No matter what your travel style, Monterey County is sure to please. Deemed one of the most breathtaking areas in the world, this coastal gem will undoubtedly leave travelers in a state of speechless awe at the wonder of natural beauty that is so much bigger than themselves. Monterey County boasts that kind of exquisite beauty that makes us contemplate our own existential insignificance in the vast and incredible beauty of nature.

My adventure in Monterey County began picking my family up at SFO airport and then driving down the Pacific Coast Highway to Monterey. The drive was absolutely gorgeous—crystal waters, rock formations, and mountains all drenched in the spectacular California summer sun. Along the way we stopped at a fruit stand and had a wonderful homemade walnut pie, organic strawberries, raspberries, and coffee. Everything was fresh and delicious. We got back on the road, but it wasn’t long before I was saying “Grandma we have to stop and take pictures here!” This happened approximately every twenty minutes—I was just so overwhelmed by the beauty of the California coast that I couldn’t stop taking pictures.

We arrived in beautiful Monterey and drove down famous Cannery Row to our exquisite hotel—The Monterey Plaza. The Plaza is the first hotel in the city of Monterey to be honored as a Mobil Travel Guide Four-Star Awarded property. Situated right on the bay, this gorgeous hotel took my breath away with its classic elegance combined with the natural beauty of its location.

My grandma sat down while I got in line to check in and my little brother explored the lobby and veranda. I was next in line to check-in when my grandma came up to me and told me she wanted me to come outside; there was something I had to see. I told her I’d be out in just a minute but she told me I needed to come right then. I walked out onto the plaza and instantly understood—a couple was getting married. What a spectacular location for a wedding!

After we checked-in and got settled into our beautiful balcony room we decided to head out and explore. We spent the afternoon walking down Cannery Row, checking out all the cute little shops and just enjoying being together in such a charming place. My little brother absolutely loved every minute of the vacation and said that he was “definitely moving to Monterey!”

On our walk back up Cannery Row my grandma saw this beautiful little gallery with illustrated pictures that reminded her of England so we decided to go in. The walls of the Rip Squeak Gallery were lined with framed images from the books and I was taken back to my childhood and the bedtime stories of the field mice of Strawberry Fields that my grandma used to tell me as a little girl. She saw that I had fallen in love with these beautiful books and bought me the set. Not only did I find these beautiful books to add to my collection, but that day the illustrator of the Rip Squeak series, Julia Harnett Harvey, was there doing a book signing and signed my books for me.

After spending most of the afternoon on Cannery Row, we decided to go back to the Plaza to shower and get ready for dinner. That night we went to the Sardine Factory and had an incredible dinner. The atmosphere in this restaurant was indescribable. Each room had a different ambiance to it that was entirely its own. I had never been in a restaurant like the Sardine Factory before and was absolutely enchanted.

There are four different dining rooms: The Steinbeck Room, The Conservatory, The Captain’s Room, and the Wine Cellar. Walking into each of them was pure sensory delight. We ate in the conservatory room and our taste buds were tantalized with each course—calamari, aged steak, garlic potatoes, fresh asparagus, and molten chocolate cake for desert.

Our second day in Monterey we decided to go on the Pacific Coast drive to Big Sur. It couldn’t have been a more beautiful day. The shutter of my camera was clicking non-stop as we drove down the stunning California Coast. It was so surreal to look around me and relish in the fact that I was driving down Highway 1 on a beautiful summer’s day. I had always dreamt of doing that and it was the most wonderful indescribable feeling of pure happiness as I shared this experience with my family.

We finally decided to turn around after hours of driving up the coastline and the views were just as breathtaking the second time around. I was filled with that same feeling that had been filling me all summer of being completely unable to wipe the smile from my face. There was something magical about California, something that spoke to me, and made me feel like I belonged there.

