It seems that vacations have become the time to learn new skills, or polish up on your old ones. I’ve seen some great trip ideas come across my email recently. Here are a few of the most interesting ones that I wish I had time to check out myself… It’s no secret that I am a big fan of Francis Ford Coppola’s wines (and winery) in Sonoma, but that’s not the only venture the Oscar winning director has going. He’s also the proud owner of Coppola Resorts, which consists of luxury acommodations around the world. One of these properties is Blancaneaux Lodge in Belize and they are celebrating the year of the Maya calendar with fascinating opportunities. The cave explorations include the Rio Frio Cave trip, a dry cavern with a sandy beach that is appropriate for all physical abilities; the Barton Creek Cave, which requires paddling a canoe through the cultural exploration of the cave; the Offering Cave, through a 20-minute jungle walk in Noj Kaaz Meen Elijio Panti National Park;...

I’ve been doing a lot of traveling lately and am getting ready to head to London in a few weeks with Beefeater and Plymouth. In the meantime, I’m hearing about special events going on in some of my favorite places in the near future and I’d like to pass them along for those who have schedules with a little more time than mine. Inn & Spa at Cedar Falls-Logan, Ohio I had a wonderful trip here and hope to return someday. In addition to the beautiful Hocking Hills local and fantastic food, they offer fun activities, such as the Italian Wines from Super Tuscans to Orviertos on April 27 th . Or, a special Mother’s Day Brunch on May 13 th . Also look for cooking classes and wine & beer festivals closer to the summer. For more information or reservations, visit http://www.innatcedarfalls.com or call (800) 653-2557 Celebrity Cruises The Celebrity Wine Cruise I took last May was just a wonderful experience. The cruise line has a few others that look to be exci...