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With Blue Super Moons, you can see them everywhere in the world (like this Louis Vuitton shop window, haha) because the moon is super high close to the planet we all live on. And like an ordinary find such as Blue Moon beers 🍻, Blue Super Moon are earthly sightings… but unlike earthly occurrences, they happen every 10 years or so as the second full moon in one month. 🍻 That’s like twin moons.
And now that we’ve established Blue super moons are SPECIAL, the 2023 one was seen from Lake Michigan to Toronto to the Apollo ruins in Greece. And won’t return until after 2030. In my area, it was cloudy and rainy so I missed the super event live, but am over the moon seeing all the after-photos with the building foregrounds. 🌑 But you can find more natural spots too…
Next time you wonder where to catch the moon, the beach is a perfect place. After you check out the sunset on the horizon sitting on the cool sand, you can wait for the blue super moon to appear like glitter in the air.
🎶Pink “Glitter in the Air” song lyrics:
Have you ever wished for an endless night? Lassoed the moon and the stars and pulled that rope tight Have you ever held your breath and asked yourself Will it ever get better than tonight?
And then there’s the day…
When I was in elementary school, one of my favorite day field trips was to the Planetarium where we saw the 3-D planet films and constellation light experiences.
And these post-internet days, telescopes are still in great use. One of the largest telescopes is at the U.S. Naval Observatory in DC.
Today we can see the daily and current moon phase with NASA’s high-tech equipment. And if you want to check it out while you’re visiting DC, these are some great one-of-a-kind DC boutique hotels to stay at… and maybe experience and enjoy DC Restaurant Week.
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Lobster paella is the new Vegas popular surf-and-turf 🦞 Look for Luke’s Lobster if you just want a nibble. 😋
In my corporate days, I stayed at many value Las Vegas hotels as the largest convention center in the U.S. that’s surrounded by 24-7 food, one-of-a-kind casino entertainment, and never-ending shows… You’ll never forget the ching-ching sound of slot machine coins that is like a ringing in th ear when you walk past and for weeks later.
It’s the amusement park experience times 10. And if you’re visiting for the first time, maybe you take time to get off-the-beaten path, and checkout the nearby wonder of the Hoover Dam just to get away from the glitz and glam for a few. Or if you love roller coasters 🎢, the most unheard-of Sahara Resort has a fast one on The Strip.
While in Vegas, you can expect nothing less than discounted Surf-n-Turf and high-end foodie experiences if you choose. Or Rain Forest Cafe for the kiddos. You won’t be disappointed with all the options. Martha Stewart even made a restaurant debut.
My fave walk-thru hotel is still the Bellagio that’s famous for its outdoor on-the-hour Fountain Show usually narrated by Tony Bennett (Rest In Peace) singing that’ll probably still go on… and the colorful vibes with Chihuly glass flower ceiling.
And if you want to feel like you’ve been whisked to another country or Venice to be exact (one of my fave places on this planet! 🚤), then the Venetian is a luxury hotel with a canal gondolier.
And if you want to be in the middle of it all, Paris, MGM, and Bally’s could be your choice.
But the hidden gem value is this hotel where you’ll get lush for a fraction of the cost of the other luxury hotels on your way to one of the oldest (Caesar’s Palace) and one of the newest (Wynn) hotels on the Strip. You can find a magic show from a previous America’s Got Talent winner and may even catch a free outdoor pirate show nearby on-the-hour in passing.
Don’t miss the value Las Vegas hotels so you have more to spend on entertainment and foodie adventures!
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A fair is a fair and has it’s usual fair stuff with food, rides, contests, and a carnvial atmosphere. Fair? And the OC fair events in Costa Mesa (Orange County) you can count on that lasts for 23 days to be exact.
And while the fun fair may end right at summer’s end or when school starts, 🤔 the fair event remnants last beyond through autumn. You can check out the farm and garden classes, agricultural markets, and make and DIY home contests.
You can also check out the Costa Mesa speedway events as Costa Mesa is home to the motorcycle speedway that the OC fair helped to birth.
When I think of the OC Fair, I think of the New Year’s Day Rose Bowl parade in Pasadena just minutes from Costa Mesa. And the OC Fair may not be filled with roses, but is full of orange inspo and expos. 🟠
Remember, California has a superior fruity advantage, so don’t be surprised if there are unique citrus conversations even when the yearly theme changes. Orange youglad?
And this fair stands out ’cause it’s super family-friendly with all kinds of young kiddo events like the Centennial Farm.
