1. 21C Hotel, Louisville, Kentucky–
This uber modern, avant guard contemporary art gallery/ hotel MIGHT pass in San Francisco, but deep in the heart of the South?? I couldn’t believe the naked, anatomically correct statuary and puzzling installation pieces that abounded. Getting to the concierge desk meant stepping over the video of a couple in bed, and the chandeliers in the lobby made a kookie racket as they came to life at random intervals. Girl, I had to keep reminding myself which side o’ the Mason-Dixon I was on!
Centrally located downtown near several ‘other’ museums including ye olde Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory, 21C is the building on the corner with all the giant red penguins on it. You heard me. Penguins. Red. My sweet suite had its own phabulous deck complete with, you guessed it, red penguins, and if I felt like it, I could let folks in the office building across the street watch me pee if I left the blinds up. I didn’t, of course, but it was nice to have the option…
2. Hotel Donaldson, Fargo, North Dakota–
My dear friend Lisa made this reservation for me when I came out to visit her. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but this super chic oasis in the Dakotas complete with hip bar, gourmet restaurant and a suite of epic proportions certainly surprised. Like 21C, this hotel also takes art seriously and prominently features great pieces by local artists in the 17 suites. The suites have different themes, and mine was Japanese due to the low-slung platform bed and bathtub in the middle of the room that filled via a spout on the ceiling. Wow!
The restaurant was celebrating wild game one night and I ended up with some rattlesnake quesadillas. Delicious and quite well-paired with the ensuing wild boar…Yee-haw!
Since the first trip I can remember (The Big Island, Hawaii) I have craved more. With every picture my grandparents show me of Morocco, with every story my friends tell me about Barcelona, with every article I read about Tokyo—I crave more. Last year I decided to feed my craving. I researched destinations and tour groups and finally chose a Contiki trip: a month across Europe.
Before I meet with my tour group members, I will be traveling solo in London. In preparation I’ve read tons of travel guides, and well, the information is getting slightly repetitive. Of course I love reading about the main tourist attractions, but I want to know more. I want to know the tricks that will enhance each experience. So thanks to my family, friends and divas—here’s some insider advice:
Transportation
• Pedestrians have the right-of-way, right? Not in London. Cars do. So look left, right and repeat before crossing the street.
• Know your lingo: In London the subway system is called the Underground or the Tube. You can’t ride the Subway there; you walk it. A Subway sign indicates a pedestrian tunnel that goes under a busy street.
• Study the underground map in advance. Reduce your stress.
• Bring antibacterial lotion for all that public transportation you’ll take.
• Ride a double decker bus. You’ll see all of London’s main attractions in a couple hours. Plus, you can hop on and off whenever you want.
• Traffic often slows to a crawl so don’t take a bus or taxi if you want to get anywhere in a hurry. Stick to the Tube for faster transportation.
Clothes
• The weather is chilly and often rainy in London year round. Dress in layers to keep warm while sightseeing and/or shopping and to strip off while grabbing a bite to eat in a cozy restaurant.
• Londoners are fashionable. Period. Do your best to be comfortable, but you may want to leave that fanny pack behind.
• Smoking is allowed in pubs and restaurants so bring fabric softener sheets or fabric spray to freshen up your clothes between washings.
Theater
• London’s theater scene is huge. Book theater tickets before you depart.
• Diva Tracy recommends seeing a show in the West end. “Buy tickets the morning of or the day before for a huge discount. Don’t think you have to wait in the absurd TKTS line; the vendors selling the shows around the square have the same tickets at the same or similar discount with no 3-4 hour wait.”
Things to Do
• Afternoon tea is a London tradition. Enjoy it at the Ritz or the Savoy. Make sure to dress appropriately (i.e. leave the jeans and sneakers in your bag).
• Most overrated attraction: The changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace. Yawn.
• The most comprehensive list of events in the London arts scene can be found in “Time Out,” a weekly magazine available at most newsstands and bookstores.
• The London Eye: It’s best if you buy your tickets ahead of time online. Pick the date and time you want to go, then pick up your ticket at the Eye. It’s an amazing view and worth the cost. Cool tip: Time your trip so that it is daylight when you go up and dusk when you come down. You’ll get to see the lights of parliament at night from above.
• One of the great things about London is that all of the museums are free. Browse the British Museum and the National Gallery. They both have amazing collections.
• Stroll the beautiful parks. Have a picnic. Relax. Hyde Park is wonderful, especially on Saturdays. It’s also great to walk through St James Park and Green Park to Buckingham Palace.
• If you’d like to meet people, join a tour with other travelers (since Londoners tend to be more reserved). There are several walking tours, such as Jack the Ripper’s grounds, Buckingham Palace or the Thames River.
• Westminster Abbey: The garden is beautiful and amazingly quiet considering the noise that surrounds the area. It’s a great place to catch up on some reading
Food
• Forget the diet. Dine on the local pub grub. Enjoy the fish and chips, meat pies and beer.
• Dine on the freshly baked goods too. Diva Amelia says, “Pret a Manger is a bakery/cafe chain and I’m sure they have locations everywhere. I ate at one in Trafalgar Square and the chocolate croissant changed my life. It was so yummy.”
