I am a retired flight attendant who provides value luxury travel recommendations for avid travelers. It's luxury for real people, not celebrities, and will land in your inbox twice a month.
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🧳Traveling with MJ - September 1st, 2026
Published 17 days ago • 3 min read
Traveling with MJ
My travel ethos is value luxury - knowing when to splurge and when to save - whether traveling across town or around the world. I write about value luxury destinations, experiences, and products.
Hello!
I feel the end of summer upon us. Labor Day is late in the month this year, but schools have started, the evenings require a sweater, and Halloween decorations are in the stores.
I'm busy with details for the annual SATW convention in Haywood Carolina next month. It's foliage season, and if those prediction sites are correct, we should be there during peak viewing time. I caught a glimpse of it last year on a site visit, but am looking forward to enjoying the experience with Tony this year.
In preparation for the event, I'm researching books set in Appalachia. Not limited to North Carolina specifically, I'm casting a wider net to come up with my reading list. If you have some suggestions, fiction or non-fiction, hit reply to this newsletter and let me know.
Hope you're enjoying the last weeks of summer!
Mary Jo & Tony
Have You Read:
Weekend Getaway: Victoria, British Columbia, on the Clipper
Victoria is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, and offers offers an enticing blend of history, natural beauty, and modern attractions. The city’s compact size makes it ideal for a long weekend getaway, allowing you to experience its diverse offerings without feeling rushed. It's an easy getaway from Seattle on the Clipper.
For our Mekong cruise, we boarded Ama Waterways AmaDara in Cambodia, heading to Vietnam. The historical look at countries that are so often misunderstood was a primary reason we were excited about this itinerary. We were ready to slowly move through the heart of the Southeast Asia countryside, with glimpses of daily life along the river.
Blood Orange Mimosas: A Refreshing Twist on a Classic Cocktail
Few drinks signal a leisurely brunch quite like a mimosa. The classic mimosa is refreshing, but discovering a new version is part of the pleasure of exploring food and drink. I discovered blood oranges while traveling in Sicily, and enjoyed the mimosas made from them. It’s been a favorite ever since. This post includes a recipe
This has become a favorite walking spot for us, especially on sunny days. Located between Federal Way and SeaTac Airport, this small coastal city has downtown dining (we like Portovino for Italian food and Auntie Irene's for ice cream), walkable streets and paths, and a salt air vibe. Saltwater State Park and Des Moines Beach round out the outdoor activities. It's an easy afternoon getaway when you need to stay relatively close to home.
Reading: This Story May Save Your life by Tiffany Crum
Best friends Benny and Joy like to say they’ve been saving each other’s lives since the moment they met. Until the day Joy disappears and Benny is suspected of murder . . .
A NY Times Bestseller, and under option for television, this debut novel is a love story wrapped up in a mystery. Some twists and turns, a few I saw coming and a few I missed, told from the perspectives of each of the main characters - a chapter from Benny's POV and then from Joy's. For some reason, it was hard for me to get going with this book, but once underway, it moved quickly.
I've finished 91 books this year, although the last couple of weeks have been full of other activities so I've slowed down the pace a bit. I have several books on hold at the library that should come in this week.
This sports documentary follows the Seattle Seahawks in training camp.
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Watching: Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Seattle Seahawks (Prime/HBO Max)
In the interest of full disclosure, I'm not really watching this. Tony is. I'm reading or catching up on projects while this is on. The series follows a specific team each year, and this year it is the Super Bowl Champion Seattle Seahawks.
I'm not really a football fan, although we do family fantasy football league this season, so maybe I should pay closer attention.
A career-spanning, cross-label anthology featuring 23 essential recordings from 1971-2020 for the first time on one album.
With the passing of this great star, I listened in on this greatest hits collection. My appreciation for her music, and its diversity, is surpassed only my respect for her commitment to charity and diversity in her personal life.
The draft room at our family football draft. There was lots of smack talking heere, so I was in another room.
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I am a retired flight attendant who provides value luxury travel recommendations for avid travelers. It's luxury for real people, not celebrities, and will land in your inbox twice a month.
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