Hotel Whitcomb is an elegant, affordable historic San Francisco hotel.

San Francisco has it’s share of grand, splashy, historic hotels — the Fairmont, the St. Francis, and the Palace to name a few — but there is one that’s often overlooked.

Perhaps it’s the location on mid-Market close to Civic Center and the Tenderloin, not atop glamorous Nob Hill or in bustling Union Square, but despite its history and grandeur, Hotel Whitcomb doesn’t have the same cachet as the other century-old landmarks. And that’s too bad, it should.

The lobby sparkles with Austrian crystal, marble, and polished brass.

An opulent lobby resplendent with Austrian crystal chandeliers, Tiffany glass, Italian marble columns and floors, and Janesero wood paneling opens onto Market Street across from the Orpheum Theater. Above, 460 airy rooms have high ceilings and are appointed with beautiful furnishings.

On the mezzanine floor, the Crystal Gallery showcases vintage photos of the hotel’s unique history on the site of a gynormous 71,000 square-foot marketplace called the Crystal Palace Market that opened in 1923. A few years before, the Hotel Whitcomb had served as a temporary City Hall from 1912 to 1915 after the 1906 earthquake.

Off the lobby are a few options for refreshments. There is a Starbucks, Florinda’s Market Street Grill, and  of The Tavern, a lovely Victorian piano bar that hosts a lively happy hour and is a popular meeting place for theater goers.

Still privately owned, Hotel Whitcomb is also affordable. A recent check of rates displayed a range from $79 for a “petite double” to $488 for a king parlor suite. Maybe it’s time the Whitcomb is allowed to bask the limelight seemingly reserved for the other San Francisco grand hotels. Your travel and tour agents can easily arrange an itinerary that includes a stop at this historical place when you visit San Francisco.

With assistance in planning similar travel packages, click here for assistance with travel planning.

Hotel Whitcomb
San Francisco, CA
1231 Market Street,
San Francisco, CA 94103
Tel: 415-626-8000

Photos by Lisa Dion

Little boys and birthdays are full of fun and cake. That’s a fact. Nowhere is this more evident than a Disneyland birthday celebration at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. Seriously, go there and see for yourself if you don’t believe me. There is cake everywhere.

We took our now 6-year-old bundle of joy and adrenaline to a Disney character breakfast at Storytellers Cafe in Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel. The hotel is awe-inspiring. The breakfast was fantastic. I love it when that happens.

We bought the buffet, which was fresh, amply stocked, and moved along quickly (unless you waited for a personal omelet, but that’s all you). The buffet was just under $24 per person for adults and slightly under $12 for kids. Smaller kids (0-2) are free.

The breakfast was hosted by Chip and Dale, of Chip and Dale fame, and with some of their other Disney animal friends they visited each table in turn and spent a good amount of time with each child (and adults, too).

Then came singing and cake (an optional addition for $15.99 of a pirate treasure chest or princess-themed box filled with said cake), and the smiles were worth every penny. And then some.

We went into Disneyland full and happy, first stop was Town Hall on Main Street, U.S.A. for free birthday buttons and a character phone call, then it was into the magic and the memories made there.

My son said it was the best birthday ever. I am inclined to believe him.

There is a character breakfast in each of the Disneyland Resort Hotels and one in each park (Disneyland, Disney’s California Adventure). Reservations are recommended (call (714) 781-DINE or (714) 781-3463). If you are celebrating a special occasion let the host or server know.

Speaking of special occasions, Town Hall has buttons for everything — anniversaries, first visit, birthdays, button wearers… you name it!

We paid for our own stay on Disney property, park ticket admission, and buffet. Disney was kind enough to provide the birthday pirate chest for the purpose of this review. Opinions are my own (and everyone that was with us).

Photo by W. Honea

We are barely two months into the new year, and there is already another club closing that has been announced on the Las Vegas Strip. Sources say ROK Vegas at the New York-New York Resort will be closing as of April 1, 2012.

To be honest, this isn’t really a shock. It’s been open for many years and has gotten to that point in the Vegas nightlife scene where it wasn’t drawing in the huge crowds any more.

That’s not to say it didn’t have its good points, including free champagne for ladies from 11-midnight, and a terrace with a great view of the Strip. But it also had its bad points like expensive drinks. Even the water was $5, regardless of if it was bottled or tap. The co-ed bathroom was also an incredibly stupid idea.

At any rate, the source also tells me that the resort plans a quick turn around of the space and it looks like it may become some sort of live performance venue. Whether that is music or some headliner show theater wasn’t exactly clear. Plans are for this new venue to open sometime late spring/early summer 2012.

In the meantime, you can still have a lot of fun at some of resort’s still open venues like Coyote Ugly, Nine Irishmen and Pour 24.

ROK Vegas was a spin-off of the popular Miami club, RokBar Miami, which has also closed.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
ROK Vegas
New York-New York Resort
3790 Las Vegas Blvd S
Las Vegas, NV 89109
Phone: 702-740-6969
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

[Image courtesy of ROK Vegas]

Take in a Carmel-by-the-sea sunset at Hofsas House

Located in the quaint town of Carmel by the Sea, Hofsas House is a rare gem in this ocean-side village. The Bavarian-themed Hofsas House is family-owned and operated with 37 uniquely decorated rooms, some with ocean views. Many of the rooms have fireplaces and all have dutch doors to take in the fresh sea air.

Hofsas House Crafting Package

It was a a gorgeous 70 degree day on my early March visit to the Hofsas House in Carmel. While I was out walking the streets of Carmel-by-the-sea and dining on calamari at Fisherman’s Wharf in Monterey, women from all over the world were sitting contentedly at the poolside meeting room sewing with local Carmel business woman, Loes Hinse. Several times a year Hinse offers specialty four-day sewing seminars.

The Hofsas House offers the perfect European ambiance for sewing, quilting or knitting retreats.

Enjoy the swimming pool at Hofsas House, Carmel-by-the-sea

Family-friendly Hofsas House

Not only will the prices of Hofsas House not break the bank, your kids will be happy here, too. There is a heated swimming pool and sauna on property. Rooms are adjoining for parents with children, and for the adventurous or romantics, Hofsas House offers enhanced packages like the s’mores kit; complete with firewood, a blanket and all  the fixings for s’mores on Carmel Beach.

Tail Wagging Package

Hofsas House has one of the most dog-friendly hotels around. Dogs, from large to small, receive their own Frisbee and a special treat to start their vacation.  In addition to the Frisbee, the welcome package includes a Hofsas House dog bed, a copy of Coastal Canine Magazine – offering the best four legged options for visiting Carmel and a special package from California Pup. There is a $25 fee per night for one dog and $40 per night for two dogs. Woof!

Hofsas House King Suite #45 comes with a fireplace and ocean view

Complimentary Continental Breakfast

Our king suite, #45, with an ocean view and fireplace was a bargain at $175, (low season pricing.) The spacious room included a continental breakfast with coffee, tea, juice, fruit, yogurt and fresh made pastries from Monterey-based Paris Bakery. It also featured a kitchenette and bathroom with shower.

Hofsas House includes:

• Queen and King beds
• Maid service
• Refrigerator
• Data port
• Kitchenette
• Copier
• Cable/satellite television
• Shower
• Hairdryer
• Iron and Ironing board
• Non-smoking rooms
• Telephone
• Alarm clock

• Cable television
• Microwave
• Hair dryer
• Complimentary Wireless internet access
• Balcony/lanai/terrace
• Fax machine
• Handicap room
• Coffee/tea maker
• Voicemail
• Fireplace
• Ocean view
• Connecting rooms

If You Go:

Hofsas House (831) 624-2745

4th Street and San Carlos, Carmel, CA 93921

Article written by and photos courtesy of  Travel Writer Nancy D. Brown of What a Trip, Travels from Northern California.

I was a guest of Hofsas House.

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Spindrift Inn, Monterey

Insider Tips for Things to Do in Monterey

We recently visited Legoland in Carlsbad, California (just north of San Diego), and the results were a bit mixed. Kind of like nuts.

The good: It is all about Legos, which are, obviously, awesome. The bad: the rides are awful. The majority of rides are geared towards children under the age of six, because personal experience has shown that Lego-obsessed kids around 8-years-old were barely able to hold back a yawn. Sure, it’s great that the younger kids have fun — it’s for them, I get it, but there should be something for kids of other ages, not to mention an occasional block thrown to the adults.

The good: The park itself is quite beautiful. Most of the walkways are wide and clean, and the landscaping is lush and pleasant. The bad: The lines are really long and do not have any sort of theme or interactive components that might keep kids occupied or entertained.

The good: The food served is pretty tasty by theme park standards. The bad: The food is expensive, which is to be expected, but the admission is really expensive — it’s not much cheaper than a day at Disneyland, and it offers about a tenth (if that) of the experience.

The good: It’s close to the ocean. The bad: You actually need to have something else to do, because there isn’t enough to do in the park to last a full day, and even if there was Legoland closes on most days before the sun sets (that includes stores and dining, when they say they’re closed they aren’t messing around).

The good: The Star Wars exhibit is really cool. The bad: It’s basically a museum of things to look at, which would be fine IN A MUSEUM. It’s a theme park about Legos featuring Star Wars things created with Legos, offer something for kids to do that combines the two. Peanut butter and chocolate, people.

We wanted to like Legoland. My wife and I love the San Diego area. Our whole family loves Legos — seriously, there are an embarrassing amount of Legos in our house. We had a fun time at Legoland, but that was despite the park, not because of it. We were on vacation and we made the most of it. Also, we wouldn’t talk bad about something that the kids were enjoying, however, even they noticed the park’s many shortcomings, and when we asked them if they were ready to leave they didn’t hesitate to say “yes.” That’s never a good sign.

Photo: W. Honea

Vegas is know to offer some exotic experiences so if you’re looking for an out of the ordinary trip experience in the notorious desert, then the lounge/bar experience in Las Vegas, give the Lady Silvia a try.

First thing you should know is that it can be hard to find. It’s north of downtown, in the Soho Lofts building, near Heritage Park. There’s no sign outside and even though the address says it’s on S. Las Vegas Blvd, the actual entrance is on Hoover Ave., going towards 4th St. You’ll find off-street parking at 4th and Hoover.

Inside, the decor resembles a library, complete with books on the wall. There are a few areas to sit, but the staff hates it when larger groups try to rearrange the furniture. I would say the whole place comes off as a prohibition-era speakeasy.

Music is provided nightly by a DJ with the sound leaning towards house, and they also sometimes hold special events like art and fashion shows.

This vibe extends to the bar menu. Basically, they do simple drinks like scotch on the rocks, classic martinis, Manhattans and the like. Surprisingly, the brew menu has quite a few microbrews, as well as a few of the usual suspects.

Prices are a bit on the high side, but no more than you’d find anywhere else on The Strip. You can save a bit by visiting during their daily happy hour, from 4pm-6pm, and their mid-week reverse happy hour (Tuesday through Thursday from 11pm-1am), when drinks are half-off.

Lady Silvia opens daily at 3pm and, in a rarity for Vegas, is smoke free.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The Lady Silvia
900 Las Vegas Blvd S
Las Vegas, NV 89101
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

[Image courtesy of The Lady Silvia]

Premium Cabin at Yotel New York City

It’s no secret that New York City hotel rooms are among the priciest in the country. So when a hotel comes along with low rates, there’s got to be a reason for it. In the case of the Yotel Hotel, it’s because it specializes in tiny compact rooms that they call cabins.

But just because the rooms are tiny, doesn’t mean they scrimp on features. All rooms come with convertible beds, TVs, plenty of storage space and bathrooms with showers. Amenities also include complimentary wifi (almost unheard of in a NYC hotel).

What they don’t have is room service, mini bars or even in-room coffee bars. They don’t have a lot of space to lounge around in either. But let’s face it, if you’re in New York City, you’re probably not going to be in your room much anyways. Especially when the hotel is located two blocks from Times Square.

The trade-off of room space for low rates is one worth making, especially when, for the month of March 2012, Yotel New York City is offering an additional 20% off stays of 2 nights or longer. This deal can be booked online. Be sure to sign up for the company’s Stash hotel rewards program to earn additional benefits from your stay.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Yotel Hotel
570 Tenth Avenue
New York City, NY 10036
Phone: 877-90YOTEL
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

[Image courtesy Yotel Hotels]

Hey Los Angeles Times – you're looking thinner these days

Los Angeles Times, it’s like I don’t even know you anymore.

My hometown paper is going through yet another change. Pretty soon I won’t be able to recognize it – I fear it won’t be long before it’s reduced to a Post-It stuck on to a stack of coupon circulars.

In another move that can most likely be attributed to cost-cutting, the Los Angeles Times is closing its stand-alone Thursday Food section (which would be 50-years-old in a month), combining it with the Home and Health sections into a new “lifestyle” section that will be published on Saturdays. The name of the new section is ‘Saturday,’ which leads me to believe they’ve also fired the guy who names the new newspaper sections.

Food section editor Russ Parsons told LA Weekly via email, “Of course we will miss having our stand-alone section. But this new Saturday section will incorporate the best of our food and dining coverage, including recipes, restaurant reviews, wine recommendations and everything else, and it will deliver it on a day when most of our readers are actually thinking about going out to eat, visiting farmers markets and throwing dinner parties. And, of course, our website will continue as it always has.”

So, hey, goodbye beloved Los Angeles Times Food section – it’s been fun, and I’ll see you on Saturday. I’d tell you to “Don’t go changin’” but it’s too late for that.

Los Angeles Times
202 W. 1st St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 237-5000

When she’s not reading what’s left of the newspaper, Marsha can be found at Sweatpantsmom.com

Photo: Stock.xchng | lusi

Just across from New Orleans Square in Disneyland is an island that be circled by ship and canoe, or reached via ferry. It used to be all about Tom Sawyer, but now it is about Tom Sawyer and his encounter with the pirates. There are caves to explore, treasure to plunder, and interactive skeleton fun (don’t worry, not your skeleton). They’ll have plenty to talk about for days, including imaginative stories about how they encountered kangaroos and koalas (at least my kids did).

It’s a great place to let kids run wild and burn off some energy — just make sure you have a place to meet should you become separated, and understand that there is only one way on and off of the island.

Have fun!

This post is part of the Uptake Family Friday Series.

Photo: Whit Honea

SEARED SEA SCALLOPS & ROMESCO at Arugula's in Boulder, Colorado

Open since 2009, Arugula Bar e Ristorante is a hidden strip mall gem. Whether you’re enjoying their frequent wine dinners, happy hours, or a night out on the town, Chef/Proprietor Alec Schuler will make your experience, well, an unforgettable experience in a zen-Boulder, but not-intimidating kind of way.

The staff doesn’t condescend when visiting your table. No, they step to the table ready to make your Arugula experience the very best.

Don’t know much about wines? No problem – the staff will offer to pair your wines with your dinner, and they even are conscious of your budget.  Guests can certainly enjoy their dining experience and be conscious of their budget.  (Thank you Denver Restaurant Week!)

Specialty of the house, Northern Italian dishes at Arugula's in Boulder

On our visit, we were fortunate enough to get a preview of their amazing Northern Italian dishes, courtesy of Chef Alec.  I can only tell you how simply divine all the dishes tasted…take a look and see for yourself.

Arugula Bar e Ristorante dishes up an amazing menu featuring Northern Italian and Mediterranean dining, a welcome addition to the Boulder restaurant experience.

The perfect – and affordable — way to experience Arugula is via their frequently offered wine dinners.

Whether you choose the traditional dining experience, or opt for one of their specialty dinners, Arugula Bar e Ristorante is a Northern Italian dining experience not to miss in Boulder, Colorado.

Arugula Bar e Ristorante

Grilled Hanger steak atop vegetables in light Northern Italian style sauce t Arugula's in Boulder

2785 Iris Ave.
Boulder, CO 80304
Phone: 303-443-5100
Open 6 days a week, Closed Sundays

Cheekwood Mansion

Exploring the sprawling gardens and extensive art collection at Cheekwood is a must for Nashville visitors. Built by the Cheek family, owners of Maxwell House Coffee in 1932, the historic limestone mansion and formal gardens are closely tied to Nashville history. A visit to the gardens and galleries offers an intriguing peek at grand, Southern lifestyles during the early 20 th century.

