Melanie Carden

2 months ago | parade.com | Melanie Carden

Discussions of spring vacation plans have been percolating everywhere I go lately. Families are starting to plan for April break, friends are trying to (finally) get the trip out of the group chat, and those in cold-weather regions are itching for the sweet relief of spring breezes and mild temperatures. So, it's the perfect time to talk about the best places to visit in April 2025.

2 months ago | newyorklifestylesmagazine.com | Melanie Carden

A Love Letter to Open Hearts and Grand Gestures Valentine’s Day is more than a pile of rose petals. It’s an opportunity to indulge your inner urge to spoil your loved ones—from partners and spouses to friends and family. For February, I’ve created a collection of gifts ranging from traditional themes like jewelry and flowers to creative and quirky baubles that elicit tender moments of connection.

Jan 28, 2025 | parade.com | Melanie Carden

February is the calendar’s manifestation of the glass half-full or -empty notion. On the one hand, winter sports enthusiasts are savoring the mid-season skiing, snowshoeing and sledding. Others, however, sit bundled in their coziest pajamas, binging rom-coms and documentaries to their heart’s content. There are certainly those among us, spared from winter’s brisk bite, living in temperate locals, but regardless of where you call home, February travel has a special allure.

Dec 7, 2024 | parade.com | Melanie Carden

There's a soulful swagger that sets in, after you embark on a solo adventure. I discovered this accidentally at the delicate age of nineteen when, in 1995, I made a solo move from Connecticut to Alaska. I'd never flown on a commercial plane, and traveling so far was exhilarating and a bit nerve-wracking. When the wheels of the plane left the ground, everything was in the air-literally and figuratively-and I was keen to figure it all out for myself.

Nov 13, 2024 | islands.com | Melanie Carden

If you want personal space and tranquility on your next coastal getaway, visit an under-the-radar gem. In other words, skip the New England favorite Portland, Maine, and head to Boothbay Harbor instead. The area's many cozy, idyllic coves helped make Boothbay Harbor a prominent 17th-century fishing village with plenty of inlets to power grain mills. The deep waters welcomed the mammoth steamers of the 1860s and put the small town on the map.