It’s a great exposure to learning about farming culture if you live in a city or the ‘burbs. In California healthy style, there are 8 nearby certified farmers markets (verified to sell what they make, aka organic.
These fit the bill: Laguna Niguel, Irvine, Tustin, and Costa Mesa (where the OC fair is), Santa Ana, Placentia, Huntington Park, Huntington Beach, and Anaheim. And if you need a central place to stay, this Costa Mesa Avenue of the Arts boutique hotel has a garden oasis inside and the exterior has sleek architectural lines (and reminds me of the National Gallery of Art in DC designed by Architect I.M. Pei).
And instead of traveling all around creation in farmers market-related OC Fair events, you can see all of them at the OC Fairgrounds, so you can compare apples to apples. 😃 And oranges to oranges.
And when the OC Fair events are over, besides farms and speedways, you can think about contests that maybe you want to enter for next year if you’re arts and crafty or like to decorate table settings… that’s more my speed. 💕
If you’re missing the carnival fair atmosphere, the California State Carnival is worth checking out in Sacramento, CA.
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My last day on the health and wellness restore and detox experience The Chopra Center Store where the program wasMeditation room
Health and wellness travel is one of the newest travel trends. The effects can last a life time. I got my first real experience actually 3,000 miles within the States, where I’m from.
I was living a stressful work life (as many of us Americans do), and needed some rest and peace. I’d never tried yoga before. What better place to try than at the Deepak Chopra Center in Carlsbad, California (in San Diego). I stayed at this great Omni La Costa Resort where the Chopra Center is located, that’s just perfect for R&R. You go back to your room and it has a spa-like waterfall shower.
For health and wellness travel, I took this Perfect Health program at the Chopra Center that’s based on Deepak’s book called “Perfect Health.” I researched and chose the health program because it included the entire mind-body-spirit connection.
The best thing about it was that there were classes to teach about areas of specific doshas (you learn this in the book) and what types of foods, music, and exercises are great when you have an imbalance.
Now I know which scented candles to buy when I’m feeling worried or irritated! I attempted meditation for the first time and practiced yoga for the first time. They should be done separately. We also got these life balance marma massages (ayurvedic term), that are different than Swedish massages.
Over a decade later, I am still “over the moon” with that weeklong trip. I use all that I learned and I share a lot with my friends.
They laugh when I break out the three types of spices that I bought in the store (Kapha, Pitta, Vata), and blind them to tell me which one they like the most, based on smell. Then I “magically” tell them what their imbalance is. Because the body tells you what you need. It craves what it doesn’t have and wants. It’s a fun thing to do and helpful when you are feeling a certain way or moody and don’t know why.
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The Watergate Hotel is walking distance to the Georgetown Waterfront
The best Washington DC convention hotels and neighborhood areas are just minutes from free museums, the downtown mall, and some of the best restaurants in the nation. I grew up in the area and worked in local DC area hotels. As an insider, I have watched the DC area revitalize. And some areas in the past that weren’t all that safe are now walkable. 🎉
The northwest area where the White House is, is one of the nicest (the Capitol is on the east side as many get confused). Both the east and northeast areas and growing. And Adams Morgan/U Street areas and surrounding are still hoppin’ busy.
Some hotels have changed names and some are built in the middle of the city where there seemed to be no additional space available to erect another hotel building (like the newest Marriott mega hotel – more below).
Depending on where you want to spend your time in DC most, here are some of my favorites based on long-standing reputation, trying their restaurants, and just being in the area (I don’t usually have to stay in a hotel but I have because I love hotels).
These are the Best 5 Washington DC hotel areas (I wouldn’t mind staying in or visiting again as a local guest getaway 😊):
Georgetown and Virginia border (4 miles from Ronald Reagan National Airport). One of the coolest hotels after it got its facelift before 2019, is the Watergate Hotel near the Kennedy Center and just minutes walking into Georgetown (mega outdoor shopping streets) that runs along Rock Creek Parkway (nice drive). The name may sound familiar as that’s where the Watergate Nixon scandal occurred in the early 70s. They’ve remodeled the hotel since. The hotel now has a really neat vibe inside that you’ll feel right away.
…And I’m told this renovation comes with a Mid-Century vibe in hotel personnel uniforms, but I was too busy admiring the lobby architecture, restroom design (check it out!), and food in my face in the restaurant to notice! 😅 Oh, and if you take an Uber or cab to the airport, be sure they drive across Arlington Memorial Bridge so you can catch a glimpse of the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery that you definitely don’t wanna miss!
White House and 14th Street. In the heart of DC, you can stay at the beautiful established Willard Hotel near 14th Street (that has a bridge named after it). The Willard serves a nice afternoon tea comparable to the Ritz Carlton that is known for its tea and scones. The W is one of the best Washington DC convention hotels with views of the Washington DC “mall” on the rooftop bar terrace (POV Lounge). If you take a Segway tour you’ll be able to see the best view of the Capitol from Pennsylvania Ave. even during rush hour!
Convention Center. One of the newest hotels built after 2010 is the Marriott Marquis. It has an open lobby and a covered connector to enter the Convention Center as one of the most convenient, best Washington DC convention hotels. I stayed there for a convention I was actually working at. It’s just minutes from DC City Center, a newly revitalized area that has luxury, high-end shopping, and great restaurants… and just minutes from more great restaurants in DC Gallery Place or Chinatown. During Cherry Blossom season, this is where you want to be.
These are happening spots now, but both were areas you did not want to walk around in late at night prior to the 90s.
Dupont Circle area. The Omni Shoreham in Adams Morgan/Woodley Park area is also a grand hotel closer to the Smithsonian National Zoo. The area is great if you want to be a little bit further from all the hustle and bustle of the downtown mall area. I planned parties for a few years at one of the popular restaurants across the street, so I know the scene. 🎉
It’s in the downtown heart of many events, and I remember enjoying working at Zoofari (where all the foodie restaurants come together and display a tasting or tapas), Zoolights (great for kids!), and all the fun Embassy events. You get your cultural fill! 🌎
Southwest Watefront (Wharf). And if you want a really nice lounge area, visit the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. It’s close to the L’Enfant Plaza metro stop and the popular re-vitalized Southwest Waterfront (The Wharf) area. It’s funny because most of these areas have changed so much… if only you were there! 💭
The Wharf used to be where you bought crabs from the boats on the water to take home, but people didn’t go there as a destination place or to dine at restaurants.. you can now take the water taxi (the bright yellow color of the original taxi cabs) run by The Potomac River Boat Company. They run regularly by the Wharf, Georgetown, Old Town Alexandria, and National Harbor.
(Florida West Coast Beach includes Tampa, Clearwater, Saint Petersburg)
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West Coast Florida Tampa map
Who says you can’t find culture in the Tampa area?
The Florida west coast beach side has that.. Besides beautiful beaches with sugar fine sand and aqua color ocean that goes on for miles, the Tampa area is filled with museums.
If you appreciate art, you’ll be intrigued with the Dali Museum located in Saint Petersburg (Salvador Dali was one interesting surreal painter).
And the Chihuhly Museum known for the inspiring colorful glass art pieces you’ve probably seen all over the world (like the famous glass flowered ceilings in the Las Vegas Bellagio Hotel).
In that area, I recommend a boutique hotel, Treasure Island, just footsteps from the Florida west coast beach. It’s perfect for a romantic or solo getaway. The room is modern and has a convenient kitchenette and turndown service (with chocolates 🙂
Tampa area is known for fresh grouper and this hotel serves a delicious grouper meal.
turn down service with chocolates 🌺kitchen inside roomFresh grouper salad at Treasure Island
If you want to be closer to Clearwater, known for its clear waters and awarded beaches (where you can almost go as far out as far as the eye can see), there are 2 hotels I love.
If you are looking for opulence or a hotel with a nice spa, the Sandpearl is recommended.
Opal Sands Hotel is a modern hotel with matching kitchen in the suites. It has a nice pool with pool drinks. And has free bikes you can check out to ride to the market or along the pedestrian/bike path to the pier with beautiful sunsets.
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Lake Placid Lodge
Do you know anyone looking for a romantic and safe U.S. destination wedding hotel venue location to marry? You can make this year one of your best.
Indeed…people are still getting married in 2020, that will go down history as an unforgettable year.
If you want to elope, the U.S. has many great places to consider. Upstate New York is actually a great place to have a summer or fall wedding.
Maybe as surprise to hear, like it was for me, New York produces some of the best wines in the U.S. The state of New York used to compare to California wines. One of my favorites is Adirondack Winery’s Baco Noir Pinot Noir. The winery store is located in Lake George across from the Sagamore Hotel. And probably one you wouldn’t notice as a small shop tucked in the middle.
In the New York Adirondacks, ritzy Lake Placid Lodge and the Sagamore‘s sister property, is open. They’re taking reservations for weddings as small as 10 guests as long as you stay at the lodge, which is a real romantic treat.
It has a beautiful rustic backdrop and upscale tree top feeling on Lake Placid. You can still make this year a great one!