We stopped in Carmel on the way back to Monterey and toured the historic Carmel mission and then walked around quaint downtown Carmel, looked at the fabulous artwork in the galleries, stopped for ice-cream, and then spent the late afternoon and early evening at the lovely Carmel beach. After our full day we decided to spend the evening in and had a simple dinner of French bread, brie, and raspberries on our balcony listening to the soothing sound of the waves and marine life.

Our final day in Monterey was spent at the famous Monterey Bay Aquarium. My family and I were all extremely impressed by the conservation efforts of the aquarium and of the way the staff got visitors involved with things such as e-cards to Governor Schwarzenegger supporting marine conservation. The aquarium is a beautiful facility and it was a really enjoyable and educational experience watching the sea otters frolic, the feeding of the penguins, and discovering the magic world of seahorses. It is a definite must when visiting Monterey.

That evening we got all dressed up and took the historic 17-mile drive out to the Inn at Spanish Bay. We sat out on the patio which was right on the golf-course and had an amazing view of the bay. As dusk settled in the air was filled with the highland sounds of the Scottish bagpipes. After listening to the beautiful music of the bagpiper we ate at Roy’s Hawaiian fusion restaurant for dinner. It was exquisite, delightful, decadent. We started off with a delectable appetizer of shrimp, scallops, and spare ribs, shared the coconut crusted New York strip steak and the crab crusted sea bass for our main course and ended with our favorite, sinfully delicious chocolate soufflé.

Filled to perfection by our wonderful meal we headed back to Monterey. Along the way we stopped at Pebble Beach so I could take nighttime pictures of this beautiful beach. I took my heels off, felt the sand beneath my toes, the salty sea breeze flowing through my hair and I breathed a sigh of total contentment as I willed my Nikon to fully capture the stunning scene before me.

The next morning it was time to bid farewell to Monterey. It was difficult to say goodbye to a place so beautiful and so filled with wonderful memories, but I knew we’d be back. And so it was with a twinkle in our eyes that we said adieu to Monterey with the silent promise that we’d soon return.

Though I had a fantastic experience in Monterey it does not even begin to cover all the amazing things Monterey County offers. Monterey County is a culinary haven. This county boasts a sinful round-up of local calamari, red abalone, artichokes, sardines every-which-way, stellar Salinas greens and a cornucopia of events. The lineup of fall events includes the Big Sur Food and Wine Festival November 6-7, Cal Stamenov’s 13th Annual Truffle Dinner at Bernardus Lodge December 11, and the 13th Annual Great Wine Escape Weekend November 13-15.

For the traveler looking for a true walk on the wild side, Vision Quest Ranch, a one-of-a-kind bed & breakfast where resident elephants deliver breakfast and guests bed down in one of four safari tents is the place to stay. This magical site, tucked deep in Steinbeck Country on 50 acres, is also home to Wild Things, an exotic animal training facility with 100+ critters. Outdoors is for the birds, or at least all about the birds: a trek to Moss Landing, flanked by Monterey Bay and Elkhorn Slough, it is a nature lover’s paradise and one of the nation’s top birding sites.

For the adventure-seeking traveler surfer Laird Hamilton’s newest thrill, stand-up paddle, offers a new and interesting skill to master. The trend combines surfing with canoe-style paddling in a stand up position, exercising the core and sense of balance.

From haute hotels and foodie festivals to stunning scenery and awesome adventures Monterey County is a destination overflowing with attractions to please every traveler. A place as exquisitely beautiful as Monterey County cannot be done justice through even the most eloquent words, let me simply say it is a place to be seen and hope that my words have ignited your travel bug. 

For more information on Monterey County visit their website.

Looking for a locale that offers fun for the whole family and won’t break your budget? Santa Cruz is the place to go! This charming little ocean-front city offers a wide array of things to do and see while visiting. My family and I vacationed there in August, but unfortunately only had 24 hours to spend in this fabulous city. Despite the time constraint, I was determined to see as much of Santa Cruz as possible.