A view of a Cheekwood pond

From the lovely gardens to the extensive art collections, Cheekwood supplies indoor and outdoor fun. Start with the art galleries, which include the courtyard gallery, Carrell Woodson sculpture trail, video installation galleries and the permanent collection.  The newest exhibit, “Permanent Residents: Artists From Cheekwood’s Collection” will open on March 31.  Noted for an impressive assortment of  American art, Cheekwood will display selected works from 19th Century American artists.  The sculpture trail was my particular favorite, with “One Line Horizontal Floating -Twenty Feet” a fascinating piece that reminded me of a javelin soaring through the air,  a standout art work. This moving line of metal blends with nature creating a range of ever evolving images.  The 55-acre gardens includes pools, fountains and stunning views of the Tennessee Hills. Meander through the herb garden, color garden, water garden, Japanese garden, two perennial gardens and a wildflower garden. After all that exploring, relax in the friendly atmosphere of The Frothy Monkey Coffeehouse.  This charming neighborhood cafe offers an array of locally produced and sustainably-produced food, including corn crusted trout with quinoa and blackened shrimp over cheese grits.

Photos by Rosalind Cummings-Yeates

AFAR
The media company with the gorgeous glossy travel magazine that launched in late 2009 recently released an iPhone app with a focus around Highlights. These bits of travel inspiration include a photo, title, description and location of a recommended travel experience. The app launched with 4,000 Highlights, with more being added daily. There’s also a contest running through the end of March for users to upload their highlights for a chance to win a trip to India. AFAR says that a version for Android phones will be released soon. Now how about some wildlife photos to inspire me to go on an adventurous safari in Africa?

TravelZoo
One of the earliest travel deal sites on the Internet, TravelZoo has launched a mobile website and added an Android app to join its existing iPhone app offering (introduced in August 2011). Mobile users can quickly access TravelZoo’s traditional Top 20 weekly deals listing, Local Deals, Entertainment Deals, Travel Deals and Last Minute discounts, which is not a category found on the company’s main website. The Android app features local deals based on users’ detected location. According to Tnooz, 17.5 percent of traffic to TravelZoo.com was already coming from mobile devices.

Travelocity
Last-minute deals for travel bookings on mobile devices—especially for hotel rooms—are gaining in popularity. Travelocity already went after this market last year when it enhanced its iPhone app for same-day hotel deals and some local information. The company has now launched an iPad app that offers additional discounts for flights, hotels and rental cars at rates through the app that are better than what’s available on the Travelocity website. In addition, app users get daily mobile-only deals. They also can access their Travelocity accounts through the app, which can auto-fill in purchase information to speed the close of the transaction.

Photo: AFAR

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There’s an App for What?

Wine with a view: The Napa Valley Wine Train

I’m not sure if there’s anything better than a nice glass of wine and a lovely meal. Oh wait, there is – having that wine and meal while on the Napa Valley Wine Train traveling through the gorgeous wine country. I have only read about the famous food and wine tour of Argentina. Better than that? Yes, and having Ryan Gosling as your sommelier, but let’s not get carried away.

Recently I was lucky enough to be a guest on the Napa Valley Wine Train. For any of you unfamiliar with this iconic attraction, it’s a three-hour trip – via gorgeously restored vintage rail cars – through the beautiful Napa Valley. While traveling you’re served a gourmet lunch (or dinner) and wine from the local wineries. If you’re fortunate like we were, your wait person will have extensive knowledge of the surrounding region and can give you a quick education on the various vintages – this was pretty helpful for a wine novice like me.

You would think that with everything going on – The train! The scenery! The wine! – the food would take a backseat, but you would be mistaken. Their menu is first-rate, and I was impressed to learn that they are committed to using sustainable foods in all their dishes. I had their excellent Coriander Breast of Chicken with Baby Arugula that was in a light peppercorn sauce – a very generous portion that I could barely finish (especially since I wanted to save some room for the desserts that I’d heard everyone buzzing about.) For my wine choice, I went with their suggested pairing, a 2008 Romililly Pinot Noir that was the perfect accompaniment to my meal.

(I should note that wine is not included in the price of your meal, but their prices are fairly reasonable. The wines in their suggested pairings that day were priced from $9 to $15 per glass.)

Dessert on the Napa Valley Wine Train is an experience in itself – you change cars for the return trip, where you’re given a choice of a few very tempting and unbelievably rich-sounding dessert dishes. In spite of it being one of the safer and more predictable choices, I ordered the Crème Brulée since I’d been craving it for days. I’m glad I did – deliciously caramelized and topped with a few fresh blueberries, it was the absolute best way to end our journey on the Wine Train.

I’ve been to Napa only a handful of times, and this time was the first with my teenage daughters. I wasn’t quite sure if the Wine Train would be an appropriate activity for them, but they enjoyed it and I was glad to find something we could do as a family. My older daughter’s favorite part? Getting an entire teapot to herself on the dessert train. Although she did mention she would have loved it even more if Ryan Gosling had served it to her.

Napa Valley Wine Train
1275 McKinstry Street
Napa, CA 94559
800.427.4124

When she’s not riding the rails with a nice pinot noir, Marsha can be found at Sweatpantsmom.com

Photos: Marsha Takeda-Morrison

A mellow vibe at the Gramercy Park Tavern.

“We need to go celebrate,” she said.  “This is such an exciting time for you!”

I was in New York City for my book launch.  My first book launch, such that it was.  DIRTY MINDS: HOW OUR BRAINS INFLUENCE LOVE, SEX AND RELATIONSHIPS had come out a few days before.  And I was definitely in the mood to celebrate.

So why not hit the Gramercy Tavern–a place that has been consistently rated as one of the city’s best restaurants?  I was all for it.

We were seated in the Front Room, the place to see and be seen for lunch.  I arrived 15 minutes early.  At first, I was the only patron, quietly sipping on iced tea and staring out the window.  I took the opportunity to snap a photo.  But by 12:30pm, the joint had filled up.  It seemed to happen in the blink of an eye–folks just appearing until there was not an open seat in the room.

The food was fantastic–I went with the soup special of the day, an old-fashioned, hearty chicken and matzo ball soup.  And you have to know that the service was impeccable.  I couldn’t turn around without having my iced tea glass refilled. They were thorough without being pushy.  You have to appreciate that.

But I enjoyed the ambiance just as much.  I’ll admit eavesdropped a bit.  One pair to my left was talking about a recent private Lenny Kravitz concert (apparently, he is as dreamy as you’d think in a small, intimate venue).  Another table was discussing their upcoming trip to Sundance Film Festival (new Uggs were in order).  I ‘d like to think that maybe they were listening in on me talking about my book.  You never know.

But next time I want a celebratory lunch, I’m going to remember the Gramercy Tavern–especially if I want to see and be seen.  I can’t think of a more perfect place to do it.

———-

Gramercy Tavern
42 E 20th Street
New York, NY 10003
Tel.:  212.477.0777

———-

Photo courtesy of Kayt Sukel.

For all those who blame travel for their tendency to fall in and out of a healthy routine, Atlanta-based InterContinental Hotels Group is launching a new brand for the U.S. market that aims to eliminate that excuse.

IHG plans to announce the first EVEN Hotel location in the second quarter of 2012 and to open its doors in 2013. The new wellness-themed properties will see investment of $150 million over the next three years. Amenities at these hotels will include:

• Workout-ready guest rooms with features such as a coat rack that doubles as a pull-up bar
• Group exercise activities
• Equipment rental
• Free tips and travel fitness advice
• Menu emphasis on healthy options, with free mini-smoothies in addition to morning coffee
• Restrooms built for healthy rejuvenation, with natural lighting, LED dimmers, antibacterial wipes and hypoallergenic linens

EVEN hotels will be priced mid-scale, according to a report in HotelNewsNow, which also lists cities IHG is eyeing for development: San Francisco; Los Angeles; San Diego; Boston; New York; Washington, D.C.; Seattle; Minneapolis; and Austin, Texas. According to HotelNewsNow, IHG is aiming to open 100 properties over the next five years, and the first locations will be conversions of existing hotels with 100 to 200 rooms.

Photo: InterContinental Hotels Group

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A down home, family fun kind of place

When the notice appeared in my e-mail inbox that I had won two tickets to the Osmond Brothers concert at the Bearcreek Farms Country Resort in Bryant, Indiana, it was a no brainer. “Heck, yes, I’m going.”

Never mind that Donny wasn’t going to be there, or that my musical tastes have changed since the day when a frenzied friend pushed past me to get close to the stage in Columbia, South Carolina where Donny crooned “Puppy Love” to a packed arena of swarming girls. Seeing only Jay and his brothers, including Jimmy, this time around would do.

Besides, heading to the concert from Columbus, Ohio was road trip material. I corralled my husband, my then teen-aged daughter and 7 year-old son for the up and back excursion. To her credit, my daughter didn’t roll her eyes when I told her she was to be my concert date. Bearcreek Farms Country Resort became one of those surprise finds to tell folks about.

Bearcreek Farm's lake

Bryant, Indiana is smack dab in the middle of Indiana’s farm country that looks a lot like next door Ohio’s farm country–flat and fertile. After a few hours stop at the Armstrong Air and Space Museum (I highly recommend the place) in Wapokoneta, roughly halfway between Bryant and Columbus, we pulled into the parking lot of the Bearcreek Farms Country Resort in time to browse the resort’s country store before dinner and the concert. 

What started out more than 3o years ago as a small restaurant venue in a barn, complete with a petting zoo, is a rambling establishment that includes the Homestead Restaurant– big enough for 600 diners at one time, retail stores, a theater/concert hall, a chapel and several one room cottages and cabins with private bathrooms. Both cottages and cabins have two double beds. There’s also a 60 site RV park.

Where there's a buffet of country comfort food

The combination of live theater, concerts, heaps of food and lodging is a Midwestern people magnet.

As part of my two free ticket deal, we had to buy two buffet dinners. At $12.50 a pop, it was a screaming deal of comfort fare complete with country favorites like fried chicken, green beans with flecks of ham, and for dessert items like bread pudding, cakes, pies and ice-cream. The meal my daughter and I ate were part of the concert package.

The 2012 concert series begins on March 22 and the Osmonds are returning. Hmmm. Should I head to Bearcreek Resort on July 21? I just might. The 2009 concert was splendid.

The cottages are one lodging option

Bearcreek Farms Country Resort offers several activities reminiscent of simpler times. From the end of April through the summer, bikes, shuffle board, paddle boat rides on the lake and an outdoor pool are part of the entertainment menu.

Contact information:

Bearcreek Farms Country Resort
8339 North 400 East
Bryant, Indiana 47326

Reservations: 260-997-6822

Before you go, check out the website for package deals. The restaurant is also open to those who are just coming for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Photos courtesy of Bearcreek Farms Country Resort

Related Posts: Romantic Hotels in Indiana

This post is part of Uptake’s Wordless Wednesday Series. Words explaining why it is wordless don’t count.

Photo:Bruce Tuten via Flickr

Palace Resort Mignon's Crab Cakes

There’s always a party in Biloxi, Mississippi

Planning to visit Mississippi’s Gulf Coast? It seems there’s always a party or some type of celebration happening in Biloxi, Mississippi and with parties comes food – lots of food. For my dining dollar, I vote for Mignon’s Steaks and Seafood restaurant inside the Palace Casino Resort.

Mignon appetizers

When on the Gulf Coast, eat like the locals. The locals like crab cakes. The Crab Cake Mignon is full of jumbo lump crab meat, shallots and herbs, served with a pool of remoulade sauce and priced at $14 for two sweet tasting crab cakes.

Palace Resort Mignon's Lobster Bisque

Mignon soups

While the salads on the menu looked appealing, this was my last meal in the South and I was going big AND going home.  In fact, after days of eating beignets, fried green tomatoes, fried shrimp and King Cake, I was going home big. So why not keep the dining momentum going with a lovely, creamy, rich Lobster Bisque? Priced at $10, I could have bathed in this bowl of lobster, fennel, sherry and heavy cream goodness.

Mignon moment

Grab your steak knife and get your motor going, we are headed for the gravy train and it is not chicken and grits. Tonight, I have my eye on Mignon’s Bone-In Filet. Listed at $52, this 14 oz. signature steak is cooked to order. You’ll need to shell out more money for the a la carte vegetables and side orders, and while the loaded baked potato is huge, I don’t think it merits the $7 price tag. Instead, I’d go with the Hash Brown Potato Pancake $7, or the Lobster Mac and Cheese for $12.

Palace Resort Mignon's Bone-in Filet and baked potato

Mignon desserts

When I asked about the Chocolate Praline Indulgence Cake, our server confessed that this was a new item to the Mignon dessert menu that he had not yet tasted. Described as a chocolate molten cake baked with pralines, topped with vanilla ice cream and a bourbon pecan sauce, I was not bowled over. However, the service was first class, as was the rest of my meal. Wine aficionados and Wine Spectator magazine readers will appreciate the wide selection of choices on the wine list. In case you are a dessert lover like I am, all the items on the dessert menu range from $7-$8.

If You Go:

Palace Casino Resort (228) 432-8888 or (800) 725-2239

154 Howard Avenue, Biloxi, MS 39530

Article written by and photos courtesy of  Travel Writer Nancy D. Brown of What a Trip, Travels from Northern California.

I was a guest of Palace Casino Resort

Related Post:

Palace Casino Resort, Biloxi, MS

The Frist Center for Visual Arts

The striking Art Deco structure of the Frist Center for the Visual Arts beckons in downtown Nashville as a highly visible landmark. Originally built as the Nashville post office in 1934,  the building now boasts 24,000 square feet of gallery space. The Frist Center offers popular family outings with hands on workshops for kids and an impressive collection of exhibits.

The array of exhibits and collections dazzle young and old alike but the most constant and popular artwork is probably the building itself. Every  first Saturday of the month, architecture tours that explore the building’s Art Deco treasures that were constructed in the heart of the Great Depression provide a great overview of the center.  Through May 28,  ’Fairy Tales, Monsters, and The Genetic Imagination”  will be highlighted. The exhibit presents works by contemporary artists who create human like , hybrid creatures that symbolize life’s mysteries, fears and desires. Inspired by everything from fables to genetic experimentation, the exhibit presents 60 contemporary paintings, videos, photographs and sculptures. On March 3, the Frist Center will host a family activity, ” Connecting Cultures Celebrates Kudistan.”  The free event will feature art making and stories from the Kurdish culture. After browsing the museum, make your way to the cafe for a variety of soups, sandwiches and desserts.  Don’t miss the coconut crusted chicken with Spanish rice and pineapple.

Photo courtesy of Rosalind Cummings-Yeates

Fort Wilderness Cabin Exterior

Not every “resort” at Walt Disney World is a hotel format. The Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground is actually part cabins and part camping, for those who want to rough it while at Disney’s Orlando theme parks.

Located just east of the Magic Kingdom, this property opened in November 1971, only a month after the park did. It features 799 camping spaces ranging from basic tent space up to full RV hook-up slots. It also has 407 air-conditioned “cabins” for those that need a few more creature comforts, like air conditioning. Thirteen of these are set up to be disabled accessible.

Campground rates range from $48 for a basic tent site during value season, to $125 for a premium campsite during peak holiday season. The cabins, which sleep up to six, range from $285 during value season up to $450 during peak holiday season. There are discounts available for AAA/CAA members and Annual Passholders. Some of the campsite loops are also pet-friendly, but there is an additional $5 a day charge.

Fort Wilderness Resort - Pioneer Hall

There are several dining options, all centrally located at Pioneer Hall. This includes Trail’s End Restaurant, which has a basic but hearty breakfast buffet, and the popular Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue dinner show. There are also several “trading posts” throughout the resort to purchase groceries, but you’ll save more money if you buy them before you get to the resort.

One of the most popular questions I get asked is why would you camp at Disney with so many other resorts to choose from. Several reasons, actually.

A lot of people want to stay in their own RV’s or have pets with them. The cabins are the least expensive way to accommodate six people in one lodging. The resort is also great for people who want to combine the fun of the parks with a love for the outdoors and outdoorsy activities, with everything from bikes to kayaks available for rental. You can even horseback ride for a fee at the on-property Tri-Circle D Livery.

There’s even a nightly free campfire program that has sing-alongs, marshmallow roasting, and a free nightly Disney movie (this campfire event is open to all Disney guests).

Guests staying at this property have full access to the Disney bus system, and also have access to a water shuttle that goes directly to the Magic Kingdom.

Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground is located at 4510 N. Ft. Wilderness Trail, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830. To make reservations or for more information, call 407-W-Disney.

[Images courtesy Michelle Snow]

Zankou Chicken: Yet another reason to move to L.A.

I posted two short sentences on Twitter the other day, and got the following responses: “You suck.” “I hate you.” “JUST STOP IT.”

What could I have tweeted that would elicit such vitriol? Here’s what I said:

“Zankou Chicken, extra garlic sauce, pickled turnips. Don’t be jealous.”

Because if you are a Zankou Chicken lover, you know this: One of the most painful things to hear is that someone else is sinking their teeth into that crispy chicken slathered in garlic sauce, and you’re not.

