Search results for 'santa barbara'

Snowbirds looking to escape the cold, but who prefer a temperate rather than tropical climate, will find the best of both worlds in Santa Rosa County, along Florida’s Panhandle. The destination has a plethora of affordable rental condominiums and homes, and RV campgrounds.

Experience the colors, sounds, and landscapes of New Mexico on Collette’s Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta tour! Discover the “land of enchantment” as you explore the diverse cities of Albuquerque and Santa Fe. 

As a boomer I was blessed with my father having been in the Air Force and we lived in Spain (Torrejon AFB outside Madrid) when I was in High School  What a perfect age to be exposed to other countries and cultures!  

If you want to stay at a very unique property with loads of atmosphere, the Inn of the Five Graces fills the bill. The five graces refer to the five graces of Tibetan philosophy – sight, sound, touch, smell and taste. The inn was formed from a group of abandoned adobe structures to create a very unique hotel.

I love the holidays…it’s such a magical time!  The twinkling lights, egg nog, decorating the tree, shopping for gifts and celebrations with family and friends – everything seems a little more festive and those around you just a little more jolly. 

Collette makes travel planning easy so you can simply focus on enjoying the world’s greatest destinations with your family. Collette’s Family tours blend the must-see’s of each destination with hands-on experiences that keep the kids entertained.

Fall in love with Italy as a family and join Collette for an unforgettable family adventure through Italy‘s most magical cities – Venice, Florence and Rome. Filled with history and culture, these cities come to life before your eyes. Explore Italy by foot, train and boat - making your way through ancient and scenic landscapes. Discover the magic of Italy as your family visits the legendary Colosseum, learns the art of making authentic pizza making, indulges in a Tuscan feast, explores a winery for a tasting and a pasta making class, discovers the fantastic world of Leonardo da Vinci and tastes Italy’s sweetest treasure – gelato! 

Today scientists and astronomers plan their visits to space, the moon, mars and beyond, but in the 16 Century Lisboa was the center of the universe where royalty, under the direction of Prince Henry the Navigator, underwrote the explorations to other lands – with such explorers as Vasco da Gama, Magellan, Cabral at the helm.

Fresno is very lucky to have Pismo’s in this city. There were people waiting outside here for the doors to open. Now that tells you about success of a place always.

Our world would be a hugely different place today but for the discovery of sailing and the subsequent role played by the development of galleons, schooners and the tall ships of the day.

Take a step back in time as you walk up the steps to this historic hotel on Main Street in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. The Inn has been continuously operating since the 18^th century and offers 125 rooms, year round heated pool and hot tub, dining and live entertainment nightly.

For those of you who love Espana, together we have ventured out to Madrid, Barcelona, Malaga, Seville, and the Costa del Sol. I would like to entice you to venture down to the Andalusian area of Spain – you will fall in love with this area as it has breathtaking beaches, perfect year around temperatures and many archaeological and historical sites for those history aficionados!  The best kept secret is that one can own their own hideaway – i.e. retirement home at a fraction of the cost in the U.S.

Have you ever wanted to savor gelato in the streets of Florence or sample world-renowned wines in the hills of the Chianti region? Now is your chance with Collette’s Discover Tuscany tour! 

Food is central to every holiday celebration, and Japan is no exception. The fresh, seasonal ingredients, precise preparation and the complete visual aesthetic—color, balance and design—of traditional Japanese cuisine represent thousands of years of traditions, stories and symbolism.  But it’s not just traditional Japanese foods that make this country a stand out in the world of gastronomy.  The Japanese are particularly adept at taking foods and traditions from other countries and turning them into something better. 

The name says it all: Santa Claus. That is, the place, not the person – although he definitely is a huge presence in the town that bears his name. “America’s Christmas Hometown,” Santa Claus, IN, holds its annual Christmas Celebration the first three weekends of December – and what a holly-jolly time for every generation.

Get immersed in the beauty, joy and magic of a small-town Christmas at Christmas Round Bardstown in Kentucky. This seven-week-long celebration packs 25 unique events into the holiday calendar, including Light Up Bardstown on Nov. 25 when the town comes together on picturesque Court Square for the official lighting of the Christmas tree and lamppost wreaths.

Families looking for ways to create holiday memories or start a Christmas tradition with children and grandchildren will find Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill a picture-postcard setting. The 3,000-acre landmark destination in Harrodsburg, KY, gives itself over to the simpler gifts of the season this year with holiday programming that includes Illuminated Evenings, Children’s Tea Time with Mrs. Claus, holiday workshops and more.

5 cities to have the ultimate scare-cation.

Enchanting, majestic, serene, Venice is like no other place in the world.  No other city has been built on a lagoon that with each year gently is sinking at the rate of 1 – 2mm a year.

I’m always on the lookout for things to take with me when I travel. There seems to be some sort of delay or unexpected incident that I’m not always prepared for like making my mouth fresher and cleaner after I eat something on the plane – usually something that I bring aboard since meal service has taken a nose dive on most flights. But I digress.

Experience true southern hospitality during the most wonderful time of the year with Collette’s Southern Charm Holiday tour. From exploring the beautifully decorated Savannah to spending 2-nights at the exclusive Jekyll Island Club, this tour is sure to make you feel like part of the southern family for the holiday season! 

It’s finally fall and time for two of the most popular Disney World events – the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival and Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. Here are some insider tips about these events and how to make the most of them, along with a few extra bonuses for your Orlando trip this season.

In order to enjoy traveling, we need to stay fit and healthy, so Peggy Buchanan from Santa Barbara, California keeps us on track during Healthy Aging Month.

Venture to Barcelona with Collette for an extended stay exploring the art, culture and history of this unique city.  Enjoy unpacking just once for a single hotel stay in Spain’s second largest city and capital of the Catalunya province.  Get acquainted with one of the liveliest cites in all Europe on an adventure full of excitement and rich in culture. From learning the secrets of Catalan cuisine during an interactive cooking class, visiting the Penedes wine region for a winery tour and tasting, to a tour highlighting all the “must see” spots of Barcelona, travelers are sure to be immersed in the city. 

Macau, with its famous “Cotai Strip”, is often considered the Las Vegas of the East. Nevertheless, I went to Macau for five nights; stayed at the Sheraton Macao (3,896 guest rooms) the largest hotel in this entire Special Administrative Region of China, and did not gamble once! Instead, I discovered the destination's cultural side.