storehouse absolutely delectable.

6. Colcannon And Champ

Yes, it’s true — Irish food features lots of potatoes. And no two items are more traditional than these related mashed-potato dishes. Colcannon blends mashed potatoes with kale or cabbage, while champ blends mashed potatoes with scallions or green onions. These dishes are both readily available all year long, but cabbage is more common for colcannon in fall and winter.

If you’d like, you can learn to make these and other traditional Irish foods at the famed Ballymaloe Cookery School or at Howth Castle Cookery School.

Fresh seafood in Ireland. — Sue Reddel and Diana Laskaris

7. Fresh Seafood

Ireland is home to some of the best seafood in the world. The Wild Atlantic Way is a seafood lover’s dream, covering 761 miles of seaside driving. You could literally spend a week eating your way along this extraordinary path.

Oysters from Galway and smoked salmon are a treasured part of the journey. Lobster, crab, mackerel, mussels, salmon, and other treats from the sea are abundant. There is even a seafood journey that you can take, allowing you to stop at any of the spots that appeal to the seafood lover in you.

8. Dublin Coddle

Ever thrifty, the Irish made use of all they had in their kitchens, and sometimes leftovers would result in a dish called coddle. Associated closely with Dublin, coddle involves braised sliced or chunked pork sausages, rashers, potatoes, and onions plus herbs in a large pot of water or stock.

This hearty dish warms you up in the winter, and it’s still quite popular. Author Jonathan Swift, who wrote Gulliver’s Travels, considered this one of his favorite dishes, and James Joyce referred to coddle in Dubliners. This dish is often made at home, but The Hairy Lemon and some other cozy spots do serve it.

A loaf of Irish barmbrack. — D. Pimborough / Shutterstock

9. Barmbrack

Barmbrack, sometimes called brack or Irish fruit bread, is similar to Italian panettone. The loaf contains dried fruit — usually raisins, sultanas, currants, and the like — and also has a magical history. A popular treat around Halloween, barmbrack was used to tell fortunes by way of little charms baked into the bread, which was cut into even slices. According to ancient Celtic tradition, these charms indicated future status. For example, a ring meant marriage, and a coin signaled wealth.

These days, you’re less likely to find the charms, but you can get a taste of traditional treats and tales at Hansel and Gretel Bakery in Dublin.

10. Irish Oatmeal

Irish oatmeal — also called porridge — is really a thing, and it has been around for centuries. Because of the combination of quality water and soil and a great growing season, Ireland became known for its superior quality oats back in the mid-1800s, when John McCann, founder of McCann’s Irish Oats, won several awards at London, Dublin, Philadelphia, and Chicago exhibitions.

The most unique aspect of Irish oatmeal is that the grains are steel-cut, meaning the groats have been sliced but not flattened. This makes the grains more chewy and less gooey when cooked. We love the nutty, chewy taste of Irish oats ourselves. In fact, they are the only oats we use for oatmeal now.

Traditional Irish oatmeal is treated with respect at Bewley’s Grafton Street Cafe in Dublin, where you can also enjoy gorgeous art such as stained glass windows and sculptures.

11. Irish Desserts

Back when money was tight, Irish children would often get bread and milk for a bedtime treat. The grownups eventually decided that that sounded pretty good, but added some butter and fruit or jam and popped it in the oven, creating a sweet and comforting bread-and-butter pudding. Today, the Irish sweet tooth has expanded, and pies, tarts, and puddings of many sorts abound.

Head over to Queen of Tarts to satisfy your sweet tooth and enjoy a real Irish coffee while you’re at it.

Traditional Drinks To Go With Your Traditional Food

By all means, go to a pub. If you ask for “a beer” or “a pint,” that translates to a pint of Guinness, which is poured slowly and methodically. If you want something smaller, ask for “a glass,” which is half a pint. If you want beer other than Guinness, ask for it by name.

You can be perfectly comfortable sitting in a pub on your own. Inevitably, the other patrons and the bartender will bring you into a lively conversation. And if someone buys you a drink, then you buy them one on the next “round,” a very common occurrence.

What To Expect At Carnaval In Panama

Public celebrations mark the days before the somber Christian season of Lent in many countries. Each culture puts its own spin on carnival season. Carnaval in Panama takes place over the four days preceding Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent, and features street dancing, music, parades, exotically decorated floats, elaborately dressed queens, and long hours of partying. It’s colorful, lively, and loud.