What is it that makes Zankou’s rotisserie chicken so special, that has charmed the finicky palates over at the Zagat Guide to name its chicken dinner “the single best takeout dish in town?” That made one of my Northern California friends say that Zankou Chicken was the only reason he’d move to Los Angeles?

First you have the chicken – the crispy skin surrounding the perfectly cooked chicken inside – so deliciously moist, never dry, and never undercooked. Then you have the side dishes – the aforementioned pickled turnips (bright pink, and looking like they should be bad but they’re so, so good), the fresh, slightly tangy hummus served with lots of soft pita. And then – the garlic sauce. What is this irresistible, addictive, unbelievably tasty paste that makes every bite of chicken seem like the best chicken you’ve ever eaten in your life? That will have you licking the inside of the little plastic cup so that you can get every last morsel of it into your belly?

I’ve heard for awhile that the secret to the sauce is potatoes, and after a little internet searching I’m finding that, along with copious amounts of garlic, the potatoes are the key ingredient to the palate-pleasing, pasty consistency. Here’s a recipe for a knockoff of their famous sauce, for all of you that don’t have the benefit of a Zankou around the corner. Buy a rotisserie chicken, a tub of hummus and a package of pita, and serve up with this homemade magic elixir. That should stop the hostile tweets for awhile.

Zankou Chicken Garlic Sauce (copycat recipe)

Ingredients

3 small russet potatoes
1 head garlic (12-14 cloves)
1/3 cup, fresh lemon juice
1/2 tablespoon, salt
1/2 cup, canola oil

Peel the potatoes and boil in water until potatoes are very soft. Mash the potatoes and allow them to cool.

Crush and peel a whole head of garlic. Cut the garlic cloves into thirds or quarters. Place the raw garlic in a blender with the salt and lemon  juice. Pour a light layer of oil onto the garlic. Puree the garlic mixture on “high” ” and, with the blender running, begin pouring a slow, steady stream of the remaining oil through the blender’s top opening until all the ingredients are thoroughly combined.

NOTE:  At this point, you’ll have an extremely garlic-y sauce which can be used as is. But to mellow the flavors and create the trademark pasty texture of Zankou’s sauce, you’ll need to add the potatoes.

Add the mashed potatoes, about 2-3 tablespoons at a time to incorporate evenly.  Continue adding potatoes to the blender until the sauce is mixed well.

Transfer the sauce to a bowl, cover it with plastic wrap, and allow it to chill completely in the refrigerator. After about an hour, the flavors will blend together nicely and the texture will take on that thick, pasty consistency like Zankou’s sauce.

Zankou Chicken
See website for locations (Only in Southern California)

When she’s not tweeting about what she’s eating, Marsha can be found at Sweatpantsmom.com

Photo: ZankouChicken.com

There are plenty of locations throughout Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, to grab a drink (except for the Magic Kingdom, which doesn’t sell any alcohol). Some people even make a game out of “drinking around the World” at Epcot.

But you may not be aware that you can actually buy sample flights, too. These are perfect to share with a friend, or when you want to try a few things without committing to a full glass of something.

The Rose and Crown at Epcot’s United Kingdom pavillion has one of my favorite beer samplers. The “Imperial Sampler” offers up a taste of Bass, Harp, Strongbow Cider, Boddington’s and Guinness.

If you don’t want to pay to get into Epcot, Raglan Road at Downtown Disney has a similar sampler, with tastes of Harp, Guinness, Smithwicks and Kilkenny. Big River Brewery at the Boardwalk resort also has a great sampler of their microbrews, ranging from a pilsner to a dark lager.

Whiskey fans will want to try the Canadian whiskey sampler available at Le Cellier in Epcot’s Canadian pavillion. It features 3/4oz. pours of Pendleton, 40 Creek, and Crown Royal.

On the other side of the entry to Epcot’s world showcase is Mexico, where you can purchase sampler flights of both tequila and margaritas. Both are yummy!

Vino fans can enjoy a sampler of red or white vintages in Epcot’s French pavillion at Les Vins de France, and also at Animal Kingdom Lodge’s restaurants.

Prices vary according to what you order and where.

Do you have a favorite flight or sampler that you order at Walt Disney World? Let us know what and where.

[Image courtesy of Michelle Snow]

Thodos Dance Chicago

The winter season is never quite complete without Thodos Dance Chicago’s annual winter concert. The vibrant contemporary dance troupe consistently delivers exciting and fresh choreography but  this season’s show commemorates the company’s 20th anniversary so expect an extra special performance.

The winter concert kicks off at the Harris Theater on March 2 and 3 at 8PM, with a two part program. The first half showcases “The White City: Chicago’s Colombian Exhibition 1983,” the acclaimed piece was named best dance of 2011 by the Chicago Sun Times and draws on Chicago’s rich history  with brisk moves and inviting colors.  The second portion  features ‘Getting There”  by Melissa Thodos, a thrilling performance full of quick execution. The concert will be capped off by two historical dances that have snared the title of audience favorites over the years, “Chant” and “Piece By Piece.” Both feature Melissa Thodos’ athletic choreography borrowing from diverse dance forms.  Tickets range from $20-$60. Thodos Dance Chicago tours nationally and internationally and is noted for an innovative presence in American contemporary dance.  The winter concert will mark the company’s only Chicago performance this season so don’t miss it.

Thodos Dance Chicago

Harris Theater at Millennium Park

205 E. Randolph

Chicago, IL

(312) 334-7777

Photo courtesy of Thodos Dance Chicago

While I knew why her opinions were a bit negative I will admit I was thrilled to find so many fun family activities near Phoenix; some purely fun, some with sneaky education and many delicious.

Superstition Mountains, Apache Junction

Our trip took us to the communities of Tempe, Chandler, Mesa and Apache Junction; each town with its own unique flavor of fabulous.

Family Fun in Chandler, Arizona

My daughter would say that some of her best fun was in the pool at the Hampton Inn.  This new hotel has all the amenities a family would want- including a refrigerator in the room and complimentary hot breakfast.  Comfy beds and free wifi won top points with me.

Chandler hosts a Third Friday Art Walk downtown which shouldn’t be missed.  Artisans of all types set up booths around the square, showcasing everything from jewelry to paintings, blown glass to cuddly creations.  Wandering through the booths is great fun!  Tip: bring cash!

Arrive early –like 5pm- and have dinner at Serrano’s, the oldest continuous family owned business in Chandler.  Be sure to try the Prickly Pear Margarita (also available without alcohol)- it’s yummy!  Finish your evening at Paletas Betty for a delicious frozen treat.

Paletas from Paletas Betty, Chandler

If you need to wear the kids out take them to Jump Street, an indoor trampoline park.  With a dozen massive trampolines, a trampoline dodge ball court and a special area just for kids under 7, this is really fun for kids of all ages.

Fun at Jump Street Trampoline Park

For a sweet treat make a stop at Sweeties Candy, the largest candy store in the state.  You’ll find holiday themed treats as well as nostalgic candies from way back when.

Family Adventures in Apache Junction, Arizona

The highlight of Apache Junction is the Superstition Mountains.  Tales of the Lost Dutchman mine still draw treasure hunters hoping to discover his vein of gold.

At the base of the Superstition Mountains is Goldfield Ghost Town, a recreation built in the footprints of the town that disappeared overnight.  Here you can explore the town as it was in 1892, wander the shops, take a mine tour and maybe even see a gun fight.

Horseback Riding at Goldfield Ghost Town

Goldfield is also a base for Jeep, horseback riding and hiking tours along the Apache Trail, into the Superstitions or the closer Goldfield Mountains.

While you’ll find plenty of dining in Goldfield Ghost Town, a quick drive to the Mining Camp Restaurant takes you back to the days of Cook Shanties, where the miners would gather to eat.  Meals are served family style, all you can eat, with fresh rolls and sweet cactus jelly.  Take your time eating because the “Amazing McNasty Brothers” put on a fun show filled with music and good humored banter.

The McNasty Brothers perform at Mining Camp Restaurant

Museums and More in Mesa

The Arizona Museum for Youth is what I like to call “sneaky education”.  Fun activities like a life size Lite Brite, puppet theater and creation stations will keep kids entertained for hours.  For the little ones the ArtVille play place is designed for exploration that can’t be wandered away from.

Life Size Lite Brite at Arizona Museum for Youth

For your future paleontologists a visit to the Arizona Museum of Natural History is a must.  Not only are there rooms of dinosaurs- and a Paleo Dig-  but you can explore territorial jail cells and pan for gold!

Just outside Mesa is Superstition Farms.  This working, family-owned farm offers tours starring their herd of dairy cows.  New calves are a common site in the maternity pen if you’re alert.  Cuddle a bunny or chicken, hand feed goats and pet the calf in the petting zoo, then try the farm’s Udder Delights homemade ice cream.

Feeding a goat at Superstition Farms

Turtles and Tigers in Tempe

Built inside the massive Arizona Mills shopping and entertainment center, the Arizona Sea Life Aquarium was built to engage children.  Filled with touch pools and interactive centers, this aquarium will entrance kids of all ages.  One of the most incredible displays is the Ocean Tunnel, a 360° viewing area filled with 161,000 gallons of water.

Ocean Tunnel at SeaLife Aquarium

On the very edge of Tempe, in Papago Park, is the Phoenix Zoo (which totally brought back memories of my African safari trip planning that started here).  One of the top 5 zoos in the US for kids, you’ll find a animals from warm climates (sorry, no polar bears or penguins here).  Bighorn sheep roam the nearby mountain while giraffe and Watusi Cattle roam the savanna.  Don’t miss the Monkey Village where you are inside the habitat with the adorable squirrel monkeys.  Be sure to bring comfy walking shoes and a stroller for the little ones.  You can easily make a day of your trip by packing a lunch and drinks- coolers are allowed inside the zoo grounds (just don’t bring alcohol or glass bottles).

Feeding Giraffe at the Phoenix Zoo

This is just a handful of the fun family vacation activities you’ll find near Phoenix.  Next time you fly in for a trip to the Grand Canyon take a day or two to explore Sunny Arizona!

Photo credits: Jody Halsted

Disclosure:  I would like to thank the SunnyAZ CVB for hosting us and arranging our itinerary for this trip.

Gold and platinum country music records

You may think you know country music but you really don’t realize just how much you don’t now until you step into the vast, interactive rooms of Nashville’s Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.  Sure, you know the iconic Minnie Pearl character from  the Hee Haw TV show but did you know that Sarah Cannon, the woman who played her, was a classically trained actor and musician from a wealthy family?  That’s just one of the tidbits that you’ll discover as you delve into the museum’s video clips, recordings, memorabilia and exhibits chronicling the turns of two centuries of country music history.

Artifacts from Gene Autry, Tex Ritter ans Roy Rogers

Billed as the world’s  largest popular music museum, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum does not take that claim lightly.  Walking through the museum, I was overwhelmed with the sheer number of  exhibits.  Everywhere I turned, there were photos, recordings, videos, posters and a host of interactive media. This is not the place to allocate a quick hour to. I sincerely doubt that you can view everything in a day  but I’d set aside at least three hours to gain a good sense of what’s offered. Highlights include Roy Rogers’ cowboy boots, Gene Autry’s guitar, Brenda Lee’s embroidered gown, A “Blue Yodel” record by Jimmie Rogers and the showstopper? Elvis’ solid gold Cadillac and piano, of course.  And that’s not even a fraction of the highlights, there are scads of gold and platinum albums, recorded stories of artists’  hit song inspirations and lots of sparkly, shiny costumes.  Rest up between exhibits and head to Two Twenty restaurant inside the museum. Try fresh takes on Southern classics like Southern-inspired egg rolls stuffed with pulled pork and Carolina slaw or the savory  sweet potato cake of  Yukon potatoes, sweet potatoes, roasted tomato and smoked Gouda. The museum is open daily from 9-5PM.

Elvis' gold piano

Photos courtesy of Rosalind Cummings-Yeates

Disclosure: The Museum tour was part of a sponsored press trip.

Before we move on to this promising new opportunity with Groupon, we’d like to look back at what we’ve built and accomplished together – our tenacious and creative team, partners, blogger community, investors, advisers, and the 75+ million travelers that trusted our sites and recommendations so that they could enjoy amazing travel experiences.

Lasting more than four years, it’s been a phenomenal journey working hard to execute on our mission: to make it fun and easy for consumers to create and enjoy their ideal vacation. Our mission was rooted in the belief that consumers didn’t want to search for hours on end, but rather preferred a more thoughtful, interactive and personal way to discover and plan their travel – for example, to find the right hotel for the romantic escape or the best activities during their kid-friendly getaway.

Uptake was early to harness the Wisdom of the Crowd for online travel research and recommendations. Since the summer of 2008, Uptake has connected travelers with recommendations, driven by their preferences and intent, and drawn from the largest online travel library. En route, we developed patent-pending technology to aggregate, analyze and recommend reviews, articles and blogs from over 30,000 sites for activities, hotels and restaurants. And because travelers could discover recommendations based on their travel companies and preferences at Uptake.com, we became the third largest U.S. travel research site, behind only TripAdvisor and Yahoo! Travel.

In 2011, we discovered our technology also allowed us to uncover and organize the most valued source of recommendations – the Knowledge of your Friends. While reading reviews is helpful, whose opinions do you trust more than friends and family who have been there previously? While Facebook’s open graph initiative will structure your friends’ future travel history, Uptake was able to determine the past 8+ years of your friends’ travel histories to identify over a thousand destinations your friends have already been – without any additional work required!

All in all, we were able to combine the Wisdom of the Crowds and the Knowledge of your Friends – something no one else in the travel space has been able to cultivate to date.

Behind all of these amazing accomplishments was a stellar team of Crud-loving, problem-solving technology geeks who love travel, and travel junkies who love technology. Our new adventure at Groupon is possible thanks to the drive, energy and talent of the entire Uptake team.

We’re excited to jump in at Groupon right away – with our attention focused there, you may notice that some of Uptake’s features will slowly wind down. We hope you’ll use Groupon to continue to explore your city and fantastic places around the world.

We can’t thank you enough for all your support over the last four years! It’s been one heck-of-a ride.

All the best,
Gene & Yen

Tuesday, February 28th in the Year of the Dragon

Co-Founders Gene Mckenna and Yen Lee

Stay at the top of Nob Hill at the InterContinental Mark Hopkins

San Francisco is classy and quirky, so how do you decide which side to experience on your San Francisco vacation? With the packages offered by the InterContinental Mark Hopkins, you can cover it all.

The Experience the City by the Bay package includes two cable car passes per day, breakfast for two at the hotel’s famous Top of the Mark (except for Sunday, when breakfast will be served in the Nob Hill Restaurant), parking for one vehicle and late checkout at 2:00 p.m.

The Top of the Mark package includes a deluxe room upgrade, two world-famous martinis and preferred seating at the Top of the Mark, where you can enjoy amazing views of San Francisco.

The City Escape package includes a hand-selected room with a view and 2:00 p.m. late checkout (regular checkout time is 12:00 p.m.), breakfast for two at the hotel’s famous Top of the Mark (except for Sunday, when breakfast will be served in the Nob Hill Restaurant), valet parking for one automobile, and consultation with concierge staff for best sites and experiences in San Francisco.

The hotel recently celebrated its 85th anniversary in December 2011, and has completed upgrades to all 380 guestrooms and suites, adding new Pro:Idiom LCD televisions; iHome docking stations for iPads, iPods and iPhones; Keurig coffee brewers; and UNO phones by Bittel, featured exclusively as a part of a luxury vacation package in the InterContinental Mark Hopkins suites.

To reserve any of the above packages, call the InterContinental Mark Hopkins San Francisco at 888-424-6835. Room rates vary depending on type of room preferred and time of year. If you’re interested in learning more about luxury vacation packages, visit Zicasso’s luxury tour operators for more information.

InterContinental Mark Hopkins San Francisco, 415-392-3434

One Nob Hill, San Francisco, CA 94108

Photo courtesy of the InterContinental Mark Hopkins San Francisco

More San Francisco-related information:
Nopalito—San Francisco, CA

Old World dining at Il Ferazzo inside The Phoenician in Scottsdale.

I had already enjoyed the on-site Relish Burger Bistro with my daughter and son-in-law the day before, so on a quiet February Sunday night, we stopped by Il Terrazzo and the service was almost as yummy as the meal.

Of course, when in Scottsdale, take advantage of the amazing weather by requesting an al fresco Italiano dining on the patio.

Unfortunately, my visit was on a brisk February evening, so we opted for the inside dining at Il Terazzo, featuring Old-World dark wood tables and chairs with the bar in the corner.

Complimentary house-made bread service at Il Terazzo

Our first highlight was served with our water: complimentary hand-crafted bread service. The Phoenician bakes their breads each day, and ours was served warm and soft, perfect to lather butter.

