Debbie Stone

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Experiencing a French baking class is the best souvenir from Paris!

I have a love affair with France’s croissants and famed pastries, and every time I visit Paris I eat my way around the city’s countless boulangeries. I have never, though, had an interest in learning to make these buttery delights because baking is not my thing. My husband, on the other hand, is adept in this arena, and it was his idea to take a French baking class during our recent visit to Paris. I agreed to join him, but requested the class focus on croissants, as I envisioned him whipping up a batch of these flaky delights at home – whenever the craving hit!
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Reconnect with and be inspired by nature at Vermejo

I finally hooked a big one! A six-foot, five-inch, 220 pounder! No, it wasn’t a fish, unfortunately, but rather my fly fishing guide, Aiden. Embarrassing to say the least, as my fly landed right in his chin. Thankfully, after some very dexterous “surgery,” he was able to remove it. And he graciously told me it wasn’t the first time.
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Immerse yourself in the works of the ‘father of modern sculptor’ at the Musée Rodin in Paris

I have been to Paris a few times, but somehow I never got around to visiting the Musée Rodin until my most recent visit. One of the most elegant and photogenic institutions in the city, the Rodin Museum is located in the handsome Hôtel Biron, surrounded by a lush garden dedicated to the art of the renowned and prolific French sculptor, Auguste Rodin.
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Experience the WOW factor of Greenland on a voyage with Albatros Expeditions

You’ve probably heard the opposite is true when it comes to Iceland and Greenland. Iceland is green and Greenland is ice. But perhaps you didn’t know how these names came to be. Story has it that settlers in Iceland wanted to trick their fellow Norsemen into keeping away from their verdant paradise. They decided to call their home “Iceland,” hoping to discourage others from coming to its shores. As for Greenland, Erik the Red, an Icelandic murderer who was exiled to the island, is responsible for giving this island its name. He wanted to attract settlers to the place and “Greenland” sounded inviting and desirable. However, when people got there, they found an inhospitable world of white, comprised of ice, snow and glaciers.
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Explore a rich tapestry of nature and culture on the island of Hawaii

Hilo, Hawai‘i has the distinction of being the wettest city in the U.S. with an average of 276 days of rain per year. I can personally attest to this fact, having recently been to the city and experiencing intermittent heavy squalls and downpours during my visit. The silver lining in all this “liquid sunshine,” however, were all the spectacular waterfalls that thundered down from the cliffs.
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Mob Museum is must-see attraction in Vegas

You might be surprised to hear that one of the most popular attractions in Las Vegas isn’t casino related. In fact, it’s a museum – the Mob Museum. Located in downtown Vegas, approximately six miles from the Strip, this fascinating place is a visitor favorite.
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Double your Getty pleasure when you visit L.A.

The Getty Center is one of the top attractions in Southern California and belongs on your short list of things to do when you’re in Los Angeles. More than a museum with an exceptional art collection, the Center is a beautiful public park with views of the city’s skyline, as well as the surrounding mountains.
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Much to love about Walla Walla

Most people go to Walla Walla for the wine. After all, the town is a viniculture mecca. Located in the southeast corner of Washington State, within highly regarded Washington Wine Country, the Walla Walla Valley features more than 130 wineries and nearly 3,000 acres of grapes. Here’s where you can sip award-winning, robust flavors straight from the source, like Cab Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and more.
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Experience Jurassic nature in technicolor on the Azores’ São Miguel Island

São Miguel is known as the “Green Island” due to its lush landscapes and rolling, verdant hills. It feels a bit like Ireland, Iceland and Hawaii all bundled up into one enchanting place. Most visitors to the island arrive in Ponta Delgada, the lively, cosmopolitan city that serves as the economic hub of the Azores. As with our previous experience on Terceira, Archipelago Choice scheduled several, privately guided tours for my husband and I, focusing on nature, landscape, history and food. They also booked our accommodations and transfers and provided a wealth of information about the island.
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Discover the Azores’ wild and wondrous Terceira Island

If you’re looking for treasure in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, head to Portugal’s Azores Islands. You’ll discover breathtaking scenery, geological marvels, inspiring UNESCO Heritage Sites, and a rich culture marked by old world customs and traditions. Oh, and did I mention happy cows?

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