How does this sound for menu items? Lobster bisque, King Crab Crusted Halibut with Lobster Beurre Blanc, Pan-seared Chilean Sea Bass, Two-tiered wedding lemon cake with blackberry layer, lemon buttercream. …those sound delicious to me.
All are part of several wedding hotel packages to choose from including a cocktail reception and wedding dinner.
If you had your mind set on summer international travel or a destination wedding, since the U.S. has been banned from traveling to Europe and many countries around the world, Mexico is one of the few places open to Americans you can still visit.
Having been to Mexico a few times, the best are Playa del Carmen, Cancun, and Cabo San Lucas. They’re great beach oceanfront cities to hang loose in and relatively inexpensive compared to other places to visit. Value for the money is good as you can find all-inclusive deals!
I wouldn’t want to make the individual U.S. decision whether to let my kids go back to school in a month during a pandemic. Escaping all the chaos sounds like a great idea! But instead of making those decisions, I am actually helping a friend with weddings (or what’s left of weddings) at this beautiful Lake Placid Lodge property. My hotel catering contract and paperwork (but paperless) handling is coming in handy 😉.
I think that would be a kid’s dream and music to their ears to get to have a travel adventure. That’s like skipping school for daily playing adventures.
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Magnolia Bakery reminds me of the buttery frosting cupcakes I grew up with.
And if you want a break from trip planning, something to get excited about are Magnolia Bakery cupcakes. That was just one of the stops on the “Sex In the City” tour that a highschool friend and I went on that gave us great nostalgic laughs. Not the reboot, but the original storyline (aka when they were in their 30s and you and I can relate 💕). This may not be the reason for your visit, but it can be the cherry on top. 🍒
BTW, this was Carrie Bradshaw’s (Actor Sarah Jessica Parker’s) “SITC” apartment where she was a Vogue writer and before she married “Big” (Actor Chris Noth). This of course is in other than the quaint West Village neighborhood where the cupcakes are. 🧁
One very chic cute (boutique) hotel you can stay at with amazing skyline views of the One World Trade Center Tower is in the Bowery in lower Manhattan. Stay over a Sunday night during summer 2023 New York City restaurant week and get a real deal. Share a room stay with a girlfriend and it’s way less than a cost of a spa visit! Or you can check out a more central hotel (e.g. if Central Park or the Upper East Side is on your main agenda).
Especially if you want to check out a great Restaurant Week restaurant, still kicking it is David Burke Tavern by Chef David Burke (famous entrepreneur chef who also makes cookware ). Get a rooftop reservation in one of the draped tented tables and you’ll be with terrific backdrop views of the tallest U.S. building, One World Trade Center that’s unforgettable and reminds us never to forget (9-11). ❣️
One World Trade Center viewDavid Burke Tavern is still participating in RW over the years!
They even made us a chocolate lollipop tree treat (to add to our sweet cupcakes)! 🍭 Check out 2023 NYC restaurant week ($30 for lunch and $45 for a 3-course prix fixed dinner with seafood, steak, fish, and chicken choices… and of course, dessert!). And if that’s enough, take a look at the DC restaurant week picks!
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Ready for your summer Ocean City, MD adventure? Cross the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and you’re there! It’s still under $5 for cars after all these inflation years.
Ocean City MD gem is the beach I grew up giddy over. 🤸♀️
It was a summer teen getaway from suburban life malls (…rough life, I know).
The landmarks are an amusement park, beach, and Fun Island hangout spots where caramel popcorn, funnel cake, and malt-vinegar french fries mixed scents linger in the boardwalk air. 🍿It’s an easy drive past the Bay Bridge on 50 East… and then you’re there! From Northern Virginia, it’s a 4-hour drive.
And as I grew older, I discovered there are much nicer beaches with seashells (aka blue-green water and sugar-fine sand 😊)…
But Ocean City MD is still one of the most happening beaches on the East Coast… and still always in my heart. ⛱️
It’s a great affordable vacation place to create memories… like I did where the older ones are in fuzzy memory photos (not like these). 😊
Meet Boots and all his fuzzy friends 🧸
Ocean City, MD is a great choice ⛱️ if you’re on a limited budget because you can drive to the beach without hassle AND there’s so much innocent putt-putt arcade entertainment for everyone… that’s retro-cheesy suitable for the beach setting, but maybe not back home. 😁 …and it’s still a great place to fly a kite. 🪁We got the same rainbow octopus tentacle kite each year or tossed a frisbee for no-frills fun.
People flock there from all-over the northeast even though there’s a closer Ocean City, NJ beach to them… so there must be something special about the fun Maryland beach and nearby Delaware beaches.