Il Terazzo’s menu includes the traditional Sunday Brunch with a twist. Order the contemporary American buffet, or choose from a varied three-course menu.

The dinner menu offered a wide variety, including traditional house made pastas, Black Angus Steaks, Lobster Tails, Scallops and even an interesting seared Foie Gras.

The wine list is quite extensive, with plenty of extraordinary vintages and boutique wines, in addition to a full bar.

I couldn’t resist starting with their Antipasti appetizer, and it was absolutely delightful to look at – and even better to taste. The perfect portion to share amongst the three of us included cured Italian Meats, Parmigiano, Marinated Olives (to die for!), and house made Pickles.

Enough for 3 -- Il Terrazzo's antipasti plate.

I opted for the Gnocchi as my main course, and unfortunately it fell a little short.  It wasn’t the creamiest, but it was seared on one side, the sauce was good, not overly drenching the pasta.  However, the gnocchi was a bit too “floury” for me (possibly undercooked?).

New York Strip topped with garlic butter at Il Terrazzo.

My daughter and son-in-law both ordered from the Black Angus steaks menu. She choose the 8 oz Filet Mignon with Béarnaise sauce, and his was the 16-oz Bone-In Rib eye presented with a dollop of Garlic Herb Butter.

But the proof was in the taste, perfectly cooked to medium and slightly smoked but great flavor.

I was disappointed that I didn’t order the Steak, but of course, I did beg enough to get a couple samples from both of them.

The bonus for dining with two or more is that you can share a dessert without feeling guilt. We ordered two, but the crème Brule was hands down my favorite. Perfectly crunchy on the top and creamy vanilla flavor in the middle.

Creme Brulee served with cookies at Il Terrazzo.

Scottsdale is filled with restaurant options, and Il Terazzo at The Phoenician is worth a visit if only for the Marinated Olives and Black Angus Steak options.

Il-Terazzao
The Phoenician
6000 E. Camelback Road
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
Ph:480-941-8200

A classic hotel with Hollywood ties

A roadtrip from Phoenix, Arizona to Missoula, Montana and back led us through Kanab, Utah, a town touted as “Little Hollywood” by locals. Timing didn’t put us here for an overnight stay even though Parry Lodge caught my attention when mapping out our journey. 

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Parry Lodge opened in  1931 and became the place to stay during movie shoots. Its  guest list is a trip along memory lane of Hollywood’s golden age, although one famous guest–Clint Eastwood– is still very much a player in the Tinseltown scene. John Wayne, Anne Bancroft, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Lana Turner are just a few of the notables who slumbered here and rooms are named after the famous guests.

The Barn Theater has nightly movies for hotel guests

I was attracted to the Parry Lodge, partly because of its Hollywood history (going to movies is a passion of mine) and partly because of it’s classic feel of an upscale motor lodge with a kidney shaped pool. The option of a room with a kitchenette also had an appeal. Plus, the hotel’s restaurant serves up a full-breakfast buffet for only $5.99 for hotel guests. There’s also Wifi and rooms have been updated to reflect modern tastes while retaining the original charm.

For movie buffs, from mid-April through October, the Parry Lodge shows free movies to guests in its Barn Theater. The more than 100 year old barn was once a stable that provided overnight accomodations to the equine guests. Trigger, Scout and Silver are the most famous who have slept here.  And, there’s Kanab itself.

One of Parry Lodge's 89 guest rooms

Back when westerns were in their prime–when Roy Rogers, Tom Mix and Fess Parker were household names, the area around Kanab was a popular filming location.  The red rock hills and crisp blue sky are as stunning as ever. One of the last films to be filmed in the area was Tim Burton’s version of Planet of the Apes in 2001 . Along with its Hollywood history, Kanab is worth visiting for its location in the midst of must-see natural wonders.

The Grand Canyon, Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks, Glen Canyon (Lake Powell) National Recreations Area, Grand Staircase – Escalante and Pipe Springs National Monuments are within a 90 minute drive or less. If you’re looking for a hub from which to venture out each day, Parry Lodge could be the perfect, affordable fit.

Next time we’re going through Kanab, we’re pulling in at least for a night.

Parry Lodge
89 East Center St.
Kanab, Utah 84741
435/644-2601
888/289-1722

Pictures courtesy of: outside of hotel- Matt Howry; the barn and guest room, the Parry Hotel.

Related posts: 10 Inns Made Famous by Movies

FREE pancakes, for a good cause.

In case you’re looking for another holiday to celebrate, Tuesday, February 28th is National Pancake Day at IHOP. The best thing about this holiday is that it requires no gifts, cards or expensive bouquets of flowers. All it requires is an appetite for pancakes. FREE pancakes. And the icing on the (pan)cake – it’s all for charity. What’s not to like? Here’s how it works: On February 28, 2012, guests from around the country are invited to enjoy a free short stack of Buttermilk pancakes at participating IHOP restaurants. In return, pancake lovers are asked to consider leaving a donation for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and other designated local charities. Did I mention FREE PANCAKES? I confess – pancakes don’t do much for me (I know, I know) – I tend to be more of a bacon and eggs kind of person. But my teenagers love pancakes, so we make it to this event every year, usually dropping in for an after-school, not-quite-dinner meal. Apparently true pancake fanatics can eat pancakes at any time of day, and the lines at this annual event prove it – there is no ‘good’ time to go to avoid the crowds, just wait patiently with everyone else and keep repeating your mantra, “Free pancakes, free pancakes…”

For details, see the IHOP National Pancake Day website. For an IHOP location near you, see the IHOP home website.

When she’s not watching her teenagers eat free pancakes, Marsha can be found at Sweatpantsmom.com Photo: IHOP.com

Nashville Schermerhorn Symphony Center

Nashville may earn a firm reputation as the country music capital but you can hear a diverse range of genres in Music City. Live jazz, rock and R &B are performed throughout Nashville but if you want to hear classical, there’s no better place than Schermerhorn Symphony Center where the Nashville Symphony performs along with a host of other ensembles.

An evening at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center provides beautiful surroundings, food and music.  Filled with artwork, crystal chandeliers and even a public garden with a colonnade, the center is filled with classical elegance.  Before concerts, the fine dining restaurant Arpeggio located in the East Lobby, serves up a luxurious four course buffet with an eclectic range of dishes including quail breast, pesto seared halibut and grilled vegetable stuffed ravioli.  The center hosts a range of symphony concerts, including shows with Nashville Symphony Chorus and the symphony backing nationally acclaimed vocalists.  March performances feature a mix of classical, jazz and world music including  jazz singer Cassandra Wilson,  The Cleveland Orchestra, Spanish Harlem Orchestra and Lyle Lovett & John Hiatt. Concerts start at 7 or 8 PM and tickets are reserved in advance.

Nashville Symphony

One Symphony Place

Nashville, TN

(615) 687-6500

Photo courtesy of Nashville Symphony

Royal Suite - Four Seasons Beverly Hills

During Oscar week, Los Angeles’ celebrity count rises even more than normal. That means they all need hotel rooms to stay at. And not just any hotel will do, either.

With the awards being held at the former Kodak Theater at Hollywood and Highland, one would expect the Renaissance Hotel behind the theater to receive a bulk of reservations. It does, but sources tell me it’s for creative arts categories and the like.

The A-List celebrities still prefer the glitz and glamour of Beverly Hills. Hotels like the Four Seasons Beverly Hills, Beverly Hills Hotel, Peninsula Beverly Hills, Montage Beverly Hills and Beverly Wilshire are all celebrity magnets during awards week.

Just outside of the famed 90210 zip code, some tried and true celeb hang-outs are also filled to capacity with A-Lister bookings come Oscar week. Try the Hotel Bel-Air, Sunset Tower, Chateau Marmont, and Sunset Marquis.

If your name isn’t on the nominees list, don’t expect to get a reservation at any of these hotels, even if you can afford the rates, which have been known to double during Academy Awards week. These hotels are in such high demand during Oscar week, some don’t even take bookings until the nominees list has been officially released.

[Image courtesy Four Seasons]

An Elvis Guitar outside of Studio B

If you’ve never heard of Studio B, you’ve definitely heard the songs produced by this historic Nashville studio. Dubbed the home of 1,000 hits,  RCA Studio B pumped out classic tunes from the 50s through  today, including Elvis’ “Are You Lonesome Tonight,” The Everly Brothers’ “All I Have To Do Is Dream”, Ray Charles’ “I Can’t Stop Loving You” and Dolly Parton’s original version of “I’ Will Always Love You.”    This 30 minute tour is the only historic studio tour in Nashville.

You can feel the history oozing out of the walls of the studio as soon as you step through the doors. Large photos of the studios famous recording artists like Dolly Parton, Charley Pride, Elivs and The Every Brothers loom over your movements.  Elvis recorded 200 songs at Studio B and his presence is perhaps the strongest. The tour guide tells fascinating stories about the details of a lot of the recordings.  Elvis apparently recorded ‘Are You Lonesome Tonight” at 4Am in total darkness. The piano that he played gospel tunes to warm up his backing group the Jordainaires still sits in the middle of the studio. Tours leave daily from the Country Music Hall of Fame Museum and are only sold in conjunction with museum admission. Afterwards, head to the stylish Sambucca restaurant in the hip Gulch district. Sample elegant fare like the Cosmo pizza with vodka tomato cream sauce, prosciutto and smoked gouda or the blackened snapper etouffee.

Photo by Rosalind Cummings-Yeates

Disclosure: All activities were part of a sponsored press trip.

The Front of the Woodstock Inn

As women, I find that we often don’t take care of ourselves as much as we need to, because we are all so busy taking care of others.  But, it’s so important that we spend time on our own physical and mental well being.  The Woodstock Inn and Resort, located in scenic Woodstock, Vermont, has recognized that and is offering their first Women’s Wellness Weekend this April 27th-29th.

The Women’s Wellness Weekend starts at $645 per person based on double occupancy for two nights and includes the following:

• Two nights deluxe accommodations
• A welcome reception with wine tastings and hors d’oeuvres
• All meals on Saturday and brunch on Sunday
• Exercise classes and all scheduled seminars
• Unlimited use of the Woodstock Inn and Resort’s Racquet and Fitness Club
• A $75.00 credit to The Spa per person

Seminars include:

• Be Happy without Being Perfect, presented by mind/body expert Alice D. Domar, PhD
• Fabulous After Forty, presented by Barbara Close, Founder & CEO, Naturopathic Holistic Health
• Sleep through the Night! The Importance and Advantages of Sleep, presented by Dr. Nancy Redeker, PhD, Yale University School of Nursing
• More seminar topics are listed on the Woodstock Inn and Resort’s website

The Woodstock Inn and Resort
Fourteen The Green
Woodstock, Vermont 05091
888-338-2745

Photo credit: The Woodstock Inn and Resort

Live Music In Barcelona 2012

I like just about all music, except for Death Metal and House. Here are three very different concerts for a musical March in Barcelona!:

1. 30 Minutes of Music (30 Minuts de Música) with Mercadante & Llull

At one of my favorite Barcelona hideaways, the Ateneu Barcelonès Marcelo Mercadante y Gustavo Llull will put on three 30-minute concerts on the 11th of March. The first one begins at 6pm. Tickets are just €8.00 (or get them here for a discounted price).

2. Antonio Mesa – Bcn Jazz Flamenco

At the central Barcelona club Jamboree, jazzman Antonio Mesa will play two sets on the 8th of March, one at 8pm and another at 10pm. Tickets are €12.00 each online.

3. Tinariwen at Sala Apolo

Called world music, or a ‘fantastic fusion of North African and pop music’, Tinariwen promises to be a unique show not offered every day in Barcelona. Tickets for this one are €30 each, less online here: tix

Post and photos by Regina Winkle-Bryan. See more of her tips on Spain at : The Spain Scoop.

Beers in Dublin

O’Neill’s is a well known establishment in downtown Dublin. We weren’t planning on going there, but were waiting for a tour to being at Trinity College and decided to pop over to O’Neill’s for lunch.

A bar and a restaurant, O’Neill’s is especially crowded when football is on. It was when we were there and we had a hard time finding a seat until the game ended. You can get food a O’Neill’s but in order to do so you need to be proactive. Servers will not come to you, so don’t wait (like we did). There is a sandwich bar where you can get made-to-order sandwiches, chips (or crisps, rather) and coffee or tea. Then there is another section where large hot lunches are served buffet style, and you must make a separate trip there if that’s the sort of meal you’re after.

If you just want a beer then you’ll have to go get that in the bar. All in all, you could be making quite a few trips back and forth to your table. In general, O’Neill’s feels like some sort of labyrinth. It’s hard to find the WC, and we didn’t even explore the upper levels of the place. Dark and cozy, it’s easy to understand why O’Neill’s is as famous as it is.

A couple sandwiches and beers will cost you about €23.00.

More:
O’Neill’s
Suffolk St, Dublin 2
http://www.oneillsbar.com/

Photos and post by Regina Winkle-Bryan, see more at http://www.thespainscoop.com/

A striking piece of Nashville art

Nashville may be noted for music but the city’s art scene is also impressive. There are dozens of art galleries and  art museums that line the streets of downtown Nashville and the best way to get a sense of the art scene is at the First Saturday Art Crawl. Scheduled for the first Saturday of every month, the free event features wine, refreshments and the chance to view and purchase amazing art.

Galleries are open from 6 to 9PM for the event and two free shuttles ride between the galleries all night.  Although most are close enough to walk to in may experience. Exhibits change each month and more galleries seem to be opening for Nashville’s thriving art scene. One of my favorites was the Rymer Gallery, a contemporary art space patterned after the Betty Rymer Gallery at the Art Institute of Chicago. Another standout was the Ha Factory Gallery, a new gallery opened by Vietnamese artist John Hung Ha. His vibrant mixed media art pieces were fresh and memorable. After browsing through about five different galleries, one of the most striking sights of the evening wasn’t an art piece but the bright yellow cupcake bus. The food truck for the popular Cupcake Collection, the Cupcake truck provides homemade cupcakes for late night sweet tooths. I still dream bout the creamy red velvet cupcake.

Photo courtesy of Rosalind Cummings-Yeates

Puss N Boots greets Opryland visitors

If you live in a part of the country that’s covered with snow and freezing temperatures like I do, there is hope. Jetting to an island isn’t the only was to thaw out and have fun, Nashville’s Gaylord Opryland Resort boasts temperature- controlled  glass atriums where the whole family can shop, frolic in gardens and waterfalls and just have fun without worrying about chilly breezes.

Located on nine acres of the banks of the Cumberland River,  Gaylord Opryland offers an array of family activities without leaving ever the resort. Strolling through the atrium, I was tickled to spot on indoor river, complete with a Delta flatboat.  Lush foliage and tropical gardens made me forget all about the frost covered sidewalks outside.  The resort offers dozens of specialty shops for browsing and restaurants for dining as well as a sports club and fitness center. The kids are sure to be occupied by the roaming Dreamworks characters, including Puss N Boots and Shrek.  On March 16, 24 and 30, the resort hosts ‘Spring Break With Friends From Madagascar”. Alex, King and Skipper will show up for a tropical DJ party including games like coconut bowling and puzzles.  Wind down at the elegant Ravello restaurant. Dedicated to Southern Italian cuisine, I sampled artisan cheeses and cured meats as well as carbonara papardelle.

Photo courtesy of Rosalind Cummings-Yeates

Disclosure: All activities were part of a sponsored press trip.

Yogatone Retreat

It’s inspiring for me to meet people who have made their dreams come true, taken a leap of faith, and held their vision in the face of skepticism. Les Benney of Yogatone is one of these ‘dream chasers’ who gave up a career as an asset manager for a major bank in the UK to become an Ashtanga yoga teacher. Since rearranging his life, Les has created a retreat in the south of Spain where he leads four-day yoga getaways for students of all levels. I was lucky enough to tag along on a recent retreat, where I met wonderful people, deepened my yoga practice, and got to know a sliver of Spain that I otherwise may have overlooked. I cannot recommend the Yogatone retreat enough!

Yogatone Retreat Oranges

Down a pebbled footpath, frogs ribbit in a compact pond fed by a natural spring while birds flit from olive tree, to avocado tree, to orange tree, limbs heavy with ripe fruit. At the end of the lane the Yogatone farmhouse sits overlooking the mountains and valleys north of Malaga, an hour away by car. The house has been lovingly renovated to sleep eight guests total, with three rooms inside the house and one small cottage outside which all share two ample bathrooms. Beside the farmhouse there’s an enormous patio which serves as a yoga practice area when the weather permits, or an ideal breakfast/lunch/sunbathing spot.

