Wherever I May Roam

When In Cuba...

2020-04-07T11:54:00.001-07:00

I've decided I am just going to post based on what interests me, versus chronologically.
For the A type personality I am, this is very hard, and off-brand.
But giving it a whirl.

The date is September 2019 and the location is Havana, Cuba.
My counterpart is once again the effervescent and amazing travel partner, Mary.

Night one we did the obligatory classic car ride and photo opp. Most have no AC and their emissions are questionable at best, but it was so fun to ride around in them.

We were staying at the relatively new Grand Packard in the center of town; great location.

Views from Old Havana.

We of course had to try a Cuban sandwich, in Cuba. We asked if they just called it "sandwich" because it was in Cuba, and they said no. The questions ended there.

An overpriced and pretty boring daquiri with Ernest Hemingway at his favorite haunt, The Floridita.

Our final night dinner was at the Buena Vista Social Club. It was a great showcase of Cuban talent, and only had a slight hint of tourist trap.

I am so very glad that we got to Cuba; who knows how long the little access that is left to Americans will remain.
The people were lovely, and I always felt very safe. But the signs of poverty are just everywhere, and sad. The lines for gasoline alone were enough to make you really appreciate the things you take for granted daily in the US.
Most of the people we interacted with (locals) do not know life before the Revolution, and to them, this is the norm. It was eye opening to hear their thoughts.
I've been a lot of places, but truly have never been more grateful to land in the US than when I departed Havana. Our freedoms are not to be taken for granted. A trip to Cuba will set you straight if you weren't sure.

Asia Immersion

2020-04-05T12:36:00.000-07:00

...aka that time we barely escaped a quarantine nightmare aboard the Diamond Princess.

To set the scene...back in June 2018 Peggy (my mother in law), Mary (my sister in law) and I decided to join Dave's cousin Terry and her travel group on a cruise through Asia.
That was one part of the world I had yet to conquer, and here was a unique opportunity to get a "taster" of many different locations.
Side note: A cruise is not how you immerse yourself in a culture. You just don't get enough time in port (most days). But cruising does offer an opportunity to sample many places while unpacking only once.

My particular adventure began in Phoenix, as that is where we had spent the holidays, with my parents. While there, I did a pretty spectacular number on my sciatica, which will become a major storyline for this Asian adventure.

I flew from Phoenix to Honolulu to spend some time with my college friend Lisa, who has been living there with her family since 2018.

The next leg of my journey took me from Honolulu to Singapore, via Tokyo.

These first three flights and airport maneuvering really tested my mettle with my newfound sciatica issue. Walking, and for long spurts, was not easy. I had to stop and sit many times getting around the airports.

Sitting was also an issue on these long haul flights. Thankfully I had banked all of my American Airlines points when I booked the flights originally and had first class accommodations for two of the three legs.

Anyhow, I made it to Singapore late on Saturday, January 4.

Peggy had departed from Ft. Myers, FL to arrive in to Singapore, and Mary had flown from New York City to Bali to host a yoga retreat, before meeting in Singapore.

With the gang together, we conquered the city.

Thanks to my new gimp, I was a super-user of Grab (their Uber).

We wandered, we ate, we drank (including the way overrated and overpriced Singapore Sling at the Long Bar) before ending the night at the light show at Marina Bay Sands.

The next day we headed to the cruise ship port in Singapore to board the Diamond Princess.
And with that, the sea leg of the journey had commenced.
The first part of the trip looked like this:

I was very excited to finally get to Viet Nam. It had long been on my travel bucket list. Our first port was Phu My, which meant a 90 minute transfer with a driver to get to Ho Chi Minh.

Mary had spent time here a few summers back so was our de facto tour guide and she ran a tight ship. First stop was a great pho restaurant.

Our next stop was Nha Trang, a surprisingly fun beach town. We visited Nagar Cham Towers (photo immediately below), and then Long Son Pagoda and the beach (photos in the collage at the end).

We enjoyed the sunny, warm temps and side bonus of sharing the beach with tons of Russians on vaca.

Our adventures aboard the Diamond Princess led us to the bustling city of Hong Kong. Keep in mind, we had yet to even HEAR the word Coronavirus (or Covid-19) even though it was starting to rear its ugly head in Asia, soon to affect Hong Kong.

