Kara Kassuba

Montecito has been a favorite weekend getaway of mine for years. It is the jewel of Santa Barbara County, with both beautiful beachfront and hiking trails, charming shops and restaurants. This includes one of my favorite gardens in the world (Lotusland) and gorgeous neighborhoods to drive around and gawk at — and maybe even have a celebrity sighting or two, if that is your thing.

Sicily is spectacular, and is not to be lumped together with Italy, as it is a world of its own. Natural beauty coupled with extraordinary history, architecture, arts, cuisine and most of all, the Sicilian people and their warm hospitality. There is never enough time to fully explore the island. I recommend spending at least ten days there, which will still leave you wanting more. In the past, April in Sicily was considered shoulder season. It is now in full swing, as shoulder seasons are increasingly disappearing in Italy.

Montreal is a wonderful blend of history, culture and modernity with a stellar food and cocktail/mocktail scene. It is great for a trip with friends or a solo trip and is safe and very walkable.

Amsterdam is a city of the unique and unexpected, which is always exciting for me. I have a dear friend who lives there and has shared her favorite spots and discoveries with me during my frequent visits over the years. She has helped me to fall in love with all that Amsterdam offers. There are many famous and well-known museums and landmarks in Amsterdam (including the Rijksmuseum, the Anne Frank House and the Van Gogh Museum) and I do recommend visiting all of them, though for this guide I will focus on the lesser-known spots.