Biosphere 2, a scientific research center that at first glance, makes you feel like you are on the set of the 1968 film Space Odessy. Located in Oracle, Arizona – this small off-the-beaten-path town is aptly named for the 40-acre research campus. Oracles are said to be a deity that reveals hidden knowledge, usually through…
![Fig Rhubarb Rum Chutney Recipe 3 Fig Rhubarb Rum Chutney Recipe 1 This recipe stems from a Scottish chutney recipe I collected during my travels. The deep fig flavor mixed with cloves, citrus, dates, and rhubarb makes this a fabulous chutney recipe perfect with pork chops, ham, or chicken. Easy to make and easy to modify.](https://i0.wp.com/empty-nestopia.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/IMG_9850.jpg?fit=640%2C480&ssl=1)
Fig Rhubarb Rum Chutney Recipe
I came across this recipe during one of my trips to Scotland. I was meandering the streets of Edinburg exploring shops and second-hand stores when I discovered a cookbook about modern ways with traditional recipes. I modified the recipe to fit flavors and ingredients that are more readily found in the United States. Fig…
![Golf Louisiana's Audubon Trail: 5 Badass Bio-diverse Ecosystems 5 Golf Louisiana's Audubon Trail: 5 Badass Bio-diverse Ecosystems 3 Fore! Songbirds are singing and whistling; the sky is a deep fresh blue with fluffy white clouds, I am standing to the side of the green letting another group play through. As I wait, I think about where I am and how this trail of 15 golf courses is dedicated to protect the environment and preserve an English game that dates to the early 1500s. Starting in the Sportsman's Paradise area of Northern Louisiana and stretching to Cajun Country in the Southwest and Greater New Orleans in the Southeast regions, each course is designed to showcase the beauty and diversity of this state that is as striking as the game.](https://i0.wp.com/empty-nestopia.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/The-Golf-Club-at-Audubon-Park-image-by-Audubon-Park-2.jpg?fit=2048%2C1365&ssl=1)
Golf Louisiana’s Audubon Trail: 5 Badass Bio-diverse Ecosystems
Fore! Songbirds are singing and whistling; the sky is a deep fresh blue with fluffy white clouds, I am standing to the side of the green letting another group play through. As I wait, I think about where I am and how this trail of 15 golf courses is dedicated to protect the environment and…
![Tarpon Springs - Stunning Greek Victorian Architecture In Florida 8 Tarpon Springs - Stunning Greek Victorian Architecture In Florida 6 Tarpon Springs, Florida - A mear 30 minutes drive North West of Tampa off US Highway 19 is a seaside haven that makes you feel like you have been transported to a Grecian fishing village from the 1900s.](https://i0.wp.com/empty-nestopia.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Tarpon-Springs-fishing-boats-photo-by-Donna-Long.jpg?fit=2048%2C1365&ssl=1)
Tarpon Springs – Stunning Greek Victorian Architecture In Florida
Tarpon Springs, Florida – A mear 30 minutes drive North West of Tampa off US Highway 19 is a seaside haven that makes you feel like you have been transported to a Grecian fishing village from the 1900s.
![Dairy-free Keto Ice Cream Recipe 9 dairy-free keto ice cream with fresh berries](https://i0.wp.com/empty-nestopia.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/dairy-free-keto-ice-cream.jpg?fit=2048%2C1365&ssl=1)
Dairy-free Keto Ice Cream Recipe
Dairy-Free Keto Ice Cream Recipe Dairy-free Keto Vanilla Ice Cream This dairy-free keto vanilla ice cream is so rich and smooth you will swear it is made with heavy cream. 1 ⅓ cups Stevia sugar or erythritol sugar 1 tbsp Guar Gum ¼ tsp salt 3 cups coconut milk 2 tbsp vanilla 1 cup…
![Haunted Hotel of New Orleans - do you dare? 11 Haunted Hotel of New Orleans - do you dare? 8 Haunted Hotel, THE Haunted Hotel situated at 623 Ursulines in New Orleans's oldest and most infamous neighborhoods - the French Quarter - just celebrated its centennial birthday.](https://i0.wp.com/empty-nestopia.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/blog-heading-Haunted-Hotel-NOLA.png?fit=560%2C315&ssl=1)
Haunted Hotel of New Orleans – do you dare?
