Magical Lavender Spotting a lavender field in flower for the first time is magical, but it’s the fragrance that is heavenly. The tiny plants stretch towards the horizon, like small purple streams. It’s little wonder why you see so many images of people posing against this stunning backdrop. Lavender fields, …

Take the girl out of France, but the country remains in her soul. Julia Girard-Gervois is the Owner and Tour Director of TripUSAFrance, a boutique travel agency based in Arlington, Virginia. In 2015, she and her husband launched the company along with her parents, who live in France. They want …

Creative Retreat to Provence Tessa Baker of Painting Provence with Tess invited me to join her painting group for dinner on their last night together. The retreat location in the Vaucluse, a restored farmhouse with a driveway lined with cypress trees, offered the group the benefits of privacy, quiet and …

As we exited the heavy wooden door of the hamman, my eyes smarted in the sun. How could it possibly still be daylight in the Medina? In two hours, we had been lathered, scrubbed, and massaged. It was blissful. This experience might best describe a Pitcher and Powell culinary-yoga escape …

Who is the Provence Guru? During their honeymoon, Jamie Ivey announced to his bride that it was time for a career change. Thankless legal deals and long hours related to corporate mergers were not how he envisioned spending his life. He wanted to become a writer. Ivey proposed a somewhat …

Yoga in Provence La Belle Vie yoga retreat was in my calendar, but when the weekend finally arrived I was rushed, juggling life. As Pradeep Teotia began his class with his signature “Welcome Home,” all thoughts of my to-do list fell away. The warmth in the room embraced my soul, …

Wine Trip You like LOVE French wine and want to increase your understanding of wines of Provence and the Rhône Valley. If so, then Ken Jourdan has the answer, book his Romancing the Rhône Wine Tour. This trip provides a comprehensive wine tour of the Côtes du Rhône wine region …

Provence Anyone? There was some risk when I sent the email. “Ladies, who would like to join me in Provence to discover the region?” I wondered, who would come? Would they get along? How would the travel logistics work out? And, so on. The result was ten (yes 10!) ladies, …

Life often gets in the way of our ability to focus on ourselves. There are kids’ schedules, family activities to juggle and countless other distractions. What about taking time for self-reflection and charting a path to meet your future desires and fuel your passions? September Getaway How about a quick …

Provencal Dreams Come True My most ardent life dream has always been to live and teach art in France. Just like my favourite art masters, many of my creative inspirations have come from my art sabbaticals to Europe. I fell in love with France at a young age, my very …