While planning my trip in luxury to Tuscany to mark a milestone birthday, I knew I wanted to somehow see as much of the beauty and experience as much of Tuscany that it has to offer.

New Orleans is known best for its festivals, particularly Mardi Gras, but there are more...many more. I have good friends who go live there for a month every spring to catch the French Quarter Fest and the Jazz & Heritage Festival. In between, they catch the Easter parades, and eat and drink their way across the city. It's a great place to party, whether it is an intimate crowd of 20 or 475,000 of your fellow music-loving friends.

Take a short trip to Bratislava, a quirky old city just over the border into Slovakia. Surrounded by wine country, this place has worked hard to become a destination. The local culture is fun and full of life. The architecture is beautiful and the city views are worth the trip.

Vienna is the capital and the largest city in Austria. Vienna is the host of many international organizations, including the UN and OPEC, and you can tell by the wandering population of people who act like locals. Vienna's city center is really beautiful and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001.

Munich is the capital and most populous city of Bavaria, and the second most populous German federal state with a population of around 1.5 million. There's always something going on in Munich and plenty of local, famous, and 5 Star experiences to be had in this quintessential German city. Yes, beer and pretzels and brats are a part of it, but there is no shortage of shopping, architecture and history.

Prague, “the City of a Hundred Spires,” is bisected by the Vltava River and tied together by 10 bridges. It is an architectural an historic paradise with an incredible collection of colorful baroque buildings, Gothic churches, public squares, hidden courtyards and so much history. Prague is filled with experiences you’ll remember a lifetime and is a city made for walkers.

Casa Portagioia Bed and Breakfast is a 5-star Tuscan Bed and Breakfast with villas that will have you never wanting to return home. The comfort and care given to guests are unlike anything you will find anywhere in the Tuscan countryside.

In October of every year, Albuquerque shows off its colors! For nine days, Canon presents the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® which is sure to please as it fills the sky with over 500 ornate hot air balloons. It’s one of the rare ballooning events where you can walk among the balloons and chat with the pilots.

Santa Fe, New Mexico is really a must-visit, quirky little city with an amazing history and culture. They have something for you at every time of year. Skiing is great from January through April and art galleries and diverse visual arts span ancient traditional art to the most contemporary, making it one of the largest and most important art markets in the country. If you’re a collector, this is the place to buy.