It was our first New World Wine & Food Festival event - a winemaker's dinner hosted by Boudro's and served in an intriguing wine cellar. Each carefully selected course was paired with Brown Estate Vineyards wines.

Each of the five courses gave us enough to savor the creative cuisine and marvel at how well paired the course was with a Brown Vineyard wine. I have to say my favorite was the first course, a pan seared scallop with sweet potato gnocci, crispy sweetbread and brown butter. It was paired with a 2007 Brown Estate Chardonnay. Why my favorite? It surprised my palate and set high expectations for the evening.

There truly is something for everyone at San Antonio's New World Wine & Food Festival. Today we will travel out to the Hill Country to enjoy a winemaker lunch at Becker Vineyards.

Photo Credit: Elizabeth R. Rose - Coral Brown of Brown Estate Vineyards

I remember some of my favorite Christmas trips. Christkindl Markt (Christmas Market) in Germany with light snow, horse-drawn coaches and warmly lighted sales booths. Trips with my mother to see the Christmas windows and White House (department store) Christmas tree in downtown San Francisco. A Christmas morning at the edge of the Grand Canyon in the cold pink glow of the sunrise.

There is so much to see and experience as the world dons holiday finery and celebrates.

• Warm up Your Holiday with Luminarias and Farolitos
• Enjoy the Christmas Boats at Lake Havasu
• Marvel at the Glow of the Luminarias at the Phoenix Desert Botanical Garden
• Enjoy a Christmas Day Buffet at the Historic La Fonda in Santa Fe
• Drive the Villages Around Acoma Sky City Christmas Eve on the Luminaria Tour

Photo Credit: Desert Botanical Garden

I used to work with a single woman who made a yearly pilgrimage to the Phoenix area to enjoy a communal meal with other women from across the United States, play a little golf, and enjoy the sun. I have other friends who just adore southwestern cuisine and look for a restaurant for a Thanksgiving meal that will feature cornbread, chiles, and, if the weather is right, a meal in front of an outdoor kiva fireplace.

A trip to the southwest is a great option for Thanksgiving, whether you are alone or with a large family. We found some great ideas to help you plan. Full Article on Thanksgiving in the Southwest.

Photo Credit: Elizabeth R. Rose - Thanksgiving Decoration - Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Any Texan will tell you that they are proud of being a Texan. They love their land and heritage. To better understand Texans make sure that you visit one of the small towns in Texas such as Brenham, not far from Houston. The beauty of small Texas towns is that the families who settled in the area are still there. Multi-generational homesteads and ranches are not unusual.

Find out how you can fly in to Houston and take a short drive to experience the land and the heritage of Washington County, Texas. Whether you stay at a B&B or a ranch, you will soon find out why Texans just love Texas! Full article on visiting Brenham, Texas

Photo Credit: Elizabeth R. Rose - The Ant Street Inn - Experiencing Historic Texas