Upon arriving in Santa Cruz we checked into our wonderful hotel, the Hilton Santa Cruz, and then set off on our adventure. The first place on our list, with my ten-year-old little brother in tow, was of course the famous Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. The air was filled with excitement-the screams and laughter of children rang in our ears, scents of popcorn and cotton candy wafted to our noses, and the glorious image of the Giant Dipper-a hallmark of the West Coast’s oldest beachside amusement park-danced in front of our eyes and beckoned us to join in the fun.

With the sparkle of childhood in his eyes, my brother rushed off towards the boardwalk and in the swirl of that beautiful California summer afternoon I let go of my adulthood and let the adventurous fun-loving girl of my youth lead the way. We spent the afternoon breathing in the sea air, and taking in the beauty of the beach as we rode the rides of the Boardwalk evocative of a time of good ole fashioned family fun. We frolicked about in the water, chased one another on the beach, ate our fill of salt-water taffy and cotton candy, and as dusk began to fall, felt that blissful exhaustion after a day of fun.

We were famished after our day of fun in the sun so it was time to head for dinner. Having heard that The Crow’s Nest offered a fantastic dining selection of fresh seafood along with a fabulous view of the harbor, we were all eager to get  there. We were not disappointed–the view of the harbor at night was absolutely stunning. As we looked out the window of the waterfront restaurant the sails of the boats swayed in the wind and the lighthouse lamp burned bright. It was the perfect ending to a wonderful day. It only got better when the food came–calamari so tender it seemed to melt in your mouth, Alaskan salmon fresh and flavorful, and decadent chocolate cake for desert.

We got an early start the next day and after a continental breakfast at the Hilton, we headed out for a couple more hours of fun in Santa Cruz. We strolled around the quaint downtown area and browsed in all the fabulous shops, art galleries, and bistros. There was something so laid-back and inviting about downtown Santa Cruz, something that made you sad to have to leave.

We found the most wonderful bookstore there, Bookshop Santa Cruz, and being the book-loving family that we are, there was something there for my grandma, brother, and myself. The best moment was when I found the luggage tag–Fly Girl–my TangoDiva profile name. It was the last one and I smiled thinking that it was meant for me and California was once again reassuring me that I really was meant to be there and would return one day.

After our fabulous 24-hour sojourn in Santa Cruz it was time to bid adieu to the original “Surf City”, but our wonderful memories of our stay traveled with us.

Though my family experience only shows the delights of a day in Santa Cruz, the city holds many more treasures to explore. Santa Cruz boasts many tourist attractions such as Lighthouse Point, the surf museum and most famous surfing spot in Santa Cruz County. This is a definite point of interest for outdoor adventurers and historians alike. The Santa Cruz Wharf boasts a variety of gift shops, restaurants, and interactive marine life activities. For those with a passion for marine life, the Seymour Marine Discovery Center offers the world’s largest blue whale skeleton, touch tanks, an ocean discovery shop, and unsurpassed vistas. If you’re looking to discover more about California’s rich Spanish and Native American heritage then the Mission Santa Cruz is just the spot.

Fall in Santa Cruz has lots to offer no matter what your travel style, there’s something for everyone! Starting October 11, 2009 – January 31, 2010 from 11am  & 2pm, Santa Cruz will be hosting weekend tours of the Monarch Butterfly Grove. Join a docent naturalist & see thousands of monarch butterflies wintering in Santa Cruz at Natural Bridges State Beach. 

If you’re the artsy type then the Open Studios Art Tour is a definite must. On the weekends of Otober 10-11 and 17-18 from 11am – 6pm you will be able to meet local artists in their studios, see processes, and purchase art!

Holiday festivities begin October 24 with “The Missing Arm of William Waddell,” a half-mile guided walk through a forest decorated in the spirit of Halloween. Santa comes to Santa Cruz County November 28! Santa & his reindeer surf into Capitola Beach. Holiday family fun on December 5! Santa Cruz Harbor will dazzle in the gleaming lights of 50 decorated boats in the lighted boat parade.

Time to pack your bags… Santa Cruz is calling!

For more information on Santa Cruz County visit their website.

