Winds threw the ocean around while we tried to have a conversation over the noise. It was the first day of the Sanibel and Captiva Islands trip off the gulf coast of Florida, and I’m being hit with a storm. There’s a riptide advisory against swimming, but it went ignored as my husband was determined to get in the water. We has endured months of freezing London weather, then an additional two snowy weeks in Boston. It was time to vacation no matter what. Growing up, my family often migrated…

While living outside the U.S., I’ve fielded tons of questions on how to have the best vacation in America. People all over the world come far and wide to take trips across the U.S., usually hitting the big, iconic hotspots. Many people I meet in London and throughout Europe have been to New York City, Orlando, or even Los Angeles. But the rest of the country is often lost on them. Photo via Flickr by raphael.chekroun I get it. For two decades I’ve road tripped and flown all over the…

As soon as I stepped foot in Seattle, I could sense something special. There are not a lot of cities I feel at home immediately in, but this west coast oasis surrounded by dense forest is magic. It’s full of people who have landed in a space that’s wonderfully welcome to everything that’s just a little weird. When hot entertainment consists of talented drag queens and art translates to a wall covered in gum, you know you’re in for a wild treat of a trip. Someday I’d love to go…

The stack of pancakes, avocado toast, and fluffy scrambled eggs I had in New York City was a game changer. Not only was the food unforgettable, but every bite also came with a bottomless glass of prosecco mimosas or cocktails. What was this sorcery?! In Boston, there are laws against offering unlimited drinks, happy hour specials, and any other deal that has to do with alcohol. So when I hopped over to NYC for a long weekend, it all felt like a revelation. Everywhere I looked were happy hours, wine…

My dreams are filled with beignets and etouffeé. The impact Louisiana left on me in a culinary sense was magic. I had no idea there was such a rich and diverse scene that dates back centuries. The way locals have blended together various influences of food from around the globe is unique to this state, and one I was happy to indulge. Super simply put, you can find Cajun cuisine more out in the suburb or country, while Creole has caught on more in the cities. But these days you…