In a Colorado mountain town where 19th-century brick buildings and antler chandeliers are the norm, a stay at modern Aspen Meadows Resort, on 40 sprawling acres just outside downtown Aspen, is a delightful change of scenery for visitors — and locals. To celebrate my June birthday with a close-to-home getaway, my husband and I motored…
Pull out one Andrew Jackson and two George Washingtons and you’ll be on the fast track to cut your living expenses in half—or more. That one small purchase could be all it takes to get you on the path of living well for for far less money than what you’re spending now. The second edition…
Editor’s Note: This post went up when the covid pandemic was at its worst and widespread vaccination hadn’t happened yet. Then it was updated with more info after a government mask mandate went into effect, so this is now a look back at history. American Airlines is still more likely to disappoint you than make…
This post on the cheapest ski resorts in Europe was updated in January of 2024. How much will it cost you to go skiing in the old country? Not so much actually if you hit the cheapest ski resorts in Europe. If you’re traveling on a budget, it’s no secret that travel prices in Europe…
The city of Merida in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula is a sultry, ancient place and Hotel Boutique Misión Fray de Diego fits right in. Centered around a sun-dappled central courtyard, this Colonial-era structure was part of Nuestra Señora de la Consolación Catholic convent from the 1500s to the 1800s, with various evolutions to its architecture along…
[Updated 11/15/2019] Led by the Plastic Free Foundation, Plastic Free July is a campaign launched in 2011 to encourage people to refuse single use plastics and limit their plastic waste. Started by Rebecca Prince-Ruiz and members of her local government in Western Australia, the annual challenge is now undertaken by millions of people around the…
Wedged into a steep canyon in the Mule Mountains of Southern Arizona, the picturesque former copper mining town of Bisbee was once the largest city between St. Louis and San Francisco. Today, it is best known for its lively arts and antique scene, as well as its LGBTQ-friendly nightlife. And while there are numerous historic…
Is your jaw dropping when you look at high season travel prices? (And not in a good way?) In what feels like the blink of an eye, flight prices seem outrageously high on some routes again. It could cost you $1,500 for the cheapest fare to Europe, $700 to cross the USA, $600 round-trip to…
[Updated 11/7/22] Making recycled Christmas decorations at home is a fantastic opportunity to slow down and savor the holiday season. It gives us a chance to spend some quality time with our family and friends, not to mention avoiding the ever-increasing consumerist trappings of the holiday season. Using waste materials for our homemade holiday crafts is even…
Every year at Christmastime, my mother chooses and champions a charitable cause. In lieu of fruitcakes, popcorn tins and kitschy socks, she sends out donations to what she considers the best non-profit organizations in our honor. It’s not that she isn’t festive, or doesn’t believe in celebrating Christmas traditions. But when it comes to gift-giving, she assumes…
