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

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...

Croatia’s Impresia Collection: Luxury Hotels in Idyllic Places

Hotel Adriatic is a luxury hotel in Rovinj on the Istria Peninsula of Croatia.

Blazing sunsets, dreamy islands, and Roman ruins lure millions of visitors to Croatia.   Fortunately, this picturesque country lapped by the turquoise Adriatic Sea can still be experienced by luxury travelers with minimal crowds. On a recent trip to Croatia, I discovered the Impresia Collection of Croatia Hotels, a group of luxury hotels scattered across the country that immerse guests in Croatia’s natural wonders, rich culture, and medieval architecture.   Impresia is not a hotel chain. Instead, it’s a prestigious mix of unique accommodations that can...

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

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

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...

To receive new posts on Barbararedding.com, please enter your email address.

totop