Here’s what to expect when visiting Panama for Carnaval.

Carnival celebrations in Panama. — US Embassy Panama / Flickr

A Countrywide Party

Carnaval takes over the country. Although it is not an official holiday, many businesses shut down for the period. There are food and drink booths, live music events, and vendors selling souvenirs and street food. There are parades and fireworks. There are street dances. People gather in town squares, in the streets, and in their homes to eat, drink, and party until the wee hours of the morning.

Even though Carnaval doesn’t officially start until the Saturday before Ash Wednesday, in many places, the partying begins on Friday. On Tuesday, the last day, the partying lasts until dawn. Pace yourself if you want to take in as much of the festivities as possible. Early afternoon is often siesta time.

Carnaval is also a time for families to celebrate together. Many locals travel to their hometowns to observe the holiday with loved ones. I experienced Carnaval in the small town of Pedasi. It seemed as if every house in town was full of visiting relatives. The aroma of roasting chickens greeted us as we walked through the streets of town. Music emanated from houses and from massive speaker systems set up in car trunks. People visited and danced on their front porches, greeting all passersby with big waves and smiles.

Variations From Town To Town

Carnaval is celebrated in a similar manner in towns across Panama, with slight variations from region to region. Some towns are particularly known for their Carnaval celebrations.

Celebrations in Panama City are centered in Cinta Costera and Balboa. The giant street parties feature parades with floats, exotic costumes, music, dancing, and fireworks. Bocas del Toro, Panama’s party capital, is the place for serious partygoers. Carnaval festivities there are particularly spirited. Carnaval in Penonome takes an aquatic turn — the parade floats along a river.

The most extravagant celebration in the country occurs in the town of Las Tablas in the Azuero Peninsula. A rivalry between two parts of town, Calle Arriba (Uptown) and Calle Abajo (Downtown), dominates the celebrations, with parades featuring queens from each part. A similar celebration occurs in the nearby town of Pedasi, where I experienced Carnaval. I’ve read articles claiming Carnaval in Pedasi is a calmer experience than in other places, but I found the party in Pedasi to be anything but sedate.

Other towns and cities with notable Carnaval celebrations include Chitre, Los Santos, Dolega, David, Capira, Aguadulce, San Miguelito, and Ocu.

A festive float during Panama's Carnival. — Donna Janke

A Battle Between Uptown And Downtown

In Las Tablas and many other parts of Panama, Carnaval features a “feud” between two parts of town, Calle Arriba and Calle Abajo. Each side selects a queen well in advance of the festival. In Pedasi, more and more posters promoting one queen or another were tacked up around town as Carnaval neared. It didn’t take us long to realize we were staying in Calle Arriba.

Over the course of the four days of Carnaval, the two sides compete. Each side creates elaborate floats to carry their extravagantly dressed queen and her princesses. Brass and drum bands known as murgas accompany the floats. Supporters of the queen, called tunas, follow, dancing and singing. Their rhythmic songs sounded repetitive to me at first, but they were infectious, and by the second day they made me smile and start to dance.

In Pedasi, there are two parades each day, one around noon, and the other closer to midnight. The floats and tunas of each queen start out from opposite ends of town and march toward the town square, which they circle several times. There are fireworks. At the end of the parade, the floats return to the opposite ends of town to be dismantled and recreated with new decorations for the next parade. The queens wear different costumes in each parade.

The winning queen is chosen at the end of the last parade on the morning of Ash Wednesday. It was the other side of town, Calle Abajo, that won the year I attended Carnaval in Pedasi.

Colorful Dress

Parading Carnaval queens and princesses wear tiaras and glittering over-the-top costumes covered in beads and gems. Long multicolored plumes fan out behind them to the sides and above their heads.

Queens and princesses wear polleras in the last parade of Carnaval. The pollera is a traditional Panamanian dress. The handmade skirt and blouse have layered frills running from the bodice down the full length of the skirt. Consisting of yards and yards of fine fabric and decorated with colorful embroidered designs, a single pollera can take months to make and may be handed down from generation to generation.

