Barbara Redding, Author at Barbara Redding

Intense History of Berlin Captivates Visitors to the German Capital

May 2, 2025 by Barbara Redding

The Reichstag Building with White Cross Memorial in front.

Berlin’s intense history challenges visitors to explore the complex mix of sites and memorials in the sprawling capital of Germany. My recent visit was haunting and invigorating. Modern Berlin is an intoxicating mix of graffiti-adorned alleys, glitzy restored palaces, and solemn symbols of its turbulent past. I was awed by the majesty of the Brandenburg Gate and moved to tears at the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. As I explored this fascinating city, I admired Berlin’s ongoing efforts to refurbish and...

Art-forward Hotel Adriatic sets the tone in Rovinj, Croatia

Food & Drink, Hotels, Lifestyle, Luxury

April 2, 2025 by Barbara Redding

St-Euphemia-tower-looms-over-hotel-on-Rovinj-harbor.

Step inside the Hotel Adriatic and you might think you’ve wandered into a contemporary art museum rather than a boutique hotel in Rovinj, Croatia. More than 100 pieces of museum-quality art adorn the public areas and guestrooms of this historical hotel situated on the city’s bustling harbor on the Adriatic Sea. Created specifically for the hotel, the striking collection contributes to the Adriatic’s reputation for luxury. The paintings, sculptures and photographs by Croatian and other European artists also reflect the diverse heritage of this...

Rocky Mountaineer Train: Spectacular Scenery Plus Gourmet Cuisine

Adventures, Food & Drink, Nature, train travel

March 24, 2025 by Barbara Redding

A Rocky Mountaineer train wraps around pristine rivers and lakes in Westrn Canada.e

As the Rocky Mountaineer train from Vancouver slowly gathered speed, I sank into my plush window seat. I couldn’t wait to be surrounded by the pristine rivers, alpine peaks, and native wildlife of Western Canada. What I didn’t anticipate was the culinary adventure ahead. Within minutes, I was devouring Eggs Benedict with Canadian back bacon. My three-course lunch later that day featured Dungeness crab ravioli and generous pours of Jackson-Triggs wines. Dining on the Rocky Mountaineer train was nearly as inspiring as the...

Guide to Poland Seaport Szczecin: An off-beat beauty near Baltic Sea

Adventures, Beach, Family, Food & Drink, History, Travel

March 12, 2025 by Barbara Redding

A marvelous mashup of historic and modern architectural treasures awaits visitors to Szczecin, a busy Baltic Sea port tucked into the northwest corner of Poland. The city’s medieval castle reminded me of a wedding cake frosted with cream cheese. Its futuristic concert hall looks like an ice palace with jagged glass panels that light up the sky. Szczecin (pronounced shteh-cheen) may not be a well-known tourist destination—yet. However, the city of 400,000 impressed me with its eclectic attractions, close proximity to Baltic beaches and innovative take on traditional...

Historical sights, modern marvels on a Warsaw visit

History, Lifestyle, Stories, Travel

March 5, 2025 by Barbara Redding

Poland’s vibrant capital is showing up on more travel lists in 2025, and not just because Warsaw is one of the most affordable European capitals. As I zipped to the top of Varso Tower in a glass-enclosed elevator, I marveled at the city’s evolving landscape. At 1,020 feet, the neomodern structure is now the tallest building in the EU. The 53-story skyscraper’s observation deck opens to the public this spring. Finally, visitors can look down on the Palace of Culture and Science, the drab...

Seneca Falls: Women’s Rights, Wine, and It’s a Wonderful Life

Adventures, Family, Food & Drink, History, Hotels, Travel

February 10, 2025 by Barbara Redding

Life-size bronze statues of the “First Wave” of activists stand like sentinels in the foyer of the Visitors Center of the Women's Rights Park.

Kamala Harris was waging a fierce campaign to become the first female president of the United States when I visited Seneca Falls last September. What a powerful moment, I thought, to explore this small town in western New York that’s considered the birthplace of the women’s rights movement. Voters did not make history in 2024. I don’t have any sure answers as to why. But the struggle for equal rights for women continues to fall short in the U.S. I do know that everyone...

Historic Heritage Germany Tour: Rich in History, Light on Crowds

Adventures, Food & Drink, History, Hotels, Stories, Travel

December 11, 2024 by Barbara Redding

Colorful umbrellas flying over Lübeck's old Town Hall. @Barbara Redding

If you’ve already savored the beer, brats, and big cities of Germany, it may be time to escape the crowds and dig deeper by visiting this European country’s smaller heritage cities. At the invitation of Historic Highlights of Germany, I recently explored four northern German cities that are rich in history. Rostock, Lübeck, Osnabrück, and Münster are part of the Germany’s Historic Highlights program that introduces seasoned travelers to the country’s smaller heritage cities. These cities also offer more than a trip back...

Tribal Traditions Meet Luxury Wellness at Palm Springs Spa and Cultural Center

Adventures, Hotels, Lifestyle, Luxury, Travel, Wellness

November 14, 2024 by Barbara Redding

The Spa at Séc-he is more than another wellness center in Palm Springs, California. The spa is the cultural centerpiece of the strikingly modern Agua Caliente Cultural Plaza. Located on land owned by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, the six-acre complex includes the five-star spa and the new cultural museum that immerses you in the tribe’s history in this desert oasis. The plaza is one of only a few places in the U.S. where you can soak in a hot mineral water...

Dogs Lead the Way on an Exhilarating Truffle Hunt in Croatia

Adventures, Food & Drink, History, Nature, Stories, Travel

October 14, 2024 by Barbara Redding

I joined three rambunctious dogs on a truffle hunt in the dense forests of the Istria Peninsula during my recent visit to Croatia. I love the intense, earthy flavor of truffles, a rare type of edible fungi that flourish symbiotically amid the roots of oak and other trees. But I knew little about truffles and I had never been on a truffle hunt. During my truffle-hunting tour, we discovered several black truffles. I learned about the history of truffles and how to cook with...

In Wroclaw, Dwarves Add Mischief and Meaning to Historic Polish City

Adventures, Food & Drink, History, Hotels, Stories, Travel

September 27, 2024 by Barbara Redding

More than 1,000 bronze dwarves reside in doorways, atop bridges, and on street corners in Wroclaw, a vibrant city in southwestern Poland. Some made me laugh like the dwarf riding a Vespa. Others encouraged reflection, such as the dwarf with a big heart helping children in neighboring Ukraine. Most, well, just made me smile. Some destinations capture your imagination with towering skyscrapers, prestigious art museums, or Michelin-starred restaurants. In Wroclaw, what drew my attention were the statuettes shaped like dwarves or krasnale in Polish. ...

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Author: Barbara Redding