Aruba, Jamaica, ooh I want to take you…Divas have I got a deal for you! Half Moon, a luxury resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica that prides themselves on providing exceptional service and being noted as one of the finest resorts in the Carribbean is offering incredible deals this fall.

This gorgeous resort stretches across 400 lushly landscaped acres, boasts 33 stately three- to seven-bedroom villas, each with its own personal staff and pool, 152 luxurious suites and 46 breathtaking rooms. Talk about an oasis in paradise! Now get ready, here comes the best part…their fall package offers the lowest rates of the year, starting at only $159!

The package, valid from September 1-October 31st, includes accommodations, unlimited use of tennis courts, gym, paddle-boats and kayaks as well as a personal invitation to the managers cocktail party. The best part for families is that children ages 3-12 sharing a room with two adults stay for free (maximum of two children per room).

Rates are as follows for double occupancy: (Minimum stay three nights)
Superior room $159
Deluxe room $189
Junior suite $239
Deluxe suite $359
Hibiscus and Royal suite $419
Imperial and Spa Suite $679
2 Bedroom Royal Suite and two bedroom Hibiscus suite * $649
*Price based on four adults

The voucher code for Fall Break is HMFB09. All rates are subject to 10% service charge and 8.25% tax.

Pick up the phone and call your travel agent because Jamaica is calling and Half Moon is waiting!

If you’re looking for a fabulous summer getaway that won’t break the bank, then the Mammoth Festival at Mammoth Mountain is the place to be. This fabulous festival takes place August 14-16, 2009 and celebrates the finer things in life: wine, music, food and art—all in the beautiful outdoor setting of ski resort turned summer destination Mammoth Lakes, California. Not only is the festival fabulous, but the special lodging packages are superb! Here is what is included:

Mammoth Festival Package from $98

Package includes two nights lodging, admission to Saturday’s main event at the wood site with unlimited wine tastings and concerts, a commemorative event t-shirt and a commemorative wine tasting glass for each adult on the reservation.

Ultimate Mammoth Festival Package from $125

Package includes two nights lodging, admission to the Friday wine walk in the Village, admission to Saturday’s main event at the wood site with unlimited wine tastings and concerts, admission to the champagne brunch at the Yodler on Sunday, a commemorative event t-shirt and a commemorative wine tasting glass for each adult on the reservation.

Visit MammothMountain.com for further details on festival tickets and lodging.

For more information on the Mammoth Festival visit our Calendar of Cool.

Relax, Recharge & Rejuvenate this fall as The Sands At Grace Bay
Turks & Caicos Resort partners with Fit Yoga editor Rita Trieger to host its final
yoga-inspired weekend of 2009!

The Sands at Grace Bay will be hosting its final “Relax, Recharge & Rejuvenate Weekend” of the year from October 2-5th, 2009 at a special discounted rate. This yoga-inspired 4 day/3 night all-inclusive offer features twice daily yoga instruction by Fit Yoga editor-in-chief Rita Trieger, a soothing spa treatment, a snorkeling excursion on Grace Bay Beach and much more. This popular weekend package is based on availability, so don’t wait any longer to book a rejuvenating, oceanfront retreat!

Enjoy 4 days/3 nights on stunning Grace Bay Beach in Providenciales, Turks & Caicos for only $1,395.00, single occupancy. The complete package includes:

Spacious garden studio accommodations; breakfast and dinner daily; twice daily yoga classes taught by Fit Yoga editor-in-chief Rita Trieger; goody bag of spa/yoga products; one complimentary spa treatment courtesy of Spa Tropique at The Sands; spa incentive good for 10% off of one additional treatment; and a snorkeling excursion on Grace Bay Beach.

Inspired by the natural elements and beauty of the Turks & Caicos Islands, this special weekend will be an extraordinary time of rejuvenation, renewal and personal discovery.  Participants will be able to choose from a creative and interesting variety of classes and activities resulting in a unique opportunity for a very personal experience. Individual classes will focus on a wide range of intentions from building strength and improving flexibility to developing meditation practices that will help to cultivate abundance and reset goals.

For reservations and to check availability, call toll-free from the U.S. (877) 777-2637; from Canada (800) 567-5327; online or contact your travel agent.

New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art will be home to a broad range of exquisite art not to be missed this summer. As a museum-o-phile and fervent art lover, I envy New Yorker’s who have the opportunity to go to the MET at any time and just immerse themselves in the wonder of the countless masterpieces housed there. However, for those of us who don’t have that luxury, the MET most definitely needs to rank on our Top Ten sites to see while visiting the Big Apple.

Some of the key summer collections at the MET include Francis Bacon, A Centenary Exhibition; Pen and Parchment: Drawing in the Middle Ages; African and Oceanic Art from the Barbier-Mueller Museum, Geneva; Augustus Saint-Gaudens, Roxy Paine on the Roof, Michelangelo’s First Painting, and Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul.

Already booked for the summer? The MET has a whole host of fabulous upcoming fall collections as well. Who doesn’t want to take an autumn trip to NYC? And with all the incredible artwork at the MET you will be sure to have your cultural and artistic palate more than satisfied. The upcoming exhibits include: Vermeer’s Masterpiece The Milkmaid, Imperial Privilege: Vienna Porcelain of Du Paquier, Looking In: Robert Frank’s The Americans, Watteau, Music, and Theater, and Eccentric Visions: The Worlds of Luo Ping, just to name a few.

With a line-up like that how can you afford not to go?

Haven’t traveled in a while? It may be time to dig through those travel files buried deep in the back of your closet. Racked up so many frequent flyer miles you’ve basically gone on your last five trips for free? The thought that you passport could expire doesn’t even enter your jetset diva mind, like our Head Diva Patti Mangan who recently went home to check her passport only to find out that it expires in September. Divas are in a frenzy as they try to plan trips with the hassle of renewing expired passports (myself included). With all the stringent regulations put on travel it is vital to make sure that yours is kept up to date!

Most Recent US Passport Requirements:
As of June 1, 2009, U.S. citizens must present a passport book, passport card, or other travel documents approved by the U.S. government to enter the United States from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda at all land borders and sea ports of entry. For details, read about the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.

Need to Expedite Your Passport Processing:

The US Passport Bureau gives you all the information you need to expedite the processing and shipping of your passport. For more information visit their website.

Website to know:

1. Apply, Renew, Change Information or Report a stolen passport at this website: http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html

For more information check out our Essentials page

Adventure-seeking travelers thirsting to trek across a dramatic, ancient landscape or mountain bike on some of the world’s finest single track terrain are in luck. Virgin Atlantic Airways, Sierra Designs and BritRail are offering an incredible four-night prize for two independent explorers who want to play in the great outdoors of one of Europe’s most beautiful, unspoiled and undiscovered playgrounds.

With, three national parks, 498 miles of national trails, 18 regional walking routes, six purpose-built mountain biking centers and 180-miles of coastline, Wales is made for outdoor enthusiasts.

For travelers looking for offbeat adventure, Wales offers the International Bog Snorkeling Championship, the Man vs. Horse and Man vs. Train Competitions and the Real Ale Ramble. Check out these quirky events here.

For adrenaline junkies, there is the Welsh-created sport of coasteering which involves diving from cliffs and rock scrambling in the water. To learn more visit this site.

To enter the “Outdoor Wales” sweepstakes, go to www.travelwales.org by September 30, 2009.  One lucky winner and a guest will be flown to Britain on Virgin Atlantic Airways, then travel by train to North Wales with their first-class four-day BritRail FlexiPasses. The prize includes two nights at the luxury Escape Boutique B&B in the Victorian resort town of Llandudno, where Snowdonia meets the sea, and two nights in Southern Snowdonia in a luxury yurt at Graig Wen complete with wood-burning stove, beds and cooking facilities.

