A Memorable Day of Doing Nothing in Portsmouth, Virginia

After my tour of beautiful Norfolk, I was ready for round two of quaint American charm. The seaport town of Portsmouth, Virginia, is known for its antique shops, art galleries, and children's museum. Jen, Sebastian, and I visited Portsmouth and spent the day not visiting antique shops, art galleries, or children's museums. Instead, we ate German food and traipsed around in the rain with blue umbrellas. It was perfect.

Our jaunt to Portsmouth from Norfolk began with a ferry ride. That's worth the trip right there.

Free Wine at Virginia Beach Proves There Is Good in the World

When I visited Jen -- my frequent travel buddy and partner in crime -- in lovely Norfolk last summer, we took a detour to nearby Virginia Beach for some sun and relaxation. I heart a beach day, but I'll admit that, as a Miami native, I've been spoiled (read: made snooty) by the azure, white-sand beaches of South Florida. My first impression of Virginia Beach was: ugh, brown sand.

Virginia Beach (left) vs. Miami Beach (right)

But then something beautiful happened. 

Beauty and Battleships in Norfolk, Virginia

My 4th of July weekend festivities have inspired me to continue celebrating America by posting about my trip to one of the original 13 colonies -- Virginia.

Happy Birthday, U.S.A. Looking good at 238.

Travel Flashback: Grad Students Hit the Travel Jackpot

- "Where are the free water sports? We're here for the free water sports!"

In 2006, three girlfriends and I embarked on a trip to the Bahamas. Carmen, who was pursuing a PhD in Caribbean Literature, was presenting at a conference in Nassau, and our university was paying for her hotel room. Two double beds = room for four, so off we went to achieve what no starving grad student had achieved before -- a four-day trip to the Bahamas for $23. Our expenses broke down as follows:

Favorite Moments in Paris

I swung by Paris for only three days last April, but I made the best of them. The photos below showcase my favorite moments from my most recent trip to the belle ville.

Reuniting with old friends

Peace and Quiet in Ocala, Florida

I'm a city girl at heart. I love the energy and possibilities of a big city and the anonymity that comes with being one of many on a busy street. Sometimes, though, I find it necessary to -- excuse the cheesy expression -- stop and smell the roses (I couldn't resist). Last year, a friend invited me to spend a weekend with the girls at her family's country home in Ocala, Florida, a 5-hour drive from my hometown of Miami. We strolled the grounds, chatted, played pool, ate cheese, drank wine, and lounged by the swimming pool. I wouldn't wish to live in a permanent state of tranquility, but I do value regularly making the time to do nothing at all. Below are a few snapshots of my bucolic weekend.

Trying Texan Wine

When people say that everything is bigger in Texas, does "everything" include glasses of wine? I was pondering this all-important question when I arrived at Pedernales Cellars, a convenient stop in the Texas Hill Country on my way back to Austin from the adorable town of Fredericksburg. Before this trip, I had no clue that Texas produced any wines at all. It was happy news, particularly since the wines were better than I expected. After my wine tasting, I enjoyed some quiet time on the back terrace overlooking the field and feeling very Little House on the Prairie.

A Porto River Cruise at Sunset

On the first leg of my trip to Portugal, I stood atop Lisbon’s ancient castle overlooking the city to watch a stunning sunset. It seemed fitting that I should say goodbye to Portugal by taking in another sunset, this time while cruising the Douro River. Hopping onto one of the many boats from the riverfront Ribeira neighborhood is a great way to see the city from a different angle. These cruises generally last about an hour, an hour in which there’s nothing to do but relax and snap a few photos. Below are some of mine: