APRIL 14-28, 2024

Japanese gardens are rightly world-famous.  We will still see some blossoms - different varieties bloom at different times and the season varies from year to year.  But, even if peak sakura time has ended, there will be other flowers in bloom: azaleas, peonies,  tulips, and - most stunning of all - wisteria. Spring is colorful in Japan! We will start in the bustling capital of Tokyo, relax in the spa town of Hakone, wear kimono in the ancient city of Kyoto, reflect in the 'never forget' city of Hiroshima, meet cheeky deer on the nearby island of Miyajima, visit one of Japan's 'Great Gardens' in Okayama, and "Eat ourselves broke" which is the city motto of the 'Kitchen of Japan', Osaka. In addition to the sensational gardens, we will experience indigo dying, see a fun puppet show, ride on a 'pirate ship', walk in an enchanting crystal garden, wear a kimono, walk to a 'floating torii gate', and try our hand at calligraphy.  We'll eat plenty delicious food, meet many interesting Japanese ladies, and enjoy the company of other fun, garden-obsessed women.  This trip will be an experience you'll never forget!

AUGUST 10-23, 2024

Spend five nights in the ancient city of York and visit the largest Gothic cathedral in Northern Europe, learn about the city’s long history from our local guide Chris, wander through the medieval Shambles (think Diagon Alley!), and make some delicious treats at the chocolate museum. Daytrip to stunning Castle Howard (filming site of Bridgerton and both versions of Brideshead Revisited) and Thirsk (James Herriott’s All Creatures Great & Small country). Spend another five nights in the market town of Skipton, visiting the 900-year-old castle, walking through the peaceful woods, and seeing a real Shakespeare First Folio. Go for a day-long canal boat ride through the Yorkshire countryside and have a special Quaker dinner. Daytrip to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Saltaire, Haworth (home of the Brontes), and the city of Leeds experiencing a unique Victorian pub crawl. Do the Beatles-thing in Liverpool (insert girly screams here), with a private taxi tour by local guide, Joey, and an evening of groovy beats at the Cavern Club.

SEPTEMBER 3-12, 2024

What makes the perfect girls' trip?  Chocolate - check! Cheese - check!  Wine - most definitely check!  Spa - an absolute check!

On this exclusive tour, 10 lucky ladies will spend 5 nights in Montreux, then 4 nights in Lausanne. We will luxuriate at a thermal spa, taste our way through a chocolate workshop, sip wine at a Swiss winery (Who knew?), enjoy more cheese in Gruyere, eat a  traditional raclette dinner (even more cheese), and have a fondue lunch on top of a mountain (even MORE cheese!).  We will visit a medieval castle, the Olympic Museum, the home of Evian spring water, and Albert Einstein's house.

And the entire time, we will be surrounded by the stunning Swiss Alps.

 SEPTEMBER 28 - OCTOBER 11, 2024

Join me for a visit to the stunning country of Austria. In Innsbruck, we take the Nordkettelbahn up to the mountains, see the vertiginous Olympic ski jump, and then visit Swarovski's Crystal World (like Legoland but more sparkly). In Salzburg, visit Mozart's birthplace, see stunning views from the Fortress, get squirted by trick fountains in Hellbrunn Palace.  It's also a great place to get in touch with your Julie Andrews. Next is charming Hallstatt, which looks like a storybook village. Literally. Seriously. In Graz, we visit a farmers' market, see art in a unique free-form museum (known locally as The Friendly Alien), and daytrip to a winery and pumpkin seed mill. We end in the stunning city of Vienna where we are blown away by the Baroque architecture, the glittering art of Gustav Klimt,  and spend an evening at a local Heurigen - wine garden - mixing with the locals. Oh - and the delicious food... If I lived there, I'd double my weight!