Yogatone Retreat Views from House

Below the patio sits the proper yoga studio, which has been built to include an immense boulder, the centerpiece of the space and a reminder of the rocky Andalusian soil. On chilly mornings the studio is warmed by a wood stove, and of course by the yogis present doing their Ashtanga practice. It’s a calming environment that aids the student in focusing the mind for the hour and a half practice.

Yogatone Retreat Studio

Yogatone - Studio

Les lives in the UK, but holds retreats in Spain once a month. Feeling that a whole week of yoga can be a bit much for beginners, Les has kept the experience to four days and three nights with yoga practice twice a day. The cost of the retreat is about $630, but this amount includes all meals, classes, excursions and accommodation, plus transfers from the airport if flights are booked around the same time as Les’s arrival. Food is not vegetarian unless the guest asks for this, and Les has no problem with guests bringing a robust bottle of red Spanish wine to the dinner table. The concept ‘everything in moderation’ seems to be Les’s motto rather than the strict dietary and exercise routines common in other yoga retreats. I appreciate this take on the experience because it puts the choice in the hands of the student.

Yogatone Retreat Upstairs Room

Dinners at the Yogatone retreat are made by a local Irish caterer who blessed us with goodies such as ginger-pear cake with greek yogurt, baked trout, roasted veggies, mango chutney, chicken tarragon, and delightfully creative salads. Food was abundant in the mornings as well, and while there were healthy choices such as granola and yogurt, there were also fresh baked biscuits, raisin cookies, lemon drizzle cake and bacon and eggs. Coffee, tea and fresh squeezed OJ from the neighbor’s trees were also offered.

Les Benney

In addition, Les can arrange massages with a local therapist for those who feel tight after so much power yoga. I had a massage and can attest that it was well worth the $55.00 for an hour and a half. During my massage, which was administered in a room made up of floor to ceiling windows, a couple of local goats roamed through the garden. Other than their visit, all was quiet and countryside sounds. Les also takes curious students to a typical Spanish market in Torre del Mar on Thursdays and to the hilltop village of Comares on Fridays. While these outings are fun, just chilling at the retreat reading from Les’s extensive yoga library is also a stellar way to pass the time.

Yogatone Retreat Chill Out

Yogatone Retreat Bedroom

As Les says often during the retreat, “Ashtanga yoga is boot camp for the soul.” I think he has a point. Yogatone yoga is not for wimps, through all ages and body types can do it. This is a getaway for a traveler who is looking to explore the road less traveled through Andalusia while also treading the inner path through asana, and in this sense it may not be for everyone. It’s also important to realize that while the Yogatone house is fabulous, it is not luxurious. It is welcoming, warm, cozy, peaceful and perhaps a tad bohemian, though very clean. It’s the sort of place where is is almost impossible to not have a good time and make friends.

Comares

MORE:

Whole retreat: $630, extra nights possible
Massage: $55
Flights to Malaga: Vueling or Iberia from Madrid or Barcelona.
Website for Yogatone:http://www.yogatone.co.uk/spain/

Post and Photos by Regina Winkle-Bryan. See more of her tips on travel in Spain at: The Spain Scoop

**Regina was a guest at Yogatone.

Nashville's Athena Parthenos

Nashville may be closely associated with country music and live performances but the Music City nickname is a relatively recent association. Up until the 1940s, Nashville was called “Athens of the South” because of all the universities, museums and cultural activities.  Accordingly, the city’s most stunning landmark is a replica of the Athenian Parthenon.  As the focal point for Centennial Park,  a tour of this dramatic building is a Nashville must do.

Originally constructed for Tennessee’s 1897 Centennial Exposition, the Nashville Parthenon is such an exact replica of the Athenian original that Greek builders came to Nashville to study the structure when they wanted to restore the  ancient Athenian Parthenon.  The towering columns and attention to detail are impressive up close but the show stopper is the  gilded Athena statue.  Looming 41 feet, 10 inches and weighing 12 tons, Athena Parthenos is a jaw-dropping spectacle.  Besides the sheer dimensions and artistry, the most impressive point of the statue is that it was constructed in Nashville by noted sculptor Alan LeQuire from 1982-1990.  The original Nashville Parthenon did not house an Athena statue so the city commissioned it in 1982 and local citizens formed an Athena fund to finance the long and costly process.  Viewing the gleaming Athena Parthenos is as close to Athens, Greece as you can come in the U.S.  Enjoy another Nashville signature experience at the Hermitage Hotel’s Capitol Grille. Serving up Southern classic with a sophisticated twist, don’t miss the braised pork cheeks with corn bread puree or  Gulf snapper .

Photo courtesy of Rosalind Cummings-Yeates

Disclosure: All activities were part of a sponsored press trip.

On a hot day on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, hang out at the Palace Casino Resort Pool

Palace Casino Resort rises from the rubble

Originally opened in January 1997 as the riverboat Palace Casino, Hurricane Katrina roared through Biloxi, Mississippi on the afternoon of August 28, 2005 and threw caution to the wind, taking the four-diamond  Palace Casino Resort with it. On my recent visit to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, I had the pleasure of staying at the newly renovated Palace Casino Resort. Owner Robert Low and his wife Lawana said, “our success has never been based on the bricks and mortar, but rather the hard work of our dedicated associates.”

Expanded gaming floor

The Palace Casino Resort has added hundred of new slots – 1,100 slots to be specific – as well as a new table games pit to the new gaming floor. If you are a gambler, be sure to look into the player perks program. Not a gambler; you’ll find the best hotel rates online.

Palace Casino Resort King, room #701, with water view.

King deluxe suite

My king deluxe suite, room #701, included a water view of Biloxi’s Back Bay and complimentary internet access.  During Mardi Gras weekend, my room rented for $199 plus tax. I liked that my room was on a corner, away from the elevator. My room safe wasn’t working the first night, but after a call to house keeping, a maintenance man and security guard were on the scene and had the incorrectly installed battery working soon.

Dining options for every budget

On site dining at Palace Casino Resort includes fine dining, the Palace Buffet, three casual dining options and the Contact Lounge & Sports Bar. Opened on April 18, 2011, the Palace Buffet seats 300 and offers live action cooking stations, while Stacked grill features burgers,  sandwiches and specialty shakes. For the meat lovers in the group, Mignon’s Steaks & Seafood serves dinner Wednesday – Sunday. This California girl was impressed with the restaurant’s selection of wines.

Pure Spa

Try the Chocolate Covered Strawberry Massage & Body Treatment, 80 minutes for $150.

Palace Casino Resort Lobby features two business computers and printer

Insider Tip: For those of us who don’t enjoy smoke-filled casinos, the Palace Casino Resort is the only smoke free casino on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. For additional insider tips follow Luxury Travel Writer Nancy D. Brown on Twitter and follow Palace Casino Resort on Twitter and like them on Facebook.  For additional information follow Mississippi Gulf Coast on Twitter.

Golf Package Deals

Sunday – Thursday: Starting at $145 per person
Friday – Saturday: Starting at $168 per person

Includes one night hotel accommodations at Palace Casino Resort and one round of golf at The Preserve Golf Club. $10.00 food credit per person per package day $10.00 slot credit per person per stay Prices are based on double occupancy / two golfers per room. All prices are tax inclusive.

• Dining room
• Safe
• Meeting rooms
• Jacuzzi
• Boats
• Non-smoking rooms
• Casino on site
• Atm/cash machine
• Wheel chair access
• In-room high-speed internet
• Express check-out
• Casino
• Parking – free
• Interior corridors
• Air conditioning

• Outdoor pool
• Modem
• Lounge/bar
• Security
• Coffee shop
• Accessible facilities
• Coffee/tea maker
• Dry cleaning
• Golf
• Cable or satellite tv
• Iron
• Pool
• Restaurant
• Room service

If You Go:

Palace Casino Resort (228) 432-8888 or (800) 725-2239

154 Howard Avenue, Biloxi, MS 39530

Article written by and photos courtesy of  Travel Writer Nancy D. Brown of What a Trip, Travels from Northern California.

I was a guest of Palace Casino Resort

Related Post:

Beau Rivage Resort and Casino

Inside the Bluebird Cafe

Nashville nurtures its reputation as the music city of the U.S. by supporting hundreds of venues and opportunities for musicians but there’s no place that left as big an impression on me as the Bluebird Cafe.  Most people have heard of the Grand Ol Opry and Nashville’s storied honky tonks but the Bluebird Cafe, a tiny 100-seat room in the middle of a non nondescript strip mall, provides just as much star power.

The Bluebird bills itself as promoting the “heroes behind the hits” and I think there’s a lot of truth in that clever tagline. 100 seats in the round, encircling a small stage, allows listeners to enjoy intimate connections with the performers that’s rarely possible at bigger venues. Considered a listening room more than a club, patrons will shush you if you talk to loudly. But that doesn’t happen very often because the featured singer-songwriters are typically captivating. Kathy Mattea, Garth Brooks, Kenny Chesney and Taylor Swift all played the Bluebird before they won fame so you never know what soon-to-be star you might be listening to. The night I visited, I heard a young singer songwriter named Blair Bodine, she had a pure voice and memorable storytelling skills. I bought her CD and it’s become one of my favorites.  She’s not a country singer but that’s the charm of Nashville, it really is a music city.The cafe is all ages and serves up a varied menu of appetizers, sandwiches and desserts. Reservations are a good idea.

The Bluebird Cafe

4104 Hillsboro Pike

Nashville, TN

615-383-3669

Photo courtesy of Rosalind Cummings-Yeates

Disclosure: The Bluebird Cafe visit was part of a sponsored press trip.

Lakeview seating at the Hotel Bar, The Broadmoor

The Hotel Bar offers the best seat in the house – a view of Cheyenne Lake.  The entrance to The Hotel Bar is a tribute to the history at The Broadmoor.

Murals, photographs and original letters illustrate hotel founder Spencer Penrose and the Hundred Million Dollar Hotel Clubs’ 1920 visit to Colorado Springs.

Several TVs allow guests to watch their favorite sports channel, such as our latest visit when the Hotel Bar was filled with patrons enjoying the Super Bowl game. Locals tend to gather here too.

Located near the Lake Terrace Dining Room, the Hotel Bar is always our first stop, primarily because the staff always remembers us. A Broadmoor visit includes saying hello to our bartender friend Lynn at The Hotel Bar and catching up with her and her busy family.

The Hotel Bar inside The Broadmoor

Even when our visits are more than a year apart, Lynn remembers our names and what we drink.

Order microbrew beers on tap, wine by the glass and all libations – including martinis, a healthy pour including a portion iced in mini-silver “bucket.”

Peanuts and crackers are complimentary. The Hotel Bar also offers an appetizer menu, and our go-to-appetizers are the shrimp cocktail and sliders.

The Broadmoor dining experience is made better with a visit to the elegantly casual Hotel Bar, a perfect setting for an afternoon or a pre- or post-dinner drink.

Shrimp Cocktail at the Hotel Bar, The Broadmoor

The Hotel Bar
The Broadmoor Main – Mezzanine Level
1 Lake Ave
Colorado Springs, CO, 80901
Tel: (719) 577-5775 or 866.381.8432
Hours: 11:30am – 1:30am

Blog & Photo © Diana Rowe & The Broadmoor

Jazz Si

JazzSí Club Taller de Músics is tucked into the edgy Raval neighborhood in central Barcelona. This is not a fancy place, but it is an excellent spot to see live music for cheap. JazzSí Club Taller de Músics offers up flamenco, pop, rock, blues, Cuban tunes and jazz on different nights of the week. A Jam Session open to all musicians happens every Saturday at 7:45pm for those who play play jazz. On Sunday there’s another Jam Session at 6:30pm for those who play jazz. You can just come and watch, too, for €6.00 which includes a drink.

On Fridays JazzSí Club Taller de Músics puts on a flamenco show and it is one of their more popular events. This show begins at 8:45pm and is €8.00 with a drink. I’ve been to this flamenco performance and can vouch for it. However, the musicians at JazzSí Club Taller de Músics often change from show to show.

On Thursdays check out their Cuban grooves at 8:30pm for €7.50. Wednesdays entrance is free but you must buy something at the bar, same goes for Tuesdays. Mondays there’s a jazz show at 7:45pm, and entrance is just €5.00. The nice thing about this club is that the shows begin early, meaning you could eat afterwards.

See more on JazzSí Club Taller de Músics here: http://www.tallerdemusics.com/jazzsi-club/

Post and photos by Regina Winkle-Bryan. See more of her tips on Spain at : The Spain Scoop.

It started when Gailen David, under the username SkySteward, began posting videos to YouTube starring himself, dressed in frumpy corporate drag, as “The Aluminum Lady,” an AA executive with a panache for cost-cutting and a disdain for flight attendants. In one video, “The Aluminum Lady” plays with Fisher-Price dolls dressed in blue uniforms, saying, “We can run each one of these aircraft with about three less flight attendants. It looks like it’s perfectly doable.”

An American spokesperson made a public statement against the videos and reportedly called David in for a disciplinary meeting that he did not attend.

“We all have tried to deliver such great customer service,” David said in an interview with NBC Dallas-Ft. Worth. “And in return, it feels like we keep getting kicked in the gut, so this was a time for me to do something to make us all laugh for a change and really say what needed to be said.” He added: “They may fire me for it, and that’s going to be OK.”

To say something like that in today’s economy, you have to just not care whether you have a job, or have a plan and a passion for what you are doing.

It turns out that for David, it is the latter. This week, he launched a “sAAve American Airlines” petition through Change.org, appealing to U.S. Bankruptcy Court for “…a new flight plan with a new leadership team made up of individuals with a proven track record of winning rather than years of compounded failures.”

David is no rookie in the social media world. He runs a website, DearSkySteward.com, about the airline industry with a special focus on in-flight etiquette, and currently has 22,825 followers on Twitter. The petition currently has close to 3,300 signatures, far from its target of 250,000.

We will leave it for someone else to judge how much and what kind of change is needed at American, which is in Chapter 11. But this developing story is an example of how social media can work for or against a company. Media-savvy David, often interviewed in the national press, could just as easily use his platform to make his employer look good—in fact, it seems like he still might, if he sees some of the changes he hopes for at the airline.

Video: YouTube

Related posts:
American Airlines Bankruptcy—What it Means for Travelers
American Airlines Flight Attendants Plan Unusual Strike

Beers in Dublin

When in Dublin they say that one must drink Guinness, and so I did and in great quantities. While I did not do the Guinness factory tour while in Dublin, I did sample the black beverage in many a fine pub.

Apart from sipping Guinness, one is also told to visit the popular, albeit a tad touristy, Temple Bar area and indeed the Temple Bar itself. I did not go inside Temple Bar, but I did pub-hop one evening in the zone where there seems to be live music in every bar on the street. One place I ducked into was Quay’s, where a Guinness goes for €5.00 a pint. There was live music on around 8pm, so I stayed and saw a couple sets. The bar also has a restaurant that has pretty decent ratings on Trip Advisor, but I didn’t eat there.

The whole area around Temple Bar is really hopping on the weekend. While perhaps a bit commercial, it’s a fun scene and good people-watching.

MORE:

Quay’s Bar12 Temple Bar –  Dublin 2, Dublin, Ireland

Post and photos by Regina Winkle-Bryan. See more of her tips on travel at : The Spain Scoop.

The Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel, Boston

Boston is full of rich history, and historical attractions, and any visit here should include a walk on the popular Freedom Trail.  Featuring sixteen historical sites, this 2.5 mile trail is connected by a red brick line that makes it easy to follow.  Celebrate Boston’s and America’s history, and the 50th anniversary of the Freedom Trail with the Freedom Trail Discovery Package at the Fairmont Copley Plaza.

The Freedom Trail Discovery Package includes the following:

• One night in an elegant guestroom at the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel
• Two passes to the Walk Into History tour with an 18th-century costumed guide
• Two tickets to the three Freedom Trail historic museums (Old South Meeting House, Old State House and Paul Revere House)
• A copy of The Freedom Trail: An Artist’s View

The Fairmont Copley Plaza in Boston, MA is located directly across the street from Copley Place, and is a short walk from Newbury Street.  This historical hotel offers 383 guestrooms and suites, all with modern amenities including high-speed internet access, flat-screen televisions, and pillow-top mattresses.  I stayed at the resort several years ago, and was so impressed by the size of the hotel rooms, as well as the modern amenities.

The Fairmont Copley Plaza in Boston
138 St. James Avenue
Boston, Massachusetts
(866) 540-4417

Photo credit: The Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel

Crowne Plaza Redondo Beach & Marina Hotel is a business class hotel in the small beach town of Redondo Beach west of Los Angeles. You’re unlikely to run into anyone famous in the lobby, but the clown fish in the aquarium by registration bears a striking resemblance to Nemo.