Just shy of their dealings with Coronavirus, we enjoyed two full days in Hong Kong. At that time, the civil unrest was still an issue--to the point our planned evening cruise to see the nightly light show was cancelled out of an abundance of caution.

We opted for the touristy hop on, hop off bus to get our bearings/get around both islands. The two day ticket fare included our tram ride up for the beautiful skyline, seen here. Other than that, not sure it was worth our Hong Kong dollars.

We did manage to hit many of the high points, including the Jade Market and the Ladies Market. There was amazing street food and obligatory dim sum to help keep our energy up.

Our second night there ended with a lovely dinner at Qi Nine Dragons, which offered a rooftop view of the light show (video below). This was not on the agenda and was a lovely surprise, and a great way to close out our Hong Kong introduction.

Next stop: Taiwan. We docked in Keelung and met up with a driver I had hired to take us around Taipei for the day.

We began the morning with a traditional Taiwanese breakfast in Keelung. Our driver ordered all the local favorites, all variations of egg with some sort of carbs. All delicious.

Also, it was Peggy's birthday...

High on our wish list was to visit the Beitou Hot Springs.

Our driver did a fantastic job talking about life and culture in Taipei, and took us for lunch at Din Tai Fung. Taipei truly was a lovely surprise.

Next up was Kyoto.

We enjoyed amazing street food for breakfast, before heading to the historic Gion district.

The final stop was the small town of Toba, famous for the ladies who dive to harvest Morimoto pearls.
It was nice to be in a port where walking was the best mode of transportation (most of the other ports required buses, Ubers and other transportation to get from point A to point B).

As evidenced by the clothing in our photos, we had reached the cold part of the journey. Packing for this trip was one of the more challenging adventures for sure.

The next morning we arrived into Yokohama, on January 20. Because my flight out of Narita Airport was on the relatively early side, given it was a 90 minute transfer not including Monday morning Tokyo traffic; I made it my mission to be among the first off of the ship
Turns out, I was person number one.
I do remember lots of eyes in the customs hall, and signs about temperatures being taken remotely but still, not one word, written or spoken, about Coronavirus.

However, the people that boarded that ship the afternoon after I disembarked were about to become the poster children of the virus.

I'll be forever grateful for this opportunity to explore Asia, and even more grateful I did not have to spend another two weeks aboard that ship, in our room.

In a World Turned Upside Down

2020-03-26T12:07:00.000-07:00

This photo was taken on one of my last trips before...this. I was in idyllic Palmetto Bluffs, located outside Hilton Head in late February. The calm before the storm.
What to call this? The common word is Quarantine.
I am liking Hiatus more.

The reasoning behind it is sound, though it took me a bit to come around to it. Being involved in travel and meetings, I saw what the slow roll up to what is currently happening was doing to meetings and events and all I knew was that it was disruptive. Destructive.

I had no idea the magnitude of Coronavirus, nor the severe damage it would do to the hotel, airline and overall travel industries, as well as many others.

I now call March 12 Meeting & Events DDay. That was the day it became very clear there were going to be no meetings, no events, no gatherings, for some time. How long? No one knew. We still don't know.

So here we are, in a world where being connected virtually solves many issues, but presents many others at the same time. Who knew when ordered to be "socially distant," so many would rebuff? We love to be in our own world on our devices, almost to the point of no human interaction in the regular course of a day when you would look around airports, restaurants, coffee shops.
Now, when being virtual is the order of the day, it's suddenly a punishment.

I am so grateful that this pandemic strikes when we are able to be socially connected even though not physically. Being able to video chat, or see Facebook memes to lighten up the mood, has been a true reprieve in what can be a dark time.

But I truly believe that once this is all said and done, humanity will again cherish HUMAN interaction. Value it. Understand its worth. And maybe that's a lesson that we can take away from this.

I started this blog a while back to start tracking where I have been. Travel is my job, but it is also my passion. Clearly, with life my posts have not been kept up with.

So I vow to take this time to update the blog, to use it as an outlet, and to help me grow and prepare for what is next.

For whatever reason this is happening, I do believe a silver lining is that it will force us all to reassess, to take a step back, and to come out on the other side with new appreciations, and even new goals.

