Going Back to Cali…

Photo credit/Larry Dale Gordon

It’s been 11 years since my feet have walked down Sunset Boulevard, or my hands held bags from Rodeo Drive. The last time I was in California I walked the pier in Santa Monica, got stuck in rush hour traffic in my Dodge Stratus rental and snapped a photo with Jeff Goldblum at Lucky Seven’s nightclub. Last time I was in Cali I was a novice traveler with not one stamp in my passport. How times have changed.

Next week I’m going to back Cali… Los Angeles to be exact. I wasn’t a fan of the City of Angels last time I was there, but I’m looking forward to giving this another try. I’ll be shacking up at the Four Seasons Beverly Hills, touring some new properties at LA Live, and visiting some friends at ABC. I’ll be having dinner with editors and literary agents, interviewing some of the top promotional booking coordinators in the city, and if I’m lucky, spending a little time poolside before getting on a flight to Sydney, Australia.

There might be some shopping, some cocktails, some pampering and some dreaming. Simply put, this pretty woman is going back to Cali…

Exploring Washington DC as a Solo Traveler

U.S. Capitol Building

Traveling alone, whether for business or pleasure, can be an eye-opening experience. It’s a chance to do things that only you would do, without having to worry about entertaining or accommodating others. Go to the museums, eat hot dogs from a cart, spend the day laying on the beach, or cuddle up in your hotel bed with room service and free HBO. Whatever you choose to do, traveling solo is a great way to experience a new or familiar city.

On a recent trip to Washington, DC, I was reminded of all the things I loved to do in our nation’s capitol – the Smithsonian, a morning run through The Mall, shopping in DuPont Circle, strolling down Embassy Row, and the list goes on. My past trips were with nieces and nephews or business partners, which meant I set the itinerary to cater to someone else. Not this time – I was taking on Washington, DC, my way! Next time you’re up for a visit to DC take some time to explore your favorite things about the city, and if you get lost I’ve listed a few Washington DC must-sees for you in my recent Women on Their Way column with Wyndam Worldwide.

24 Hours…in Miami

Room service, Mandarin Oriental Miami

Yin. Yang. Up. Down. Breathe in. Breathe out. Relax. Repeat.

That was the instruction from my spa therapist at the Mandarin Oriental Miami’s spa during my Mandarin Oriental Signature Spa Treatment (MOSST). I needed a quick getaway alone – away from the laundry, the dirty dishes, the emails, the dust bunnies… I grabbed a cheap flight on JetBlue and headed to Miami. A good night’s sleep, warm bath and one spa treatment later and I was a new woman.

My Saturday in Miami started with a cup of coffee on the balcony of Room 816 at the Mandarin. I highly recommend this hotel to travelers – the price is right and every room has a balcony or terrace, making it an ideal Miami getaway. My spa appointment wasn’t until 11 a.m., but the request you arrive an hour early to check-in, fill out forms and enjoy the relaxation room before your treatment. With two hours to spare, I opted for a run along Brickell Key to start to day. Continue Reading…

24 Hours…in NYC

NYC at Night; Empire State Building

The song ends, “the best that you can do is fall in love…” While it is meant to bring Dudley Moore and Liza Minelli  together at the end of “Arthur“, the concept isn’t lost on me as I stand on the balcony of my 15th floor hotel room, overlooking the iconic Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building.

New York City is a little bit of everything in 34-square-miles: it’s inspiring, exciting, daunting, sexy, stunning, inviting, disturbing, dream-like and mesmerizing. It can blow a 5-year-old’s mind, as she watches the characters of “The Lion King” come to life before her eyes, or bring out the kid in any adult during the tree lighting in Rockefeller Square every December. New York can be complicated – it can cut a young business owner’s dream in half with 50% less funding or forbid a blind date’s dream of love when the ex walks in the door. It can also be the city where dreams come true.

Dancers pirouette on Broadway, entrepreneurs invest on Wall Street, restaurant owners taste-test in Chelsea, artists inspire in SoHo, students co-habitate in the Upper East Side, historians investigate on Ellis Island, tourists stop and gaze at buildings as if they don’t have tall steel structures where they’re from. Whatever borough you’re in, there’s something new to see, do and feel. Continue Reading…

The Palm Reader of Key West

The boat approached Key West and I was suddenly seduced by the tropics. The swaying palm trees, the island music, the smell of conch grilling on the harbor BBQ – we were finally here, ready to bask in the sun for 48 hours and de-ice from the frigid Boston winter weather.

Wicker Guest House

The room at the Wicker Guest House was perfectly eco-friendly, clad with a baby gecko in my bed the next morning. I hope he was happy there, because it took about three seconds for me to jump up and scream, which I’m quite sure startled the little guy right out of his relaxation.

Outside our room a hammock swayed in the breeze and palm trees shaded the pool area. There was an unmistakable Hemingway-esq ambiance of the place that tucked guests in for a good night’s sleep.

Key West Sunset

The next day, wild dolphins welcomed us in the Gulf of Mexico – five to be exact. The night was capped off with a sunset sail, complete with a storm approaching from the east. As we sailed back to land, water spouts formed behind us – mini-tornadoes were stating their claim on the sea and I was eager to get my feet back on land.

We walked through the rain past a dark man in all white. He had long white hair and a white beard and appeared randomly throughout the day on street corners or in storefronts. He was hard to miss, and was now perfectly perched on a wooden chair ready to read my palm. The storm was getting closer, but I was focused on the man in white. Continue Reading…