The Crowne Plaza doesn’t quite live up to its advertised “resort” title, but it is a comfortable hotel with spacious rooms and balconies overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Better still, access to that ocean requires just a short walk across the street and down the pier, making the hotel a perfect home base for a Pacific vacation.

Activities within walking distance include:

• Whale watching tours
• Paddle boat rentals
• Surfing
• Shopping on the pier
• Eating fresh caught seafood
• Swimming in a unique sea lagoon

Guests at Crowne Plaza can receive a discount on whale watching tours, as well as bike rentals and day passes to the Gold’s Gym next door. On site, enjoy a heated pool and Jacuzzi tub, perfect for cool spring nights.

Rooms at the Crowne Plaza in Redondo Beach start at $99 a night.

The Fairmont Empress, Victoria, British Columbia

Add a little celebration to your Victoria, British Columbia, vacation with a stay at the Fairmont Empress. This year marks the 150th anniversary of the city, and you can join the festivities and save money at the same time.

The Fairmont Empress, perched in Victoria’s Inner Harbour, is offering plenty of opportunities for you to give your wallet a break while enjoying the resort. The Victoria 150 offer includes a limited-time room rate special of $150 CAD. From May to September, rates start at $150 CAD for room only. From January to April and October to December, rates start at $150 CAD and include express breakfast and parking.

The Fairmont Empress features 477 luxuriously appointed non-smoking guest rooms and suites, with jaw-dropping views of the city, courtyard or Inner Harbour. Make a long detour to the hotel’s Willow Stream Spa to say goodbye to all your worries, and choose from a handful of tasty dining options at The Veranda, The Bengal Lounge, or The Empress Room.

Don’t forget to wish the city a very happy 150. She doesn’t look a day over 100, does she?

Fairmont Empress, 866-540-4429
721 Government Street, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada V8W1W5

Photo courtesy of Fairmont Empress

More Victoria-related information:
Victoria Clipper Ferry—A Fun Way to Visit Victoria, British Columbia

The Lobby of the Liberty Hotel

So, perhaps the Superbowl didn’t end in a Patriot’s victory, but baseball season is right around the corner.  Celebrate at the Liberty Hotel, with the YOUUUUUUK! Package – honoring local Red Sox favorite Kevin Youkilis.

The YOUUUUUUK! Package is perfect for every Red Sox fan. You’ll get to celebrate the start of  the baseball season by spending a weekend night or two at The Liberty Hotel and help raise funds for Kevin Youkilis’ charitable organization, Youk’s Kids, as a portion of the proceeds from this package will go to Youk’s charity.

The YOUUUUUUK! package includes the following:

• Overnight accommodations at the Liberty Hotel (one or two weekend nights)
• An original Kevin Youkilis signed baseball
• Breakfast for two at CLINK

Pricing varies depending upon dates.

The Liberty Hotel, a luxury collection hotel, offers 298 hotel rooms right by the Charles River in Boston.  The hotel, the former Charles Street Jail, opened in 2007 as a luxury hotel.  Amenities include complimentary high-speed internet access, evening turndown service, a 24-hour fitness center, valet parking, and 24-hour in-room dining.  The hotel also offers three on-site dining locations, including CLINK, Alibi, and Scamp, as well as a lobby bar and a seasonal outdoor patio.

The Liberty Hotel
215 Charles Street
Boston MA 02114
617.224.4000

Photo credit: The Liberty Hotel

If your road trip takes you past Zillah, Wash., check out the 90-year-old Teapot Dome Service Station—erected as a reminder of the Teapot Dome Scandal that marred Warren G. Harding's presidency.

If you’re taking a road trip this holiday weekend and want to work in detours to a few presidential landmarks in honor of Presidents’ Day… There’s an app for that.

The Roadside Presidents app is now available in the iTunes store for $2.99 from RoadsideAmerica.com, a website with videos, news, maps and free tools to help travelers plan their own road trips. It allows travelers to find historical sites, from traditional ones like graves and birthplaces, to the more offbeat.

“We’ve discovered so many bizarre presidential sights out there,” says Ken Smith, senior editor of RoadsideAmerica.com. “By visiting conventional landmarks, but also the hidden treasures, you get the broader, nuttier picture of America’s history. You’ll never think of George Washington quite the same way after you’ve seen his whiskey-making still—or of Ronald Reagan after seeing a statue of him eating a potato pancake.”

Travelers can search for sites along their route, or search by president. In addition to driving directions, the app gives opening hours, phone numbers, photos and irreverent write-ups for each site. First ladies, vice presidents, first pets, assassination and scandal are all in the app.

The Roadside Presidents edition is the second app from Roadside America, following the original Roadside America app, introduced in 2010.

Photo: Public domain, National Park Service

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McKinney Falls State Park sits on the southeast corner of the city and can be enjoyed every day for just $5 per person. The park offers shaded campgrounds for tents and RVs, as well as plenty of outdoor recreation for the day visitor. Biking and bouldering are among the most popular – and will burn the health conscious the most calories – but long walks and fishing can keep the laid back crowd in touch with Mother Nature.

As the name suggests, McKinney Falls State Park is also home to some photogenic scenery, including the upper and lower waterfalls. While small, the falls are beautiful and give kids a chance to get up close and personal with the rushing water as the rocks that form the falls can actually be traversed by foot. For over night trips like this one, you may want to consider staying at mountain lodges or cabins to capture the true experience instead of staying at hotels.

Austin’s weather makes McKinney and other local parks enjoyable all year long, but the extreme heat of the summer does call for safety precautions like ample water and shade breaks. The mild winters are perfect for throwing out a sweatshirt and getting out into the sunshine.

Photos: Britt Reints

As an American, I reassure myself that I can return to the Grand Canyon. But what if your trip was a once-in-a-lifetime event? What if you didn’t know you could return – and really, none of us is ever guaranteed another trip anywhere – and you wanted to make the most of your moment? Rather than pick one lookout point on one rim on one day, many international travelers choose to soar above and below the Grand Canyon, taking in the view with the gluttony of a Las Vegas buffet.

The Papillon tour company shuttles visitors by from Vegas hotels to the Boulder City airport, where customers await their turn to board one of 48 helicopters. Standing in the airport lounge waiting for my name to be called, I heard party after party called from Spain, Brazil, the UK, Canada, and other countries around the world. Only once did I hear a state beside my own welcomed. Perhaps, as Americans, we take for granted that we will have endless opportunities to explore our own natural wonders; maybe we just don’t realize how impressive our native countryside is.

Grand Canyon helicopter tours offer a unique opportunity to fly above the canyon and dip below the rim, covering more miles in a two-hour tour than you could hope to cover by bus or hiking boot in days. On select tours, the aircraft will descend 4,000 feet to the canyon floor, setting down beside the Color River where passengers can then explore on their own. After time for photos and a celebratory champagne toast, visitors can climb aboard their helicopters and effortlessly scale nearly a mile of rocky terrain.

The Grand Canyon is a geological marvel that should be experienced rather than seen. It’s plateaus and Godly staircases beg to be conquered. From my helicopter seat, I vowed to return and go deeper, stay longer, get closer to the rocks that sipped past my window. But I remembered, too, that future adventures are never certain, and I was grateful the chance to stuff this visit and my memory with as many vistas as possible.

Just in case.

Photos: Britt Reints

Watch the runway from your room at the Custom Hotel

Before the days of TSA screening, checked luggage fees and bringing your bag lunch along, air travel was considered glamorous. Get a bit of the fun back with a stay at the Custom Hotel, near Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

Newly renovated guestrooms feature modern design elements, and each floor has its own graphic concept. Rooms include complimentary Wi-Fi, 37-inch LCD TVs, stereo with iPod docking station, 300-thread-count linens, on-demand movies and music, and a controllable LED lighting system (so you can adjust the color to your mood). King and queen rooms include work desks.

Elevated rooms (located on floors 9 through 12) also include task lamps and ergonomic chairs, and access to two hotel lounges: the LAX Lounge and Stratosphere relaxation room.

Aside from all the room amenities, the hotel provides complimentary shuttle service to LAX, six social lounges, two fitness centers, a heated outdoor pool and the Deck33 Bar Restaurant—a casual dining space overlooking the pool. Oh, and you can bring your best furry friend along, because the hotel is pet friendly.

When it’s time to travel, the Custom Hotel may be a better experience than the airplane.

Custom Hotel, 310-645-0400
8639 Lincoln Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90045

Photo courtesy of Custom Hotel

More Los Angeles area-related information:
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Rates for the Oh, Man-Cation package start at $459.  The package includes the following:

• Your choice of either a bucket of six local microbrews and two dozen Copperleaf signature chicken wings OR a bottle of Hennessey VSOP and two premium cigars

• A $50 credit for brews, burgers and billiards at Copperleaf Bar
• Your pick of 18 holes at Chamber’s Bay for two players including club rentals and use of the driving range or a Road Dogs Seattle Brewery Tour where you’ll stop, view and taste at more than 12 local microbreweries, plus a Road Dogs tee shirt and souvenir pint glass
• Overnight accommodations and valet parking

The Oh Man-cation package is subject to availability through May 31, 2012.

The Cedarbrook Lodge in Seattle, rated 17th hotel in the world in TripAdvisors’ Travelers’ Choice Awards, offers 104 guest rooms and suites with floor-to-ceiling working windows with views of lawns, patio, pond, lush cedars and natural restored wetlands.

Cedarbrook Lodge
18525 36th Avenue South
Seattle, WA 98188-4967
206.901.9268

Photo credit: The Cedarbrook Lodge

The Exterior of the Mountain View Grand

While much of New England doesn’t have very much snow coverage, the mountains of northern New England have plenty of man-made and natural snow. If you are thinking of heading up north to ski, one of my favorite New Hampshire hotels, the Mountain View Grand in the White Mountains, is offering a ski and stay package from now through April 1, 2012.

The ski and stay package at the Mountain View Grand  starts at $198 (double occupancy, tax not included), and includes one night stay in a classic room, ski tickets for Cannon Mountain (good for skiing Monday through Friday), and allowance of $12 per person toward breakfast at the hotel. Additional guests and children may be added to the package for an additional fee.  Guests are able to use the ski tickets the day after arrival.  This package is available mid-week, but blackout dates may apply.  To book, call 866.484.3843 and mention the code “Ski and Stay”.

The Mountain View Grand Resort offers AAA four-diamond accommodations and dining, evening turndown service, complimentary WiFi, an indoor pool, an outdoor pool, several restaurants, and an on-site farm.

Mountain View Grand
Mountain View Road
Whitefield, NH 03598
866-484-3843

Photo credit: Jodi Grundig

Sixty-two percent of respondents plan to purchase airline tickets, while 55 percent will need hotel rooms. Restaurants and rental car demand came in at 38 and 34 percent, respectively. Following close behind travel is a desire for electronic devices on which travel purchases increasingly can be made. A full 49 percent of respondents plan to purchase a tablet computer, such as the iPad, within the next 12 months, while 44 percent plan to buy a new mobile phone.

The survey results indicate that travel-service providers would do well to consider outlets such as RapidBuyr to better target deals to the small-business market (SBM).

“The small-business market is often overlooked by major vendors because it is highly fragmented with little potential for the bulk buying power that makes big businesses so attractive to vendors, says Pete Angus, director of marketing for RapidBuyr.

RapidBuyr offers local and nationwide daily deals to nearly 40 million U.S. SMBs, with discounts of up to 80 percent on products and services including electronics, general merchandise, local services, travel and sporting events.

More than 2,000 customers responded to the survey, which was conducted in November and December 2011. RapidBuyr plans to repeat the survey every few months.

Photo: MarkHillary (via Flickr CC2.0)

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Grand Canyon view from Desert Watchtower on South Rim

All my life, I thought the Grand Canyon was a place to stop in the middle of the desert and take a picture. Sitcoms, movies, and even travel articles I’d read mentioned pulling the station wagon over for the requisite photo opp and then almost leaving a child or two behind as everyone made a mad dash for the real vacation destination.

It wasn’t until my own recent visit to the Grand Canyon’s South Rim that I realized that the canyon is itself a worthy destination.

So what do you do when you’re at the Grand Canyon after you’ve taken that “look, Ma! The Grand Canyon!” photo?

What to Do at the Grand Canyon’s South Rim

1. Hike the Timeline Trail

Start at the Yavapai Geology Museum and listen to a park ranger explain why the Grand Canyon exists in the northern Arizona desert and nowhere else. Once you’ve gotten a quick geological history lesson, you can walk just over a mile along the South Rim, stopping at rock samples from different canyon layers. Along with the educational experience, the trail has numerous spots to stop for a stunning view of the canyon. And, yes, you’ll want to take pictures.

2. Hike below the rim

There are trails to fit all skill levels and schedules. Spend an afternoon hiking just below the surface, or plan to hike to the bottom and spend the night before hiking back up. Even if you can only make it a mile or two down, you’ll be treated to stunning vistas and a rare perspective of the Grand Canyon.

3. Climb the Desert Watchtower

At the east edge of the South Rim, at the end of Desert View Road¸ is an old watchtower created by Mary Colter. You can climb 85 steps to get a 360 view of the canyon and step outside onto the roof of the first floor for a rare glimpse at the Colorado River. This is a perfect spot to enjoy a sunrise or sunset.

The Atrium at the Gaylord National

I’ve raved before about how much I love the Gaylord Hotels, and I’m so thrilled that they’ve recently partnered with Dreamworks to create a more family-friendly experience at their hotels. Now, they are offering Family Fun Nights with Shrek and Friends on special nights in February and March 2011.  These nights are the perfect way for kids to really enjoy themselves in a family vacation experience!

The Family Night Nights start at $99 per person, double occupancy, and include the following:

• Accommodations at a Gaylord Hotels resort for a family of up to four
• Admission to DJ dance party with appearances by Shrek, Fiona, and Puss in Boots
• Admission to a DreamWorks movie shown on a big screen
• Puss In Boots Quest for the Magic Beans Scavenger Hunt
• Swamp Juice and Ogre Treats
• A souvenir photo for the families
• A DreamWorks craft activity
• The daily resort fee
• Self parking

The Family Fun Night with Shrek and Friends takes place on Feb. 18, 2012 at both Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville, TN., and Gaylord Palms Resort in Kissimmee, FL., and on Feb. 25, 2012 and March 10, 2012 at Gaylord National Resort in National Harbor, MD.

The Gaylord National
201 Waterfront Street
National Harbor, MD 20745

The Gaylord Opryland
2800 Opryland Drive
Nashville, TN 37214

The Gaylord Palms
6000 W Osceola Parkway
Kissimmee, FL 34746

The Gaylord Texan
1501 Gaylord Trail
Grapevine, TX 76051-1945

Photo credit: The Gaylord Hotels

JetBlue is late to the game, but it has rolled out an app with high functionality despite its clean design. The airline developed its new digital strategy with the help of digital agency Rokkan, app developer DoubleEncore and the input of more than 15,000 customers.

The new app, available for download at the iTunes store, offers all the basics—booking, check-in and flight-status monitoring. Other features include weather reports for destination cities, and easy organization of past and upcoming trips. It also includes a virtual postcard tool and connectivity to social networks so users can share their travel experiences. In addition, travelers can scout in-flight amenities like snacks, beverages, movies and DIRECTV schedules.

JetBlue aimed for more personalization in designing its new platforms—what a user sees will depend on geo-targeting, booking history and any preferences they have entered into the TrueBlue rewards program. The website also includes a feature called “Pick Me Up” that allows users to not only share their itinerary with a friend in their destination city, but also to send that friend maps and traffic reports.

Travelers can expect to see better apps soon from other airlines, predicts Colleen Taylor writing at Gigaom.com. She points to a CNN story from last fall highlighting an Airline IT Trends Survey that found that more than 90 percent of carriers plan to increase their investment in mobile.

Photo: JetBlue

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Relax in an AVIA Long Beach Grand King room

Tired of staying in the same big hotels with no personality? On your Long Beach vacation, snag a room at the AVIA Long Beach, and enjoy living well without depleting your bank account.

The boutique hotel’s 138 rooms include crisp linens, Italian-cotton coverlet, McCartan-designed furniture and lighting fixtures, complimentary wired and wireless Internet, MP3 docking station, large bathroom with walk-in shower and waterfall shower head, coffeemaker and flat-panel TV. My room, a Grand King, included a seating area and office space, so I could get my work done.

It may be tempting to lounge in your luxe room, but venture out to the hotel’s handful of restaurant/lounge options. The AVIA Kitchen offers Southern California farm-to-table fare for breakfast and dinner. Right across the lobby, the AVIA Lounge is a swanky bar where you can enjoy drinks and small plates. When the weather is good, head upstairs to the Rooftop 360˚ bar to enjoy the view.