There’s something enjoyable for everyone. You can simply marvel over the outdoor sand art scene or on the iconic white wooden benches you can flip the back around to timelessly enjoy the ocean or people watch.
But as I entered my 30s, my tastes had refined… so I found this hidden gem hotel, Coconut Malorie’s, that’s on the quieter bay side (away from the busy lights and sounds, and riff-raff boardwalk areas of the beach town).
With age, you get wisdom and can easily switch standards back and forth from good ‘ol American beach fun, and adventurous Agadir or Cinque Terre azure blue ocean and mountainous beach terrains. It’s like neon-lit Vegas versus demure Paris. It’s all good in the contentment of life! 🥂
At any beach, everyone is more carefree and has sand in their toes that helps to make life lighter. 🩴 You forgive the wet bathing suits and flip flops eating outside enjoying crabs and lobster bites that bond our experience with other vacation-goers.
When you had enough beach entertainment, you get to drive back to your relaxing hotel. And at the Malorie, you drive back to the cute outlined cut-out windows that BTW have made a comeback in HGTV home trends. You reflect on how far you’ve come staying in a cute modern doll house.
And at the Malorie, you can enjoy a lovely Juliette balcony with French Doors and a cool view of the bay to appreciate even more how far you’ve come.
If you want to feel grown up or in your own tropical oasis with bay views, a nice pool, and your own refrigerator (critical for beach living!)… plus, warm beachy sand pastel vibes, then this could be your place at least for a temporary stay.
One of the best times to visit Ocean City MD is over Labor Day weekend when you catch the last few days (but not the last rays ☀️)of summer and enjoy the tail-end of famous Maryland crabs doused with Old Bay. 🦀
And if you’re with the kiddos (or someone else’s kiddos), take them to the Carousel Hotel that’s kid-friendly. The hotel is a local tradition (where weddings still take place) and overnight offers include breakfast, free cancellation and built-in entertainment options.
I remember the days when we would go by in the winter and this hotel was one of the still-open spots with a year-round public ice skating rink! ⛸️… plus outdoor/indoor pools, table tennis, and game room.
And having worked in restaurants in the summer Ocean City MD gem during college summer breaks as a getaway from the city (Washington DC), I got a new appreciation for fresh see-food year-round.
And on bayside up Coastal Highway (the main drag) is a hidden food-ier experience. 🍽️ : The Hobbit Restaurant… yes, named after The Hobbit (pre-Lord of the Rings) fantastical trilogy by Peter Jackson. This could be your new destination.
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Historic Gaslamp Quarter near the San Diego baseball stadium
If you’re a baseball fan, San Diego Baseball is one of San Diego’s identities and the schedule is in full swing … like many major American cities, it has its own national baseball stadium and team. It’s not named after one animal, but many kinds and not just oriole birds or cubs… it’s the Petco Park Stadium that appreciates cats and dogs alike. 🐱🐶 And their owners. 😊 That includes Padres (means father). Go Padres! ⚾️
And you can catch a glimpse of this San Diego baseball park from the hotels and buildings nearby.
One such hotel is the Omni Hotel that you can’t help but get in the batting zone frame of mind. Decorated with famous baseball player bats and balls throughout… um, have you heard of Babe Ruth and Yogi Berra? Regardless, you will in this baseball vibe museum hotel.
Babe Ruth bat
San Diego is an area that is a popular dream place for young professionals. It’s low in humidity and known for its better weather reputation close to the water and mountains. Hello, sunshine and relaxtion! ☀️
I have many memories in San Diego and Pacific Beach with family and friends including my Carbsbad wellness memories a little up north. And at the Omni you can catch some wellness rays at the pool or get a massage especially if you’re there for a convention like I was!
And walking distance to the convention-centric San Diego hotel is the downtown San Diego Convention Center. Getting there, you may stumble over some Bird scooters… are those still around? 🛴
I tried one around the city in the Gaslamp Quarter and discovered it’s not safe or reliable. It could die on you at any time which works for its drop-off anywhere convenience (or inconvenience if you trip over one 🤨). It’s tempting to ride with flip flops with the beachy relax vibes minutes away. 🩴 But save them for the sand.
Electric bike could be a better-controlled ride. Just sayin’! And don’t forget to get a nearby bite along the San Diego Bay water by Seaport Village. A good place to do that is next to The Kiss or The Unconditional Surrender statue you can find in other palm-lined states (hint: it’s on the east coast and the largest producer of oranges that’s not California 😉).