 DECEMBER 7-16, 2024

See London all decked out in her holiday finery. Visit Buckingham Palace and the huge Christmas tree at Trafalgar Square. Ride on a double-decker bus while having a delicious afternoon tea and cruise down the Thames past Big Ben to Greenwich. Marvel at Harrods’ and Selfridges’ decorated windows. Get groovy (or go punk) at Carnaby Street. Shop the Christmas Markets at Covent Garden, Greenwich Village, and the stalls set up along the Thames. Take a special Christmas tour of Charles Dickens’ house and see special holiday exhibits at The Museum of London. We wander through a magical wonderland of lights at Kew Gardens, take a verger-led tour of Westminster Abbey and return for their Evensong. We visit Kensington Palace, the British Museum, and have dinner at a pub literally covered in Christmas trees. You’ll get a free day too but help and suggestions will always be available. Food is such a special part of the holidays and we don’t want to miss out. We will feast on traditional meat pies, fish & chips, have a delicious lunch in a crypt (really), and eat among Londoners at the stalls of the Southbank Market. We might even run into a group of rollerblading Santas! We’ll drink mulled wine, lift pints, and, of course, imbibe lots of tea. And everyone gets a special Christmas Welcome-to-London goodie bag upon arrival. Because, you know, Christmas. Last but not least, we will experience a real Christmas Panto. A Pantomime is a musical comedy stage production full of comedy and audience participation. I really can’t explain it – but it’s a very British holiday tradition and very fun! 

May 11-25, 2025

This is a perfect tour for gardeners, dabblers, or just women who love to be in gardens! It starts in Edinburgh, where we visit secret gardens, have a catered picnic beside a hidden lake, and visit the Royal Botanic Gardens. We spend a morning learning about chocolate (with lots of tasting!), explore the secrets of herbs and gin at a Secret Herb Garden, and go on a literary pub crawl in which we learn not a single thing about Scottish lit but have a great time anyway. In Glasgow, we make a stop at one of my favorite museums anywhere, eat lunch at a place recommended by Anthony Bourdain, and spend the rest of the day at the very-different Royal Botanic Gardens there. Heading south, we stop at Alnwick Castle Gardens to see the largest cascading fountain in the country, tour their Poison Garden (with a guide!), and enjoy watering-can cocktails (and lunch) at the Treehouse Restaurant. From there, we spend a couple of nights in the ancient city of York, exploring the city and spending a day at the stately home and formal gardens of Castle Howard (featured in Brideshead Revisited and Downton Abbey). We end our tour in London seeking out tiny hidden gardens, gardens on top of skyscrapers, gardens in the ruins of churches, and a sweeping garden that belonged to Henry VIII. We spend a day at the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew and wind up at the world-famous Chelsea Flower Show.

 MARCH 16-30, 2025

In Tokyo, visit shrines, temples, and shopping centers; learn the traditional craft of indigo dying; watch a fun puppet show where no language skills are required; and hang out with a group of Japanese English teachers. In the spa town of Hakone, travel by train, cable car, funicular, and ‘pirate’ ship; see glittering crystal trees at the Venetian glass museum; wear yukata (traditional cotton kimonos) while eating a delicious kaiseki dinner; walk among the whimsical sculptures of the Open-Air Museum; and soak in the milky waters of a natural hot spring. In Kyoto, learn first-hand how to wear a kimono; visit Kiyumisu temple; and stroll through thousands of scarlet Torii gates at Fushimi Inari. In Hiroshima, pay respects at the Peace Park and Museum and visit nearby Miajima Island to meet the local deer and take selfies with the famous Floating Tori Gate. In Osaka, learn calligraphy, sample the Osaka night life in the exciting Namba district, and find out why it’s the ‘Kitchen of Japan’. Get to know lots of fun ladies, both locals and ex-pat women now living in Japan.

 DATES TBA

Spend a long weekend in fabulous Santa Fe! We arrive on Thursday and enjoy an evening checking out the Railway Arts District, which (happily) is just across the street from our hotel. Friday morning, we experience the mind-bending Meow Wolf.  Their House of Eternal Return features over 70 rooms of immersive art to explore.  It’s impossible to explain, but here’s a little taste of what’s in store: Meow Wolf. From there we move on to the equally mind-blowing chocolate at Kakawa followed by a visit to the world-famous Georgia O’Keefe Museum and Loreto Chapel, famous for its unusual spiral staircase.  Then we have a Gruet champagne tasting and dinner on a patio overlooking Santa Fe Plaza. Saturday is more low-key with a day spent wandering the galleries on Canyon Road. We meet mid-afternoon for wine or tea in the gardens, then enjoy a Spanish dinner. Sunday morning, we walk across the road from our hotel to the Artisan Market at the Railyard District. After lunch, the tour ends but we have enjoyed a weekend full of amazing food, charming galleries, and fabulous shopping. 

