John Keller

Craving fresh seafood from the Chesapeake Bay (e.g., blue crabs, crab cakes, crab soup, and oysters), scenic drives, and beautiful fall weather, my wife and I took an extended fall weekend to get away to Annapolis and to Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Despite the nor’easter that hit the East Coast during our trip, we still managed to see and do everything we had hoped for. We spent the first day exploring the Eastern Shore driving to and walking around the picturesque towns of Easton and St. Michaels. On our second day, we were joined by our son who lives in DC. We focused our time exclusively in Annapolis walking around the Naval Academy, the historic downtown, and the charming neighborhood of Eastport. Scattered throughout our day were lengthy stops to enjoy fresh seafood from the Chesapeake Bay (McGarveys and Cantler's) and local craft beer. On our third and final day, we headed back across the Bay Bridge to walk around Chestertown, founded in 1706 and named one of the most beautiful and historic towns in the Mid-Atlantic.

In April 2025 (the fall season in Chile), my wife and I celebrated our 25th anniversary with a seven-day tour of Chile. Our trip began in the capital city of Santiago, followed by day trips to Valparaiso and vineyards in the Maipo and Casablanca Valleys. Our trip concluded with a three-day luxury glamping experience in Chilean Patagonia. Neither my wife nor I had ever been to Chile, but Patagonia had always been on our bucket list of places to see. I love to curate travel adventures, so the planning started about a year in advance. Patagonia can be visited from either Chile or Argentina, so that was the first decision point. After extensive Google searches, it became apparent that Torres Del Paine National Park was not to be missed. The next decision point was which city to fly into to get to the national park: Buenos Aires or Santiago. The travel logistics from Buenos Aires were complicated: fly into El Calafate (3.5 hours), then take a bus or rental car to Puerto Natales (four hours), then rent a car, and take a bus or a hotel shuttle into the park (one to three hours or more, depending on the location in the park). The travel logistics from Santiago were much simpler: a direct flight from Santiago to Puerto Natales (3.5 hours). Finding the right accommodation near or in Torres Del Paine National Park was key: We both wanted a luxury experience, but we also wanted something that brought us in touch with the area’s beauty. I found a clear winner: Patagonia Camp, an all-inclusive luxury glamping experience right outside the park. I was excited, but neither my wife nor I had ever done any glamping. It did not take long for my wife to read the reviews, look at the pictures, and provide her overwhelming approval. Securing our hotel stay in Santiago proved to be much easier. We considered several five-star properties but ultimately chose a local Chilean property, The Singular Santiago Hotel, a member of the Leading Hotels of the World. With accommodations secured, the next step was to carve out the itinerary. How much time and what to see in Santiago, and how long to spend in Chilean Patagonia? After combing through online suggestions about what to see and do in Santiago, it was clear that one day was needed to visit the vineyards—Chile is one of the world’s most significant wine-producing countries—and another day was required to visit Valparaiso, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. That left our arrival day to tour the city of Santiago. Although my wife and I both wanted to spend more time in Chilean Patagonia, we ultimately settled on three nights.