Tasty Dishes & Enticing Cocktails

I began my search for the tastiest dishes of the year by sifting through my photos starting in January. However, by the time I reached the month of June, I had already chosen 30 different tantalizing feasts for the eyes! How to choose?

Be honest, do you want to see that many of my “highlights”? I don’t believe so. Therefore, I carefully looked for colorful, unique meals and surprisingly incredible drinks that are worth celebrating once again. A few of them are favorites due to their unique nature or element of surprise!

I have narrowed down this list to a more manageable number and I hope you enjoy revisiting them as much as I do!

Maui

We began a very ambitious travel year with a relaxing, mostly rainy, week in Maui. However, we raised a toast of Piña Coladas on a delightful, sunny afternoon by the pool. Cheers!

Oh, my dear, these are the best crab cakes on earth. Doesn’t the lovely plate and vibrant blue tablecloth put it over the top? Many of you have enjoyed Mama’s Fish House, in the small town of Paia and I know you feel the same way about this unique Hawaiian restaurant. The location looks like the set of a movie, and although pretty pricey, the food is fabulous!         

Iceland

Best Experience Ever!

With so many memorable adventures, our trip to Iceland remains one of the most out of the ordinary tours we have enjoyed. From the astounding natural wonders to petting wild Icelandic horses and an exquisite black sand beach with completely clear, faceted icebergs. The driver of our tour bus brought back a mini glacier rock where centuries-old ice was chiseled and added to our Bourbon Old Fashioned. Mic drop.

Also, we tasted the global favorite Icelandic hot dog from a cart in downtown Reykjavic. I am not a big fan of hot dogs, but Craig and our friends Danny and Drew from Collette sampled them for me. They unanimously agreed the dogs were delicious!

North Dakota

Does North Dakota come to mind when you think “fantastic food”?  Maybe not, but we sure had an amazing dinner where the steaks were cooked in hot oil on pitchforks! Always looking to find adventure in everything I do, I was shocked over the preparation of these steaks! Click here to read more about my trip to North Dakota – I was so impressed!

Italy

It is nearly impossible to find a favorite dish in the gastronomically superior country of Italy! I narrowed it down to these few, with still a dozen more I could share. Please say a prayer for our friends in Italy; the virus is indeed causing havoc with the travel industry.

My divine trip to Italy began with a culinary tour with Oldways. We were joined by chefs from SRV in Boston, MA. We took several hands-on classes while on the road in Verona and Northern Italy. This risotto below is soft and gooey with fresh peas and ham. I can never get enough gelato and in Italy, it is a 3:00 pm required refreshment stop.

A Road Trip in South Dakota with Awesome Food!

On our empty nester road trip through South Dakota, I was traveling with some very adventurous eaters! Watching someone else eat a Bison burger was just what this non-Bison eater needed. I do appreciate that many people love to eat different sorts of animals, but I will stick with the standard fare. Troy thought his enormous burger was outstanding.

Breakfast in Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Our first time in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, will not be our last. This spectacular city is the kind of place I could stay for quite a while. With the Grand Tetons looking over your shoulder, the upscale restaurants excellent shopping and chic locals, it was my kind of place. This lovely laid-back town has a movie star vibe, and I kept looking for Kevin Costner to be sitting at the next table.

An LA dinner with friends Tammy & Steve

Close to home in Los Angeles, we enjoyed an eclectic meal with dear friends. LA is the foodie town of towns right now, and we are investigating as many restaurants as we can! Otium has been around for a while and serves consistently delicious and beautifully prepared dishes. Sharing is a must!

More Italy

Because well… there’s always more Italian food that needs revisiting!

Kansas City, Kansas Food Tour

Did you know that Kansas City, Kansas is a fabulous food town? We spent a day and a half sampling and sipping through this fascinating city. I have never been a fan of boba, but we visited this colorful little Boba Blend, and I am a convert now! Their recipes were smart, fresh and tasty, not to mention Insta-worthy!

Pasadena Masters of Taste

As a firm believer in dining with loved ones, we spent an afternoon with my parents at the Masters of Taste in Pasadena. On a warm Sunday afternoon, we tried lots of different restaurant samples and a few kick-ass cocktails. Do you have food events in your area? The Event Brite website usually has a long list of them.

Seattle

My list of Seattle favorites is very very long. The talented chefs maximize the local PNW ingredients and create inventive dishes. We look forward to our frequent visits here.

However, at this moment in Seattle, the corona-virus might be destroying the restaurant scene. Office buildings are shut down and most people are working from home so no one is going out to lunch and dinner. I feel terribly for the workers who don’t have customers to serve and small businesses that are suffering.

I have received many emails from local Seattle restauranteurs and chefs sharing the safety precautions taken in their restaurants. 

Japan

If you have been following my travels, you will know that I absolutely adore Japan! In addition to the intriguing history and spectacular architecture, the authentic local cuisine is fresh and healthy. 

To narrow down my favorites in Japan is impossible, so I just offered up three photos. The dessert below was so pretty, you couldn’t believe you could eat it! Shabu Shabu means “swish swish” in Japanese. The server heats up boiling water and dips our veggies and meat in the hot water to cook them. So good and so fun!

Two last photos of my food experience in Japan

While staying at the famous Park Hyatt in Tokyo I enjoyed a very fancy meal on the 52nd floor with a view of Tokyo and devoured the best dessert and cappuccino of my life!

Why do I take photos of my food? 

I have been doing this for years! Way before Instagram was a national past-time, my feverish, food photography was commonplace. The dazzling colors and presentations always make me smile, and I captured them for my enjoyment and reference. 

I now do this as part of my job, lucky me. Do you use Instagram to look for popular restaurants and dishes? When I am preparing to visit a new city, I always search for the hashtags that will help me find the most delicious and talked about places. Also, I search for blog posts that reference my destination. Our dining life has been saved on many of our trips because an avid food photographer took a great photo of a tasty-looking dish or meal. 

Check out my Instagram account @suzannestavert and my brand new one @theadventuresoemptynesters for food photos and adventures!

How was your 2019? What were your tastiest dishes of the year? Do tell!

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A travel video – Our tour in Iceland

Craig and I are a small part of the making of a travel video of epic proportions. Nature in Iceland is so BIG, so incredible that it could be a challenge to capture it. However the professionals from Colette Travel that we worked with, brought their A game. Both Dan and Drew manage to capture the essence of the landscape as well as the sheer magnitude of our surroundings. Any traveler will jump at the chance to travel to Iceland after watching this!

