Blog - FemaleSoloTrek

Hillwood Museum: Celebrate the Holidays at Marjorie Merriweather Post’s Estate

Posted on December 1, 2023

Come home to Hillwood Estate & Museum for the holidays. For the last two years, this is what I have done since I discovered how the museum decorates Hillwood founder Marjorie Merriweather Post’s mansion. Come with me to see five fabulously-decorated Christmas trees on display at Hillwood, one of my favorite places to celebrate the holiday in Washington DC. From the second I walked into the Visitor’s Center, I was transported to Christmas Past—garlands loop over the stair banisters, and…

Washington DC’s 2023 Christmas Activities

Posted on November 25, 2023

Washington DC’s Christmas activities will make anyone feel festive, regardless of whether you are a shopper, theatergoer, walker, or ice skater. Here is my list of the Top 13 Holiday Things to Do in the nation’s capital. Holiday magic abounds for visitors as well as residents. Georgetown GLOW One of my favorite things to do is visit the outdoor holiday light show in Georgetown. 2023 represents the 9th edition of Georgetown GLOW. Running 5 p.m. – 10 p.m. nightly from…

Adventure

Casa Cuseni: Turning Back the Clock in Taormina

Posted on November 17, 2023

Casa Cuseni is the main character in A House in Sicily. Written by Daphne Phelps, this book is a homage to the house that she loved and tended for over 50 years. The house is located in Taormina, Sicily’s clifftop city above the Gulf of Naxos. When I traveled to Sicily in the fall of 2023, I knew that I had to visit this house, which the Belle Arte of Messina declared of “cultural and historic importance.” Madcap Adventure Since…

Adventure

Top 15 DMV Gardens

Posted on November 10, 2023

Strolling among the flowers, bushes, and trees on my Top 15 DMV Gardens list should be a “must-do” for every visitor. These “District Maryland Virginia” (DMV) gardens include public and private institutions. Several are formal gardens designed for wealthy patrons. Whether you prefer to meander aimlessly on a path, draw in a sketchbook, sit under a tree, or meditate on a bench, you will feel your spirits revived when spending time at my Top 15 DMV Gardens. Garden time is…

Reflections Washington DC

Explore U.S. National Arboretum in Autumn

Posted on November 4, 2023

The U.S. National Arboretum in autumn wears its fall finery like a burgundy gown, its red embroidered hem trailing across the winding woodland paths. Look upward and spy a row of orange and golden (tree) bonnets lining the sky. A cardinal sings passionately to announce my waltz in these woods. I love every season at the Arboretum: spring (azaleas), summer (roses), and winter (snow-covered trees) but autumn may be my favorite. U.S. National Arboretum Spanning 446 acres, the U.S. National…

Washington DC

Smithsonian Museums: 2-Day Itinerary

Posted on October 28, 2023

If you can only devote two days to visiting the Smithsonian museums, don’t despair. I have the itinerary for you! You can see all nine Smithsonian museums in Washington DC. PLUS admission is free to all Smithsonian museums. I have left time in the early morning and evening to walk the full length of the National Mall, explore the U.S. Capitol grounds and the U.S. Botanic Garden, and watch the sunrise over the reflecting pool at the Lincoln Memorial. But…

Adventure

Sicily Food Odyssey

Posted on October 20, 2023

A Sicily food odyssey is heaven for foodies. Despite all its culture and heritage—ancient Greek and Roman ruins, UNESCO World Heritage sites, and Baroque architecture—food is often the #1 reason to visit this fabled island. While Sicily’s famous food dishes include pasta, tomato, cheese, oil olive, and seafood, there are novel ways that the island differs from the mainland. The main reason is Sicily’s conquerors—Greeks, Moors, Normans, Phoenicians, Romans, and Spanish—transplanted their own food ingredients. Saffron is a perfect example.…

Adventure International

Erice: One of Italy’s Most Beautiful Villages

Posted on October 14, 2023

Erice is a quasi-Alpine village nestled on an Italian island in western Sicily. The Association “I Borghi più Belli d’Italia” recognizes it as one of Italy’s Most Beautiful Villages. This designation spotlights those small Italian towns showcasing Italy’s History, Art, Culture, Environment, and Traditions. “Sicily’s villages, the most beautiful in Italy, reveal the face of a Sicily that is less well-known and perhaps for this reason, more authentic and precious.” VisitSicily I came to Erice in search of the nunnery’s…

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