Haunted Hotel, THE Haunted Hotel situated at 623 Ursulines in New Orleans’s oldest and most infamous neighborhoods – the French Quarter – just celebrated its centennial birthday.
![Empty Nest: What to do 12 shocked boy with caption empty nest what to do and expect](https://i0.wp.com/empty-nestopia.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/empty-nest-what-to-do.jpg?fit=604%2C453&ssl=1)
Empty Nest: What to do
What to do and Expect with your empty nest The time is coming – you know it – the empty nest. You are so engrossed with preparing for senior year – there are scholarship applications to fill out, colleges to decide on, financial planning, gowns, caps, yearbooks – the list feels endless and overwhelming at…
![Margarita, Margarita: An Ode To The Cocktail With Recipe 13 Celebrate national margarita day](https://i0.wp.com/empty-nestopia.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Copy-of-blog-heading-Hotel-Gibbs.png?fit=560%2C315&ssl=1)
Margarita, Margarita: An Ode To The Cocktail With Recipe
Margarita, Margarita, oh how sweet thy nectar is. No matter if you are pale as the absinthe fairy or bright blue like the ocean waves you seem to be an everpresent
![Volcano Winery: For the Love of Grapes and Guava 14 bottles of Volcano Winery Pinot Noir](https://i0.wp.com/empty-nestopia.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/volcano-pinot-noir.jpg?fit=2048%2C1536&ssl=1)
Volcano Winery: For the Love of Grapes and Guava
Hawaii – a land steeped in the ancient lore of Pele, a volcano goddess with a passionate and fiery temperament. One legend states that when Pele is angry lava flows from her in great molten streams destroying everything in its path leaving a desolate moonscape waiting to be reborn.
![Big Island Hawaii Itinerary: 4 Unforgettable Activities 15 blog heading for Big Island Hawaii intinerary](https://i0.wp.com/empty-nestopia.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Blog-BIg-Island-Hawaiian-Itinerary.jpg?fit=560%2C315&ssl=1)
Big Island Hawaii Itinerary: 4 Unforgettable Activities
Big Island Hawaii itinerary – Tucked in a corner of tropical paradise surrounded by hardened black rolling lava fields is Hale Hau’oli’, a towering artistic eco-villa Airbnb with a surreal view of the Kalapana lava flow.
![5 Romantic Getaways For Couples in the US 16 romantic getaways for couples in the US](https://i0.wp.com/empty-nestopia.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/blog-heading-romantic-getaway.png?fit=560%2C315&ssl=1)
5 Romantic Getaways For Couples in the US
Romantic getaways are fabulous to reconnect with the love of your life. They are a way to make Valentine’s Day extend beyond one day. Here are five ideas for small-town romantic getaways to help you start planning a sizzling weekend retreat.
![San Antonio Historic Boutique Hotel: Hotel Gibbs 17 San Antonio Historic Boutique Hotel: Hotel Gibbs 9 Located in San Antonio, just steps from the Alamo Mission and Riverwalk is the Hotel Gibbs. Built in 1909, this family owned luxurious, art-deco building is one of San Antonio’s first high-rise buildings.](https://i0.wp.com/empty-nestopia.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/blog-heading-Hotel-Gibbs.png?fit=560%2C315&ssl=1)
San Antonio Historic Boutique Hotel: Hotel Gibbs
Located in San Antonio, just steps from the Alamo Mission and Riverwalk is the Hotel Gibbs. Built in 1909, this family owned luxurious, art-deco building is one of San Antonio’s first high-rise buildings.
![Texas Artisan Vodka: Grain to Glass Texas Black Eyed 18 Black eyed vodka blog heading](https://i0.wp.com/empty-nestopia.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/blog-heading-black-eyed-vodka.png?fit=560%2C315&ssl=1)
Texas Artisan Vodka: Grain to Glass Texas Black Eyed
Not all vodka distillers are the same or use the same techniques. Black Eyed Vodka is a new ultra-premium, artisan 100% Texas distilled vodka. What makes this vodka unique from others is the ingredients. They are the only known distillery in the world that uses black-eyed peas.