How it started

When Collette Travel asked if Craig and I were interested in filming a video about our tour of Iceland, we gave them an enthusiastic, YES! We did not know what to expect, but were ready for the adventure. We arrived in Reykjavík at 6:00am local time, after getting 2-3 hours sleep on our flight from Seattle. There was one day free prior to the start of the tour to find, explore and shoot several locations.

When I travel, I wear comfortable clothing and no make-up, but I was going to be on camera! Our room wasn’t ready yet, so I dragged my enormous bag into the tiny hotel lobby bathroom, added layers of clothing (because it was cold out) fixed my hair as best I could, added my all important make up, and met our new friends the Collette filmmakers.

The Land Cruiser was piled high to the ceiling with video equipment and we were off. Having never seen the unusual volcanic landscape of Iceland, we were already in awe of our surroundings within minutes of leaving the city. At this point in the trip Craig and I didn’t really know Dan and Drew yet, we had never been to Iceland and we had never shot a professional travel video. But we were ready to find adventure!

Just about ten miles outside of the capital city of Reykjavík, we came across this vista in the photo below. The temp had to be in the thirties and the wind was incredibly strong. However, we leaped out of the car like it was on fire. We didn’t want to miss a thing!

There were several appointments scheduled with new locations for tours in the future and we had to keep a schedule. But with landscape like we were experiencing, spontaneity became our mantra.

Ah the horses!

On the side of the road we saw two cars parked, literally in the middle of nowhere, so of course, we just had to stop! Our interaction with these wild Icelandic horses was something unexpected and utterly delightful. Filming had begun!!

The video below is the adorable owner and hostess of Efstidalur, a dairy farm which is run by four siblings and their families. They are the 7th generation living on the property, but their family has been living there since about 1750.

Drones!

Have you ever worked with drones? No, me neither, but these guys captured the most amazing water features in Iceland. They needed to calculate the wind and direct the drones to just the right location to film the perfect scene. The drones were flying high above Gullfoss Waterfall and it was so exciting watching them do this!

We took direction

Can you and Craig walk this way? Can you look left, look right, hold this, be excited, stand over there, sit on that, run your hand over that, look up, stand still. Etc… This was the real deal and both Dan and Drew were patient and so easy to work with. If I offered an art direction idea, they took it gladly and we implemented it. Collaboration was key and we all had a blast.

Filming the tour

We ended up riding with the guys the entire tour. Once we arrived at the location we toured with the group, but would step aside to film. The four of us would go ahead to the next stop or hang back at a location depending upon the weather or the size of the tourist crowd. We worked from early in the morning and often late in to the evening. Planning was done in the car for the next shoot as we were getting to know each other. The four of us became a cohesive unit and as the experience blossomed, we knew we were experiencing something very special.

My husband is not a blogger or an experienced travel video guy and handled the itinerary like a champ and a professional. It was fun to be a couple on camera and let our natural reactions come through. My goal was to make sure that anyone watching this video could easily feel our sincerity and enthusiasm for this spectacular itinerary. Collette’s tour creators do an incredible job to include every detail possible and most certainly offer activities that are personal and explorative.

This is my second tour with Collette and my experience on the Cultural Treasures of Japan Tour was equally as impressive. Entirely different of course, but just as impressive.

Behind the scenes

After a few days of filming, Dan broke out the super-duper camera brace in order to help him carry the cumbersome camera. Both Drew and Dan had to physically hold the heavy camera, run back and forth, go up the stairs and then walk backwards down on icy terrain. We were in awe of their talent. I started to film them as they worked because it was so impressive and this post was born! They also took a few moments for a selfie or two.

Filming on the Black Sand Beach

On this spectacular, somewhat eery, world famous beach, we were directed to stroll back and forth, Craig let the ebony sand fall through his fingers and as the mist touched our faces we smiled ear to ear. This location is so surreal you honestly can’t believe your eyes and it was also featured in Season 7 of Game of Thrones – “North of the Wall”. So cool!

Thank you to Collette Travel and to Dan and Drew for the experience of a lifetime. I know you will enjoy this video as much as we did making it.

Voice over

Do you recognize that voice on the video? That is me doing my first voice over. We set up a make shift recording studio in the photographers’ hotel room. I was tucked in the closet area and both Dan and Drew directed me. Craig also offered a few creative ideas and supportive thoughts.

What was most surprising to me, is that I needed to sound a certain way. Not super perky, but more calm and gently enthusiastic. It was hard! You may think that voice over is only reading copy, but often we improvised on the fly and I needed to say things in several different ways. I loved the experience and it was exhilarating and a bit scary at times. I truly wanted to make my contribution the best it could be.

 WATCH THE VIDEO!

If you would like to take advantage of a supremely AMAZING offer of up to $650 off your next tour with Collette, click ===> HERE and use this code EMPTYNEST19

More of our tour in Iceland – An Epic Tour of Iceland You Need to See & Experience

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Discovering a new restaurant in Reykjavík

Last week I wrote about the unique food of Iceland and shared how we experienced quite a wide spectrum of tastes. Whether we embraced every dish or not, we LOVED the entire adventure. What’s the point of visiting a new country and spending your time looking for American food? There is more to life than hamburgers and french fries don’t you agree? Did you know that many tourists insist on keeping their diet exactly the same as when they are at home?

Unless a person has dietary restrictions, it is incumbent upon every traveler to embrace a new country and this includes the local culinary traditions! Hello? Isn’t this part of the reason we travel? Check out our delicious adventure…

Do your homework

Craig and I did some digging on several super helpful travel blogs and restaurant websites like Eater and found a highly recommended restaurant in Reykjavík just a block from our hotel. It was the night before we joined the Northern Lights Tour with Collette Travel and we were SO excited! Within every tour there is always time for you to explore on your own and take time away from the group. A group tour is the best possible scenario. Let the experts prepare the itinerary, get us to where we need to be, but it still allows us to have enough personal time to ourselves. The perfect travel equation.

In addition to delicious savory dishes, hand crafted cocktails and personal service, I love to be surprised by an edgy design aesthetic. Rooms with tall ceilings and artisan lighting, warm woods and lush fabrics, wrought iron, even staircases within the restaurant are always fun. Bingo! We found one with all of these special characteristics and we found it in Iceland! Who knew?