The wearing of polleras isn’t limited to queens and princesses. In Pedasi around 6 p.m. on Tuesday evening, the last day of Carnaval, men and women dressed in traditional garb begin making their way to the town square — the women in polleras, and the men in montunas, long-sleeved embroidered white shirts worn over simple black trousers. Accompanied by a brass band, they march around the town square and center of town for hours. In Panama City, thousands march in their polleras on Sunday afternoon.

Getting Wet

Cistern trucks called culecos are a staple of Carnaval in Panama. La mojadera, or the spraying of water into the crowds from the trucks, is meant to be fun. When you’re amidst a crowd of people in hot tropical weather, it can also be refreshing.

If you want to avoid getting wet, it’s not just the culecos you’ll need to watch out for. Water guns and balloons are popular among festival attendees, especially the children. At the Pedasi Carnaval, water guns were the hottest commodity at the stalls around the town square.

Two Carnival participants in devils' masks. — Ricardo Canino / Shutterstock

Dirty Devils

You may also see diablos sucios (“dirty devils”) at Carnaval celebrations. Clad in red and/or black, they wear elaborate, scary handmade masks. The making of the masks is a traditional art. The dirty devils are a part of Panamanian folklore and are thought to ward off evil spirits. Traditionally, they carry animal bladders, which leak as they dance — hence the name “dirty devils.”

In Bocas del Toro, the dirty devils crack whips. I don’t recall dirty devils being a significant feature of Carnaval in Pedasi, although at least one member of the queen’s murga band wore a mask.

Crowds

Carnaval is a countrywide celebration, so expect to encounter crowds. If, like me, you are somewhat overwhelmed by crowds of people, you can take comfort in the fact that the colors, music, and festive vibe are likely to counteract any unease. The atmosphere is a fun one. Do, however, be careful about your personal possessions, and leave valuables behind. With all the crowds, the streets can be dirty. Don’t wear your best clothes.

Although Panama City has its own celebrations, many people travel from the city to their family homes for Carnaval. This results in heavy traffic exiting the city on the days before the festival and returning to the city after the festival.

Be prepared to pay a premium for accommodations during Carnaval, and plan to book well in advance. Prices for accommodations in popular Carnaval towns go up during Carnaval. The nightly Carnaval rate for our Aibnb in Pedasi was almost triple the non-Carnaval rate. In the days leading up to Carnaval, I noticed more and more houses offering rooms for rent.

The influx of people can overwhelm the infrastructure of some of these small towns. We encountered electrical and water outages during Carnaval in Pedasi. Neither dampened the party spirit or stopped the festivities.

Burial Of The Sardine

Carnaval ends with the Burial of the Sardine just before sunrise on Ash Wednesday, a tradition imported from Spain. Costumed mourners carry a symbolic sardine in a tiny coffin to its burial spot. As with other aspects of Carnaval, each town has its own variation on the tradition. The burial marks the end of the partying and the beginning of the 40 days of Lent.

The 7 Best Castles To Visit In The Loire Valley

With its fertile fields and flowing rivers, France’s Loire Valley was a strategic location for fortresses during the Hundred Years’ War between France and England. When the conflict finally came to an end, France’s elite filled the French countryside with opulent castles that served as signs of their wealth and influence.

Today, the castles of the Loire Valley attract more than three million visitors each year, making the UNESCO World Heritage site one of the most popular French tourist destinations outside the capital city of Paris. But with so many castles to choose from, it’s difficult to know which curved keeps and manicured gardens to visit.

Whether you want to explore one castle on a day trip from Paris or spend a few days exploring several castles in the Loire Valley, here are a few marvelous structures to consider.

The Chateau de Blois in Blois, France. — Yuri Turkov / Shutterstock

1. Chateau De Blois, Blois, France

About a 2-hour drive from Paris, the Chateau de Blois was the birthplace of King Louis XII. Constructed around a single courtyard, the castle’s four wings represent four distinct periods and styles: Gothic, Flamboyant, Renaissance, and Classicism.

The Chateau de Blois was one of two royal residences kept by King Francois I. He ordered the construction of the Renaissance wing, with its elaborate exterior staircase covered with fine bas-relief sculptures, immediately after ascending to the throne

The fire-breathing salamander at the Chateau de Blois. — Sage Scott

Inside this wing, keep an eye out for ermines and fire-breathing salamanders, the spirit animals of Queen Anne of Bretagne and King Francois I, respectively.