For adventure travelers who want to overnight in Wales’ great outdoors, Sierra Designs is providing the award-winning Lightning XT 4 tent (as seen in Backpacker Magazine), two Verde 20-degree sleeping bags, and Cyclone Jacket & Cyclone Pants.

This incredible prize is valued at almost $5,000.

For more information about the “Outdoor Wales: travel sweepstakes and to learn more about Wales as an adventure travel destination, do take a gander at www.travelwales.org.

Plan a weekend away from the hustle and bustle of the city—head to Lake Tahoe for that much needed R&R. Spend your vacation at the Tahoe Lakeshore Lodge & Spa enjoying the free, Latin-infused, acoustic sounds of flamenco guitars and jazz music as you immerse yourself in the beauty of magnificent sunsets and beachfront accommodations and the luxury of spa treatments.

‘Music on the Beach’ at Tahoe Lakeshore Lodge & Spa features the eclectic sounds of Martin and Vargas and Niall McGuinness New World Jazz Project in a free concert series, as the sun sets over the beach every Thursday and Sunday, July 16 through Sept. 3.

To add to the romance of a sunset concert, guests can add a wine basket to their reservation or any other lodging package for $50; it will include a bottle of wine, cheese and crackers, assorted snacks, souvenir wine opener and beach-friendly glasses.

Elements Day Spa offers the perfect complement to the live music on the beach, with their wide range of relaxing and rejuvenating treatments including massage therapies, reflexology, aromatherapy, and facials and skin treatment.

Lakeshore’s Girlfriends Getaway is the perfect way for divas to channel their inner Goddess with their packages which include discounted lodging, 2 one-hour massages, a bottle of wine, and $60 dinner voucher at Blue Water Bistro.

Book early and save up to 20% on summer accommodations. Call 800-448-4577 or visit: www.tahoelakeshorelodge.com

Director of the de Young and the Legion of Honor, John Buchanan, brings the fabulous work of John Baldessari to San Francisco. The print retrospective includes over 100 prints that span the four decades of Baldessari’s post-painting period, 1970s to the present. Jordan D. Schnitzer, a prodigious collector based in Portland, Oregon has loaned his nearly complete archive of Baldessari’s printed work to the Legion of Honor. He is truly impassioned by Baldessari’s work and his ardent speech moved me to my core. His fervor created a mounting sense of anticipation as I waited to move into the galleries to see the exhibit—I was not disappointed.

As I walked through the exhibit on a tour led by John Baldessari himself I was intrigued by his completely unconventional artistry. His prints challenge viewers to break their conventions about almost every aspect of what we have traditionally deemed makes art aesthetically pleasing: the dimensions, rectangular shape, color palette, and concepts of beauty.

His art tells a story, one whose plot is anything but simple—but is deliciously frustrating and wonderfully fulfilling. The great thing about Baldessari’s work, like any good story, is that with each read you see new things, things you had missed before, or perhaps the same things but with a new perspective. When speaking of his work Baldessari said “I think of myself as a writer—instead of words I’m using images to create a narrative flow.”

Baldessari’s fascinating style of printmaking involves appropriating photographic images and text with his signature colorful cutouts and creating collage-esque compositions. In this he challenges our tendency to prioritize certain parts of an image, particularly the face, and charges us to focus on other parts of the image. When asked about the significance of covering faces with colored circles, Baldessari replied that with his artwork he is trying to illustrate “how we view the world and prioritize our vision. In my work I found that I could be the master of my own universe and control what people see and pay attention to,” which once again echoes the narrative motif of Baldessari’s prints.

This is an exhibition not to be missed and one which encompasses the history of this incredible artist’s printmaking. If you’re looking to be intellectually and artistically stimulated, then John Baldessari’s collection will most definitely deliver. There is a quiet, subtle beauty about this man’s work which he says is completely unintentional. “Each time an artist does something they get better at creating beauty—so why work at it,” John Baldessari.

The Legion of Honor and Baldessari are waiting—Go! For more information visit their website at http://www.famsf.org/legion/