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Travel Stories, Cruise Reviews, and Cultural Adventures


Cinque Terre treats, the Italian way: with castles, scenery, seafood, churches, riots of color and stunning views
Photographers from all over the world are drawn to the colors of the colorful cottages and sweeping sea views of Cinque Terre, visited from Porto Venere, a province of La Spezia, Italy SPEND A DAY TRAVERSING PICTURESQUE VILLAGES BELOVED BY POETS ON ITALY'S ALLURING COAST Cookie and Keller, happy in Porto Venere, Italy, near a famed Gothic church, stunning beaches, caves, rocky promontories and a clifftop fortress. Seafood is one of the draws of the exotic ports of Cinque Terr

Christene Meyers
Dec 29, 20172 min read
Magical Mission Inn in Riverside: Come catch the holiday spirit
GLORIOUS DECORATIONS, LIGHTS ENTERTAIN THOUSANDS OF INTERNATIONAL VISITORS Mission Inn is aglow and magical this time of year in...

Christene Meyers
Dec 22, 20172 min read
Winter's home on the range; a photographic homage to Big Sky Country -- with tips!
A bighorn sheep nods to winter, near Nye, Montana, near the Beartooth Mine. He was photographed on a recent visit. SPLENDOR IN THE...

Christene Meyers
Dec 15, 20174 min read


Mas la Boella Boutique Hotel - spectacular Catalonia resort incorporates history, wine, nature, olive oil and modern amenities
For readers of WhereIsCookie.com who enjoy discovering unique boutique stays, Mas La Boella stands out as a destination where history, cuisine, and nature come together beautifully. Whether you are exploring ancient Roman landmarks, tasting regional wines, or simply enjoying the serenity of olive-covered hills, this Mediterranean estate offers a memorable and authentic travel experience. Check out other stories about luxury hotels of the world that we have visited

Cookie & Keller
Dec 8, 20173 min read


Derby Hotel Claris answers the question: 'What makes a great hotel?'
Elegance and style greet the eye at every turn, and antiques meet the latest in technology, at Barcelona's Claris Hotel. Here's the spectacular view from the elevator as one whisks to one's room above an artful interior courtyard. Below, right, Antoni Gaudi's famed Casa Battlo is within easy walking distance from the Claris. BARCELONA BEAUTY: CLARIS HOTEL GREETS THE GUEST WITH MUSEUM CLASS SURROUNDINGS, SUPERB SERVICE, LOCATION STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLE

Christene Meyers
Dec 1, 20173 min read


Yellowstone Park in winter: beautiful, chilly home on the range for snow coach visitors
Yellowstone National Park in winter is a place of profound silence and striking contrasts, where boiling geysers meet a landscape blanketed in deep snow. While most of the park's interior roads close to private vehicles by early November, the winter season (typically mid-December to early March) opens a rare door for those willing to trade their cars for snow coaches.

Christene Meyers
Nov 24, 20173 min read


Yellowstone Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center draws curious tourists for stellar learning experience
The Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center is a not-for-profit wildlife park and educational facility opened in 1993 that is located in West Yellowstone, Montana, United States. It is open 365 days a year, and admission is good for two consecutive days.

Christene Meyers
Nov 17, 20172 min read


Sioux Charley Lake via Stillwater Trail No. 24 splendor in every season, remarkable beauty
Tucked deep in northeastern Montana, Sioux Charlie Lake is a quiet escape reached via the scenic Stillwater Trail #24. With sweeping prairie views, pockets of forest, and the kind of stillness that’s hard to find anymore, this hidden gem rewards those willing to wander a little off the beaten path

Christene Meyers
Nov 10, 20173 min read


Ahmanson's 'Bright Star' lights up the house in Los Angeles
The Ahmanson Theater in Los Angeles is the perfect venue for a beautifully staged "Bright Star," with a bluegrass band on stage, and a full pit orchestra in the traditional place below. The show is spectacularly staged. MUSICAL EARNS BRAVOS, STANDING OVATIONS IN ITS TOE-TAPPING REINCARNATION Carmen Cusack's lovely leading lady role makes the audience laugh -- and cry -- in "Bright Star." The actress played the role of Alice on Broadway. STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By B

Christene Meyers
Nov 3, 20173 min read


Travel is enhanced by friends, youngsters, doggies, new perspectives
A gathering -- family, friends, doggies -- in Bozeman, for coffee enroute to Yellowstone National Park. From left, Bruce Keller, Rick...

Christene Meyers
Oct 27, 20173 min read


Yellowstone's gorgeous geysers are a spouting wonder of the world
NOTHING LIKE a Yellowstone geyser to make you feel small, insignificant and aware of your "lowly cog" status in the the universe. Yellowstone, mostly in Wyoming but claimed by Montanans as ours, is the world's best place to see geysers. Oh, sure, they exist in Chile, Iceland and New Zealand, but not on the spectacular scale as the Yellowstone geyser bonanza.

Cookie & Keller
Oct 20, 20174 min read
Yellowstone in autumn -- great time to explore, see critters, as the leaves fall and winter's in the wings
Well fed bison roam near Norris Junction in Yellowstone National Park, with geysers spouting behind them. The Roosevelt Arch, approaching...

Christene Meyers
Oct 13, 20172 min read


Piano pleasures: A life of music brings joy to musicians, audience
Cookie is at her happiest playing piano. Here, she entertains at a housewarming party. Cookie serenades at friend Corby Skinner's on the...

Christene Meyers
Oct 6, 20174 min read
Powering down: home on the range is warm, toasty when lights go out
Snow covered apples are a pretty sight, amidst the season's first snow as the melt begins. LIFE IS GOOD, PLEASURES ARE SIMPLE DURING...

Christene Meyers
Sep 29, 20173 min read


Oregon Coast Lighthouse Delights and offers eye-catching array of sentinels to the state's sea life
Discover the magic of an Oregon Coast road trip as Where Is Cookie explores stunning lighthouses, scenic overlooks, and charming seaside stops. From dramatic cliffs to historic coastal beacons, this guide highlights the best lighthouse views and must-see destinations along one of America’s most breathtaking drives

Cookie & Keller
Sep 22, 20173 min read
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