• Several of London’s museums and sights have extremely good cafeterias or restaurants on the premises so you don’t have to leave them at lunchtime.
• You can find authentic cuisine all over London. Love spice? Eat real Indian food off the TootingBec stop (Underground).
Words of Wisdom
• Before you depart, refresh your History 101 knowledge. Historic sites are around every corner in London.
• Watch out for pickpocketers! Keep important documents and money in a moneybelt or neck wallet. And keep your bags in front of you.
• Don’t try to do it all in one trip. Diva Tracy says, “The best advice I got about traveling was to plan the little time I have with the thought that I will return. Making the most doesn’t mean going to every sight but seeing nothing.”
Teresa Rodriguez Williamson, author of “Fly Solo” says, “I think this is the perfect first-time solo adventure!” So for all you travel-craving ladies: just go. Why not start with a flight to London? You now have the tips to make it a life-changing experience.
I always give extra bonus points for a restaurant that has the care, ambition, and talent to change their menu daily. Few can pull it off with the level of success that Chef/Owner Ethan Stowell manages to, at his Union restaurant. With some of the world’s best produce available just steps away at Seattle’s Pike Place Market, Stowell takes full advantage of this culinary mecca to offer some truly unique offerings.
The multi-level space is quite comfy, painted in warm soothing tones, with high ceilings, and it’s one of the few restos left where you can actually hear what your dining partner has to say, so better make sure you are dining with someone interesting. The service simply shone….friendly, knowledgeable yet unobtrusive. When asked, our waiter made some excellent suggestions, such as the grilled octopus salad that was deliciously chewy, tart and smoky. Other faves were the flavorful lamb sausages, the delicate duck prosciutto, and the toothsome orrchietta topped with fresh grilled sardines. I wasn’t a fan of the rather mundane lemon cake but highly recommend going the cheese route for dessert. Each selection comes with it’s own fruity conserve that would be perfect with a sip of port.
Union Restaurant
1400 1st Ave
Seattle, WA 98101
(206) 838-8000
Participate in The Ultimate Jetsetter: Blogger’s Edition competition! This is an invite-only contest that will pit you and other top travel bloggers against each other to find out who has traveled the most miles in a year for the title of the Ultimate Jetsetter of 2008.
Jetsetter is a new, interactive application developed by VibeAgent on Facebook Platform that pits groups against each other in a competition that ranks all participants to see who has logged the most miles in the past year. Jetsetter also promotes social interaction by providing a unique, fun way to share and comment on each other’s trips.
So what does the winner get? VibeAgent will announce the top five jetsetter travel bloggers, including the Ultimate Jetsetter, at the contest’s climax on Wednesday, May 21st. The winner will get one of the most coveted prizes in the Blogosphere, bragging rights! In the world of travel, what better than being incredibly well-traveled and being able to prove it? We will also be promoting the contest and the results.
What do you get when you cross Paris and Seattle’s Pike Place Market, two of my favorite food destinations? Their off-spring would be the casual Cafe Campagne and the slightly less casual restaurant upstairs, Campagne, where we chose to dine.
Campagne is located in the Pike Place Market, off of a charming courtyard complete with cobblestone streets, picturesque views, and a large cherry tree, which is tres magnifique when in bloom. The french-bistro atmosphere continues inside with Campagne’s dijon- mustard colored walls, soft french music playing in the background, a superb wine list, and addictive hot gougeres (savory cheese puffs) to nibble while you peruse the country french menu.
We started off with the ASSIETTE DE CHARCUTERIE, ( made in-house) served with crusty bread, mustards and pickled veggies and then decided to share the POULET POUR DEUX Herb-stuffed and roasted Rickman Gulch Farm organic chicken served on wild mushroom ragoût, for two. They were a little skimpy on our mushrooms but the dish had some seriously intense flavors working. The PETIT PAIN AUX FIGUES ,spiced figgy cake with pomegranate coulis and honey-vanilla ice cream provided the perfect ending, until we were delivered a couple of dark-chocolate truffles with the bill which Really were the perfect ending.
If you happen top be in Seattle this June, you’ll want to check out
DRINK PINK! - 14 June 2008
Discover your passion for rosé wines.
Join us on Saturday, June 14, 2008 from 2 - 5 PM in Campagne’s courtyard* for our annual hommage to pink wine. The cost to attend is $15 per person which may be paid at the door. Admission includes your first glass of rosé and passed hors d’oeuvre à la Niçoise (small bites prepared in the style of Nice) by Chef Daisley Gordon. Directeur du vin Cyril Fréchier has compiled a lovely list of rosé wines which will be available for purchase by the taste, glass and bottle.
Campagne
86 Pine St
Seattle, WA 98101
(206) 728-2800
For those planning upcoming nuptials on 8-8-08, enjoy a complimentary golf and spa package for booking your wedding party!!
The number 8 is considered one of the luckiest in the Chinese culture, representing sudden fortune and prosperity. The wedding team at JW Marriott Las Vegas celebrates this special numerological day by offering a complimentary golf and spa package for weddings of 50 people or more held on August 8, 2008.