Our delightful evening

What a delightful surprise to walk up to these beautiful sconces on a chilly February evening and to peek through the window to see rows of parkas perched on hooks on the wall. We never see this in California!

Since we made a last minute reservation, we ended up sitting at the kitchen grill bar and were totally thrilled. To be so close to the chefs while they prepare the tasty dishes was such a treat!

We watched dishes leave the expediting station and chased them with hungry, interested eyes. We asked the names of the dishes and talked with our neighbors to each side of us. It was such a difficult choice because everything we saw, we wanted to devour!

The Grillmarket

Regardless of how award winning the restaurant design looks, it is the food that makes it shine! Our dinner was outstanding and we were so happy with our choices! Our biggest challenge was narrowing down the list of possibilities. Poor us. After sipping our “Manhattan” in Iceland, we were ready to enjoy our grilled chicken and vegetable dishes.

The chefs use fire, smoke, fire logs and coal to cook each dish while working with local farmers and purveyors to provide the freshest and most delicious ingredients possible.These unique cooking techniques provide an unexpected and exciting culinary treat. Each diner can experience how the chefs mesh Icelandic heritage and the modern age.

Our dinner

For this dinner, we enjoyed handcrafted cocktails and there was no bread, virtually no carbs, no dessert. All healthy, local ingredients and an incredible atmosphere. For Craig and I it was the perfect meal. From where we sat we could talk with the chefs, smell the meats cooking and watch them create their magic. The perfect beginning to an incredible tour of Iceland.

Do you like to sit at the chef’s bar or kitchen bar?

The Unique Food of Iceland is Truly an Adventure

An Epic Tour of Iceland You Need To See & Experience

The Icelandic Horse :: A Pictorial From Our Adventure in Iceland

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The food of Iceland is an intriguing adventure

For me, the food of Iceland takes second place behind the breathtaking abundance of nature.The beauty of the vast flat lands, numerous snow capped volcanoes, enormous waterfalls, and pale blue icebergs continue to keep me dreaming of our Northern Lights Tour. Reykjavík is the capital of a country with only 350,000 people and is the culinary barometer for this fascinating destination.

The culinary scene in Iceland is different. Not different in a negative way, just different. We were able to sample their unique fish focused cuisine and also discovered the most popular hot dog in the world, an organic tomato farm and the freshest farm to table dairy products. What a combination!

In early days it was necessary for Icelanders to utilize what they had access to like the ocean fish, including arctic char and herring and the lamb they found on land. In present day, they still eat a great deal of fish and lamb served many different ways. Additionally they do serve horse as well Minke whale. Yes, they do. Although I would not eat these dishes myself, many locals and tourists do.

I will focus on the food we enjoyed and I want to emphasize that a city like Reykjavík caters to tourists with an international palette, so rest assured, if you explore enough, you can find what you want to eat. Craig and I found several super cool, hip, foodie-type restaurants where we enjoyed friendly service and the dishes were eye-catching and delicious. Next week I will share our time at Grillmarket, an extraordinary establishment in Reykjavík. It blew us away.

The Best Hot Dog in the World

I am sure hot dog connoisseurs everywhere will argue that the best hot dog in the world is probably not in Iceland. However, any time you walk by Baejarins Betzu, a tiny, popular food kiosk in Reykjavík, there is always a line. Legend has it that when Bill Clinton was President, he tasted the hot dog and proclaimed it “the best in the world”. So indeed it must be!

We took a stroll from our hotel over the old world cobblestone streets to form our own opinion. The hot dogs are a mix of beef, lamb and pork and are served with your choice of crispy fried onions, diced raw onions, spicy brown mustard and a mayonnaise-type aioli. Since I don’t eat hot dogs, my traveling companions Craig, Dan and Drew offered to be photographed and share their unbiased opinions.

They liked them, but were they the best in the world? Maybe not, but I don’t see the line getting any smaller any time soon. It was such a fun adventure and we talked with several tourists who were having a blast and loving their dogs!

Of course there is an abundance of seafood!

What would you eat if you lived on a volcanic island where trees and vegetables don’t grow and you are surrounded by water? Additionally, nearly everything you eat, you need to import. Icelanders used their ingenuity and built upon what they have and procure what they need. The food of Iceland provides lots of conversation and for an adventurous eater (there were many on our tour) it is a culinary bonanza!

Check out this video of one of our buffet dinners in Reykjavík

A tradition of fermented shark and a potent liquor called Brennivin

Would you eat fermented shark? This delicacy is part of Iceland’s heritage and made of Greenland shark (or sleeper shark) and smells like ammonia. What if you could chase it with the local liquor that was especially strong and tasted like something between rubbing alcohol and grappa? Yes? No?

The liquor is called ‘Brennivín’, and is a clear, unsweetened akvavit schnapps flavored with caraway. We felt that when in Iceland… you must try the local delicacies. We did it, but it was nasty.

Handcrafted cocktails with chiseled glacial ice

For two cocktail enthusiasts, what could be more cool than drinking bourbon over the ice of a glacier? What? How did this happen? Much to our surprise and delight, while we were visiting my favorite place, Diamond Beach, our Collette tour director Barbara and the fantastic bus driver, brought back a small, completely clear, iceberg from the beach.

The bartender at Hotel Katla used a fancy, leather-handled, ice pick to create the perfect “bourbon on the rocks” This was the most incredible libation we have ever tasted! Imagine 1,000 year old perfectly clear ice!

Skyr and Efstidalur Farm

Are you familiar with Skyr? You may have eaten it, but didn’t know you were eating it! Icelandic yogurt is called Skyr and we can get it here in the States. It is similar to Greek yogurt, but thicker, creamier and not as tart. We took a drive over to see Efstidalur, which is run by four siblings and their families. They are the 7th generation living on the property, but their family has been living there since about 1750.

“We are dairy farmers first and foremost, but since 2002 the business has developed with increased tourism in the area. In 2013 we opened the restaurant and café and began to make our own products from their milk and offer them to our guests to taste and enjoy”.

Now they focus on the tourism aspect of the business which includes delicious ice cream, skyr, an amazing café, tours of the farm and a farm hotel. I didn’t want to leave! Our hostess offered us tastes of the Skyr, their delicious coffee served in a glass and farm fresh feta cheese to die for! The farm is located on the Golden Circle which is the primary tourist road, so make a reservation to ensure a spot.

