Hello!

We had a chance to tour Windstar's new sailing yacht, Star Seeker, last week, and we were both impressed. The yacht joined the Windstar line up in December, with a capacity for 224 guests, all ocean-view suites. It stopped in Seattle on its re-positioning cruise, and will now be sailing itineraries between Vancouver, B.C. and Juneau, then heading to Asia in the fall. We're going to take a look at fall itineraries in Asia and see how things line up.

If you've got the budget, the Horizon Suites (there are two of them) are fabulous. They have a wrap-around balcony, perfect for glacier viewing, an in-cabin dinner, or sundowners. If you're traveling with friends or family, book the adjacent suite to create additional space for everyone.

If you're budget doesn't stretch quite that far, our next favorite cabins were the Infinity Suites. I was a little surprised that we preferred the infinity balcony to the actual balcony, but we both found them far more spacious and comfortable than the Veranda Suites. If you're interested in booking a Windstar cruise, get in touch and see how we can help you (you can just click reply to this email and we'll see what we can do).

Last chance for my reader survey. I've gotten a lot of good feedback and am already putting it to use in my scheduling plans. It's a quick 10 questions and won't take more that 5-ish minutes. Here's the link:

​https://surveymars.com/q/lqMirlBkC​

Thanks so much for being a reader!

Mary Jo & Tony

Have You Read:

A Wine Lover's Guide to Victoria, B.C. If you enjoy discovering local wineries when you travel, Victoria, BC is a lovely place to spend a day or two. Vancouver Island is home to more than 30 wineries, and Victoria is a practical spot to serve as your home base for exploration. The wineries here aren’t about big, showy production; they’re more about small-batch wines, relaxed tastings, and a coastal kind of charm. Read story

Sailing the Loire on Croisi Cruises (A Review) Cruising the Loire River is not like cruising the Rhine or Danube—and that’s exactly the point. The pace is slower, the scenery more understated, and the towns feel less polished and more lived-in. If you’re drawn to a more contemplative, rural side of France, it offers something refreshingly different. ​ ​ Read story

The New York Public Library: A Quiet, Grand Escape in Midtown Manhattan I always think of the New York Public Library as one of Midtown’s great balancing acts. It is grand without being flashy, famous without feeling exhausted by its own reputation, and elegant in a way that never seems to go out of style. For travelers who like their New York with a little polish and a little depth, it is one of the city’s most rewarding detours. Read story

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Here's what else is going on:

Traveling: Seattle

We have friends coming to Seattle, and although it's a short trip, we have a chance to share a few of our favorite places. Not sure what that will look like yet, but it will include local seafood and wine.

Reading: The First Time I Saw Him by Laura Dave

A gripping, rich, and deeply moving novel about the power of forgiveness, The First Time I Saw Him picks up right where the epilogue for The Last Thing He Told Me left off.

I saw the series on television before reading the book (an unusual order for me), so debated whether to pick this up or not. Just starting it, so not much to say about it so far, but it does seem to parallel the series. Lots of backstory on the pages, and not sure if that will interfere with moving the story forward, but it explains a few things that weren't clear from before.

This books fits the challenge prompt of a Reese's book club pick.

Learn more about the book here.

I've finished 51 books this year, fulfilling 22 prompts. The books from this past couple of weeks didn't check off any new prompts, so I'm going to need to dig in and find some specific choices. Right now, I'm look for a book set in the U.S. Southwest. If you have some recommendations (I read all sorts of genres), let me know.

You can take a look at all the books I've read so far this year here.

Want to join in the challenge? It's designed for travelers who like to read and readers who like to travel. It started as a simple project with friends, grew into a larger project with friends and friends of friends, and now we have a small community of travelers who love to read. It's self-paced, and while you can read what you want when you want, we hope the prompts encourage you to try some new authors and genres to your reading choices.

You can learn more about the challenge by signing up for our monthly newsletter here. Or join our spoiler-free Facebook group here.

Watching: Grantchester (Netflix)

I may have mentioned previously that we've become big fans of British period piece detective shows. This is another one that we've been binging. Set in the 1950-60s, it features an Anglican vicar who helps the local constabulary.

Along with crime solving, the series features a deep look at changing societal mores - the role of women in society, marriage and divorce, sexual harrassment, the aftermath of war, the place for veterans in the community, homosexuality, race, and the changing definitions of family

We've just finished season four, all of which have been on Netflix, but now need to locate where to find seasons 5-11 (and preferably not for an additional streaming fee).

Listening: Judge Stone by James Patterson and Viola Davis

The most respected citizen in Union Springs, Alabama (population 3,314), is Judge Mary Stone. She holds two responsibilities sacred: running her family farm and presiding over her courtroom. It's there she draws the most controversial case in the history of the South.

Sure, you can pick up the book, but this legal drama is so much more powerful on audio with the narration from co-author, and EGOT winner (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony), Viola Davis. Fast paced, lots of the legal wranglings and drama you'd expect, yet full of the emotions that accompany the plot (I don't want to give too much away). Legal drama can often get too bogged down in the weeds; not this one. Great storytelling infused with emotional depth. Worth the price to listen to it, rather than read.

Listen here.

Heads in Beds: Cedarbrook Lodge (SeaTac, Washington)

Just 10 minutes from SeaTac airport via complimentary shuttle, Cedarbrook Lodge feels worlds away from air travel headaches. Surrounded by woodlands, the 169-room hotel features living rooms (common public space) for relaxing or working. It's a great spot to connect with family and friends you are traveling with, sit and read a book, or just kick back and enjoy the complimentary snacks. The onsite restaurant, Copperleaf, is a solid choice for the end of a long travel day.

Interested in booking Cedarbrook Lodge?

If you're a DIYer, you can find info here.

Or, if you'd prefer to work directly with us for your travel booking, taking advantage of the many value-added perks we can help with at this hotel, get in touch via our dedicated booking email (most services at no fee).

In the Glass: 2020 Planeta Etna Rosso (Italy)

Tasting Notes: Light ruby red in color, with light, bright red-fruit flavor.

Light and bright definitely describe this Sicilian red (100% Nerello Mascalese) that we brought home from a previous trip to Italy. It seemed quite delicate, almost floral, with none of the robust earthy minerality that we were expecting. It seemed rather thin in flavor, like a weak pinot noir. It wasn't so much that we didn't like it, but that we chose poorly to pair with our dinner. We have another bottle in the cellar, so have noted to give it another year of aging and try it again (with a different dish).

Served with: Pasta with rustic red sauce. This was the wrong pairing for this wine (our fault, I should have read tasting notes more closely), and think it would pair much better with a roast pork loin.

Price: $30 (estimate). Drinking from the cellar; I'm not sure this is available in the U.S.

4946 SW 329th Way, Federal Way, WA 98023

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