Here's to a swift end to the pandemic with minimal lives lost, first and foremost. Here's to reconnecting with family and friends, in an unprecedented way.
And here's to a bright, new future.
It may not look exactly as we had planned.
But it will be shaped by us with a new sense of gratitude, and purpose.
At least, that's what I hope for me.

Be well. And travel on.

Puerto Vallarta: One More Time, With Friends

2018-09-20T12:21:00.002-07:00

In March, it was back to the land of sunsets and tequila.

Time to operate our 2018 corporate trip program at Grand Velas Nayarit in Puerto Vallarta.

My love of breakfast in Mexico cannot be discounted. This buffet didn't disappoint.

Dave and his trip buds.

More sunset beauty.

We've started to incorporate corporate social responsibility in to our programs. This year, we partnered with a local charity near the resort, and our attendees teamed up to build kitchens for local families in need.

Did I mention the sunsets?

Dave offered to be our entertainment for the evening. We stuck with the professionals.

He and some attendees went fishing (not so much catching) one morning.

Another great program at a gorgeous resort. On to 2019!

Vegas, Baby!

2018-09-20T12:12:00.001-07:00

In January, Dave and I headed west so that he could experience Las Vegas for the first time.
We had a lovely room with a fountain view at the Bellagio. Hours of entertainment.

The fountain and Las Vegas Strip by day.

The Bellagio atrium was fully decorated for the Chinese New Year.

We headed outside of the city and took in the red rocks.

Exploring the Venetian.

Checked out Wahlburgers.

Combining work and play is my forte. This meeting planner event was hosted by the MGM Grand and showcased their new "Stay Well" concept. There is a dedicated meeting floor as well as sleeping rooms with specially curated "wellness" effects and menus. Great concept.

San Diego at Christmas

2018-07-02T11:43:00.002-07:00

My travels led me to San Diego during December. Quite the magical time to be there (and the weather wasn't too shabby, either).

I stayed the historic and lovely Hotel Del Coronado, which featured an upside down Christmas tree in the foyer.

Torrey Pines was as lovely as I imagined.

The hotel decorations were off the chart everywhere we went.

Lunch al fresco in December? Yes, please.

Hanging with some cuties at Sea World.

We got to experience an amazing lunch with handmade tortillas in Old San Diego. Dreamy.

Married and Bright: A Napa Wedding Celebration

2018-07-02T11:37:00.001-07:00

I was 12 years old when I started as a mother's helper at the Freccia house in Stamford, Connecticut.
Vinnie (far right) was two. Sam (far left) would be born not long after I started. And Max wasn't even a twinkle of the eye.
So you can say they've been in my life a really long time.
The photo above is from my wedding, 15 years ago.
Fast forward to November 2017 and Vinnie was marrying Alix. In Napa. Of course, we were going to be there.

The journey began in San Francisco. A quick overnight, before making our way north to my mecca: wine country.

We did a great tour, which took us to three fantastic wineries.

The wedding gang was all staying in Santa Rosa, and we met up for drinks the night before the big day.

Pre-wedding, Dave and I hit the redwood forest, which was simply amazing.

There were In n Out burgers for lunch, of course.

The wedding took place at a gorgeous venue, Trione.
The bride and groom had selected another winery for the ceremony, Paradise Ridge. The destructive wildfires the month prior did significant damage to the winery, so plan B was put in motion in record time.

So very happy we got to celebrate Vinnie and Alix, with amazing friends in a wonderful venue. Cheers!

A Journey to the Land of Fire and Ice

2018-07-02T11:25:00.003-07:00

Iceland...
[Editorial update March 26, 2020: Wow Airlines is out of business]

I am pretty sure this is the farthest north I have been to date, surpassing Alaska.
First, I bit the bullet and gave the new discount airline offering service to Reykjavic from the US a try. I had a great experience on Wow.
I mean, the "air sickness bag" was even good for a laugh.

As long as you know what you are getting into, it's pretty easy and a great value.
1) There is a fee for a checked bag, as well as most carry on bags
2) They charge for everything on board, including water. Bring your own food and drinks and you are good to go. The food cart has tons of options though, and the prices aren't terrible.
3) Unlike the major carriers, there are no TVs to watch; they have IPads for rent. Best bet is to load your own device with movies, etc (Netflix and others let you download certain ones) or bring a DVD player.

There were plugs at every seat and--gasp--they actually worked.

