Spirits
Edinburgh, Belfast, Dublin
June 9-19, 2024 and
​June 24-July 4, 2024

Spirits--the spooky and delicious trip that's so nice we had to run it twice. From hilarious young bartenders serving incredible concoctions to eerie haunted vaults holding a sinister history, we experienced "spirits" in all senses of the words.  We learned the poignant history of the Jeanie Johnston,  the origins of both whisky and whiskey, and the meaning of gardyloo. We bonded, we laughed, and we defeated various maladies. And we can all agree that having a vacation that overlapped with Taylor Swift's Eras Tour was not an experience we'll soon forget.

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Writing Retreat
Xpu Ha, Mexico
March 10-15, 2024

We spent 5 nights at Catalonia Royal Tulum on this partnership with the Manuscript Academy. This intimate retreat (only 11 writers!) gave the writers a place to discuss their craft, share their work, and hone their skills. The peaceful jungle atmosphere, serene beach, and delicious food (BLoved Nachos!) made the resort the perfect place to relax, let go of the concerns of daily life, and focus on writing. From a sunrise swim to late-night karaoke, there was plenty of time for non-writing fun, too. New friends were made, writing breakthroughs occurred, and the week passed way too quickly. 

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Writing Retreat
County Wicklow, Ireland
July 2-8, 2023

We spent 6 nights in County Wicklow, Ireland, for a writing retreat in partnership with the Manuscript Academy. We stayed at the beautiful BrookLodge Hotel, where time was divided between group writing exercises and lectures; one-on-one discussions of work with Julie or Jessica from the Manuscript Academy; time to write, to think, and to explore the idyllic grounds; and lively group dinners and happy hours. We also snuck in a day trip to Dublin, where we saw Trinity College's Long Room Library and Book of Kells, and had a (very leisurely!) lunch at Davy Byrnes' pub. 

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Cakes & Coffeehouses
Budapest and Vienna
June 11-21, 2023

We spent five nights in Budapest and five nights in Vienna. Highlights included a guided tour of Café Gerbeaud (including a tasting of their most famous cakes); a trip into the bucolic Hungarian countryside to visit three family-owned wineries; a food tour of Vienna that took us all over the city, from street food stands to peaceful tucked-away gardens; hours lounging in the sun and soaking in the thermal pools at the Gellert Baths, a visit to Vienna's stunning Schönbrunn Palace--and plenty of memories, friendships, and inside jokes we'll never forget! 

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Vampires 
London, Whitby, and Paris
January 6-16, 2023

We spent five nights in London, one quick overnight in Whitby, and four nights in Paris. Highlights included a private showing of the 1931 Dracula at Lost Souls Pizza (the world's only vampire pizzeria), a... rather unusual guide to a vampire museum, a delicious sampling of French wines and cheese, a climb up Whitby's famed 199 steps leading to a spooky exploration of the hillside graveyard of St. Mary's Churchyard at dusk--and plenty of memories, friendships, and inside jokes we'll never forget. 

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Pasta & Science
Florence and Rome
​January 3-13, 2022

We spent five nights in Florence and five in Rome, with day trips to Pisa and Naples. Highlights included a tour of the secret passages of the Palazzo Vecchio, a delicious sampling of Tuscan wines, a charming guide to the ancient city of Herculaneum, lots of perfect cappuccinos (and some memorable Capuchin monks who gave the drink its name!), the many adorable greyhounds of Florence, and plenty of memories and inside jokes we'll never forget.