Pro Tip: Be sure to take in the view of the Loire River and the town of Blois from the Foix Tower, one of the remaining components of the original medieval fortress.

The Chateau de Chambord in Chambord, France. — Sage Scott

2. Chateau De Chambord, Chambord, France

Surrounded by a 13,000-acre wooded game reserve, the Chateau de Chambord was designed as a hunting lodge for King Francois I so that he could be closer to his mistress, the Comtesse de Thoury. Despite not serving as one of the king’s official residences, this French Renaissance castle is the largest in the Loire Valley, with 440 rooms, 84 staircases, and 365 fireplaces. (But you’ll only get to tour about 60 of the rooms when you visit.)

The piece de resistance is a double-helix staircase that pulls four spacious rooms together at the center of the keep while winding its way up to the castle’s tallest tower.

The double-helix staircase at the Chateau Chambord. — Davesayit / Shutterstock

King Francois I was enamored with Italian art and architecture, and it is thought that Leonardo da Vinci helped design the impressive staircase after moving to France to serve as the king’s premier architect and engineer.

Pro Tip: Once you’ve explored the castle and surrounding gardens, visit the small chapel dedicated to Saint Louis near the southern tower. You’ll find several restaurants, cafes, and other places to grab a bite along the southwestern edge of the castle in the old village square known as Place Saint Louis.

The Chateau D'Amboise in Amboise, France. — Sage Scott

3. Chateau D’Amboise, Amboise, France

The Chateau d’Amboise is located on a spur above the Loire River where fortresses have protected the town since the Iron Age. The castle has a centuries-long history that includes serving as one of the royal residences of King Francois I and being confiscated by the government when King Louis Philippe abdicated the throne in 1848.

The Saint Hubert Chapel at the Chateau D’Amboise. — Sage Scott

You won’t want to miss the Saint Hubert Chapel; it’s dedicated to the patron saint of hunting and is the final resting place of Leonardo da Vinci.

Pro Tip: To reach the next castle on this list, consider strolling a quarter-mile through the town of Amboise. Not only will you pass some great places to grab a bite or sip a soda, but you’ll also be treated to beautiful half-timbered homes and the sights and sounds of locals going about their everyday lives.

The Chateau Du Clos Luce in Amboise, France. — Sage Scott

4. Chateau Du Clos Luce, Amboise, France

Leonardo da Vinci spent his final three years as a guest of King Francois I at the Chateau du Clos Luce. It was here that he developed many of his most visionary inventions, from the helicopter to the machine gun.

After exploring the castle, be sure to visit the Leonardo da Vinci Park.

The Da Vinci gardens at the Chateau Du Clos Luce. — Sage Scott

The serene setting includes shade trees, colorful flowers, and relaxing water features. You can also interact with full-size working prototypes of da Vinci’s inventions, including the revolving bridge, assault chariot, and aerial screw.

Although visitors can’t verify this on their own, legend has it that secret tunnels connect King Francois I’s home at Chateau d’Amboise with da Vinci’s home at Clos Luce.

The Chateau De Chenonceau in Chenonceaux, France. — Sage Scott

5. Chateau De Chenonceau, Chenonceaux, France

The Chateau de Chenonceau isn’t visible until visitors walk through the Grand Avenue of Plane Trees, a wide dirt path that is approximately a quarter-mile long. But the view at the other end of the dusty avenue is absolutely spectacular. Built over the Cher River, the Chateau de Chenonceau looks like a fairy-tale fortress built on a medieval stone arch bridge.

The Chateau de Chenonceau is often referred to as the Ladies’ Castle because it was the only French castle designed, protected, and restored by women.

Avenue of trees leading to the Chateau De Chenonceau. — Sage Scott

The bridge-like fortress surrounded by water is impressive on its own, but you won’t want to miss the castle’s gardens. In addition to gorgeous green spaces designed by Catherine de Medici and Diane de Poitiers, you’ll see a hedge maze and a 2.5-acre flower garden bordered by apple trees.

Pro Tip: As you explore the castle, keep an eye out for the interlocking capital Cs topped with a golden crown. While the symbol looks like the Chanel logo, it’s actually the insignia of Catherine de Medici, who managed the Kingdom of France from her lime-colored study in the castle in the mid-16th century.

The Chateau De Villandry in Villandry, France. — Sage Scott

6. Chateau De Villandry, Villandry, France

The Chateau de Villandry was originally built for King Francois I’s minister of finance. And in the early 1900s, a non-royal couple — Dr. Joachim Carvallo and his American heiress wife, Ann Coleman — purchased the chateau and restored it to its original Renaissance beauty.

The kitchen at the Chateau De Villandry. — Sage Scott

While the castle is certainly grand and the grounds are impressive, this chateau has a down-to-earth feeling about it. Perhaps it’s because Dr. Carvallo and his wife raised their six children in the castle or because it is their heirs who maintain it today.

The Chateau D’Usse in Rigny-Usse, France. — Sage Scott

7. Chateau D’Usse, Rigny-Usse, France

A 3-hour drive southwest of Paris is the Chateau d’Usse. Built on the edge of the Chinon Forest, this fairy-tale castle was inspired by Charles Perrault’s Sleeping Beauty and was one of the castles that Walt Disney drew upon when designing Cinderella Castle.

The current owners have embraced the castle’s influence on fairy tales and magic kingdoms by recreating scenes from Sleeping Beauty in the curved rooms of one of the castle’s turrets.

The gardens at the Chateau D’Usse. — Sage Scott

If you find that to be a bit cheesy (or you’re visiting Usse between mid-November and mid-February, when the castle is closed for the winter), you can at least admire the castle’s beautiful exterior.

Pro Tip: The best place to photograph this castle is from the bridge over the Indre River directly north of the castle.

Tips For Visiting The Loire Valley Castles

The best Loire Valley castles for a day trip from Paris are the Chateau de Blois and the Chateau de Chambord. They are both 2 hours southwest of Paris.
If you’d like to experience several Loire Valley castles, don’t plan on seeing more than two in one day. It’s also a good idea to identify the castles you want to see in advance and select centrally located accommodations. To see the castles on this list, consider staying in the town of Tours.
In addition to its stunning castles, the Loire Valley is known for its locally sourced cuisine and world-class sauvignon blanc and pinot noir wines, so be sure to enjoy them as well as the rich history and impressive architecture.

Want to enjoy Paris off the beaten path? Check out these hidden gems, delightful shops, surprising things to do, and lesser-known churches in the city.

How We Avoided An Airbnb Disaster In New York City

At Christmastime, New York City really dresses up for the season. There’s a sparkling, giant tree at the Rockefeller Center and ice skating in Central Park. The Rockettes dance to live orchestra music, elaborate window displays are everywhere, and the city hosts an enchanting outdoor Christmas market.

For years, a trip to New York City in December was on my bucket list. So last summer, I decided it was time to book it.

Booking With Care

Before choosing an Airbnb, I studied maps of Manhattan. My previous trips to New York City were in the spring and summer, but this trip would entail cold temperatures and possibly snow. I wanted to be near Times Square and the Rockefeller Center to avoid walking too far in the winter weather, but I didn’t want to be too close to the crowds and noise.

After much deliberation, I chose what I thought was the perfect apartment in an area not far from the main sights. The photos were mostly of the living room, and the listing description mentioned that the bedroom was small. I didn’t worry about that, since my family doesn’t require luxury. We’ve stayed in many Airbnbs, and this one promised to be a winner.

My daughter, who has been to New York City on business many times, decided to join us. We were all set for five days of holiday family fun.

The writer with her husband and daughter in New York City. — Sharon Odegaard

Reality Bites

We arrived in New York City at night, with cold rain that would soon become snow. Our Uber driver dropped us off in front of a restaurant that he assured us was our apartment’s address. We found a small door behind a bank of trash cans. Our host’s neighbor met us to unlock the hallway doors. We climbed the stairs covered in threadbare carpet past piles of junk.

Then our host’s neighbor opened the door to our home away from home. A wave of heat greeted us. We started peeling off coats, scarves, gloves, boots, and sweaters. The neighbor explained that it was indeed an unbearable 95 degrees inside, but that the boiler heat from the basement was stuck on, so we’d just have to open a window. California girl that I am, I asked if that would let in snow. The neighbor informed us that it would, but at least we wouldn’t be too hot.

Oh, and there was another slight problem — the radiator leaked into a large pan of water. We would need to empty this pan every few hours to avoid a flood in the apartment. I worried that this constant flood watch would put a serious dent in our sightseeing plans.

We could live with issues such as the bedroom being so small that there was no floor space around the bed. You had to jump in from the foot of the bed, and all that night I kept kicking the wall right next to my feet. A bigger problem was the noise from the restaurant and street below that drifted through our open windows all night, with people yelling and car horns honking. Sirens pierced the air. This is the city that never sleeps, and neither did we.

The writer's room at the Grand Hyatt. — Sharon Odegaard

The Happy Solution

My daughter arrived at midnight, and we went into conference mode immediately. We had loyalty points with Hyatt and IHG (Ritz-Carltons and Holiday Inns). In no time, we found that our points would get us into the Grand Hyatt in the heart of Manhattan for three nights. It was too late to move there after midnight (the hotel was full), so we suffered through one night in the Airbnb. In the morning, my daughter commented that with the noise and temperature issues and snow drifting through the windows, she felt like she got as much sleep as if she’d spent the night on a plane.

We transferred to the Grand Hyatt the next day, leaving behind the disaster of a place and settling into delightful elegance — all at no cost to us. We marveled at everything in our new room: The bathroom had no chipped tiles or peeling paint, there were real beds instead of a futon, and there was plenty of room to walk around the beds! We enjoyed a city view out our 34th-floor (closed) window, a block away from the famous Chrysler Building. We didn’t hear a single car horn all night, and we quickly caught up on our sleep in the comfortable room.

I was ready to call it my mistake for booking a hot (and cold), flooding apartment. My daughter was more assertive. When the Airbnb host texted to ask how we were doing, she helped me write a polite but firm response saying we couldn’t stay there and lose so much sleep. To my surprise, he immediately wrote back and offered to refund my payment in full. He just asked that I not leave a negative review. We agreed, and the money was back on my credit card before we flew home. And since we booked the hotel room with points, our lodging situation actually gave us a positive balance in our bank account.

Once that was settled, we had one more night to figure out. It would have been easiest to spend the night at the Grand Hyatt and pay out of pocket. I looked up the cost and was shocked that it would be more than $700. That was definitely not in our travel budget! So, once again, we turned to our stash of points. We found a Holiday Inn around the corner from Madison Square Garden for our last night. We moved from our super-luxurious hotel to a perfectly comfortable hotel in a convenient area. And again, it cost us nothing.

Ice skating in New York City during winter. — Sharon Odegaard

Lessons Learned

Our time in New York City during the holidays far exceeded my expectations. It was charming beyond what I imagined! But we might have spent our time tired and feeling ill from being overheated or cold. And running back to the Airbnb every few hours to empty a pan of water would certainly have disrupted our sightseeing!

Here’s what I learned from this experience.

Collect Hotel Loyalty Points, Even If You Have No Immediate Use For Them

We had points on the back burner, and this meant we could change our plans and move to a place where we could get a good night’s rest. We have points with Marriott and Hilton as well as IHG and Hyatt. It’s not crazy to rack them up — it can save your trip!

Decide What Issues Are Deal Breakers

We stayed in a different Airbnb in New York City a few years ago that also had a small bedroom. I had to launch myself into the bed, since there wasn’t room to walk around it. We’ve laughed about this many times since. Space is at a premium in New York City, so a cramped apartment wouldn’t be a deal breaker.

I’ve stayed in hotels and Airbnbs with ancient bathrooms and broken tiles and stains. Old floors may slant, and stairs may creak. Entryways may be piled with junk. I can deal with those things, but the heating and flooding issues put me over the edge.

Stand Up For Yourself

I would not have told our host (who was out of town) that we didn’t stay at his apartment. But when I did, at the urging of my daughter, he wrote back right away. The situation was resolved to the satisfaction of both of us. And I’m guessing that when he got home, he fixed the heating and flooding problems ASAP.

Having a backup plan to book hotel rooms for free, knowing our tolerance limits, and being nice but firm with our Airbnb host all paid off. The three of us enjoyed a memorable holiday trip.

