A day trip or weekend away in the Hudson Valley is the perfect antidote to the frenetic energy of New York City. Dotted with farms and orchards, state parks, historic country towns and old money mansions left behind from the Gilded Age, it’s only a short train trip to find sweet relief from the city that never sleeps. On a warm weekend in September, when … Continue reading A Day Trip to the Hudson Valley: Beacon & Cold Spring
Greek weddings are legendary as one of the most vibrant celebrations in the world, so when my friend Lia invited David and I to her wedding in Greece, I was delighted. I love celebrating my friend’s weddings to begin with, but the chance to experience the joyfulness of a Greek wedding was the icing on the cake! The wedding was held in the bride’s hometown, … Continue reading Highlights from 2 Weeks in Greece
Every winter, the charming Goldfields town of Heathcote becomes a hotbed of activity for the annual Heathcote on Show wine festival. Dozens of winemakers from across the Heathcote wine regio take over more than 20 venues in the centre of town, making the main street of Heathcote a one-stop shop for some of the best wines in the country. Heathcote on Show is held on … Continue reading Heathcote on Show: A Winter Wine Weekend in the Goldfields
Lefkes is one of the most beautiful villages in Paros. Tucked away in the mountains, it became Paros’ medieval capital because it was hidden from pirates, and today it’s largely hidden from mass tourism. The tiny, narrow streets are pedestrian-only, preserving a sense of tranquility, even as the crowds gently swell after the first bus arrives around 11am. Since it’s not on the water, like … Continue reading Lefkes: Paros’ enchanting medieval capital
Parikia is the capital of Paros, one of the most beautiful Greek islands in the Cyclades. Paros is a perfect alternative for avoiding the crowds of Santorini and Mykonos without skimping on idyllic Aegean beaches and charming Cycladic villages. Parikia is the capital of Paros and the island’s major port, yet it’s also one of the loveliest villages on the island. The best things to … Continue reading Parikia: Paros’ Captivating Capital
Faros is exactly the kind of sleepy, waterfront village I’d been dreaming of when I planned our trip to the Cyclades islands in Greece. Located on the tiny island of Sifnos, the small harbour of Faros is lined with a handful of tavernas and the water is a dazzling shade of blue. Best of all, the beach was uncrowded and I really felt like we … Continue reading Faros & Glyfos: Beach hopping in Sifnos
One of the greatest joys of travelling inland in Australia is discovering its charming country towns, with their heritage architecture, truly farm-to-table food and classic country hospitality. The best country towns in Australia to visit include Bendigo, Ballarat, Beechworth, Daylesford, Hahndorf, Ross & Montville, to name a few! While Australia’s islands, beaches and beach towns tend to get the most fame and glory, the best … Continue reading The Most Charming Country Towns in Australia
The pretty village of Hahndorf is small slice of 19th century Germany, tucked away in the Adelaide Hills. Just a 30-minute drive from Adelaide’s city centre, visiting Hahndorf is like briefly stepping back in time, and off the continent. In July 2021, we were lucky enough to time our postponed South Australia trip in the 10 days between Melbourne’s two long lockdowns. At the time, … Continue reading Hahndorf: A German Village in the Adelaide Hills
Spring is in full bloom in Melbourne, which reminded me of the radiant beauty of the Ballarat Begonia Festival, which David & I stumbled upon back in April of this year. Over the Easter long weekend, David & I spent the weekend in Hamilton in the Southern Grampians. A spontaneous stop in Ballarat on the long drive home delivered one of the most beautiful moments … Continue reading In Bloom: Ballarat Begonia Festival
Luxury cars and designer handbags, out running errands. Sprawling estates with ocean views. Lashings of hydrangeas. Very, very wealthy people. These were the things I expected from a weekend in the Hamptons, on Long Island’s East End. What I didn’t expect was for somewhere so famously out of touch with the real world to bring me back down to earth. It was a breath of … Continue reading Out East: A Weekend in the Hamptons