The Lucky 8 Package provides the bride and her court with a Wine Down Manicure and Pedicure Party for four ladies. This delicious 100-minute vino-infused package includes two glasses of wine each and a deluxe selection of cheeses while enjoying decadent treatments for the fingers and toes. Red grape skin, which contains a powerful anti-oxidant and anti-carcinogen called resveratrol, makes up the foundation for this treatment. This package treats guests to an almond-biscotti milk soak; a sugar scrub with Italian red wine reduction, crushed grape seeds, and grape seed oil; a masque with red wine reduction; and an almond biscotti moisturizer application and color choice as the pièce de résistance.
For the gentlemen, a foursome of golf is offered at the world-class TPC Las Vegas, perfect for the groom and his pals. As the resort’s preferred course, TPC Las Vegas offers a stunning and compelling test of golf set against the backdrop of Red Rock Canyon. Part of the PGA TOUR’s acclaimed TPC Network of premier private and resort golf clubs, TPC Las Vegas’ award-winning service and array of upscale amenities make this a “must-play” desert golf oasis and a perfect venue to work off a few of those pre-wedding jitters.
For more information on the Lucky 8 Package, please call the JW Marriott Las Vegas’s wedding department at 702-869-7034.
JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort & Spa features 548 oversized guestrooms set amid 54 acres of lush gardens. Located in Summerlin, 20 minutes northwest of the famous Las Vegas Strip, the resort is close enough to indulge in the city’s amenities, but far enough away to enjoy golfing on one of the courses surrounding the resort or explore beautiful Red Rock Canyon. Indulge yourself at JW Marriott’s luxurious Aquae Sulis Spa or lounge by the grass-edged pool. Plus, the resort features a wide selection of dining and entertainment options, from casual to elegant. All services and amenities synonymous with JW Marriott are at your fingertips when you visit.
I met Don Mixon of Madrone Mountain Vineyard. His wines are delicious!! He is a boutique producer of artisanal dessert wines in the Applegate Valley of Southern Oregon. Near the California-Oregon border, they make very limited quantities of hand-crafted fortified red and late harvest white wines -and though they do not have a tasting room per say - you can make an appointment and sit down with Don for a tasting at the vineyard. Give him a call if you are passing thru.
Coming this September 2008 he will have a tasting room nestled in Central Point between Rogue Creamery and a chocolate store I did not catch the name of. Can you imagine tasting blue cheese, sweet wine and rich chocolate all within feet of each other? Heaven.
I enjoyed all of these wines immensely- but will let his words tell the story:
The Special Select Late Harvest Gewürztraminer 2005
Tasting notes:
Beeswax, honeysuckle and lychee bouquet. Full, round mouth feel with ripe mango, stone fruits and melon. Bright, fresh acids on the mid-palate balance the substantial sweetness. Rose petal notes on the back palate confirm the varietal character. Finish is long and full of spice – hints of nutmeg, white pepper and the bite of honey.
The Starthistle Cuvee 2007
Tasting Notes
A nose of cream, mint, linden flower and ripe pineapple is followed by classic Riesling flavors of lime, peach and wet stones. The mid-palate hints of something tropical — I think of mango, guava, coconut — while the finish, bright and clean, rolls languidly into leafy notes – black currant bud, fresh-cut hay and thyme. Ethereal and deeply complex, this wine should live long, long. Who will let it?
Mundo Novo 2005, Portuguese for “New World,” is a red dessert wine
Tasting Notes
Inky black, the wine is almost impenetrable to light; some dark purple at the rim; stains on the
glass as the wine swirls; great extraction. On the nose, deeps notes of red and black currant
blend with blueberry and violet, followed by more savage smells – truffle, cedar, thyme and
leather – all wrapped in sweet vanilla
How CUTE!! I learned at the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory that players can go pink for Mother’s Day and today played with official LS bats dipped in a special pink dye. The autographed bats then go for online auction to raise money for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation!
Bid now for that ultimate gift. Father’s Day is just around the corner, doncha know! And if these major league prices are out of your budget, did you know that you can order custom Louisville Sluggers for that special someone? What a fun gift idea!
The truth is, Chile is freaking FAR away. It is the Southern Hemisphere, so far down that it owns part of Antarctica! Chile is in the Eastern time zone, so my internal clock is not shot to hell, which is such a bonus.
So, how do you get down here? You have a few options, but the best is to have someone help you out. Marcelo Diaz owns Americas Travel in San Francisco and he gets the best rates for Latin America because of all his connections. He has been working with American Airlines for so long that he can get you the best rates as well as plan an amazing trip for you. And, as you know, when you are planning a one-in-a-lifetime trip, service and experience is the most important things. THANKS MARCELO and THANK YOU LUIS at American Airlines.
Details:
American Airlines has 2 flights daily to Santiago Chile. One from Miami, which is 8 hours and one from Dallas, which is 10 hours. Just call Marcelo and he will get you on a plane to chile.
Come with me as I speak with Luis from American Airlines, who is on this extraordinary trip with us about AA’s flights to Santiago and what to pack on your trip to Chile.