Be forewarned, however--the one downside I can see is that most US gateways offer just one flight per day. Which means if your flight gets cancelled for any reason, it could be days before you get on another as the flights are usually sold out.

But the price was right, service was good and if you are interested in using Reykjavic as a stopover to or from Europe, it's an even better deal. (Wow allows you 48 hours of layover without an increase in fare. From Reykjavic, there are many major European cities to get to, including London, Dublin, Munich and more.)

Now, for my adventure on land.

I flew on Halloween, on a redeye, and arrived early the next morning. It was dark. Until almost 9 AM. So that was something to acclimate to.

After a city tour and some other activities as part of the program, I ventured to Den Danske Kro, which had received good reviews online as a fun "local" type place. Plus, it was two-for-one drinks at happy hour; much appreciated in a city where things were quite expensive all around.

A visit to Iceland would not be complete without a dip in the Blue Lagoon.
A bit of a tourist trap, but worth the time for sure.
My recommendation for those flying in from the US on the red eye: It opens early in the morning. Make a reservation (MUST DO) and stop on your way from airport into town; it's just about half way.
It's a great way to kill time before you get in to town; and your hotel probably won't be ready until later in the day anyhow.
Plus, after a long flight, geothermal waters are pretty awesome.

The food was quite simply exquisite. The lamb was outstanding.

As was the requisite lamb dog.

One evening we were picked up by these bohemoths.
They took us offroading; quite an experience.

We were of course on the hunt for the Northern Lights. This photo was taken by the professional photographer they had traveling with us so I take no credit.

Truth be told, you could not see this with the naked eye.

But it was still an awesome experience to be out there. Cold, but awesome.

I consider it "half-checked" off my bucket list.

We journeyed to less-inhabited points to enjoy local lobster after the Northern Lights search.

On the final morning, they took us not far outside the city for an amazing dunebuggy adventure. I haven't been to the moon, but would think it's a lot like this.

Overall, Iceland lives up to the hype. It's not a cheap venture so bring your wallet, but be prepared for great hotels, restaurants and culture.
I will go back to explore more of the island, likely in summer.
I want to be there when it stays light past 4 PM!

Puerto Vallarta Squeeze...Take Two

2017-11-15T11:30:00.001-08:00

I manage a corporate incentive trip each year.
The trip has three phases:
1) Select a potential destination and visit as many hotels and resorts as possible in the shortest amount of time humanly possible, causing a whirlwind of room types and amenities to keep track of. Once the resort is selected....
2) Return midway during the planning phase to walk through the details of the program--where the meals and functions are, what decor to use, etc.
3) Execute the program, with your attendees in two.

So in October, it was time for step 2 of the process for our 2018 trip to Puerto Vallarta.
Off to the Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit it was.

I very rarely sit at the window but of all trips to have that seat, the view was pretty good.

I had a welcoming committee one evening when we were returning from some off site meetings. He was just as displeased about being stuck on my balcony as I was him being there. On that we agreed.

But once he was helped out of my room (courtesy of maintenance) I could enjoy the signature PV sunset friend-free.

Just your average Mexican condiments.

Finalizing all the little details for a great program; can't wait to get back to Puerto Vallarta in March. Cue the whales!

Hot Times in the Big Easy

2017-11-15T11:24:00.001-08:00

Work led me to New Orleans in August.
It was hot, but nice to be back. I hadn't been since a cruise we went on in 2005, before Hurricane Katrina.
Other than Bourbon Street going through some roadwork construction while we were there, New Orleans looks to be in fine condition.

The event I was attending hosted their kick off dinner at Mardi Gras World, located on the banks of the Mississippi. As billed, we were guided through the (stifling hot) garage where many of the amazing Mardi Gras parade floats are stored.
Once through the garage, the venue has a large and multi-faceted event facility, which housed our 4,000 attendees easily.

As expected, the entertainment in NOLA was amazing.

Breakfast the next morning....there really wasn't another choice. Beignets for the win.

Can't wait to go back to New Orleans! Maybe not in August.

Charlotte--Getting Our Motor On

2017-10-05T10:49:00.001-07:00

The kids and grandma hitched a ride with me to Charlotte in August. What better way to keep the younger set entertained but staying at Great Wolf Lodge?

The kids loved the "lilypads", the water slides and all the other fun water-based stuff.

The bunk bed upgrade was well-received.

I surprised the kids with dinner overlooking the Charlotte Motor Speedway. That evening was the Summer Shootout. The kids loved watching the racing action--a first for them.

The Great Wolf Lodge ears never came off.

Seattle (in the sun!)

2017-10-05T10:39:00.002-07:00

We opted for the train transfer at the end of our Alaskan cruise. We departed Seward around 7 AM and arrived in Anchorage, Alaska's capital, a few hours later. Very scenic and a great way to transfer. The train drops right at the airport. Simple.

I learned on my operational site visit last July that the red eye home (the only option if you can't depart ANC first thing in the AM) is pretty brutal.
We realized we could get to Seattle at a decent hour, and neither of us had been there. So, we opted for a quick overnight visit to Seattle, before continuing our journey back home to the east coast.

We stayed at Pineapple Five, a lovely boutique hotel not far from all the major Seattle attractions, including Pike Place.

More seafood....of course.

I am not a huge coffee fan (perhaps sacreligious, I know) but we did walk by the original Starbucks. It was Saturday AM and the line was wrapped around the block; good thing I didn't have my heart set on a venti latte.

Seattle, known for being gray and rainy, was sunny and spectacular. We had a great 18 hours.

Alaska. Enough Said.

2017-10-05T10:30:00.000-07:00

We were sad to bid adieu to Vancouver, but it was time to head north along the Inside Passage of Alaska.

After a day at sea, we docked in Ketchikan, also known as the salmon capital of the world.

While Dave went fishing for said salmon, I went bear and wildlife hunting with some work peeps.

We finally saw a baby bear....this was my pic with my phone.

This was my boss' pic with his super duper camera and lens.

Dave and group were successful on their salmon fishing morning.

Alaskan crab legs for lunch. Pretty sure Dave was doing it wrong.

Touring legendary Creek Street.

Day three was Hoonah, a lovely little port solely owned and operated by the locals. No Diamonds International in sight! After some great whale watching, I dragged Dave and some others up a mountain to experience the ZipRider. 1,320 feet from top to bottom.
The day we were there, it was cloudy and drizzly. So when the gates opened, it was almost as though we were flying through a cloud. The drizzle felt like pellets going that speed, but it was amazing.
And then you broke through the clouds and could REALLY see how high up you were. Exhilarating.
Did I mention Dave hates heights? Trooper. I think he loved it.
ZipRider web site

We hosted a great event at the Duck Point Smokehouse in Hoonah with the local Big Brothers Big Sister chapter. Trip attendees brought gifts and monetary donations for the program. The kids performed a lovely local dance.

And then there was Juneau....

Dave and I took an excursion that required kayaking across Mendenhall Lake....

In order to be one of the few to get to see...this. Simply breathtaking. Blues like you've never seen.

That's not a backdrop. Pure ice. In an ice cave.
With the glacier constantly receding more than it advances, chances are the cave we were able to explore won't be there as soon as next summer.

Climbing on top of the glacier was just as awesome.

Post-glacier hike and lake canoe...duck farts at the Red Dog Saloon.

Skagway was our next and final stop. Dave and I took a hike around Lower Dewey Lake.

Hiking burns calories, which we replenished with some salmon dip. Because, Alaska.

Skagway, home of the reindeer fart (not to be confused with the duck fart). For the record, Dave preferred the reindeer fart. Don't tell Juneau.

Some classic Skagway fun. Ladies of the night...and Dave.
The late 1890s (Klondike gold rush era) were a hot time in Skagway. Since then....they bank on offering glimpses of the 1890s.

Our final day of the cruise offered a morning wake up call at Hubbard Glacier. Dodging ice on the way in was fun to watch.

Alaska is amazing. *Disclaimer*: It was never really high on my bucket list. Having now had the chance to go not once, but twice, I stand corrected. It's magical, majestic and worth the investment of time and money to get there. Take your time. Do it right. And definitely have a reindeer fart.

No matter how far I go....home is always the best. We were so very glad to get home to these guys (and summer weather!)

Magical Vancouver

2017-10-03T13:20:00.003-07:00

Canada is truly a gem of a location. I've been to all of the "major" cities (I think) except for Montreal (on my short side of my really long bucket list). The people, the food, the weather and the sights in Vancouver did not disappoint.

I headed to the Pacific northwest in July ahead of our customer trip to Alaska.

Our hotel, the Pan Pacific, was located right on the cruise ship port. Guests could just leave their bags in the room on embarkation day and not have to deal with them until they showed up in their stateroom later.

But first, a few great days in Vancouver as guests began to arrive. They celebrated their 150th birthday this summer. Alas, they didn't offer me any cake.

One of my vendor reps, who's been to Vancouver many times, asked if I wanted to climb Grouse Mountain. There is a gondola option. We opted for the stairs. So. Many. Stairs.
I would consider myself in relatively good shape. Not ready to run a marathon, but certainly capable of a nearly two mile hike.
But it's almost all uphill. The Grouse Grind is a grind indeed.

Halfway.

But, the views were spectacular. So that was a great reward for making it up.

Ironically, the Grind allows for one way travel (up) only. The gondola whisked us down in no time.

Lunch was a welcome sight.

The next day, Dave finally arrived....

We hosted a customer dinner the night before we boarded the ship at Rogue. Seafood galore.

Late night (there may have been a few drinks involved) we ordered poutine. It was....interesting.

Embarkation morning we left our bags behind and headed over to Fly Over Canada, a must do 4D experience ride.

Gelato for lunch? OK.

And finally, on board the ship. Ready to set sail.
The Alaska chapter I will save for the next installment.

When Ireland Calls...

2017-09-26T08:34:00.000-07:00

An invitation to visit Ireland with a meeting planner's eyes was an opportunity not to be missed.

After the red eye from Philadelphia to Dublin and a quick transfer to the lovely Portmarnock hotel, a bit of traditional Irish breakfast was very welcome.

No rest for the weary, we made our way to the Guinness Storehouse and had a private lesson on how to pull the perfect pint. (Hint: aim for the harp.)

The next venue tour was of Croke Park. We got to walk the catwalk around the roof. A bit unnerving but the views were worth it.

Day two brought us to the lovely K Club in Kildare, where I made a new friend.

Next was a visit to Luttrellstown Castle.

Then a super-fun afternoon tea experience at the Westin in Dublin.

That evening, we had dinner at the historic Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin. It is easily one of the best dinners I have ever attended. The live entertainment was breathtaking, and dining on the very table the Irish Constitution was written on was beyond amazing. Truly a memorable night.

Day three began with a cup of tea at the lovely Village at Lyons.

We made our way across to Killarney and checked into the stunning Hotel Europe.

A quick trip through the gorgeous Gap of Dunloe via pony and trap.

Dromoland Castle.

Cliffs of Moher....

Stunning views of the ocean from our room at the Doonbeg Resort.

The dapper gentlemen of the group on our last night in Ireland.
The next morning we flew out of Shannon, and headed back to the US. A quick jaunt, but I came home with lots of ideas. We will see what 2019 brings!

Florida Girls Adventure

2017-08-11T13:36:00.000-07:00

Duty called and I had to make a Florida road trip happen.
Start in Ft. Lauderdale, drive to Duck Key (south of Islamorada) and then up to Orlando.
School has just let out so Kacy came along for the adventure.

First stop, Hawk's Cay in Duck Key.

Fruity drinks, manatee run ins and visits with the resident dolphins all made for a dream trip for Kacy.

Snorkeling, key lime pie and dolphin kisses rounded out our quick visit to Hawk's Cay in Duck Key.

A five hour drive brought us north to Orlando, and the Omni ChampionsGate.
They had just completed their new wave pool, which of course was a hit.

We put Kacy to work helping set up our show. It isn't all play. Everyone has to earn their keep.

Terrible photo but trust us, the wave pool is awesome. Counterbalanced by laps around the lazy river, of course.

Dessert on the balcony....rounding out a great trip. Until next time, Florida.

Midwest Road Trip--1,900 miles!

2017-05-28T14:46:00.004-07:00

We packed the fam in a rented caravan and headed west last weekend.
The destination was Cuba City, Wisconsin.
So we broke up the trip to visit with fam, do some sightseeing and eat some Chicago pizza.

First, the outbound leg.

Day one took us from Baltimore to Cleveland Heights, to spend the night with Aunt Lacey, Uncle Nate, Will and Sadie.

Day two we made it to Madison, WI in time for lunch. Cheese curds were a must.

Aunt Mary flew in from NYC and we explored Madison some more.

Day three we made it to Mineral Point, west of Madison and north of Cuba City.
The kids loved the homemade root bee floats at the brewery next to our bed and breakfast.

Grilled cheese made with Hooks Creamery cheddar? Yes, please.

That evening, we enjoyed a traditional Cornish pasty dinner in the miners cave in the basement of the B&B.

The kids approved of both the pasty and dining in a cave.

Day four...heading back east. We stopped for lunch at Giordano's in Hyde Park in Chicago. It didn't disappoint.

Night four, fourth hotel. We spent the evening on the shore of Lake Erie, just outside Toledo.

The final stretch back home....the kids were good travelers but worn out.

Heavenly Palmetto Bluff

2017-05-28T14:36:00.002-07:00

I got the opportunity to spend a magical night at the Montage Palmetto Bluff resort, located just outside Hilton Head, SC.
Sumptuous doesn't begin to describe the resort. The service and all the other elements are there. Just what you would expect when you think "Southern Hospitality".

The bourbon milk jam and biscuits left bedside were no joke. Pretty sure there is crack in the jam.

When you have one night at the resort, and it's the full moon, you don't turn down the offer to kayak.

A smores cart. You know I have a thing for carts bearing food.

Sunrise on the May River.

One of the cottages on property.

Kiawah...aka My Happy Place

2017-05-28T14:30:00.001-07:00

My company has been hosting an outing on beautiful Kiawah Island since 2014.
We tried to change things up in 2016 and have it in the fall, vs. the spring.
Hurricane Matthew had other ideas, and so, we got skunked. The redo was earlier this month.
Thankfully, no hurricane to contend with. Just sunny skies, great golf and a wonderful bunch of people.

Enjoying a glass of wine at the legendary Ocean Course.

Getting ready to send the group off at Turtle Point.

Enjoying what is one of my favorite meals of the year, the oyster roast at Mingo Point.

Jamaica, Mon

2017-05-28T14:26:00.001-07:00

Two certain people turn 40 in 2017. One waaaaay before the other (ahem, Dave).
To celebrate, we did some research and decided Jamaica was the perfect place to celebrate.

We could be on the beach by lunch, thanks to direct flights on Southwest out of BWI
Secrets has a resort there--adults only, all-inclusive, near the airport
Jerk chicken. Need we say more?

We put the call out to our friends and got a group of 14 together all in. We had a great long weekend playing on the beach and chasing the jerk chicken man around.

We heart the jerk chicken cart. It was a great bedtime snack too. I love my chocolate. But how could I turn down a cart of chicken outside the bar on the way back to the room?

The resident peacock definitely owns the resort.

A great time with great friends. What a way to welcome in our 40s!

Resort: Secrets Wild Orchid, Montego Bay, Jamaica

Phoenix Work and Play

2017-04-14T12:03:00.002-07:00

I was asked to serve on a committee for the National Wood Flooring Association, an industry group that promotes, you guessed it, wood flooring.
We had our first in-person committee meeting during NWFA's annual expo this week in Phoenix, so it was a chance to visit with my parents as well as deep dive in to our committee work.
Win/win.

The 'rents live in Scottsdale so I was doing a lot of driving up and down I-51 but it was all worth it.

Once the meeting part was over, mom, dad and I took a field trip to see the newest exhibition at the Heard Museum, "Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera". It featured many of their paintings and sketches, as well as photos of them. Fascinating.

It's the only time it will be displayed in the U.S. so we had to go.

Plus, it got my mom and dad downtown, which they hardly ever do.

Last evening, I took dad to the closing night reception for the expo, which featured the Lt. Dan Band. The talent Gary Sinise has in the band is amazing, and they all go to showcase their skills equally. Gary himself was happy to play backup, and of course would once in a while make his way off the dance floor to join the crowd; he knows what the people want.

A short two days in the Valley, time to head home to celebrate Easter with the family, and to unpack/repack.

Next adventure begins Tuesday.

Stuff vs. Experience

2017-03-17T13:10:00.000-07:00

We got new floors this week on our first floor.
When we built our house in 2009, I wasn't yet working for the country's largest flooring distributor, and we had a three year old and a baby on the way, not to mention two cats.
So we opted for the builder-grade, standard-issue ivory-colored carpet, figuring we'd upgrade "in a few years" to something better. Once the kids and cats had done their worst.