DATES TBA

Join us for a long weekend in San Antonio! We'll take a night-time cruise along the famed Riverwalk, then return the next day for a more in-depth look. We'll visit El Mercado (the largest Mexican market outside Mexico) and the La Villita Arts Complex for a spot of shopping therapy. We'll, remember the Alamo and learn about the city's surprising German heritage. In the historic town of Greune, we'll peruse the General Store, eat lunch on the river, indulge in some afternoon wine tasting, and kick up our heels at the oldest dance hall in Texas. (Or maybe we’ll just listen to the music!) We'll eat delicious puffy tacos, BBQ, and, of course, yummy TexMex. There might even be a margarita or two involved...

DATES TBA

Get away from the cold and spend a long weekend in sunny Southern California. Our cute retro motel is just 2 blocks from the Pacific Ocean. Have breakfast right on the beach with your toes in the sand, visit the end of iconic Route 66 on the Santa Monica Pier. In Hollywood, check out the footprints at the Chinese Theater, the stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and visit the new Motion Picture Academy Museum. Cruise along the iconic Sunset Strip and down ritzy Rodeo Drive. Visit Marilyn's grave at a tiny cemetery full of celebrities and see Van Gogh's Irises at the Getty Center.

DATES TBA

Visit the elegant Scottish capital and her edgier sister. In Edinburgh, visit the imposing Castle and Holyrood Palace (former home of Mary Queen of Scots and where the Queen hangs her crown when she’s in town). See all sorts of wonders from hoards of Celtic treasure to the quirky Lewis Chessmen to Dolly the Sheep at the National Museum. Learn the stories behind the people at the stunning National Portrait Gallery. Wander the glass houses of the botanic gardens and have a delicious chocolate experience at the Chocolatorium. Eat homemade ice cream from Mary’s Milk Bar, taste a wee dram or two, and discover the mysterious underground world of the Real Mary King’s Close. Harry Potter fans can visit the tombstones that inspired JK Rowling (including Professor McGonagall and Tom Riddle) at Greyfriar’s Cemetery followed by a cup of tea at the Elephant House where JK wrote much of the first book.  In Glasgow, have afternoon tea in Craftsman splendor at the historic Willow Tea Rooms, visit a spooky hill-top Victorian necropolis, see a magical performance of handmade kinetic sculptures, and discover why the city’s symbol is a statue with a traffic cone on its head. See a room of floating heads (and a Dali masterpiece) at the Kelvingrove Gallery, have lunch at a small café recommended by Anthony Bourdain, and walk through glass houses filled with exotic plants and art at the Botanic Gardens.

 DATES TBA

Get to know our nation's capital in this fun weekend. From a moonlight drive around the sights to wandering the Mall's myriad of museums and memorials, there is plenty to see. We will also spend a morning at the amazing Mansion on O Street (full of secret passages, hidden doors, vintage finds, and rock memorabilia) and have Sunday brunch in Georgetown.

DATES TBA

Walk down Bourbon Street in New Orleans, have beignets at Café du Monde, and catch some jazz at BB King’s. Take the trolley through the Garden District, tour a spooky cemetery, and take fabulous selfies in the Costume Closet of a Mardi Gras Museum.  In Thibodaux, stay at a B&B owned by a woman who grew up in the house, have homemade gumbo and learn to make pralines. Visit two very different plantations – each with its own story to tell.  Meet local women - African American, Native American, Cajun, and Creole - at a down-home potluck. Take a day trip to Lafayette, visiting the living history museum of Vermilionville.  In addition to learning about Acadian culture, watch local artisans keeping crafting traditions alive.  This whole area is known for its amazing food, and we will eat plenty of it!