Laurie's light travel travel tips

Some of us have never been married, much less been a housewife, but it doesn't take much of an imagination to see domesticity can become dull or frustrating. So much is written about "girlfriend getaways" but who ever talks about the solo housewife break? Women, perhaps especially wives and mothers, are so busy giving to others that very often they neglect themselves. Being a martyr, especially a tired and grumpy one, won't earn you any points in the long run. So take my advice: get the heck away from the walls that bind you, the cooking, cleaning, crying kids and demanding hubby. Take your iPhone, drawing pad, comfy sneakers and anything else that brings you happiness but just go alone. Paris Whether you come for the French Open, or simply long to stroll along the Seine, Paris will bring out the explorer, single gal and giddy kid in you. Stay in the 10th Arrondissement where you can escape a lot of the tourists and just take in the people, cafes, and sites. Don...

Top 10 Coziest American cities: 1. Boston, Massachusetts 2. San Francisco, California 3. Seattle, Washington 4. Albany, New York 5. Portland, Oregon 6. Rochester, New York 7. Minneapolis, Minnesota 8. Sacramento, California 9. Denver, Colorado 10. Salt Lake City, Utah Honeywell has compiled its fourth annual list of the country's coziest cities. I like this list because I'm from #2 and have spent a lot of time in numbers 1 and 5. But beyond that, I like the notion of visiting a "cozy" city about now. Whatever your politics, everyone can agree that the populus is stressed. If ever there was a time to cozy up in a blanket before a roaring fire, this would be it. For the fourth consecutive year, the marketers of Honeywell Heaters and environmental researchers have set out to define coziness and have shared the list of cities that embody this quality. Last year's list placed Asheville, NC at the top spot, Boston at numero do...

In the midst of a very serious afternoon, I received yet another press release but this one struck my attention. It said: "SEND WINTER PACKING!Escape to the top island in the Caribbean AND save 20% with winter specials." Now, I've been visiting South Texas, where it's in the high seventies. Old Man Winter is back home in Connecticut, and rumor has it, global warming hasn't made this much of a winter anyway. But all of that being said, I'm hep to try out this swanky beach "house" and of course, hit up the destination. Here's what the Beach House PR said: "For the last five years, the Turks & Caicos was named the Caribbean’s leading beach destination by the World Travel Awards, and there is no better base for exploring this stunning island than Beach House and Blue Haven Resorts, two properties part of the boutique Turks and Caicos Collection. Blue Haven Resort is one of the newest luxury property on the island, and until mid April gue...

In part one , I trumpeted the PCH and Pismo Beach, Rome, Texas, Silicon Valley and Disneyland. Today I'll go a little more off the travelocitybeaten track. If you're sick of Vegas glitz and New York ego, LA traffic and Parisian prices head to locales where attitude is only something one adjusts and not an aspirational state. Head to ... For kids-at-heart: Carlsbad Caverns, New Mex . is a wonderland of bats, caves, weird rock formations, underground pools and tunnels that is a real life Disneyland. If you have a fear of being buried alive, it may not be for you, but it'll definitely prove educational while also providing a fine work out. Self-guided or ranger-guided tours are available. To book a tour, click here for more info. The caverns are just south of Carlsbad, New Mex. in the Guadalupe Mountain Range. For "Breaking Bad" fans : As long as you're in New Mex., why not visit some of the sites made famous in the best episodic series to wind down in 20...