Well the "doing of the worst" came and went and now, almost 8 years later, we decided it was finally time.
We ordered the flooring, arranged the installer and Dave and I spent last weekend cleaning just about every nook and cranny in our home, whether the room was getting new floors or not.

The result? BAGS of garbage and donations.
The above photo is just a small sample.

And it further reinforced my long-held belief that money is better spent on experiences, not stuff.
The bags of toys (random pieces, long-forgotten "joys" and other treasures) were all put on the curb Sunday night and there hasn't been one cry of "Where's my [insert beloved toy] here?" from either child.

But do they remember our trip to Kalahari, or Cancun? Most definitely.

As the number of candles on the cake grow larger for each kid with each passing year, so do the gifts. For Christmas this past year, it was new tablets (which are well-loved and well-traveled.)
We've also started giving "experiences" as gifts, which is hard for a kid to understand at the start but over time, they get it. The promise of a day at Hersheypark, or a staycation weekend in Baltimore, something exciting to look forward to, gets as much of a reaction as the random Lego set that will soon just be a mix of pieces in the larger pile.

So we will continue on this path. Experiences, not stuff. It's money, and time, better-spent.

Daniel doing some planking on what is now our old carpet.

Slightly different angle, same room, new floors.

Slow Roll Out of the Gate

2017-03-16T11:29:00.001-07:00

My travel calendar got a little shifted this year for a few reasons, so the first quarter seems a bit quiet.

Don't worry. We'll crank things up to ludicrous speed in April.

But there have been some adventures to share so far in 2017.

There's nothing like a good "staycation" mom's night out. Some of my favorite moms and I get together each winter to go out sans hubbies and kids for some fun. In January, we shacked up at the Marriott in Harbor East (Baltimore) and tried the pedal bike thing. It was a fun way to get around Fell's Point but make no mistake, it was a workout. There is no motor aboard that sucker. We earned our beverages.

We road tripped it out west and spent part of a day at Harper's Ferry. It's where West Virginia and Maryland meet, and is chock full of history, and good climbing/hikes. It was chilly, and off-season, so we basically had the place to ourselves. We climbed to Jefferson's Rock.

The Harper's Ferry stop was along the way to a weekend adventure in Deep Creek Lake in western Maryland.

We hadn't seen much of the white stuff here in Baltimore this winter.
DCL had just enough to get a taste....

The kids enjoyed the (huge) icicles.

It was a fun getaway with friends....lots of laughs.

Work travel beckoned this month, consisting of a one day trip to Charlotte to meet with customers.

When one takes a 5:10 AM flight to Charlotte, breakfast at Bojangles is almost required.

The customer meeting was at the Charlotte Motor Speedway, a great venue for meetings and events. It's one of my go-tos when I have something to plan in town.

After the meeting, I checked out the NASCAR Hall of Fame, located in Uptown. While I am not really a NASCAR fan, it's a fascinating place and as I was there in a meeting-planning capacity, it offers a lot of great options for a fun customer or corporate event.

Off I Go...

2017-02-08T12:04:00.000-08:00

Travel. It's what I do. For work. For fun. I'd rather have an experience than a bauble or piece of clothing anyday. It's something Dave and I are trying to instill in the kids now too: the value of being, not having. Of visiting a new place, not having the toy that will bring fleeting joy.

I've been some amazing places, to be sure.

There are many more to explore.
The thought is, when the opportunity arises--take it. No, jump at it.
Sometimes, I get to experience these places with some of my most favorite people. And that makes it all the better.

Here are some of the places I've been lucky enough to visit in the past few years.

Check here for the next adventures.

2017 is on target to burn another hole in the trusty passport.

St. John's, Newfoundland (Canada)

Jockey's Ridge State Park, Nags Head, NC

Deming Park, Terre Haute, IN

Cancun, Mexico

Bradenton, FL

Honlfleur, France

Hersheypark, PA

Kiawah Island, SC

Ketchikan, Alaska

Legoland, FL

Omni Bedford Springs, PA

Omni Homestead, VA

Williamsburg, VA

Punta Mita, Mexico

Hoover Dam, NV

Isla Mujeres, Mexico

Barcelona, Spain

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico