Adventures with Carol – Paris to Normandy’s Landing Beaches

Have you ever dreamed of exploring culturally rich city of Paris? Seeing the romantic French countryside? Visiting the historic sights along the beaches of Normandy? You can do all of this and more when you go with Carol on her next adventure.

Who is Carol and why you should go on her adventure?

Carol is a regional manager with Boscov’s Travel and is based in our Neshaminy office. She has been in the travel business for 35 years and has escorted groups of 20 travelers-389 travelers to Alaska, Hawaii, Germany, the Caribbean. Many travelers in these groups have returned to go on more adventures with Carol. Her goal is always to make everyone feel excited about their journey and is always accessible  through out the trip. If you are looking for fun and excitement, an adventure with Carol is the way to go!

 Where is Carol’s next adventure heading?

Carol is off to France! More specifically, she is going on a Paris and Normandy river cruise. She chose this adventure for very special reasons. This cruise will be celebrating the 70th anniversary of the D-Day Landing and also, the 100th anniversary of WWI. Not a history buff? That’s alright, this cruise is also a culinary cruise offering wine tastings and special cooking presentations. Carol likes adventures that offer something for everybody.

This trip includes an overnight stay and half day guided excursion to the magnificent Palace of Versailles  in Paris before boarding your ship: the Avalon Creativity for your 7-night cruise. The Creativity offers unmatched service; first-class amenities such as Wi-Fi access, fitness center, hair salon and a whirlpool on the Sky Deck; and staterooms that are 15% larger than the industry standard. Each stateroom has floor-to-ceiling windows to give you a panoramic view of the French countryside as you cruise along.

Mystery Photo #138

Here’s how it works: we post an image and provide a clue. Leave a comment with your guess. Good luck! 

Hint: These gardens once belonged to famous painter Claude Monet. 

Mystery Photo #137

Here’s how it works: we post an image and provide a clue. Leave a comment with your guess. Good luck!

Hint: This French commune is best known for its cliffs including 3 natural arches.

Mystery Photo #136

Here’s how it works: we post an image and provide a clue. Leave a comment with your guess. Good luck! 

Hint: This French commune is home to Château Gaillard.

Viking River Cruises – Viennesse Hot Chocolate

This recipe, courtesy of Viking River Cruises, comes to us from Reiner Marks, who prepared this drink aboard Viking River Cruises ships in Europe many times. Reiner has fond memories of how much our guests enjoyed the drink, which he says “tastes delicious.” Enjoy!

Ingredients:
Seven ounces premium dark chocolate, grated
Three cups of low-fat milk
One tablespoon granulated sugar
One cup heavy cream, chilled
One-half teaspoon vanilla paste (or vanilla extract, organic if possible)
One tablespoon confectioners’ sugar
Cocoa powder or chocolate shavings for garnish

Directions:
Gently heat one cup milk with the grated chocolate. Simmer in a saucepan over low heat until all chocolate has dissolved. Combine the remaining milk and the granulated sugar in another saucepan and whisk until all sugar has dissolved. Gently heat while stirring. Add the chocolate mix to the sugared milk and continue simmering over low heat. Whisk heavy cream and vanilla together on high speed and slowly add the confectioners’ sugar until peaks form. Remove hot chocolate from heat and divide into cups. Place a generous dollop of whipped cream on top of each. Garnish with a pinch of cocoa powder or sprinkle with chocolate shavings and serve.

Makes 4-6 servings, depending on mug size.

For more information on Viking River Cruises, contact your local Boscov’s Travel Specialist, call 800-755-8020 or email travelrequest@boscovs.com.

Cruise Show Spectacular 2013!

For the past four years, we have had the pleasure of hosting the biggest cruise show of the year in select Pennsylvania cities and, this year, we are back and bigger than ever with Cruise Show Spectacular!

Attending Cruise Show Spectacular is a great way to find out what’s new in the cruise industry, save big with great special offers and register to win fun door prizes. Our Cruise Line Representatives and Boscov’s Travel Specialists will be available to answer questions, so this is the perfect opportunity to start planning your dream cruise.

Check out our participating cruise lines:

• Avalon Waterways
• Celebrity Cruises
• Disney Cruise Line
• Holland America Line
• Norwegian Cruise Line
• Royal Caribbean International
• Viking River Cruises

Find your nearest Cruise Show Spectacular below! For a sneak preview, click here.

Sunday, January 27, 2013
The Crowne Plaza Hotel
Reading, PA
12:00pm-3:30pm
Registration begins at 11:30am

The Crowne Plaza is located just a few blocks from the Berkshire Mall at 1741 Papermill Road in Reading. Please contact Boscov’s Travel at the Reading Mall to reserve your seats. Call 610-779-8640 or email us
bostraveast@boscovs.com.

Sunday, February 17, 2013
The Sheraton Harrisburg-Hershey
Harrisburg, PA
1:00pm-4:00pm
Registration begins at 12:30pm

The Sheraton Harrisburg-Hershey is located at 4650 Lindle Road in Harrisburg. Please contact Boscov’s Travel at the Colonial Park Mall to reserve your seats. Call 717-540-4222 or email us bostravcolonialprk@boscovs.com.

Sunday, February 24, 2013
The Sheraton Bucks County
Langhorne, PA
12:00pm-3:30pm
Registration begins at 11:30am

The Sheraton Bucks County is located at 400 Oxford Valley Road in Langhorne. Please contact Boscov’s Travel at the Neshaminy Mall to reserve your seats. Call 215-355-3737 or email us bostravneshaminy@boscovs.com.

Sunday, March 3, 2013
The Ramada Inn
Wilkes-Barre, PA
12:00pm-3:30pm
Registration begins at 11:30am

The Ramada Inn is located at 20 public Square in Wilkes-Barre. Please contact Boscov’s Travel at 15 South Main Street, Wilkes-Barre to reserve your seats. Call 570-823-4141 or email us bostravwilkesbarre@boscovs.com.

Sunday, March 17, 2013
The Estonia adjacent to the Holiday Inn Express
Easton, PA
12:00pm-3:30pm
Registration begins at 11:30am

The Holiday Inn Express is located at 90 Kunkle Drive in Easton. Please contact Boscov’s Travel at Palmer Park Mall to reserve your seats. Call 610-250-2772 or email us bostraveaston@boscovs.com.

The World’s Top 5 Places to Propose

Listen up gentlemen! If marriage is on your mind and you’re looking for someplace memorable to pop the big question, we’ve got you covered with some of the world’s most romantic destinations where you can relax knowing she’ll say “yes”—without hesitation. Based on our travel agents’ own experience and those of their clients, here are the World’s Top 5 Places to Propose…

5. Ring of Kerry, Ireland

When it comes to finding the perfect backdrop to propose, few settings are as beautiful and magical as those which line the Ring of Kerry on the southwest coast of Ireland. Covering just over 100 miles along the Iveragh Peninsula, the Ring of Kerry is a circular route which boasts magnificent mountain and ocean vistas, along with colorful villages, towns, museums and fun stopping points. The round-trip adventure can be completed in four hours by car, but you’ll want to be able to take at least a full day or longer to explore and soak in the rugged scenery and sites along the way. Even though the route is popular with tour buses, you really should rent a car and travel the route at your own pace. This will give you plenty of time to find just the right setting and allow you to settle your nerves before popping the question.

4. Phuket, Thailand

If you and your soon to be fiancé prefer warmer climates that include dazzling beaches and a fabulous mix of nightlife, then the colorful island of Phuket is for you. Exotic, lush and oh-so seductive, Phuket (pronounced poo-get), Thailand’s largest and most popular island has long been popular with jet-setters, honeymooners, and those “in the know.” Blessed with many of the world’s best beaches and sporting a balmy temperature between 77°F and 93°F year-round, lovebirds flock to this upbeat area of the world for its mile upon sandy mile of coastline which boasts tons of water sports, delectable restaurants and decadent resorts. Phuket is at its best during the dry season which begins in December and usually lasts until March. Our suggestion for the ultimate Phuket proposal: Charter a private yacht for a sunset cruise and dinner in Phang Nga Bay—she’ll be left speechless.

3. Montreal, Quebec

If it’s a romantic city backdrop you’re after in your proposal (one particularly close to home), look no further than the sophisticated, yet vibrant metropolis of Montreal—a city so infused with romance, it will sweep you both off of your feet. Head to Vieux-Montréal (Old Montreal), where you can take an evening stroll arm in arm among the historic buildings that basks in an enchanting incandescence—or you could surprise her with a caléche ride (horse drawn carriage) around the city’s hushed streets, both are lovely settings. If you’re a traditionalist and prefer to pop the question while sharing a tender tête-á-tête over the city’s legendary French cuisine, Montreal has your back with many superb restaurants that will set the stage beautifully.

