The Perfect Hotel Experience
What twenty-plus years of travel taught us about great hospitality, great design, and the rooms worth obsessing over Some of…
A chronicle of adventures and inspirations by David Shea and Tanya Spaulding, owners of Shea.
Everyday Champagne is our reminder not to save life for later.
Not for a milestone, not for the perfect timing, not for some imaginary future when everything finally lines up. It means making room for curiosity, celebration, beauty, and discovery in the life you are already living. Most of all, it means not waiting to see the world.
Travel has shaped the way we live, the way we think, and the way we design. It teaches you to notice more, feel more, and pay attention to what makes an experience truly memorable. Over the years, those lessons have sharpened our instincts, expanded our perspective, and made our work at Shea better in countless ways. What we share here is a collection of those experiences—places we’ve loved, ideas we’ve borrowed, and details we think are worth noticing.
Come explore this big, beautiful world with us—one unforgettable detail at a time.
The Big B Wines of Piemonte, Italy, with a side of Lake Como
We drink wine. That’s probably obvious — our website is everydaychampagne.com, not champagneisforspecialoccasions.net. But let’s be clear: we’re not wine…
Portugal, The Island Edition
It’s safe to say we like Portugal. We’ve been five times already, and we’re going back. It’s a luxury to…
The Unexpected Sunshine of Scotland
I bought a new raincoat. It’s not often you get excited about a raincoat, but I loved it, from one of…
Multi-course travel through Norway
I was sleeping soundly under a great mountain of sheets and blankets in middle-of-nowhere Norway with the terrace door slightly…
Returning to the small towns of Sicily
“I’ve seen that sign for Castiglione before, did we bicycle here on our first trip?” “No clue,” David responded. “Pretty…
A Journey Through Southeast Asia: Vietnam
Eleven planes, one big boat, two medium-sized boats, about five long boats, one high speed train, countless van transfers, one…
A Journey Through Southeast Asia: Laos
Of the people that we told we were going to Laos, we had one completely enthusiastic response (Ann Ahmed, a…
Portugal, from City to Country
Portugal has been the “it girl” for several years now (which normally means we’d stay away), but we’ve been to…
For the love of Portland, ME
In Maine, Kennebunkport was our first love. It became a yearly tradition to head to Boston for a night, then…
Sardinia with a side of Montalcino/Tuscany
Itinerary: MSP – ATL – FCO – OLB OLB – FCO – three-hour drive to Montalcino – back to Rome…
Bordeaux: The Unicorn of Travel Perfection (with a side of Paris)
Disclaimer: If you prefer drama over romance (like me), this is your disclaimer. You know, a little violence and mayhem is…
Egypt: perception versus reality
We were going to be prepared for our upcoming trip to Egypt. We’ve been talking about going for nearly 20…
Captivating Cartagena
There are three temperatures in Cartagena year-round: Hot, hotter, and hottest. The difference in vibe is palpable when you step…
Colombia, From City to Coffee Country to Coast
We weren’t looking for love. We certainly weren’t in the market for another long-term relationship with yet another destination (hello…
Greece: A round up of Northern Greece, Athens, the Peloponnese, Crete and the Islands
Preface Several positive changes came out of our collective worldwide reaction to the recent pandemic: OK, so I could only…
The Keys to Where to Stay, Snack, and Sunset in Key West
“Sir,” I said as I stood to catch the waiter, “a chicken just jumped on my salad.” The waiter calmly…
Oaxaca: Mezcal Mothership
If people know Oaxaca, they immediately think of food and mezcal. If they don’t, they wonder why on earth you’d…
Stockholm: The Cabin-Fever Cure
Cabin fever is real. And it’s formidable. Summer was just kicking off (really still technically spring), and we were already…
Punk Royale: The Most Memorable of Dining Experiences
Punk Royale On our third night in Stockholm, we walked up to a narrow storefront in Södermalm and barely noticed…
Barcelona: Tapas, Luxury, and City Energy in Catalonia’s Heart
We own a design and architecture firm. (Sorry to our four avid followers, who are already aware.) And in every…
Costa Brava, Finally
