History Lexington – Keeneland – Kentucky Horse Park – Henry Clay / Ashland Park – Lexington Bourbon Trail – Hotels / Restaurants Woodford Reserve Kentucky Horse Park Painted Horse-min History of Lexington, Kentucky The main Native American tribes in Kentucky and the Ohio Valley –were the Shawnee, the Cherokee, and Chickasaw. The Shawnee had settled in the Ohio and Cumberland valleys, they came to Kentucky to hunt for game, and traded the skins and fur. Most of the indigenous population was removed from Kentucky by early 1800’s through warfare or resettlement. Lexington was named in Jun ..read more

Palm Pavilion Sunset Sunset Sand Key Clearwater Sheraton Clearwater pool Clearwater Beach Our “go to” sunshine escape in recent years is Clearwater Beach near Tampa Bay because: we have direct, frequent and cheap flights to St Petersburg / Clearwater (with Allegiant) from Cincinnati and less than 2 hours flying St Petersburg / Clearwater is a relatively small airport with good facilities and short walks to terminals & planes there is plenty of white sandy beaches to choose from and like its namesake describes it’s “clear Gulf of Mexico water” broad selection of hotels and rental a ..read more

The Historic Cities in Andalucía Region of Spain Here we visited Seville and Cordoba in Andalucía! These are two famous historic cities in southern Spain, both previously occupied by the Romans and later by the Moors. This post is an extension of our previous travel blog on our Road Trip through the Extremadura Region – Driving from Madrid to Seville and delves into the history and culture of the area. Seville and Cordoba each reflect the cultural legacy of the Moors and is especially evident in fine art, calligraphy, and architecture. The Moors also left behind sophisticated irrigation system ..read more

Our Visit to West of Ireland / Connemara, includes a bit on the Wild Atlantic Way, , the Gaeltacht Region, the Twelve Bens, some sweet Connemara Ponies, Roundstone, and Ballynahinch Castle! Visiting Connemara Overview Twelve Bens from Roundstone harbor From Galway on the West of Ireland, we are traveling through Connemara along the coastal road known as the Wild Atlantic Way. Our goal is to escape to our 2-night luxury retreat nestled in a majestic wooded area in Connemara. Final destination is the expansive and elegant Ballynahinch (Baile na hInse) Castle. The hotel sits on a 700 acre estate ..read more

Charleston Off Sean oozes Southern charm and offered us a luxurious escape like no other. With its stately mansions, cobblestone streets, and world-class cuisine, this historic city in the low-country offered much in a mid-December getaway!  Overview of our Charleston Visit Taking full advantage of our boomer flexibility we decided to visit Charleston in December during the pre-Christmas week. This provided less crowds than summer months and festive decor adorning everything from signposts to the swankiest of hotels. Researching Charleston off season dates with Expedia and Bookings.com we foun ..read more

What would be better than seeing Garrison Keillor at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville? Well, hmmm, maybe a 3-night road trip to Nashville to take in the sights and sounds of the “Music City”! In this post we will include Visit and Tour of Ryman, Prairie Home Companion live, Hop-On-Hop-Off places to visit downtown Nashville, Popular Eating Places, River Cruise includes Dinner and Show, Accommodation options, Bella Meade Tour of house & estate. Ryman Auditoreum We start our visit at the iconic Ryman Auditorium. The Ryman is known as the “Mother Church of Country Music.” Witnessing ..read more

Oldest Historic Dublin Pubs Exploring my favorite traditional historic and oldest Dublin Pubs is the ideal alternative when you tire of the bustling crowds in popular tourist areas like Temple Bar. Discover Dublin’s traditional and oldest pubs in the City Center – here are my Top 10 Historic Pubs off the tourist’s usual beaten path. “Good puzzle would be to cross Dublin without passing a pub” So thought Leopold Bloom in James Joyce’s Ulysses. My Top 10 Historic & Oldest Pubs in Dublin, Ireland (Beyond Temple Bar) worth a visit! Toner’sThe Palace BarKehoe’sThe Long HallO’Donoghue’s These a ..read more

Driving the Florida Keys to Key West Driving Miami to Key West along The Florida Keys gives you a great taste of the Caribbean and being 90 miles from Cuba, it includes Cafe Con Leche and Cuban Sandwiches (along with yellow rice and black beans!) and freshly squeezed Margaritas. This is John’s first time driving to Key West along the Florida Keys, which is a trip everyone needs to experience. We unlock the magic of this scenic drive. With its breathtaking coastal views, historic landmarks, and picturesque landscapes, this drive offers an unforgettable experience for any traveler. Key West and ..read more

Visiting Connemara, on the West of Ireland, we include a bit on the Wild Atlantic Way, , the Gaeltacht Region, the Twelve Bens, some sweet Connemara Ponies, Roundstone, and Ballnahinch Castle! Visiting Connemara Overview From Galway, we are traveling through Connemara along the coastal road known as the Wild Atlantic Way. Our goal is to escape to our 2-night luxury retreat nestled in a majestic wooded area in Connemara. Final destination is the expansive and elegant Ballnahinch (Baile na hInse) Castle. The hotel sits on a 700 acre estate full of lush forests, icy-cold rivers (famous for its fl ..read more

Charleston oozes Southern charm and offered us a luxurious off-season escape like no other. With its stately mansions, cobblestone streets, and world-class cuisine, this historic city in the low-country offered much in a mid-December getaway!  Overview of our Charleston Off Season Visit Taking full advantage of our boomer flexibility we decided to visit Charleston in December during the pre-Christmas week. This provided less crowds than summer months and festive decor adorning everything from signposts to the swankiest of hotels. Researching off season dates with Expedia and Bookings.com we fo ..read more