2. Napa Valley, California

If you subscribe to the belief that food and wine go together like love and marriage, then you won’t be disappointed by whisking your love away to California’s Napa Valley. Home to a large collection of quaint towns and charming villages and you likely already know Napa Valley has a renowned wine and restaurant scene—but it’s the Valley’s splendid natural setting that makes it prime for proposing. If it’s your first time to the Valley, take it slow and head down state route 29 where some of the country’s most well-known vintners are located, including Robert Mondavi, Beringer and Cakebread. First-time visitors should also consider a romantic trip for dinner aboard the Napa Valley Wine Train or hot air balloon ride over the valley’s world-famous vineyards and estates—both make excellent backdrops for sealing the deal.

1. Paris, France

Ah, Paris, the City of Lights and love—no surprise it takes our top spot for most romantic proposal destination. While proposing beneath the Eiffel Tower inevitably comes to mind to many love-struck couples around the world, Paris is packed with oodles of other romantic locales for kneeling on one knee. If you’re aiming for an intimate setting, Canal Saint-Martin’s enchanting tree-lined waterway is almost overlooked by tourists in the off-peak months. And the Pont de Arts, a wooden pedestrian bridge leading to the Louvre Museum, offers a postcard-worthy view of the Eiffel Tower in the distance. If you can reserve a table near the windows of the exquisite Maison Blanche restaurant located on the top floor of an old theater near the Champs-Élysées, you’ll be rewarded with stunning panoramic views of Paris and the Eiffel Tower. As well, Paris is filled with beautiful gardens, and all will make an unbelievably romantic setting. Luxembourg Gardens, in particular, is a great spot for couples, and is adjacent to the breathtaking Luxembourg Palace.

For more information on these romantic locations and other great vacation ideas, contact your local Boscov’s Travel Specialist, email travelrequest@boscovs.com or call 800-755-8020. 

Viking River Cruises – Easy Apple Strudel

Making strudel dough from scratch is notoriously difficult and time-consuming. Here, Viking River Cruises has simplified this recipe using widely available frozen puff pastry dough so you can create a similar treat easily in your own kitchen. Strudels are a well-known central and eastern European treat; enjoy them on our Rhine and Danube cruises.

Ingredients:

One sheet (half box) frozen puff pastry dough, thawed
One-half cup sugar
One-quarter cup finely chopped walnuts
Five tablespoons raisins
One-half teaspoon freshly grated lemon peel
One teaspoon cinnamon
Two or three Pippin or Granny Smith apples (approximately three cups chopped)
One tablespoon toasted plain dry bread crumbs
Two tablespoons melted butter

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400°F. On a very lightly floured, plain-weave kitchen towel, lay out puff pastry dough. Lightly flour top and gently roll out to a thin rectangle about 14″ x 17″, sealing any tears in the dough. Dough will be quite thin; do not over-handle. Set aside, keeping dough on towel.

Peel, core and chop apples into small chunks. Toss with sugar, walnuts, raisins, lemon peel and cinnamon.

Lightly brush dough with one-quarter of the melted butter. Sprinkle with dry bread crumbs. Add apple mixture in the center of dough, leaving a 1″ margin around the filling. Fold in 1″ along three sides of the dough, leaving one long side unfolded. Moisten all folded edges and remaining flat dough edge lightly with water. Using the towel to assist you, roll the dough toward the unfolded edge, enclosing the filling. Press gently but firmly on bottom seam and sides to seal.

Using the towel as a sling, transfer strudel seam-side down to a cookie sheet; gently remove towel. Brush lightly with the remaining melted butter, and prick sparingly along the top with a fork. Bake about 30 minutes or until golden brown.

Cut crosswise into 12 pieces and serve warm with vanilla ice cream or a vanilla custard sauce.

Makes 12 servings.

For more information on Viking River Cruises, contact your local Boscov’s Travel Specialist, call 800-755-8020 or email travelrequest@boscovs.com.

Viking River Cruises – Apple Cranberry Tart

Here is one of the recipes Viking  River Cruises has collected while traveling through France—the almond paste, an ingredient often used in French baking, gives this delicious dessert a Continental flavor. Serve alone or top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Enjoy many apple-based pastries on a Paris & the Heart of Normandy cruise through a region famous for its apple orchards.

Ingredients:

One unbaked, room-temperature 9-inch tart shell
One roll (about 7 ounces) almond paste
One cup fresh cranberries
Five medium-sized apples (preferably Macintosh), peeled and sliced to make approximately 5 cups
A quarter cup sugar
One teaspoon cinnamon
A half cup uncooked oats
A half cup all-purpose flour
A half cup brown sugar
Six tablespoons unsalted butter, very cold or frozen
A quarter cup sliced almonds
Vanilla ice cream

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375°F. Flatten almond paste on a sheet of wax paper with a rolling pin, to form an 8-inch circle. Press almond circle into the bottom of the unbaked tart shell. In a bowl, combine cranberries, apples, sugar and a half teaspoon of cinnamon. Pour on top of almond circle, into tart shell. In a bowl, combine the remaining cinnamon, oats, flour and brown sugar. Cut butter into very small pieces and stir into cinnamon mixture until crumbs form. Spoon crumb mixture evenly over the top of the apple mixture. Bake 50–60 minutes. Sprinkle with sliced almonds during the last 5 minutes of cooking time. Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and enjoy!