Tomatoes under glass at Fridheimar

We could see way off in the distance, an enormous glowing glass dome. The golden light intrigued us and as we drew closer, we arrived at the most delightful indoor “farm”! At Fridheimar, we walked through the double glass doors and could feel the warm temps and humidity as well as the smell of tomatoes! Loved it!

The tomatoes are grown all year round, using state-of-the-art technology in an environmentally-friendly way. Green energy, pure water and biological pest controls make for tasty and healthful tomatoes. If you are interested in just how these tantalizing tomatoes are grown please click here for their explanation. It is not that complicated, but very logical (although pretty genius) and they utilize all of their natural resources like geothermal water.

We then tasted the delicious tomato soup and ice cold Icelandic water flavored with tomato and then…Dessert! Tomato dessert?

Whether you are a picky or adventurous eater, you will certainly find the unique food of Iceland quite the conversation starter. No question! It was such a fun culinary departure from what we were familiar with and I look forward to another visit so I can try even more.

Are you an adventurous eater?

Would you like to read more about Iceland? Check out these posts

An Epic Tour of Iceland You Need To See & Experience

The Icelandic Horse :: A Pictorial From Our Adventure in Iceland

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Don’t you just love an Icelandic horse! Craig and I had just arrived in Iceland at 6:00am, a day before our Magical Northern Lights Tour with Collette began. With no time to waste, we met up with the Collette video production team at the hotel. After packing the Land Cruiser to the ceiling with camera equipment, we went looking for adventure in a phenomenal Icelandic landscape. The great news was that we didn’t have to travel more than an hour outside Reykjavik when we came across this glorious sight! A truly pinch me moment!

The Unique Icelandic Horse

The beautiful and sure-footed Icelandic horse can be seen all over Iceland. I have read that there are some 80,000 horses in the country and there are only about 350,000 people!  These are treasured animals. As we drove the primary highway called the Golden Circle in Southern Iceland, we pulled over a couple of times when we had a chance to see these beauties up close.

So charming

The horses were brought to Iceland by the Vikings about 1100 years ago and they come in a variety of colors of caramel, ivory and black. The long manes blow delicately in the breeze as their expressive eyes look directly at you like they already knew you were coming!

Our experience with the “Icelandic” as it is commonly referred to, was absolutely delightful. They walked right up to us and one put his or her nose into my selfie. These sweet creatures seemed to expect to be petted and acted similar to dogs, nuzzling and trying to get attention.

Now maybe they were used to tourists stopping by and liked the interaction, but it didn’t matter to us, we thoroughly enjoyed this serendipitous experience!

When you travel with professionals you get some really cool photos! Thank you Dan

At the end of another day of driving we met this handsome creature.

The weather changes very quickly in Iceland. One minute the sun is shining and the next it is cloudy and grey. All of these photos I took in the same thirty minute period, but each looks quite different due to the natural light.

This particular horse was by itself, his dark-colored pals were off in the distance, not interested in what we were all about. However this one, was particularly curious and seemed to intimate he or she was eager and willing to pose for the camera! You don’t have to be an animal lover to be awed by these extraordinary beings!

I talked to her (or him) with a gentle high-pitched voice and it walked right up and waited for us to take photos. As the cold wind blew and it neared sunset, we stood in the middle of nowhere in Iceland, mingling with this most stunning breed of horse. A truly magical moment of travel indeed!

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Next up: Icelandic cuisine, a dairy farm and Icelandic tomatoes grown indoors

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A Tour of Iceland with Collette

Where do I begin? Iceland is so unique and so insanely interesting that I have had a challenging time trying to organize how I am going to share this with you! This post is a long one but filled with interesting facts and engaging photos. You can always bookmark it for later or better yet start a new travel adventure file for a future trip! Here we go!

Iceland is called the land of fire and ice, but it should be considered the land of water as well. It is a watery wilderness with waterfalls so tall it is difficult to see the very top and others so enormous they would dwarf Niagara Falls. Around every bend in the road there is a new natural wonder to enjoy!

The fire description is attributed to the fact that the island is covered in volcanic rock and volcanoes. There are 130 volcanoes and 30 active ones!  As you drive along the primary touring highway, the Golden Circle, the landscape changes from rocky mountains and meadows, to snow covered land, to a rocky volcanic surface which looks like you just landed on the moon.

The Northern Lights Tour by Collette manages to pack a great deal in to just seven days. Everyday another fascinating aspect of nature was ours to enjoy and photograph. In addition to traveling with the tour group, my husband Craig and I traveled with Dan and Drew, the professional photographers whose goal was to capture on film what it was really like on this extraordinary tour. I will describe this bonus experience in another upcoming post.

Reykjavik

The tour began and ended in the capital city of Reykjavik and it offered so many wonderful places to see. We loved the old world charm, woven with modern architecture, Icelandic culture and beautiful areas to walk and experience. We had a chance to see a little of the city and enjoyed everything about it! Reykjavik has no crime, everyone seems to know everyone and there is a happy family atmosphere.

Nature so big you honestly can’t believe your eyes

The only way I seem to be able to describe the landscape and nature of Iceland is that it is BIG. So big, so grand, so incredible, so unique, so unusual, so interesting, so unlike anywhere you have ever visited and SO AMAZING!

As you drive around this small country the view out your window changes often, sometimes drastically. We would be driving along a flat road engaged in the scenery of the ocean and then BOOM there is Gullfoss Waterfall towering and churning with more water than you have ever seen.

The Waterfalls

Each waterfall delivers another wondrous impression. You cannot get that close to Gullfoss, but the magnitude and the enormity of it blows your mind. Seljalandsfoss was wet and misty. We waited for the tour buses to go and had the place to ourselves. Skogafoss was fun because we could get incredibly close! Craig and I climbed 450 stairs (but who’s counting) to get to the top to observe it from there. We were so high that the people below looked like tiny ants. It was truly magnificent.

Seljalandsfoss

Seljalandsfoss is one of the country’s best known waterfalls. “Foss” means waterfall in Icelandic. In the summer you can actually walk behind the waterfall on a small path. However in the winter it is closed because the path is too icy to walk on. There is a very charming snack stand that serves hot chocolate and homemade pastries. The lines are long but the goodies are worth the wait!

Skogafoss

Iceberg Lagoon

The famous Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon is about five hours from Reykjavik and some of the ice is over 1,000 years old. The lagoon connects with the ocean and is therefore composed of a sea and fresh water mixture which causes its unique color.

Seeing Iceberg Lagoon took place on my favorite day of the tour. Honestly it is impossible to even say “favorite” because there were seven of them! The turquoise blue of the icebergs shocked and delighted us. The weather was really rough and Craig and I shuffled our way over to see them in the strong wind and rain. Smiling ear to ear.

Diamond Beach

Without a doubt this is the coolest natural setting I have ever seen. Nothing prepared me for the wonder of this beach. The black volcanic sand was one aspect, but adding in the blue icebergs in the distance and the crystal clear small icebergs was beyond anything I could ever dream could be real. I would go back tomorrow and endure any weather to see this all over again. I cannot emphasize enough how spectacular this was. Thank you Collette for inviting us!

Blue Lagoon

The world and Instagram famous Blue Lagoon delivered as promised. This gigantic pool contains water heated from the earth. This geothermal water is relaxing, rejuvenating and unforgettable. You bop around and enjoy the hot soothing pool, have a drink at the bar in the pool and then shower off all of the minerals and salt. This is a once in a lifetime, must do, experience!

It was unusually windy (40 mph) and the sleet and wind were hitting us in the face like blunt needles. We met up with a few of our tour mates from New York and they were having a grand time. I asked them whether the wind was bothering them. The answer: “We love it! We feel like we are having an adventure unlike anything we have experienced. This is awesome!” Yep, truly awesome.

Northern Lights

Ah, the elusive Northern Lights! Yes we saw them! Check that off my bucket list! The Northern Lights can be challenging to see. There are several parameters that determine whether you will view them or not. Location, weather (no rain, no wind, clear skies) Hello, it’s winter in Iceland, these things happen. The plan was to go out to see them every night that we could. The only night it was clear enough, was the very first night we were in the South, in the city of Vik. Our tour guide Barbara had an app that helped her determine where we should be and when.

Being away from the city lights under a dark, dark sky offers the best chance to see them. They appear slowly like a little foggy cloud, they start to swirl and grow, dance a little and after a few minutes, poof, they were gone. We were able to capture them on film with a long exposure and this is the best one. I need a do-over. My best photo isn’t very good, but I saw them!! So happy about that!

Group Tours Are the Way to Go

Oh the many benefits of traveling on a group tour!  Most importantly, the itinerary will be jam packed with places you never knew existed! Tour companies like Collette research and investigate every single detail of the destination and find hidden gems to highlight. They determine the logistics for how to maximize time and location and even down to special details like where the best authentic local meal may be served. As travel experts they know just what is possible and what is necessary for the perfect tour!

The knowledgeable guides are such a plus! For Iceland in particular, our tour guide flip flopped our day tours because of inclement weather. She was able to forecast that visiting a local site was more advantageous on Thursday than it was on Friday. Brilliant! These guides truly care about your experience and aim to do everything in their power to make it your best trip ever.

In addition to the planning and seamless execution of an itinerary, tours allow the opportunity to meet other travelers from all over the world. We made new friends from everywhere, each with their own captivating stories and some who have traveled to many more places than we have! Travelers are delighted to share their travel histories as well as tips and tricks to enrich the experience.

The Weather in Iceland

What is it really like in the winter in Iceland? Truthfully, not nearly like you would think. Iceland is positioned in the Gulf Stream so the temps do not go down as low as Scandinavia or other cold climates in the north. The temperature hovered anywhere between 32-42 degrees Fahrenheit. My friends in Colorado suffered the cold weather way more intense than we did!

The wind is gnarly, but if you are prepared this can be overcome. The secret is wearing layers. Base layers give an extra layer of protection from the wind and seem to insulate you. I wore them every day even if the sun was shining. One day I thought I didn’t need them, but I was so wrong. The icy wind cut through my clothing like butter. I learned the hard way.

It rains and at times snows frequently, but not for very long. My rain pants and water resistant hiking pants were lifesavers. Many travelers wear snow pants and others just wear jeans. Every person has a different cold tolerance. It’s really not that big of a problem. I spent time deciding what to pack and had zero issues.

We traveled to Iceland in winter in order to see the Northern Lights. Any amount of cold or rain was completely worth it. The weather is part of the adventure and we certainly earned our travel experience.

The People

Icelanders are lovely people. So warm, friendly, kind and interesting. We felt welcome everywhere we went and they were eager to show us their incredible country and happy to answer any questions we had.

The proud locals know their country is unique and you cannot compare it to anywhere that you have ever visited. To find adventure in Iceland is easy, every step you take is something new. I love Iceland, I just loved it!

Local Food

I will dive into this subject more in depth in a separate post. Authentic Icelandic food is practical and traditional with a strong focus on fish. Being an island and covered with rock, it is difficult to grow anything and fish is abundant. It is not for the culinary meek. Our tour mates were adventurous and enthusiastic and tried everything from fermented Greenland shark to reindeer paté. There are plenty of other dishes to choose from too, no worries. Stay tuned.

Trying to pick a favorite moment

I am going to get dramatic here… Visiting the Diamond Beach was the single most amazing day in nature that I have ever experienced. I just couldn’t believe my eyes. If it weren’t for a few travelers in colorful parkas, I could only see in black and white. The sound you hear is the strong wind!

The mysterious black sand beach was covered with numerous sized small icebergs. These icebergs were completely clear and looked like they had been hand chiseled by a sculptor. Not to sound trite, but it was absolutely breathtaking. I didn’t care that the wind, rain and sleet were blowing sideways. It felt like a miracle of nature to me.

I hope you will come back here soon to read and see more of the spectacular Icelandic horses, local cuisine, a tomato farm where they are grown indoors, an extraordinary seventh generation dairy farm and handcrafted cocktails made with ice from a glacier. We packed SO MUCH into one week! Do I have stories to share!

We Made a Video with Collette Filmmakers 

Check it out!!

If you would like to take advantage of a supremely AMAZING offer of up to $650 off your next tour with Collette, click ===> HERE and use this code EMPTYNEST19

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A Trip to Iceland and to See the Northern Lights!

A trip to Iceland to see the northern lights has been at the top of my travel bucket list for as long as I have had a list. It is actually happening! Can I get a woohoo? Craig and I are headed over to the land of fire and ice next week. Our friends at Collette have invited us to experience a country which has been described to me by fellow travelers as “other worldly”. We will experience nature on such a grand scale on Iceland’s Magical Northern Lights Tour.

Hopefully the night sky will be clear enough to see the heavenly northern lights! Our tour will certainly qualify as a once-in-a-lifetime type of journey and it is part of the Explorations group of tours. This size tour allows us to develop a deeper, even more meaningful connection, an opportunity to get closer and to discover a slice of everyday life. We cannot wait!

We will travel to the “Golden Circle,” home to many of Iceland’s most renowned natural wonders. We will spend time at Thingvellir National Park and also travel to the spectacular Gullfoss waterfall – one of the world’s most incredible cascades. Explore Skogar Folk Museum and see traditional turf-built homes. Walk on a black volcanic sand beach and see Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon filled with floating icebergs. So excited! Craig and I will relax in the warm Blue Lagoon, a mineral-rich, geothermal pool. And… we will gaze at the night sky and search for the elusive and dazzling aurora borealis!

Time to pack! If you have been to Iceland, do you have any tips?

Please follow along on my Instagram and Facebook accounts. We have our own hashtag too – #EmptyNestersonIce

My fellow travel blogger Debbee from DebbeesBuzz.com wrote two posts about her trip to Iceland for us that I published recently. She went to all of the places we will be traveling to and has given us a fantastic preview!

Check these out!

Incredible Iceland Adventure – Part One

Visit Iceland for an Incredible Adventure – Part Two

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The post A Bucket List Adventure : A Trip to Iceland and to See the Northern Lights! appeared first on Adventures of Empty Nesters.

Welcome to Part Two from our newest Guest Adventurer! Debbee is a lifestyle blogger and Etsy shop owner who uses themes when decorating, entertaining and crafting. During the past year Debbee and her husband traveled throughout Spain, spent a magical holiday season in Quebec City, went on a 10-day adventure around Iceland, and just returned from two weeks sailing and touring Greece.

Iceland Trip Day 2: Southwest Coast

On the second day of our Icelandic adventure, we headed west on the Ring Road to explore the Southwest Coast.

As we drove, rolling green farm fields were dotted with sheep and Icelandic horses. Here, I had worried we wouldn’t see many horses — only to discover there is one to every three people in Iceland!

The Southwest Coast sits in the shadow of two glacier-topped volcanoes. It is renowned for gushing waterfalls, dramatic promontories, and black sand beaches.

Services are sparse, so we were sure to fill the car with gas, and take advantage of bathrooms whenever the opportunity presented itself. A guiding principle for pretty much anywhere in Iceland.

A Walk on the Wet Side

Our first stop was Seljaladsfoss, a 210-foot waterfall within view of the Ring Road. For a sense of scale, look for the tiny flecks of color in the background of the picture. Those are people walking on the trial and in the cave behind the falls.

Dressed head-to-foot in rain gear, we were prepared for the slippery and sometimes steep hike behind the waterfall. It was an awesome experience!

Another half-hour down the Ring Road we reached Skogafoss. The falls there were much broader and powerful than Seljalandsfoss.

At Skogafoss, visitors can walk amazing close to the base of the thundering falls. But, it’s slippery, and you will get wet from the wind and spray.

A steep, 500-step climb provides a unique perspective from the top of the falls — a climb I skipped and waited for my guys at the base.

I knew it would take me twice as long to reach the top as the marathon runners in my family. It wasn’t lunchtime yet, and there were plenty of hikes and climbs planned for the rest of the day.

Afterwards, we had a delicious and satisfying lunch of mushroom soup and freshly-made bread at the nearby Hotel Skogafoss Bistro Bar.

Dyrholaey Cliff & Natural Rock Arch

Dyrholaey promontory is a naturally formed arch in a volcanic cliff. It’s an intense, steep drive up on a narrow dirt and gravel road, with no guardrails. And, the first real test of our 4×4 SUV.

I should interject here that although I offered numerous times, the guys never let me drive the car, LOL!  Mostly, I enjoyed the incredible views through the SUV’s panoramic windows.

The picture provides no perspective of the height or wind at Dyrholaey — so powerful it nearly knocked me over! I clung tightly to my guys, while giggling with glee.

At the summit are spectacular views of black sand beaches, lava columns, and (for only a few weeks each summer) nesting puffins. We did see thousands of puffins later on our Iceland trip, but not a one at Dyrholaey.

A small lighthouse at the summit offers overnight accommodations for the brave few.

In the Shadow of Volcanos

The Southern Coast lies in an active volcano and earthquake zone. Evidence of volcanic eruptions are everywhere. We saw more lava fields, volcanic cones, black sand beaches, and thermal activity than we saw ice on our 10-day Iceland trip.

One of those nearby volcanoes erupted in 2010, disrupting airline flights all over Europe for months. We were in the shadow of the Ejafjallajokull Volcano for several days. The entire area was on elevated alert during our visit. I confess to finding that a bit disconcerting.

Reynisfajara is a black sand beach tucked under grassy mountains. The beach here changes frequently and can be dangerous, due to huge, unexpected surges of water.

My guys thought I was being overly dramatic, while reading from the guide book. Until, we saw a sign detailing the number of people who died there, and warning of the risks.

Dramatic basalt formations (splintered columns of volcanic rock) and shallow caves are a magnet for tourists, and were the backdrop for Star Trek and other movie scenes.

The Reynisdrangar sea stacks are located in the background, just off the coast. Like much of the surrounding landscape, the stacks were formed by volcanic activity.

I stayed way back from the water on the black sand beach, with the much-photographed sea stacks beyond.

Dumb & Dumber

My very foolish eldest son, however, decided to climb the rocks at the very end of the beach, He wanted a picture of himself adjacent to the crashing surf. It was very windy, and his hat blew off and landed on the ocean side of the boulders.

While he dangled head-first to retrieve the stupid hat, his brother and dad went to assist. I could have throttled all three of them. My whole world on a beach known for rogue waves…

I probably shouldn’t even post this photo, so as not to encourage my son. Please don’t try this on your Iceland trip!

Here I am marching the long hike back to the car. The volcanic sand makes it difficult to walk; especially in heavy hiking boots. I’m that aqua dot. Can you see the angry steam coming off me?

This was only after my son’s first dangerous retrieval. Once we got back to the car, he realized his wallet had fallen out when reaching down for the hat! That made for a second trip to the rocks…I kid you not.

One of our family vacation traditions is to have an informal award ceremony on the last day of a trip. Eldest son won first and second place in the category, “dumbest thing done on our Iceland trip.” Actually, I think he ‘won’ third too; for being precariously close to a waterfall later during our vacation! That kid will be the death of me…

5 Mile Hike Not Taken

The guys had one more stop they wanted to make; to see the wreckage of a plane that crashed on the beach in the 1960’s (everyone survived). Oldest son works in the transportation sector and was particularly keen on seeing it. Me, not so much.

You see, it was a five-mile roundtrip hike to the wreckage, on black sand. At that point, I was pretty physically and emotionally worn out. I elected to stay in the warm car and take advantage of our mobile hotspot to check emails and text pictures.

Renting a mobile hotspot is essential on an Iceland trip. Along with your phone’s navigation system, it’s very effective. Renting a GPS is a complete waste-of-time and money.

End of the Day with Sun Still Shinning

Our second night was spent at the new UMI Hotel; a very posh and ultra-modern place. As was typical for most of our Iceland trip, hubby and I had one room while the boys shared another.

Here’s our room’s view on the ocean side of the hotel. As you can see, the weather had improved dramatically from the previous day.

We went out to a nearby, modestly-priced restaurant for dinner. Gamla Fjosid specializes in dishes made with locally raised beef, and is located in a rustic old cowshed.

Almost everywhere in Iceland offers free Wi-Fi, with the exception of Gamla Fjosid. I loved this sign and was happy to keep my sons’ noses out of their phones during dinner.

Say Goodnight Debbee

Afterwards, we enjoyed drinks in the hotel bar. Playing card games was something we enjoyed most evenings before heading to bed. A deck of cards should be on your packing list for an Iceland trip.

All our accommodations had blackout shades, but most nights I still elected to wear a sleeping mask.

Hope you’ve enjoyed the trip so far. Interested in seeing more of her 10-day Icelandic adventure? Check out Debbee’s blog ===> Here!

Thank you Debbee!

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The post Visit Iceland for an Incredible 10-Day Adventure, Part Two appeared first on Adventures of Empty Nesters.

Please Welcome our newest Guest Adventurer! Debbee is a lifestyle blogger and Etsy shop owner who uses themes when decorating, entertaining and crafting. She typically posts twice a week; focusing on holidays, tablescapes, parties, DIY projects and travel. During the past year Debbee and her husband traveled throughout Spain, spent a magical holiday season in Quebec City, went on a 10-day adventure around Iceland, and just returned from two weeks sailing and touring Greece.

Incredible Iceland 10-Day Adventure, Part One

I’m really excited to share our recent family vacation — an incredible 10-day adventure to the land of the midnight sun.

Earlier this year, both my husband and I celebrated big-0 birthdays. Later this fall, we will also mark a big-5 wedding anniversary.

To honor these milestones, our sons arranged a 10-day family vacation. They presented the surprise Iceland trip, transportation details, travel route and accommodations to us in the late spring. That allowed plenty of time to plan and eagerly anticipate the July journey. And believe you me, traveling over 900 miles around the entire country of Iceland takes lots of pre-planning.

Come along on the first day of our incredible Iceland trip in the land of fire and ice.

It’s All About the Journey – Incredible Iceland

As the card said, it’s about the journey, not the destination. For me, the true gift was spending 10 entire days together as a family. I was absolutely ecstatic!

Our sons’ careers have them working very long hours and traveling a great deal. Trying to find even a long weekend to get together, was hard enough. Plus, we have four people living in three different cities.

Just a month after my Unbirthday Party, we were off on a grand Iceland trip and epic adventure to the land of fire and ice. All of a sudden, I couldn’t wait to turn the big-something!

Our route followed Iceland’s Ring Road, with several significant detours to more remote peninsulas and into the wilderness. We progressed counter-clockwise around the country, which is about the size of Maine. One night was spent in each of nine different and varied accommodations.

The Golden Circle

We were able to fly direct to Iceland via Wow Air, which began service from Pittsburgh last June. Apparently, it’s the hot (cool?) thing to do these days — especially by millennial like our sons.

The guys flew together from Newark and our flights arrived within minutes of each other. We were all delayed an hour, arriving at 5:45 AM local time. There’s only a four-hour time difference with East Coast, because with 20 hours of daylight during the summer, there’s no need for savings time!

We grabbed our luggage, changed (into fleece, winter coats and waterproof hiking boots), picked up a luxury 4×4 SUV, and hit the road for the Golden Circle.

The Golden Circle and Southwest Coast have many of Iceland’s most well-known and visited natural wonders, due to their accessibility from Reykjavik.

Our first stop was Thingvellir National Park. This is one of the few destinations I can pronounce, of all the places we visited during our Iceland trip! The dramatic gorge marks the pulling apart of the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates.

Snorkeling on the Continental Divide

We actually went snorkeling in Iceland on the morning of our arrival!  It was quite the wake me up!

After a quick breakfast grabbed at the Thingvellir visitor center and overlook, we hustled to get to our dive meeting place. I was a little dismayed that what they called a ‘place to change’, was just a large van! That seemed to be the case regardless of the dive operator.

We already knew we’d spend as much time getting into our dry suits, as time in the water. You don’t wear swimsuits, but thermal long underwear to stay warm in the glacial water. It’s a two-person job to get suited up and insure a watertight seal.

Unique Experience

As I descended the stairs into the glacial water up to my chest, I was pleased to feel warm and dry. Then, the guide told us to put our faces into the water and start to swim. OMG — it was such a cold shock! It actually felt like the worst burn! I didn’t think I was going to be able to withstand a few minutes, let alone 40 with my face in the water.

But, the body adjusts at the same time you are distracted by the view and swimming. It’s a one-way trip and others are continually coming in behind you. We all persevered and the worst was over within minutes.

Most areas of the rift are narrow and deep, others quite shallow. It’s an awesome experience and I’m pretty proud of myself for doing it! After all, my husband and sons are scuba certified.

Ideally, we would have snorkeled the Silfra Fissure later on the trip. But, with a 10-day route ahead, this was the logical first stop and best use of time.

Filling Up the Tank 

Everyone was now wide awake and ready to eat! So, we headed further into the Golden Circle to the highly-rated restaurant Fridheimar, a tomato farm.

My guidebook cautioned to make reservations ahead. Sure enough, the place was completely booked. Mind you, Fridheimar is what most would consider the middle of nowhere! They did offer us service at the bar, with a more limited menu.

It actually worked out great, as we found a high-top table. Hubby ordered up four delicious bowls of tomato soup. Each came with a large, freshly baked roll the size of a loaf of bread! The soup warmed us up and filled our bellies before continuing on.

Raingear: Required Islandic Attire

Our next stop on the Golden Circle was Geysir. The geothermal field has walking trails among steaming vents, turquoise pools and mud formations. It’s where the English word ‘geyser’ comes from.

I don’t have any pictures of Geysir because it was raining pretty good then. It was also overcast and foggy on the first day of our Iceland trip. Fortunately, the weather was pretty good the rest of the vacation. But, the weather that first day did put a damper on things — most notably views.

Having seen Yellowstone, Geysir pales in comparison. It was still worth the half hour we spent at there, as it sits right on the way to our primary destination. Gullfoss was just ten minutes further down the road.

Gullfoss is Iceland’s most famous waterfall, with a spectacular double cascade and dramatic drop that thunders into a rocky ravine. Part of its popularity is due to easy access along the Golden Circle route.

The trail climbs past the fall’s northern face, allowing you to get within an arm’s length.

Whether it rains or not, wet weather gear is required for an enjoyable Iceland trip. We explored numerous waterfalls and coastal overlooks where it could be very windy, went whale watching on a raft, and hiked in misty conditions. Rain gear, including waterproof hiking boots, is essential.

Icelandic Horse Farm

Our first night was spent in one of three cottages at the Akurgeroi Guesthouse horse farm, near Selfoss.

The Airbnb rental was my favorite accommodation in terms of charm. All the décor tied into the farm theme, including horseshoes and stirrups as hardware, and a galvanized bucket light fixture.

Lobster Dinner Family Style

Food and alcohol are extremely expensive on an Iceland trip, because almost everything is imported. Even the locally-sourced seafood and lamb is very pricey (there are three times as many sheep as people in Iceland!).

Still, we decided to splurge on our first night to eat humar (langoustine or Norway lobster), right off the boat. Fjorubordid (The Water’s Edge) is a venerable, nautical-themed lobster house. There’s no view despite its location, and reservations are recommended. It was a Friday night, and we were lucky they had a table in an auxiliary dining room.

The food was exceptional. We had the chunky lobster ‘soup’ with homemade bread. Icelanders make fabulous breads and pastries! Be sure to order the trimmings; cucumber salad, tomatoes with basil, couscous, fresh salad, and baby potatoes. All served family style. Don’t forget Icelandic craft beer to wash it down, with pitchers of glacial water.

It was everyone’s favorite meal. A great finish to Day One of our Iceland trip!

Follow along to explore the Southwest Coast with gushing waterfalls, dramatic promontories and black sand beaches in Part 2.

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Adventures of Empty Nesters: How did it all begin? The quick version.

Four years ago, I was having a bit of a struggle trying to decide what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. Where did I belong exactly? Our son was in college, our daughter had graduated from the University of Washington in Seattle and never moved back to California. My husband Craig was often traveling for business and I no longer had to spend every waking moment focused on what the family required. Everyone was happily doing their own thing, I was truly an Empty Nester and it was my time now.

Created in 2014, AdventuresofEmptyNesters.com has evolved through the years, with the original emphasis on my life in the Empty Nest. I adored offering advice to others who were about to begin this new empty nester chapter or already living it. As time passed, I allowed the blog to carry me and my thoughts along with it toward new adventures.

We filmed an infomercial, partnered with The Container Store and we began to travel more and more. Just in the last year I was a guest of Tuscan Women Cook, an Italian Cooking School in Italy, traveled to Barcelona and Mallorca, Spain, Quintana Roo, Tulum and Cozumel in Mexico and traveled to Asia (twice!) In the United States I visited some of my favorite cities, like San Francisco, Napa Valley, Carmel, Seattle, Chicago, New York, Austin and Honolulu. My travel schedule now consumes about two weeks per month on average. I write about adventurous travel around the world, our delicious foodie finds, share stories of amazing destinations, luxury hotels and continue to introduce you to cutting edge travel companies. Every week something new is happening, I am always pinching myself. We still talk about life in the Empty Nest here on the blog, but we have evolved to offer even more!

Our empty nester video story ~

This video came about because of our nephew Clint, who uses his creative talent to create videos in the auto industry. He suggested we put together a short video to showcase what we do at  Adventures of Empty Nesters. I think he did an amazing job. Check it out!

Consulting ~

I consult with new and established bloggers to mentor and inspire them in their world of blogging. I assist them by taking a look at what is already working successfully and to make suggestions for an even better experience. I am expanding my video hosting and creating new and inspiring empty nester travel videos. How about an Empty Nester tour somewhere? Where would you like to go?

My recent brand partnerships ~

My passport is still warm from my travel partnership with Collette Travel on the Cultural Treasures of Japan Tour. Just a few months prior to the Japan trip, I traveled with China Southern Airlines and Tourism Authority of Thailand to Thailand and China. What a magical experience! Later this month I will embark upon another fantastic journey to Italy and Spain, finishing with a hosted Viking Cruise down the Elbe River cruising from Berlin to Prague.

Inspiration ~

AdventuresofEmptyNesters.com was created for the purpose of bringing together a global community of people who are not content to just sit on the couch and watch life pass us by. Let’s redefine what it means to be an Empty Nester, shall we?  Sharing our journey with you helps to build new friendships and hopefully inspire you to go out and travel and explore like we do! Interacting with readers is such a blast and to know you enjoy these posts is an honor!

Additionally, many of you fellow empty nesters have written posts for the blog about your own adventures. We are always looking for more of you to participate, so email me if you have an idea or want to share a story! suzannestavert@me.com

Finding adventure can be about discovering new destinations, finding a new interest or it can be any type of adventure that is a part of YOUR dreams. How about creating a list? This is the perfect time to get started.

What is your passion? What delights you? Defines you? What do you LOVE? What makes you happy?

Where do you want to go? Where haven’t you been that you passionately NEED to see?

If you could go on a tour somewhere with a small group of other empty nesters, where would you want to go? Please leave your ideas in the comments section. Let’s see if we can’t make that dream become a reality.

Time to create it, share it, live it, love it, do it!

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Readers Please Note ~

Make sure you click over to the Home Page to see what else is happening on the blog – At the top of the home page you will find The Empty Nest, Restaurants & Food, Travel, Work with Me, Press and Contact. We have lots to offer here on AdventuresofEmptyNesters.com

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