This past fall my husband and I were able to enjoy another Viking Cruise through Canada and New England, along the gulf of the St. Lawrence.

This Canada and New England Viking Cruise immersed us in historic cities—so rich in culture, with world-class museums, vibrant cities and areas steeped in First Nations traditions. On this ocean cruise, we picked up Maple cookies, maple butter (yum!) and candies for souvenirs, and enjoyed French delicacies. We actually came back to Oregon and made Candied Maple Walnuts for homemade gifts, with Canadian maple syrup. 

We even did our own walking tour in Quebec City to see Ursuline Chapel privately. A must do is to enjoy a slice of maple pie at the oldest restaurant in Quebec City!

Canada and New England Viking Cruise

The beauty and colorful autumn hues hung on for us, as we started the 15-day cruise in Montreal, ending in Fort Lauderdale. We sailed the scenic St. Lawrence River and the remarkable Cape Cod Canal, then through charming Newport, RI, one of the oldest cities in the US—home of White Horse Tavern, America’s “oldest bar,” which hosted the legendary guest, George Washington. (more…)

The post Canada and New England Viking Cruise appeared first on Reluctant Entertainer.

I’m a huge lover of Hawaii. I just can’t get enough of the islands.  Our last time we visited was a short visit to Ohua (SP) and then in 2015, we spent a week in Kaui. This time we had plenty of time to check out to many incredible places, from Mama’s Fish House to Kula Bistro (two of our favorite spots).

We’ve visited all the great  beaches, so many amazing restaurants, and my husband even rode to the top of Haleakala two times on his bike. We checked his bike on (like a piece of check-on luggage) on the plane with no problems. We even bought Apple air tags to track the bike. (more…)

The post Best Places to Eat in Maui appeared first on Reluctant Entertainer.

Friends, rest assured, if you’re planning a trip to the Palm Springs area, this post includes the best things to do in Palm Springs, California! Let us help take the stress and hassle out of planning, so you can enjoy your time.

What to do in Palm Springs

This post will tell you about our 5 weeks in the desert earlier this year–where to eat, and many activities to keep you busy. If you love the great outdoors, you will love this post. I say, everyone needs to experience the Palm Springs area at least once in their lifetime. So take it all in … (more…)

The post What to do in Palm Springs appeared first on Reluctant Entertainer.

Friends, a few months back, my daughter and I visited Denver, Colorado for 5 days! We so enjoyed the beauty! Hopefully you also enjoyed my recent What to do in Sydney, Australia post, too!

What to do in Denver, Colorado

Denver, Colorado. The Mile High City. The city that has an astounding 300 days of sunshine, brews more beer than any other city, and has one of the largest city park systems in the United States. I could go on with the impressive facts, but needless to say, this city is special. My mom and I only stayed for a few days, but even if I had a month here, it still wouldn’t be enough. (more…)

The post What to do in Denver, Colorado appeared first on Reluctant Entertainer.

Friends, today my daughter Abbs is sharing her stories and photos from our recent trip to Pacific City, Oregon this summer! Follow along to the most magical “beach town” on the Oregon coast!

Best Oregon Beach: Visit Pacific City

Pacific City is undoubtedly one of my family’s favorite local getaways. It is located 25 miles south of the city of Tillamook (inland), home of the celebrated Tillamook Creamery—have you tried their sharp cheddara cheese? (more…)

The post Best Oregon Beach: Visit Pacific City appeared first on Reluctant Entertainer.

Friends, welcome to our last post on our Sprinter Van Conversion: The Kitchenette. We started with a shell Mercedes van, and built out the entire conversion to a multi-functioning minimalist camper van!

Sprinter Van Conversion: The Kitchenette

We’ve been enjoying the last days of summer in our Sprinter Van, which we converted this past year. You may have already read my [PART 1] Best Sprinter Van Conversion: The Build post. This summer we took the van to the coast, and then camping at nearby lakes here in Bend, Oregon. [All photos by Abbs Coughlin] (more…)

The post Best Sprinter Van Conversion: The Kitchenette appeared first on Reluctant Entertainer.

Friends, we just returned from a week in New York City! So fun (and cold … brrr..:), the sun was out and it was a very special time with our daughter, who came for a few days from college. Above … have you ever walked The High Line in NYC?

It’s been a tradition since age 5, for our kids to hang their head out the window when we arrive in NYC!  So keeping up with traditions, when Abby arrived, we just had to do it :) (more…)

The post 12 Things to Do in New York City appeared first on Reluctant Entertainer.

This is the first post to highlight our Mercedes Sprinter Van conversion (VW Westfalia to Mercedes Sprinter Van Conversion), including some links where you can purchase parts and accessories yourself if you want to take on such a challenge.

But stay tuned for more details in Sprinter Van Conversion Part 2: The Finish, coming soon! 

Best Sprinter Van Conversion: The Build

For now, let’s get started! (more…)

The post Best Sprinter Van Conversion: The Build appeared first on Reluctant Entertainer.

Looking for a place to stay in Ashland Oregon? Ashland Springs Hotel is an elegant colonial-style hotel located in the heart of Ashland, Oregon (at the base of the Siskiyou mountains)?

Ashland Springs Hotel

Ashland Springs Hotel is within walking distance of the Shakespeare Festival, and so many great restaurants. It’s also within walking distance to beautiful Lithia Park!

My husband and I recently spent a long weekend in Ashland, Oregon. We were guests of Ashland Springs Hotel, a beautiful hotel that comes alive at Christmastime! (more…)

The post Ashland Springs Hotel Review in Ashland Oregon appeared first on Reluctant Entertainer.

During our recent stay in Seattle, Washington, we enjoyed a few nights at the Kimpton Palladian Hotel. The hotel itself is beautiful, quirky, and elegant. You can check out more Kimpton properties in Seattle, here.

We loved the decor throughout. Coming to Seattle to hear our daughter play violin in the Sacred Sounds of Christmas concert at Benaroya Hall, we were able to enjoy the festive lights of downtown Seattle. (more…)

The post Seattle Kimpton Palladian Hotel appeared first on Reluctant Entertainer.