Makes 6 servings.

For more information on Viking River Cruises, contact your local Boscov’s Travel Specialist, call 800-755-8020 or email travelrequest@boscovs.com.

Worlds Beyond the Everyday

It’s an inevitable question that nearly all travelers ask at one time or another: Where to go next? If you’re in need of a little travel inspiration—whether it’s the glitz and glamour of the big city, the endless sun and surf of an exotic island or the old-world elegance of a charming village-like setting—we know just where to find it and plenty of fun and relaxation. Go ahead, take a well-deserved break from the everyday and experience the ultimate in travel luxury with one of these unforgettable retreats where beauty is always in the details.

Caesars Palace – Las Vegas, Nevada

Truly fit for royalty and centrally positioned on the iconic Las Vegas Strip, Caesars Palace showcases lavish guest rooms and suites, award-winning restaurants, a majestic pool and garden complex, world-class spa, renowned casino and illustrious entertainment venues. The incomparable and timeless resort touts spectacular new additions including the gleaming 668-room Octavius Tower and first-ever Nobu Hotel, Restaurant and Lounge opened in summer 2012. An epicurean epicenter, Caesars Palace is home to over 26 cafés and restaurants, including The Old Homestead Steakhouse, Restaurant Guy Savoy, and Rao’s, the celebrated New York Italian restaurant. Caesars Palace’s plush amenities and accommodations exceed the finest standards. In addition, Caesars Palace features over 130,000 square feet of dynamic casino space and the Forum Shops at Caesars, presenting an upscale selection of luxe designer boutiques like Louis Vuitton and Valentino.

Gran Meliá Rome Hotel – Rome, Italy

Housed on the site of the historic Villa Agrippina, the Gran Meliá Rome Hotel is a luxurious five star masterpiece that balances traditional opulence with contemporary sophistication along the banks of the Tiber River. Priceless relics grace the hotel’s grandiose public spaces, while the hotel’s similarly inspired quarters are adorned with custom bedding, large wardrobes, picture windows, HD flat-screen televisions and Nespresso machines. Discerning guests will enjoy RedLevel, the hotel’s exclusive enclave presenting signature services like private check-in, personalized butlers and much more. The hotel showcases and extraordinary collection of dining venues, Ortiz Domiziani garden and YHI Wellness (featuring European spa treatments, steam bath and sauna). Famed sites such as the Vatican, St. Peter’s Basilica, Piazza Navona and Piazza del Patheon are all within easy access from the Gran Meliá Rome.

Stonefield Estate Villa Resort & Spa – Soufrière, St. Lucia

Set amid the lush foliage of a former lime and cocoa plantation and nestled at the base of the awe-inspiring Pitons, Stonefield Estate Villa Resort & Spa is St. Lucia’s premiere luxury boutique resort. The estate, embraced by the boundaries of the Pitons UNESCO World Heritage Site, sprawls over 26 acres and commands views of beautiful Petit Piton. The resort’s villas are beautiful, airy and bright, accented with allusions to French colonial style. Villas are self-contained with secluded private pools and private garden showers. For tropical dining, the resort’s Mango Tree Restaurant presents sumptuous cuisine in a magnificent atmosphere. To experience true relaxation, the on-site Bamboo Door spa hosts a complete menu of treatments and comprehensive spa packages. Stonefield Estate Villa Resort is only minutes away from the colonial town of Soufriere, and Malgretoute and Jalousie beaches.

The American Club Resort – Kohler, Wisconsin

As one of the few five-star properties in the Midwest, The American Club in Kohler, Wisconsin, touts a rich history of elegance and casual village charm. Pure luxury emanates throughout the resort and guests can stay in designer accommodations, relax at the five-star Kohler Waters Spa, sample exquisite dining at The Immigrant Restaurant or enjoy rounds of championship golf at four Pete Dye-designed courses. All 185 rooms at The American Club feature an assortment of upscale amenities. The resort’s refined Carriage House presents 55 contemporary guest rooms with unprecedented access to a number of amenities, including a sumptuous glass-enclosed deck with whirlpool, fireplace and lounge. Guests have complimentary use of the Sports Core Helath & Racquet Club and can book advance tee times at Blackwolf Run and Whistling Straits golf venues.