2017 Archives - Enjoy Travel Life

Luxury Lifestyle: The Newport Mansions Decorated for Christmas

March 6, 2023October 11, 2018 by Jackie Gately

travel rhode island newport mansions the breakers music room tree scaled

The Newport Mansions at Christmas

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Scenes from the Gilded Age

A visit to Newport, Rhode Island is incomplete without seeing the Newport Mansions at Christmas. There are ten incredible estates that The Preservation Society of Newport County maintains year-round. Guests may explore independently or follow guided tours by a headset.

Of course, the mansions are a “must-see” at any time of year, and especially nice as part of a romantic getaway to Rhode Island.

Through the holiday season, though, four mansions are open daily to visitors: The Breakers, Rosecliff, The Elms, and Marble House. Each was once a private residence for the well-to-do, including famous families like the Vanderbilts, who retreated to the mansions’ grandeur along the cool shores of Rhode Island for summer months.

Positively Positano: 48 Hours on the Amalfi Coast

December 3, 2020November 19, 2017 by Jackie Gately

My Brief Love Affair with Positano

On my whirlwind 14-day tour of Italy, I’d scheduled only one night in Positano before scheduled to leave the Amalfi Coast for my family’s inland hometown of Ariano Irpino. Of course, that changed as soon as I arrived. Positano begged me to stay, and so my love affair with Positano began.

Manchester Vermont Lodging: Great New England Vacation Spot

March 8, 2023October 15, 2017 by Jackie Gately

One weekend, our blended family of six piled into the car and road-tripped north for a weekend getaway to Manchester Vermont. Our destination? The Wilburton Inn, a hilltop Tudor-style mansion with several private villas, was a great Manchester Vermont lodging option for us.

Under the Tuscan Sun [Book Review]

June 27, 2022October 5, 2017 by Jackie Gately

If you’ve seen the movie, Under the Tuscan Sun, you’ll know the story of recently divorced, middle-aged Frances Mayes. She meets Marcello, a handsome Italian who takes her from a villa in Tuscany to Positano on the Amalfi Coast of Italy.

They eat with his family on the beach, drink homemade limoncello, and have a short-lived love affair.

Learn more about this beautiful tale that takes place in Italy. You’ll find out how the movie compares to the book and to the real Italian settings, below.

Editor’s Note: We updated this article with more helpful resources in June 2022.

5 Stunning Must-Haves for Fashionable Florence, Italy

May 12, 2022October 3, 2017 by Jackie Gately

I did a little shopping before going to fashionable Florence Italy to update my look – just a few things I thought would travel well.

I would never go to Florence without these fashion travel essentials. Make sure not to forget to pack the items that follow when you plan your next trip to Italy. You’ll find what you need, below.

fashion in florence italy — *Fashionable florence italy*

Breakfast in Positano, Italy: An Assortment of Goodness

May 16, 2022September 21, 2017 by Jackie Gately

As I fill my dish with an assortment of delectables from the complimentary breakfast spread at Hotel Villa Gabrisa in Positano, Italy, it’s hard to choose what to take and what to leave behind. It all looks so good!

Delicious Breakfast Choices

This trip was a blur, but I do remember indulging in a wonderful breakfast in Positano.

Cut fruit, fresh mozzarella balls, slivers of ricotta pie, prosciutto, and bright clementines picked fresh from the trees outside. Even the glossy prunes, which I don’t normally eat, are delicious here. They are fresh, tender, mild, and sweet, with no weird “what is that?” preservative flavor. Not a hint of rubbery.

An Off-Season Waterfront Weekend in Sandwich, Cape Cod

September 11, 2022August 15, 2017 by Jackie Gately

89 North Shore Boulevard

I couldn’t have been happier with the accommodations at this adorable two-bedroom cottage located on East Sandwich beach just steps from the ocean. Owners Tom and Ellen went out of their way to make sure I had everything I needed for an off-season weekend stay at their property, which has breathtaking views of the ocean. This space offers comfort, peace, and privacy, and is ideal as a beachy getaway for 1 to 6 people on- or off-season.

An Embarrassment of Mangoes [Book Review]

January 29, 2021July 23, 2017 by Jackie Gately

A Caribbean Interlude

I enjoyed being an invisible stowaway on this couple’s two-year sailboat adventure from Canada down to the Caribbean. I learned a lot about sailing (of which I knew nothing), US waterways, procedures, risks, weather, islands’ culture and people.

Martha’s Vineyard, Isle of Dreams [Book Review]

May 12, 2022June 23, 2017 by Jackie Gately

If you’ve ever been to Martha’s Vineyard, Cape Cod, you know it’s a very special place. Being from Massachusetts myself and only about an hour’s drive from the ferry, I’ve dreamed about making a permanent move. Well, that’s just what author Susan Branch considered in her book, Martha’s Vineyard, Isle of Dreams.

This unique book offers so much to absorb!