![Best Travel Gear: 11 must haves not on other lists 19 Best Travel Gear: 11 must haves not on other lists 10 My uncle would always say, “having the right tool for the job, makes all the difference in the world”. That is so true! As an avid traveler, this is a list of some of the best travel gear that I have found and are my favorite go-to items I always keep in my carry-on.](https://i0.wp.com/empty-nestopia.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/blog-heading-7-Travel-Essentials.png?fit=560%2C315&ssl=1)
Best Travel Gear: 11 must haves not on other lists
My uncle would always say, “having the right tool for the job, makes all the difference in the world”. That is so true! As an avid traveler, this is a list of some of the best travel gear that I have found and are my favorite go-to items I always keep in my carry-on.
![Macaron vs Macaroon: The Art of French Baking 20 macaron vs macaroon](https://i0.wp.com/empty-nestopia.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Text-placeholder.png?fit=560%2C315&ssl=1)
Macaron vs Macaroon: The Art of French Baking
You open the door to walk into the shop. A luxurious fragrance of freshly baked croissants and cinnamon sprinkled muffins greets your senses. Your mouth starts to water. Welcome to Bisous Bisous, a patisserie shop so French you want to say Bonjour!
![Canal du Midi cruise: Explore Southern France 21 Canal du Midi cruise: Explore Southern France 11 The Canal du Midi, a silky pale green liquid ribbon that slowly meanders connecting the Mediterranean port city of Sète to Toulouse is one of the most notable and oldest inland waterways of Europe still in use. The lofty dream of engineer Pierre-Paul Riquet to create a direct passage between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean bypassing the Strait of Gibraltar enabling farmers and producers of wheat, wine, wools, silks, and salt a way to export their goods for trade.](https://i0.wp.com/empty-nestopia.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Blog-heading-Canal-du-Midi-video.png?fit=560%2C315&ssl=1)
Canal du Midi cruise: Explore Southern France
The Canal du Midi, a silky pale green liquid ribbon that slowly meanders connecting the Mediterranean port city of Sète to Toulouse is one of the most notable and oldest inland waterways of Europe still in use. The lofty dream of engineer Pierre-Paul Riquet to create a direct passage between the Mediterranean Sea and the…
![Canal du Midi Guide: A Must Read For Cruising 22 Canal du Midi Guide: A Must Read For Cruising 12 The Canal du Midi guide helps plan a bucket list vacation for empty nesters wanting to enjoy the French countryside, sipping wine and eating artisan cheese at a relaxed, unhurried pace, away from crowds. This cruising the Canal du Midi guide will help you plan your bucket list vacation.](https://i0.wp.com/empty-nestopia.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Blog-heading-Canal-du-Midi-Guide_-A-Must-Read-For-Cruising.png?fit=560%2C315&ssl=1)
Canal du Midi Guide: A Must Read For Cruising
The Canal du Midi guide helps plan a bucket list vacation for empty nesters wanting to enjoy the French countryside, sipping wine and eating artisan cheese at a relaxed, unhurried pace, away from crowds. This cruising the Canal du Midi guide will help you plan your bucket list vacation.
![Lake Charles: 17 Tempting Eateries And Activities 23 Lake Charles: 17 Tempting Eateries And Activities 13 Lake Charles, Southwest Louisiana’s premier destination for luxurious Vegas-style casino resorts. With a Southern welcome, Lake Charles offers its visitors gourmet restaurants, derby race tracks; and something you won’t find in Las Vegas ~deep-sea fishing and the Mardi Gras Museum of Imperial Calcasieu.](https://i0.wp.com/empty-nestopia.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Lake-Charles-blog-header.png?fit=560%2C315&ssl=1)
Lake Charles: 17 Tempting Eateries And Activities
Lake Charles, Southwest Louisiana’s premier destination for luxurious Vegas-style casino resorts. With a Southern welcome, Lake Charles offers its visitors gourmet restaurants, derby race tracks; and something you won’t find in Las Vegas ~deep-sea fishing and the Mardi Gras Museum of Imperial Calcasieu.