Barbara Redding - Freelance Travel Writer

Magical Morocco Tour Explores the Country’s Vibrant Customs and Landscapes

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

April 6, 2023 by Barbara Redding

A visit to the North African country of Morocco awakens the senses. In Rabat, the savory aroma of chicken simmering with olives in a clay tajine pot piqued my sense of smell. The cobalt blue walls in Chefchouen’s maze-like medina nearly blinded me on a sunny day. The lyrical sound of the “call to prayers” echoed in my ears from small-town minarets in the Atlas Mountains to the country’s largest Islamic mosque in Casablanca. I could not resist running my fingers over the...

Fairmont Tazi Palace Hotel adds a Touch of Mystery and Luxury to Tangier

Adventures, Food & Drink, History, Hotels, Lifestyle, Luxury, Travel, Wellness

March 1, 2023 by Barbara Redding

The colors, the furnishings, and the decor of the Fairmont Tazi Palace are reminiscent of an earlier time when an advisor to the sultan of Morocco built this hilltop retreat in Tangier. After a major renovation and expansion, the Fairmont hotel now offers modern luxuries still fit for royalty—and curious visitors like me interested in exploring magical Morocco. I stayed at the palace, which has 133 rooms and several eclectic restaurants, on a recent press trip to Tangier. To find out more about the...

“Big Blu:” A Dream Vacation House for Rent on Lake Michigan

Beach, Family, Lifestyle, Luxury, Travel

January 17, 2023January 18, 2023 by Barbara Redding

I am still a Midwest gal at heart, despite trading frigid winters for searing summers in Texas years ago. So, when my sister called to say she had rented a house on Lake Michigan for five days in September, I was excited. The Great Lakes were our summer playground growing up. We were a big camping family drawn to isolated locations where we could fish and swim in the cold, blue freshwater lakes. (Three of my five siblings still live close to the lakes.)...

Anna Maria Island offers a taste of the simple life on Florida’s Gulf Coast

Adventures, Family, Food & Drink, Lifestyle, Travel

January 13, 2023 by Barbara Redding

The Florida Gulf Coast has been a favorite of mine since my college days, when I interned one summer at The St. Petersburg Times (now The Tampa Bay Times). In my free time, I explored the beach communities north and south of St. Pete, where I lived in a retirement hotel with my Irish-American grandmother (that’s another story…). The Bradenton beaches on Anna Maria Island were idyllic, with long stretches of blindingly white sand, clear blue water, and few crowds. While kayaking in the...

A slice of paradise—and a dog—at Compass by Margaritaville in Bradenton

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

December 30, 2022January 2, 2023 by Barbara Redding

Artimus has a way of sneaking up behind you and poking you with his pointy nose to get your attention. That is not unusual behavior for a Shetland Sheepdog. What is surprising is when he greets you in a hotel lobby. Compass Hotel by Margaritaville on Anna Maria Sound in Bradenton isn’t your typical Florida hotel. It is part of a new brand of hotels associated with popular singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffet. Parrot Heads, as Buffet fans are affectionately known, will recognize its pet-friendly...

Commodore Perry Estate: An Italianate mansion reimagined as a luxury resort deep in the heart of Austin, Texas

Food & Drink, History, Lifestyle, Luxury, Travel

October 5, 2022 by Barbara Redding

A stone wall wraps around the Commodore Perry Estate, obscuring views of an ornate Italianate mansion built by a wealthy cotton merchant and his socialite wife during the Roaring ‘20s in what was then the outskirts of Austin, Texas. But the estate is hardly a secret these days. Auberge Resorts Collection has reimagined the 10,800-square-foot mansion as the centerpiece of a 10-acre urban resort that is enticing luxury-minded visitors from around the world. On a recent assignment for Travel Weekly, I explored the whimsically...

Bruges: Finding less-traveled places in Belgium’s most popular Medieval City

Adventures, Family, Food & Drink, History, Lifestyle, Stories, Travel

August 23, 2022 by Barbara Redding

A wealth of Old World and delicious new attractions can flood Bruges’ historical squares and arched stone bridges with tourists. But on a visit last spring, I escaped the crowds by veering off the main streets and exploring the city’s narrow alleys, smaller canals, and off-beat attractions. By starting my days early — while late-night revelers still nursed Belgian-beer hangovers — I could leisurely admire the city’s iconic 15th-century churches, ornate buildings with stair-step gables, and must-see museums. Please read my recent story in...

Sorrento: Forget July–Visit this southern Italian city in January instead

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

July 13, 2022July 19, 2022 by Barbara Redding

With the Lattari Mountains looming above and the sparkling Mediterranean Sea below, Sorrento occupies an envious position on the rugged southwestern coast of Italy. Not only is the setting beautiful, but Sorrento is also the summertime gateway to the stunning scenery of the Amalfi Coast and the tony island of Capri. We, however, were visiting in mid-January. And we were not sure what to expect when we boarded a bullet train on a frigid day in Florence. We were just hoping to unwind and...

Locanda Cipriani: Dining amid the ruins on the Venetian Island of Torcello

Adventures, Food & Drink, History, Lifestyle, Luxury, Travel

May 19, 2022June 29, 2022 by Barbara Redding

With so much art to admire and so many canals to cross in Venice, I wasn’t sure I’d have time for brunch on the remote Venetian island of Torcello. But my friend insisted that dining at Locanda Cipriani was a glorious experience not to be missed. I’m so happy I took her advice. Here’s a link to my story about that visit to Torcello and its iconic restaurant, which appeared recently in Live in Italy magazine.

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A Pandemic Escape to the Magical Italian City of Venice

Adventures, Food & Drink, History, Lifestyle, Stories

March 23, 2022 by Barbara Redding

Fireworks over the Grand Canal on New Year’s Eve. A lavish brunch of pasta and Prosecco on New Year’s Day at an iconic restaurant on the island of Torcello. All that and more was on the agenda of our girls’ trip to Venice in December 2021. Covid-19 infection rates were finally waning. We were vaccinated, boosted, and ready to bust out of quarantine when my friend and Italophile Corky organized our trip last summer Then, a Covid variant ominously called omicron began surging....

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