The AVIA Long Beach is just a few steps from The Pike at Rainbow Harbor, located
in the heart of downtown Long Beach’s waterfront dining and entertainment district. It’s also within walking distance of the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center and the Aquarium of the Pacific.

AVIA Long Beach, 562-436-1047
285 Bay Street, Long Beach, CA 90802

Photo courtesy of AVIA Long Beach

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Cowboy Up in Fort Worth

Fort Worth Stockyards Cattle Drive

Fort Worth has a flair all it’s own. It’s a modern city that respects its roots.

5 Things to Do in Fort Worth

• Watch a cattle drive.

• Take in a rodeo.

• Visit the Cultural District.

• Eat at Joe T Garcia’s- where the locals go for Mexican.

• Stay in the Kids Suite at the Omni Mandalay (you won’t want to leave!)

Southern Comfort in Nashville

Loveless Cafe Famous Biscuits

Nashville may be known as Music City, but there is a lot of family fun here- even if you don’t like country music!

5 Things to Do in Nashville

• Visit Civil War forts and battlefields

• See unbelievable cars at the Lane Motor Museum

• The Nashville Zoo is at historic Grassmere Plantation; zoo animals, plantation farms and beautiful gardens

• Eat at the famous Loveless Cafe

• Spoil yourself with a stay at the magnificent Gaylord Opryland. Even if you don’t stay, make sure you stop for an afternoon visit!

History Lives in Boston

Paul Revere House, Boston Freedom Trail

Think history is boring? A few days in Boston will change your mind. History lives here.

5 Things to Do in Boston

• Walk the Freedom Trail. See the burial sites of some of our Founding Fathers, wander through Boston Common, sit in a pew in the Old North Church.

• Boston is the Ireland of the US. Get a taste of an Irish Pub at The Black Rose.  It’s near Faneuil Hall and the Freedom Trail- you can’t miss it!

• Head south to Plimoth Plantation. See how the pilgrims lived and step aboard the Mayflower II.

• Eat fresh seafood and chowdah.

• The beach may not be warm, but a seaside rental south of the city is fabulous any time of year.

Museums and More in Chicago

Navy Pier Ferris Wheel, Chicago

Chicago in March is crisp and, of course, windy. But with so much to do the weather won’t bother you a bit!

5 Things to Do in Chicago

• The Shedd Aquarium and the Field Museum sit next to each other. Do not try to tackle both in one day.

• Take a spin on the Navy Pier Ferris Wheel and take your picture at “the Bean” in Millenium park.

• Get your food with attitude at Ed Debevick’s.

• You can’t visit Chicago and not shop along the Magnificent Mile. Kids will love the Disney Store; take girls to the flagship American Girl store if you dare.

• Spread out and relax in the all suite Omni Chicago Hotel.

Meet Me in St. Louis

Gateway Arch, St Louis

While St. Louis is the “Gateway to the West” it is also one of the most family friendly cities we have visited!

5 Things to Do in St. Louis

• You can’t be in St. Louis and not visit the Gateway Arch. Admittance to the Arch and the museums is free; a ride to the top will cost you, but the views are incredible.

• The St. Louis Zoo, on of the country’s best, is free. So is the incredible St. Louis Science Center.

• Young kids will adore The Magic House. Older children will love City Museum.

• The Anheuser-Busch Brewery Tour is also free, and very interesting.

• With so much within walking distance, the boutique Omni Majestic in downtown St. Louis is the perfect place to rest your weary family.

Where do you plan to spend Spring break this year?

Photos are the author’s own.

Those were two unsurprising findings of a recent TripAdvisor survey that asked 1,200 travelers and 600 hotel owners and managers what they considered the most and least important amenities.

After Wi-Fi, the top-rated perks were free breakfast, loyalty points, a hotel restaurant, and a complimentary shuttle to area attractions and the airport. After turndown service, the amenities getting the lowest marks were pet-friendly policies, spa, organized excursions and room service.

Perhaps as important as knowing what guests want is knowing what they will do in order to get it. Just over half of travelers surveyed said they have canceled a reservation to take advantage of better amenities at a different property. And 65 percent percent say they have gone to the lobby or other common areas to avoid paying for wireless Internet, while 41 percent have never paid for Wi-Fi access.

TripAdvisor is calling the study a 360-degree survey because it polled both travelers and hoteliers. And the results show that hotels understand some of the things that their guests want, but are missing the mark on others. Hoteliers underestimated the importance of guest loyalty points and shuttle service, while overestimating the importance of pet policies and room service.

Following are the lists of most and least desired amenities.

Photos: TripAdvisor

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Voo doo dolls in a New Orleans gift shop

The first time I visited New Orleans it was to attend a conference and hang out with friends. It’s no surprise, then, that I spent a few nights on Bourbon Street and got very familiar with the Crescent City’s reputation for a good party. I had a blast, but I was a little nervous about how my routine visit – one I planned to make with two small children in tow – would compare.

Visiting New Orleans with kids definitely involves fewer hurricanes and mechanical bulls, but there’s still plenty of fun to be had. In fact, most of New Orleans is very family friendly.

Kid-Friendly Things To Do in New Orleans

1. Grab beignets at Cafe du Monde.

This 24-hour coffee stand was practically made for children. After all, who loves fried pastries smothered in powdered sugar more than kids? Fortunately, the coffee with chicory, while a local treasure, is optional. People watching and listening to the street musicians, however, is mandatory. Lucky you.

2. Play at New Orleans City Park.

This is one of the best metropolitan parks I’ve seen in the United States, and I’ve visited many. It’s beautiful and bustling. You can take a walk along the water, climb ancient live oaks, or play with other kids on the playground equipment. You can also fish, walk your dog, have a picnic, or visit the free sculpture garden that’s located inside the park.

3. Visit a cemetery.

Sign up for a cemetery tour and let a knowledgeable guide introduce you to the fascinating history that lies with old stone crypts. Cemetery tours should be taken during the day no matter who you’re traveling with, so there’s no need to worry about kids getting freaked out. In fact, your kids will probably think the above-ground graves and elaborate monuments are pretty cool.

4. Listen to live music in the French Quarter.

You don’t have to go into a bar to get an earful of the New Orleans music scene. Spend some time walking around the French Quarter and you’re sure to come upon a musician or a band giving free shows to tourists. The polite thing to do, of course, is to show your appreciation for being entertained with a tip.

5. Ride the streetcar.

For a few bucks, your family can grab the streetcar at Carondelet at Canal Street and ride it 13 miles down and through the Garden District, past some of New Orleans oldest and most impressive homes. If you’ve got a little more spending money, hop off at Audubon Park and visit the city’s zoo.

Photos: Britt Reints

“The world is experiencing a travel boom and the United States needs to be part of it,” said Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association. “The impact of the $1.8 trillion U.S. travel industry is significant and growing, which is why we are galvanizing support and asking all Americans to ‘Vote Travel’ this election season.”

The Vote Travel campaign intentionally coincides with 2012 being an election year and provides an added opportunity for the organization to garner support for travel policy initiatives. Campaign goals include:

• Building support for travel industry policy and advocacy priorities among policymakers and the general electorate;
• Generating media attention surrounding the travel industry’s impact on the U.S. economy, as well as state and local economies, including specific congressional districts;
• Strengthening the travel industry’s visibility and relevance in Washington;
• Showcasing the critical importance of meetings and conventions with events during the Democratic and Republican conventions to target both convention attendees, as well as media;
• Deepening relationships with travel industry partners by helping them tell the story of the travel industry’s importance to the U.S. economy; and
• Building additional grassroots support for U.S. Travel and the Power of Travel Coalition through social media platforms.

“Travel supports more than 14 million jobs in local communities and states across the nation,” said Dow. “By casting a vote for travel, our industry can increase jobs, help our economy recover and get America moving.”

Hotel Room Discounts: Room 77 has kicked off 2012 by offering travelers 10 percent off any hotel booking, any time, even off already-discounted rates, for bookings made on its site between now and Feb. 22, 2012. There are no blackout dates and there is no limit to the number of times the discount may be applied. To receive the additional 10 percent off, enter NEWROOM77 when booking.

For users with existing reservations—even if the hotel was booked elsewhere—Room 77 is offering a chance to test out its Room Concierge service, which helps travelers get the room that best matches their preferences. For those with an upcoming reservation at a three-star and above hotel, simply email your itinerary to concierge@room77.com with VIP CONCIERGE in subject line.

Additional travel news of interest:

OTAs Settle Suit by Palm Beach County – Palm Beach Post
Peek Raises Money for Planning Tourism Activities – The New York Times Bits Blog
Yoga Room Now Open at SFO Airport – San Mateo County Times
Kayak Redesign: How and Why They Did It – Tnooz
Mexico Tourism Up – Bloomberg, Travel Weekly
Travel Hiring Is on the Rise – The New York Times

Photo: U.S. Travel Association/Vote Travel

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Groundhog Day in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania

What Does the Groundhog Have to Do with Spring?

The history of Groundhog Day in the US is traced back to Pennsylvania Germans during the 18^th and 19^th centuries. The groundhog, which the German immigrants thought to be quite similar to the European hedgehog, who would fortell the weather on Candlemas Day. The Germans would recite:

For as the sun shines on Candlemas Day,
So far will the snow swirl until the May.

The groundhog, being a sensible animal, would venture forth if he saw no shadow, which foretold an early spring. Seeing a shadow would cause the wise groundhog to return to his warm burrow for 6 more weeks of hibernation.

Where to Celebrate Groundhog Day in North America

The largest, and most well known event takes place in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. This location, made famous by the movie Groundhog Day, has held celebrations since 1886. Entertainments include live music, crafts and lots of food. Gates open at 3am for the trek to Gobbler’s Knob for Punxsutawney Phil’s Prognostication.

Quarryville, in Pennsylvania’s Lancaster County, is home to Octoraro Orphie, who has never been wrong in his prediction in the 103 year history of the Slumbering Groundhog Lodge.

Woodstock, Illinois is a late comer to the Groundhog Day celebration, after hosting the town square filming for the movie Groundhog Day. The first first prognostication on the square was held in 1999. The four day festival now includes a pancake breakfast, dance, walking tour of film sites, movie showings, and, of course, the prognostication.

In Lilburn, Georgia, General Beau Lee, Ph.D., lives in a groundhog sized mansion o the grounds of the Yellow River Game Ranch. He is awakened by the ringing of an antique bell and makes his way out for his annual state-of-the-winter report. ‘Beau’ is a very media savvy groundhog, and even handles his own twitter account.

The first North American groundhog to make a prediction each year is Shubenacadie Sam, at the Shubenacadie Provincial Wildlife park in Nova Scotia. After official proclamation by a town crier, there will be refreshments, hot cocoa and fun activities.

Wiarton Willie, the famous albino groundhog from Ontario, is celebrated every February 2 with a local Wiarton Willie Festival. Though the original Willie is now deceased, ‘Wee Willie’ oversees this celebration which features dances, parades, hockey tournaments, pancake breakfasts and a fish fry.

Whether or not you take part in this ancient tradition or dismiss it as mythic hooey, it’s always fun to see whether or not the groundhog knows more then our meteorologists.

Photo credit: Aaron Silvers, via WikiCommons, Creative Commons Share Alike

American Gothic House, Eldon, Iowa

This humble house, built in the early 1880′s, caught the eye of Iowa artist Grant Wood because of its beautiful Gothic window which he called, “pretentious for such a small house.”  After asking permission to use the house as a background for a painting, Grant Wood went on to create an icon recognized the world over.  In fact, Lonely Planet’s “Best in Travel 2012″ lists the American Gothic House as one of the “Top 10 Places to Put Yourself in the Picture”.

Visiting The American Gothic House

Tiny Eldon, Iowa is located in the south east corner of the state.  Most people who find the house are following the Grant Wood Trail or are luck upon it on their way to the Villages of Van Buren.

Next to the American Gothic House is the Visitors Center.  This free museum shares the history of Grant Wood, including letters donated by his sister Nan Wood Graham, who was his female model for the American Gothic painting (the male model was his dentist Dr. B.H. McKeeby).

My favorite part of the exhibit was the many parodies of American Gothic, including Mickey & Minnie Mouse, Muppets, Barbie and Looney Toones.

American Gothic Parodies

Put Yourself in the Picture

The friendly staff at the American Gothic House Center are happy to help you get the right photo.  Just ask and they will advise you on the best place to stand and even take the photo for you.  You can even get the true American Gothic feel by dressing up in provided costumes and holding a pitchfork.

American Gothic Style

Of course you’ll want to take a “traditional” American Gothic photo- but then ham it up a bit!  Poke your partner with a pitchfork or add a bit of modern times to your image.

Don’t leave without a stop in the gift shop; the American Gothic House is free to visit so any purchases made help support the site (donations are also accepted).

Tips for Visiting American Gothic House:

Open daily year round:

May-September: Sunday & Monday 1-4pm; Tuesday thru Saturday 10am-5pm

October-April: Saturday thru Monday 1-4pm; Tuesday thru Friday 10am-4pm

Closed for observed holidays: New Years Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans’ Day, Thanksgiving Day, Friday After Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day

If the weather is bad a cut-out version of the house is available for indoor photos.

Mix It Up

I love going to the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and marveling at the paintings of the Impressionist Masters. My brother inherited all of my mother’s artistic abilities, so I have always wondered what it felt like to be able to create or replicate something beautiful. When we were invited to a friend’s milestone birthday party at The Paint Bar in Newton, my only question was whether or not alcohol would be served. That’s the only way I could survive an evening of painting lessons.

Our Guide For The Evening

With the word “bar” in the name of the place, it was confirmed that beer and wine would be available and so I confirmed our attendance. When we arrived that evening, we found a very bright and packed room filled with blank canvases awaiting our creative works. After being outfitted with smocks, the appropriate paint, brushes and an adult beverage, we chose our stools and awaited instruction. I must say that the example of the painting we would be recreating as a group that evening was incredibly intimidating. Why couldn’t the birthday girl have selected something perhaps less pretty but far easier looking?

Our Incredible Teacher

Our instructor, Ellie, for the evening was vibrant, fun and reassuring. She made everything idiot-proof and empowering. We were not treated like children (though family days on Sundays are a big hit) or artistes, but instead were considered able adults with hidden talent simply needing to be coaxed out. I knew we were in good hands when she pointed out the importance of distinction between your drink container and your brush water. Picking up a cup of watered down paint instead of your beer or wine is not a mistake you want to make. The lesson here? Pay close attention to your task rather than getting lost in the beauty of your art.

Beer On The Left, Brush Water On The Right

At The Paint Bar, your instructor guides all in attendance through the step by step process of recreating a sample painting chosen in advance. Which brush to use, how much paint to apply, when and how much to mix colors and brush stroke techniques are all provided along the way. As your instructor demonstrates on their canvas, you paint along on your own. While you are completing your efforts the instructor wanders the floor and answers any questions or doles out individual advice as requested. Criticism and comparison are discouraged. Focus on your own creation.

Music of all varieties is played for entertainment and there are those beverages for sale to keep you loose and smiling. During drying time, be sure to grab some take-out from next door so that all those drinks don’t go to your head and interfere with your fine detail strokes. They sell vending machine style snacks and you can bring in your own cake or other food item if you like, but there isn’t much room to lay it out or time to eat it up. Your two hours are mostly spent creating that work of art.

Our Hidden Talent Revealed

As the time went by and the basic background and forms were done, our confidence grew and we were ready to be let loose with our painting to add our own personal flair – treating the guide painting as just that, a guide. At the end of the night, it was amazing to see all the different takes on the same work. I won’t say whose was better – that would be against the rules of fun. But we were pretty proud of ourselves. And of our friends’ interpretations too. We carefully stowed our nearly dry paintings in the car before moving along to snacks and drinks with a belly dancer down the street. It was a night of artistic expression after all. And thanks to The Paint Bar, we’ve got some new artwork hanging on the wall.

The Paint Bar
823 Washington Street
Newton, MA 02460
(617) 872-0720
www.thepaintbar.com

Post by and all photos credited to Molly G. @The Bumbles Blog

This year we will visit a few places new to our family as well as places my husband and I visited before we had kids, which we can’t wait to explore with the girls. Also included is a small “wish list” of destinations we would like to make it to, if time and money allow.

The Desert Southwest

Apache Junction

February will find my eldest daughter and I enjoying a long weekend in Chandler/Tempe/Mesa/Apache Junction, Arizona. I have visited in the past, but this will be Brenna’s first time seeing large cactus, mountains, and a real desert. We won’t get to the Grand Canyon, but have it on our “when the girls a re a bit older” list.

The Gaylord Opryland

View of Conservatory from Balcony

If you ever find yourself in Nashville, Tennessee you must stop, if only to see how magnificent this hotel is. My youngest daughter and I will be heading here mere days after I return from Arizona for the Blissdom Conference, where I am the Travel Community leader.

