Wine and Spirits Travel

It’s not often I get to combine both tennis and travel into one trip. I was happy when the opportunity came to do just that in Madison, Wisconsin . I had been to Madison only once before, and that was quite a long time ago for the Celebration of American Distilling . I only stayed for one night and didn’t get to see much of the city. This trip was scheduled for three nights: two at the Graduate Madison and one at The Edgewater . They are totally different accommodations and I was looking forward to seeing Madison from these completely different angles. My friend Roberta came along with me. Our first stop in the city was to check in at the Graduate Madison . I’m not sure what I was expecting, but it definitely wasn’t what we got. The Graduate brand has truly unique hotels. They are very welcoming with large open lobbies. They are also each uniquely remodeled to the (college) town they are located in. Although my first instinct was mo

It was the last day in Galena for my friend Courtney and I. We filled the day with more exploration of the lovely inn we were staying in, as well as a look back into history. We were down to the dining room at The Goldmoor Inn for another delicious breakfast. Breakfast is part of the stay for all guests and the chef does it right, with a special feast each morning. For our last day, that meant yogurt with peaches, warm scones, and freshly made waffles with blueberries. The meal was delicious and we walked it off with a tour of the property with Birgit Radin, who owns The Goldmoor with her husband, Slovo. Within the beautifully manicured 23 acres is a spa, log cabins, two cottages (one English, one French), and walking trails. The main house, which reminds me of a European castle, has 13 suites, including the Chef’s, where you can have a private meal prepared and enjoy views of both the sunrise and the sunset. After the tour, we bid our hosts goodbye a

I had been in Israel for just about a week. There was a lot to see, but we had been given a pretty set schedule. Fortunately, my fellow writers and I were able to convince our tour guide to go off the plan a bit and it turned out to be our best day of exploring. I woke up at the Dan Accadia Hotel in Herzeliya to another sunny day. The scenery here was beautiful and even though I didn’t have time to fully enjoy it, I did walk around the property a bit, taking in the views of the pool and beach. After another delicious Israeli breakfast, we headed onto the bus and toward the desert. We were off to the lowest point on earth, the Dead Sea . Despite the fact that it is extremely hot, and the drop below sea level had our ears popping, the distance of the sun kept the rays from burning as much as you’d expect. The drive took us through Jericho, though we only made one stop, for a pose with a camel that was much more likely to be a tourist attraction than a wor

It was day three in Daytona Beach, Florida , for my friend Betty and I. We were definitely not running out of things to do. We decided to sleep in a bit and have breakfast downstairs at the Oceanside Inn . By 9:00 am we were still off to the Marine Science Center . It was smaller than an aquarium, but still offered plenty to do, including the opportunity to touch sharks and stingrays, and see and learn about the rehabilitation and breeding of sea turtles. We also saw examples about how things in the environment, especially garbage thrown into the water, affects marine life. Before we drove off, we took a walk across the road for a short hike and a glimpse at the beach. We were then off to the Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse & Museum . It was very different from most National Historic Landmarks I have been to. It wasn’t about famous people in history, it was more an honor to important people you may not know about. In this case, the site pays homage