The trip was jinxed. All six of us knew it. It was planned as a self-guided bike trip to Costa…
Taking On Iceland
Our Mantra, 2005 – 2020: “Iceland’s not on our list. Way too popular and trendy.” Our Mantra, Spring 2021: (Iceland…
Mexico’s Magical Magnetism in San Miguel de Allende
If your idea of a dream vacation is an all-inclusive resort on the beaches of Mexico, stop reading right now.…
The Beaches, Wineries, and Cows of Uruguay
We have no clue why we chose Uruguay. Over happy hour our first night meeting in Buenos Aires, we couldn’t…
Chasing Waterfalls: Argentina, Brazil and Iguazu Falls
After more than a week in Namibia, it almost felt like an add-on to end our trip in Zimbabwe, with…
Why Buenos Aires is Perfect for a Long Weekend
As crazy as it sounds, Buenos Aires is a great city for a long weekend…. Hear me out. Same time…
A Study in Contrasts: The Dolomites and Northern Italy
The Journey: The Dolomites The Course: Via Venice, in consequence of Milan The Reason: You’re really asking that question again…
By Way of Milano: A Few Days in a Fashion Metropolis
First impressions of Milano: Blue suits, designer sneakers, smoking, and shopping, in that order. It seems the only exercise the…
Via Venice: Eating, Drinking, and Staying in the Floating City
Venice has never been our sole destination; it’s also been a “via” city to get somewhere else. The Dolomites via…
Our Journey Through Africa in 3 Minutes (Video)
Read more about our trip, in parts one, two, and three.…
The Coastal Culture of Corsica
Imagine a place that combines the best of Italy’s pasta and pizzas with the best of French bread and pastries.…
Drinking, Eating, and Bicycling Through Champagne
“First thing’s first. Get the champagne.” – Winston Churchill, 1931, New York We’re wrong about lots of things. But we’re…
Amsterdam Beyond the Airport
We always knew there was an actual city and country outside of Schiphol airport. We had even heard it was…
Follow Us Through Africa: Namibia and Zimbabwe
Prologue Our perceptions preparing for trip to Africa (that turned out to be all wrong): Yes, we way over-packed without…
Follow Us Through Africa: The Winelands
Heading to the Winelands, we had big plans. We had mountain bikes coming in a few hours and were looking…
Follow Us Through Africa: Cape Town
Part One: The Sense of Arrival and the Ultimate Hotel Experience We love arriving places at night. It gives you…
Exploring Tasmania’s Wine, Whisky, Waters, and Wallabies
We decided to go to Tasmania when we were in Bhutan. It makes perfect sense. It was over cocktails on…
Sydney by Neighborhood: The Best Spots to Eat and Stay
Dear Sydney, Yes, I know you’re pissed at us for saying we like Melbourne better. But let us make it…
Where to Stay, Eat, and Drink in Melbourne, Australia
Sorry, Sydney: Melbourne is kicking your ass. Yes, you have the bridge. And the Opera House. And the cool fish…
Bhutan: Hiking and Biking Our Way Through the Mountains
I give my life a 10. During a recent round of physicals (to make sure I don’t fall over dead…
The Dos and Don’ts of Berlin
What not to do in Berlin: Don’t go to Checkpoint Charlie… Unless you’re in the mood for KFC. It’s ridiculously…
Navigating Prague’s History, Cobblestones, and Czech Food
Welcome to Prague. Our apologies to everyone looking for a love story. Prague (in its historical heart) is just plain…
An Active Adventure in Patagonia Sur
We had already driven nearly three hours when we hit the rough gravel outside of El Chalten. Ugh, we have…
A Travel Guide to Basque: Spain and France
All about the Basque. When it rains and you’re caught in the narrow streets of San Sebastián, Spain, should you…
Exploring Montenegro by Bike
Our next trip was to Montenegro. Here’s a sample of responses we got when telling friends and family: “I can’t…
Berlin to Prague, by Bike
“You’ve never been to Prague? With all your traveling?” It was becoming a common question. When we said no, it…
Puglia: Bicycling and Eating Through the Italian Countryside
Getting to the Heel: Puglia Puglia (Puh-lee-a) is the heel of the Italian boot. The leather of this part of…
A Few Days in Florence
Heading to the Heel A stop in Florence On our way to Puglia, the heel of the boot in Italy,…
Why Everyday Champagne
6 weeks before Puglia… The moment of impact was a powerful, hard-hitting shock. I have a vague memory of flying…