The most incredible feature of the Opryland Hotel is that it is a miniature city built inside a bio-dome. Magnificent gardens, a Delta riverboat cruise and a gorgeous Southern Plantation house will keep you occupied while half a dozen restaurants and nightclubs entertain you through the evening.

National Parks: Yellowstone, Big Sky, Paradise Valley, Little Big Horn Battlefield, Devil’s Tower, Mt. Rushmore

Devil's Tower

A 10 day family vacation at the beginning of July will take us to all these parks. From our Iowa home we will drive to Montana for a family adventure vacation with Austin Lehman. We will stop at Little Big Horn on the way out, see Yellowstone, Big Sky and Paradise Valley during our 5-day tour and hit Devil’s Tower and Mt. Rushmore on the way home. I’m tired just thinking about it.

The Ice Cream Capital of the World

Blue Bunny Ice Cream Parlor

On our way home from vacation we’ll be passing so closely to LeMars, Iowa it would be a shame not to stop at the Blue Bunny Ice Cream Parlor.

While that is where our travel plans end, there are a few things that we would all like to see this year.

Play on a Beach and Swim in the Ocean

Laguna Beach

This is very high on my daughters’ wish list. While they have seen the ocean (we lived on the beach during a short relocation to Boston- in the winter) they have never gotten to play in it, or on a beautiful sandy beach. They aren’t picky about where, but I think the Irvine, California area could be a winner. We would have the beach, Disneyland, lots of parks and beautiful weather.

Door County, Wisconsin

Cana Island Lighthouse

This is Doug’s wish for a long adults only weekend. The beauty of Door County in the fall is legendary, and an adults only weekend is always a blessing.

Potter County, Pennsylvania

Potter County Courthouse

What is in Potter County, Pennsylvania? Besides a lot of parks and state forests, I’m not really sure. But Potter County holds a genealogical mystery for my family. My 4x great grandparents died here and it’s where our trail to the past grows cold. I would love to spend some time “digging” to see if we can find the missing part of our story.

What do your travel plans or dreams for 2012 hold?

Photo credits:

Apache Junction, Arizona from SunnyAZ CVB

Gaylord Opryland, Ice Cream Capital by the author

Devil’s Tower from NPS.gov

Laguna Beach and Door County Lighthouse from WikiCommons

Potter County Courthouse from PotterCountyPA.net

Jody Halsted shares her family’s travel

tales at Family Rambling.

The bone white buildings outline the hillsides on Serifos Island, Greece. Against the dark brown jagged rocks, the towns seems to fall into the blue Mediterranean waters like an avalanche of cubic snowflakes. Stereotypical Greek island? Maybe not, since it is missing one key feature of many a Greek island which are the hordes of tourists. As always, I’m constantly on the lookout for unspoiled pristine beaches and it does get harder and harder everyday. Latelym, it seems that my hypothesis stands (vis-à-vis tourism development) – The harder it is to get there, the more beautiful it is. In addition to that though; the fewer things to do, the higher the quality of cultural and environmental preservation. I’m sure that there is someone much smarter than I who can better articulate what I attempt to.

The island of Serifos is only accessible by water, the nightlife in its capital Hora is minimal but appropriate as the calm of the island (I feel) is a major part of its charm. A couple of museums to note are the Architectural and Folklore museums. Visiting the Cave of the Cyclops (complete with lake) along with the ruins of the Castle of the Old Lady (Kastro tis Grias) and the Taxiarches Monistary are key sites if you want to explore outside of the capital.

Now, about those beaches. They are all in great condition and you really can’t go wrong in which you decide to go to. I think the beach overlooked by Agios Sostis is beautiful. Ironically (at least to me) is that this is a beach that is frequented by nudists. Then again, we are all naked in the eyes of our makers right?

Above is a short video of Serifos by Vimeo user ilias Tsivgoulis. I felt that it does a fantastic job of conveying the relaxed atmosphere of the island.

In my getaway to Italy, finding a moment of pure serenity is one of the best feelings that I can think of while sea or lakeside. Usually I find myself having to travel somewhere far and remote to find that feeling. I think of paying long-tail boat captains to go island hoping in the Gulf of Thailand, deep sea excursions in Indonesia. An urban setting of any size does not come to mind though but after seeing Lake Orta, I may have found that balance at the foot of the Italian Alps.

Nietzsche was inspired here, Balzac was drawn to it and Robert Browning mentions it in his poem “By the Fireside.” I don’t blame them. The Alps serve as a backdrop to the Baroque architecture in the town of Pella while the Island of St. Giulio sits at the center of the lake surrounded by a sense of mystique – almost like the center of a story where the protagonist is unable to get the local townspeople to tell him about the mysterious island.

This video, IL LAGO DORATO (On Golden Lake), by Vimeo user PLMONZA captures the serenity and mystique of this beautiful Italian gem.

View original video here.

Myrtle Beach's Brand New Boardwalk

I’ve been to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina only once – during New Year’s 2009/2010. It was fun, but cold, and we could tell that the area would be entertaining to come back and visit come summertime. (We’d probably spend a lot of time playing miniature golf – we saw about twelve awesome looking courses!)

Of course, I’d also love to go back and visit the actual beach in Myrtle Beach, which was just lovely in December, as cold as it was. And now, there’s a fantastic, 1.2 mile long boardwalk to enjoy as well! The boardwalk was opened on Saturday, May 15, 2010 (as I was getting married in Key West, Florida), and it looks fabulous. The boardwalk is at times wooden and at times concrete, and it curves along the coastline like a giant sea snake. No longer do pedestrians have to trudge through the sand or risk walking along Ocean Boulevard – they can view beautiful Myrtle Beach from the safe vantage point of a lovely boardwalk.

Boardwalks have always evoked feelings of nostalgia for me, and I find this interesting because I never grew up actually on the beach. I lived close to the beach in San Diego, but not close enough so that my parents would walk me down to a boardwalk or a pier on the weekends. I don’t know what it is. Perhaps it’s the people watching; everyone looks so happy at the beach, and it’s enough to just sit on a bench and watch happy kids and parents stroll by.  Boardwalks are what I think about when I hear someone say “Let’s go to the beach!” Sun, sand, ocean, boardwalks and sunsets – these are also the first images that pop into my head when I daydream about beach vacations.

As this article from Budget Travel points out, there’s a lot happening along the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk; the city is very lucky to have this attraction for locals and tourists who need a break from the sandy beach scene.

Just one more reason to plan a Myrtle Beach vacation in the near future!

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Photos: miss-britt , Curtis and Eric

Block Island escaped from Hurricane Irene unscathed

I hate to say it, but if you have not yet booked a hotel on the beach in Outer Banks or Atlantic City for Labor Day weekend, you could probably get a very good deal right now. Both these areas were hit pretty hard by Hurricane Irene, which couldn’t have come at a worse time: one week before one of the year’s busiest beach weekends. So, I decided to write this post – not to encourage “disaster tourism” per se, but to help out these areas which are facing a very grim situation monetarily. Hotel cancellations are flooding in faster than the floods brought by storm surges and high tides as  many tourists are deciding to cancel their “last hurrah” trip of the summer and stay home instead.

Yes, there is some significant damage. The beautiful Spring Lake Boardwalk on Jersey Shore was hit very hard – nearly 1.5 miles of it were destroyed. But, the beach areas that are open are fine, and restaurant and store owners are begging people to come visit. Ocean City, New Jersey emerged from Hurricane Irene pretty much unscathed – but most tourists don’t know that. And if you had planned a trip to Nags Head, North Carolina, don’t think about canceling! That entire area is completely fine. However, if you discovered that all of the hotel rooms in the areas were completely booked a couple of weeks ago, check again – some hotels are reporting that 30% of their reservations have been cancelled.

Block Island’s gorgeous beaches in Rhode Island were also completely untouched. The ferries are running, and there is no reason for concern.

Parts of the country were absolutely devastated by this storm, and this is beyond terrible. But, if you’re fortunate enough to have not been affected by the storm and would like one last weekend at the beach, simply call the hotel and ask — chances are the area is fine and you can enjoy one last weekend of summer beach bliss.

Spring Lake Boardwalk received heavy damage, but the beach areas are ok!

Photos: joyosity, johnrudolphmueller

Wasaga Beach in Canada

Since 2008, Ontario’s formerly dog-friendly Wasaga Beach has been closed during the summers in order to protect some endangered birds. However, as of this summer, Beach #3 is now open to dogs, so bring your pooch to play in the water while the warm weather lasts! (Those of you living in Ontario know that the warm weather is definitely on its way out soon.) Wasaga Beach is on Georgian Bay and is part of Lake Huron. The beach is over 14 kilometers (8.6 miles), and it’s apparently the longest freshwater beach in the world. Wasagha is only about a thirty minute drive from Toronto, so it’s an easy day trip.

If you’re a dog-lover in Canada, you might be interested in this list of dog-friendly beaches and parks in Canada. Here’s a short list:

Sunset Beach – Vancouver

Rainbow Park – Whistler

Chelton Beach Provinvial Park – Prince Edward Island

Pinery Provincial Park – Ontario

Photo: Anutkak43

Imagine if this was the view you woke up to every morning...

Beach camping is the best. What could possibly better than sleeping right on the sand and having the ocean be the first thing you see every morning? Summer’s are a bit humid, of course, but as fall approaches, the weather cools off you can fall asleep listening to the waves in cooler air. Too rustic for you? Many campsites offer cabins, too. And most are pet-friendly, so bring the pooch for some fresh ocean air.

If all that wasn’t enough to convince you to try beach camping, just think about the cost – it’s very low! At all the sites listed below, you can camp for less than $40/night! Those rates are for the site, not for the person.

1. Grayton Beach State Park – Santa Rosa Beach

Book really early if you can – this is one of the most popular beach campsites in all of Florida. Gorgeous emerald waters, soft white sands and forests which go on and on. You can stay in cabins for about $110/night or in a tent/TV for about $30/night.

2. Fort De Soto County Park – Tierra Verde

You won’t have to rough it here. Washers and dryers are available as are showers, real restrooms and even play areas for the kids. The campsites at Fort de Soto have only recently been reopened after a period of rehabilitation. All the sites here are less than $40, even the waterfront ones. Can’t beat that!

Bahia Honda State Park

3. Bahia Honda State Park – Big Pine Key

I got married in Key West a little over a year ago, and we visited Bahia Honda on our last day – I wish we had gone sooner! What an absolutely gorgeous beach. The water is crystal clear and the sands are so soft. You can rough it in a tent or reserve one of the full-facility campsites or cabins. Sites are $36/night and cabins are $120-$160/night depending on the time of year. Key West is a 40 minute drive away if you get the touristy itch during your stay.

Photos: Mark A. Vargas, Lisa Sanderson

Not your ordinary sand castles.

If you were told that you could get paid $6,000 a WEEK to play in the sand, stay in fancy hotels, eat amazing meals and get lots of publicity, would you do it? Ok, ok, so maybe play in the sand isn’t the correct word – but it feels funny saying “work” when I’m talking about sand. In any case, it appears that some people actually do make $6,000 a week to build sand castles. And that’s just not fair.

Or maybe it is. Ok, it definitely is. These aren’t just people playing with buckets – they’re educated mechanical engineers and teachers who happen to be really good at building stuff in sand. And apparently, people are paying them to do so.

I’m not knocking this at all – I actually think it’s fantastic that some artists can make a great living doing what they love. I’m just surprised by the numbers, that’s all. But then again, anyone who has visited a sand castle building competition has an idea that the sculptures truly are works of art.

So, as summer winds down, perhaps you should think about taking some sand castle building classes. Then, come next summer, you can charge upwards of $75/hour to give other people classes – it’s a fun, pretty low-stress way to make a living. Kind of like the kayak rental guy I met in Seagrove Beach who charged $30/hour per kayak to rent them out. He had 10 kayaks to rent, and I watched him rent out all of them every hour for a good three hours. That was nearly $1,000 in one day, for three hours worth of sitting on the beach and chatting with beach goers. Amazing.

Here’s to skilled artists and entrepreneurs. They’re an inspiration to follow our hearts and do what we love in life – and the money will likely follow.

Photo: Jug Jones

A baby Loggerhead turtle starts to crawl out of the sand on Kiawah Island

A friend of mine visited Kiawah Island, South Carolina a couple of weeks ago, and she was extremely lucky to be able to witness some baby Loggerhead turtles hatching on the beach! These turtles usually hatch at night, so being able to witness the event during the day must have been amazing. There were dozens of them hatching at the same time, and the Turtle Patrol was there to make sure visitors didn’t handle the babies improperly and to ensure the babies made their way to the ocean safely. Turtle hatching season takes place on Florida beaches from early May to very late October, so if you haven’t had a chance to witness this miraculous event, there’s still time!

Sea Turtle Volunteers help out some baby turtles on Kiawah Island

Kiawah Island’s Turtle Watch website is called the Turtle Nest, and it reports that as of July 31, there were 246 nests on the beach! That’s incredible. This list shows all of the different nests and their hatch dates – it looks like less than 20 nests have hatched so far. Turtles begin laying their eggs at the end of May, and hatching begins in July and ends at the end of October. At this time, special conditions exist on the beach — there can be no bright lights at night and there will be plenty of volunteers walking around the beach keeping an eye on the nests.

Here are some rules to live by if you plan to be on Florida beaches:

• If you see turtles hatching on the beach and/or trying to get to the water, don’t touch them! Find a volunteer.
• Don’t scoop them out of their nests and put them directly in the water — they need to imprint the beach on their brains so that they know how to get back to the beach the following year
• It’s fine to shoo away birds or crabs to keep the baby turtles safe on their way to the water, but again – don’t touch them. Let a volutneer handle them with gloves.

Baby Loggerhead turtles start their journey to the ocean on Kiawah Island

Kiawah Island isn’t the only place you can go to see sea turtles lay their eggs and watch hatching scramble for the shoreline, but Florida beaches pretty much are – over 80% of US Loggerhead turtles make their nests on Florida beaches. You can try beaches in Fort Meyers, Key Biscayne Naples and Miami, for example. I think that this experience is just as cool as swimming with turtles in the ocean!

For more information about this remarkable time of year, please visit the following websites:

The Turtle Nest

Turtle Time

Sea Turtle Preservation Society

A baby Loggerhead turtle reaches the water, Kiawah Island

Photos: Thank you to Kristen Digman for the photos!!

Coastal Cleanup Day

Hopefully, your summer has been full of trips to some beautiful beaches. The weather is some parts of the country will be warm enough to swimin the ocean for at least another month, so there’s still time left to squeeze in one more trip! As summer winds down, though, it’s time to start thinking about how you can give back to a beach or coastline near you. Let’s clean up our beaches and oceans!

California Coastal Cleanup Day is taking place on Saturday, September 17. In 2010, over 82,000 volunteers removed 1.2 million pounds of trash and recyclables from California’s lakes, beaches and waterways – that’s an amazing effort! Let’s see if we can beat that record this year. California Coastal Cleanup Day is part of the larger International Coastal Cleanup Day that takes place ever year on the third Saturday in September. According to Ocean Conservancy, in 2010, 7.4 million pounds of trash were removed from our world’s waterways by volunteers. Incredible!

This goes to show you that yes, you can make a difference! Grab a group of friends and sign up for a cleanup in your area, or join one that’s already been organized.

Don’t worry if you don’t live near a big body of water, you can still help! You can pick up trash around small lakes and streams, or work inland — so much of our trash in inland areas makes its way into lakes and streams via gutters — clean up the trash at the source before it has a chance to reach our oceans. Or, get involved in an educational campaign. There are so many things you can do to help.

Some of the statistics from these cleanup efforts are really mind blowing, and hopefully they’ll inspire you to get involved. For example, last year, volunteers all over the worlds picked up over one million plastic bottles — in one day. Let’s get out there and clean up our waters!

New York Coastal Cleanup

California Coastal Cleanup

Florida Coastal Cleanup

Washington Coastal Cleanup

Mississippi Coastal Cleanup

Yucky Beach Trash

Photos: Mikebaird, mesaba

Horses think horse surfing is hilarious.

It’s Friday, and if you’ve had a week like I did, you probably need a good laugh. So when I randomly came across this picture, I knew I had to write a post about it. It appears that it’s as simple as it looks – a horse traveling up to 35 miles per hour pulls a surfer through the waves behind him. Just a horse pulling a surfer. Horse surfing.

Not surprisingly, there aren’t any pictures of horse surfing on Flickr. So, I’ll provide you with a link to a site with some really nifty photos about horse surfing in England. Check them out — it’s pretty bizarre. Happy Friday!

The Independent Horse

Photo: katieblench