Trying to decide between a hotel and an Airbnb for your New York City vacation? Check out our breakdown.

Why Cruising Is The Best Option For Travelers Over 50

I love to travel. I’ve visited most of the U.S. states and Canada, Mexico, Europe, Morocco, the Bahamas, and many of the Caribbean islands. I’ve traveled by car, plane, train, and cruising. By far, my favorite form of travel is cruising.

I’ve cruised through the Mediterranean, to Alaska, around Canada and the New England states, through the Caribbean islands, and to Mexico. I’ve taken six different cruises and cruised with three different cruise lines: Royal Caribbean, Princess, and MSC.

We have cruised four times in the past 18 months and we have two additional cruises booked.

Cruising is a wonderful way to travel and vacation regardless of age, but the older you get, the more factors make cruising the best option for travelers over 50.

Here are a few to consider:

Sunset from the deck of a cruise ship. — NAPA / Shutterstock

Packing And Unpacking Only Once

Lugging heavy suitcases is hard on the back. I like being able to unpack my suitcase one time, put things in place, and not have to worry about packing again until the end of the cruise. When visiting place to place on a road trip, there’s a lot of unpacking and repacking. Cruising takes that waste of time away so you can enjoy every minute of your vacation.

You Get More For Your Money

Whether you are on a fixed income or have money to splurge, cruising is a great deal: three restaurant meals, snacks, and your room, plus your transportation from port to port for $50 to $150 per day on average during a cruise. Where else can you find that kind of bargain?

Your Flexible Schedule Allows For Longer Cruises

As you age, your schedule usually becomes a bit more flexible with more vacation time from work or full-on retirement. This means you can take longer cruises that allow you to visit more ports and see more of the world. Our last cruise was 10 days and we visited 5 different countries. Usually a longer cruise provides more of a financial bargain when it comes to the cost per day as well.

Night Driving Isn’t Necessary

If you are like me, your eyesight is not as sharp after dark as it is in daylight hours. When cruising, you don’t have to worry about that. You can enjoy a night of shows, music, dancing, and other fun without having to worry about driving home.

A theater on a cruise ship. — Robin Smith

The Service And Meals Are Fantastic

After years of taking care of a family, it is nice to have people taking care of you. A week of no cooking, no bed making, no cleaning, no major responsibilities is fun regardless of age but is an especially fun luxury for the over-50 crowd. I find the service and attention to detail on cruise ships to be above and beyond what I have experienced at all-inclusive resorts.

Long Drives Are History

No more getting out of the car all stiff from driving for hours. There is no need to spend your valuable vacation time in a car or any other form of transportation to get you from one place to another. One of the great benefits of cruising is you are often traveling while you sleep and arrive at your next destination rested and refreshed.

Boredom Doesn’t Happen

It is hard to be bored on a cruise ship. There is always something to do if you wish to do it. There is plenty to do for anyone of any age on a cruise ship. Think movies, bowling, bingo, gambling, dancing, dance lessons, listening to music, reading, playing cards, shopping, spas, saunas, exercise rooms, shows, swimming, and so much more. You can do as much or as little as you desire.

Cruising Over 50 Pro Tips:

If you want the very best night’s sleep, book an indoor cabin. There’s minimal light to filter through the curtains and it is very dark. The soft movement of the waves gently rocks you to sleep. Some of my best sleep has taken place on a cruise in an indoor cabin.
If you are no longer working a full-time job or have flexibility in scheduling, you can pick up some very inexpensive cruises for less than $50 per night by waiting till the last minute to book. Regardless of what you pay for your cruise, you will get the same fantastic service, food, and entertainment.
Are you considering a bucket-list cruise? If yes, it is best to book about a year ahead since cruises to the most desirable destinations often fill, or the type of room you want might not be available.
A cruise is your opportunity to try new foods. When I travel and eat in restaurants, I’m usually hesitant about trying new things that I might not like because of the cost, and because I don’t want to waste food. (I’m a picky eater!) On a cruise, you can try new things without worry. There is a sense of freedom knowing if you dislike something, it is okay, and you can get something else you will enjoy at no extra cost. I’ve tried many new dishes while cruising that I would not otherwise have tasted.

Want to experience a truly unique cruise? Consider a European wine river cruise or these eight reasons to see Croatia by boat.