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Does candle retail therapy exist? From my experience, I’d say it definitely DOES! And you can do local traveling to accomplish this and get your aromatherapy on!
When I go to shops and look and sniff at candles, I’m in candle heaven. Different from candy heaven but as you can see you get comfort foods in a sniff.
You don’t need to travel to the beach to get the beach sand coconut scent experience or even comfort that you can get with comfort food scents (mac-n-cheese 😁).
…and with fall in the air, pumpkin or salted caramel. That could spark coffee time ☕️
These days, the candle selections are vast and you won’t just get vanilla or apple choices. There’s a scent for everyone with special notes that’s similar to spice and perfume blends that make an overall scent unusual.
I’m waiting for the day when nail polish scents change. You probably don’t remember the raspberry, grape, and blueberry-scented markers like I do.
Or maybe the days when OPI red nail polish was popular and moved into all shades of red and now into the rainbow colors 🌈 …rarely do I see red.
Except in candles for fall.
And these are just a few places to shop for scented candle retail therapy:
Yankee Candle Outlet – at Premium Outlet malls.
HomeGoods
Marshall’s
TJ Maxx
Bed, Bath, and Beyond
Harris Teeter
Hallmark’s
And they make great housewarming gifts. You can’t go wrong with a candle gift, but you can go wrong with a wrong scent. So if you want to go for the most popular, stick with vanilla, citrusy, and evergreen scents. You can also find candles galore at Christmas stores and candle outlets near ski areas like the Poconos that’s a hop, skip and a jump from the Philly area where you can get your city and mountain experience. In the city, don’t forget to enjoy Philly Restaurant Week and maybe an overnight stay in a boutique hotel.
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The North Carolina Apple Festival has been a family-friendly tradition for 80 years. And it’s in the pretty mountain areas west of Charlotte, in Hendersonville just minutes from Asheville, NC.
While the Main Street location sounds like Anytown USA, it’s no ordinary festival…
And what makes this festival stand out is the Street Fair Parade. And the theme? Apples! 🍎 But not just any apples… North Carolina apples. Even though fall is prime apple season, apples are available year-round.
And if you pay attention to what’s available, you see that certain varieties show up earlier and some show up later in the season… from Gala to Honeycrisp and Empire in mid-August to Red and Golden Delicious, and Fiji (my fave) in mid-Sept. You can see the NC list schedule.
And in case you haven’t heard, North Carolina because of the moderate, warm climate serves as a farmers market for many restaurants up north. The soil is perfect for agriculture and apple trees.
And the contests stay on theme with apple window decorating and apple recipes… are you ready for apple pie yet? 🥧
The King Apple Parade is on Labor Day (rain or shine). So you can count on this event every year… same day, same place. 📆
And from the North Carolina Apple Festival, you can head to the highest mountain peak in the Appalachian Mountains, Mount Mitchell ⛰️ just a few hours away. And to split up your days from festival to mountains, you can stay in between in the mountains at a modern warehouse boutique hotel with brick accent walls. Check out this one. Labor Day is the perfect time to enjoy the last summer days in the mountains with apples. 😊
And if that’s too far west for you, and you prefer to stay along the accessible I-495 area as you’re transitioning into fal, you can do some outdoor shopping… and here’s a Raleigh, NC outdoor shopping area cheat sheet guide.
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The Minnesota State Fair is a great fun event to visit over a warm weekend, especially if you’re a foodie or if you have other Minnesota local agendas.
For foodies, there are 34 new official foods and 7 new food vendors participating. Of course, there’s funfetti Birthday Cake sprinkled 🧁 and long hot dogs 🌭 everything…
But there are also foods I would serve and add to the gourmet menu at parties and catering events I planned. Like creative flavor pairing eats: hummus with basil at Holy Land in the International Bazaar. That by the way is gluten-free.
…And fried green tomato sandwich, fried egg hole, or Halloumi cheese on toast. Plus, local unusual red-wine infused pizza sauce, huckleberry and lavender lemonades, St. Paul pickle kettle fudge, and churros with cinnamon ice cream. I mean c’mon 😋 this is so fitting for post-2020… (and I thought I was cutting-edge with gourmet popcorn jelly beans 🤣).
To win you back, this was my home contribution to angel food cake and ice cream (not bad, huh?)
At the Minnesota State Fair, you’ll also see the purist Angel Food Cake competition (no strawberries 🍓 or glaze on top).
…Maybe you’re visiting family or checking out a Minnesota Vikings game at the U.S. Bank Stadium (Quarterback Kirk Cousins who used to be the QB for my hometown Washington Commanders).
…Or you’re in for a girls-only weekend checking out Mall of America (the mall on your bucket list of mega malls)… like East Coast Tysons Corner I and Galleria II that I grew up with.
Once in a while, a Cirque du Soleil 🎪 would come through on the limited real estate greens… but nothing like the entertainment scene at The Minnesota Mall.
But in Minnesota’s Mall of America, there’s more of a year-round fair feeling with the Nickelodeon Universe amusement park and water animals at the Sea Life public aquarium.
And for me, Minnesota hit the map when I learned about specialty scrapbooking. Some ladies were doing this in my office and I’m all about sharing photos and memories (…can you tell?). Creative Memories is from St. Cloud, Minnesota, and the whole scrapbook phenomenon.
Some chase concerts, I chased scrapbooking events back then… and today concerts and fairs too!
And if creative is up your alley, the Minnesota State Fair has an agenda for creatives! 👩🎨
The creative activities include stamps, postcards, and baked product competitions with chocolate chip cookies, Bundt cakes, sourdough, and banana bread as a few categories. 🍞
And the Minnesota State Fair has tranquil artistic gardens (not your usual fair features). So take a looksy around 👀
The State Liberty Bell from 1921 is all green and dolled up as a dense topiary (I have a great sticker for that but no emoji 😊) with moss roses and 6,000 succulents 🌵that btw, we need for zen garden sustainability as cactus-like plants are very efficient and need little water!
And see the waterfall and herb features that you can easily miss around the regular greenery!
While gardens are the quiet areas of the fair, they are doing the community a world of good. And you can see the pop of color and pink roses everywhere if that’s your thing like it is mine.
And from there, you can do a small city trip…
You could stay close by in Saint Paul (the capital) and get a feel for the city. Some places have a very fairytale vibe with blue and gold silky fabrics bedding with frills and tassels. 🛏️
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Raleigh outdoor boutique stores are great when the weather is nice. You get to enjoy the weather and appreciate the live greenery. And my number one pick is Cameron Village.
You’ll see plenty of pink against black and white stripes and frou frou mini poodle decor, just to get a sense of the the scene ivbe. Put on your chic Jackie O’ sunglasses and get shoppin’ or window shopping.
Located closer to downtown Raleigh and Five Points area, this all-outdoor mall has everything from local honey and tea stores to clothing boutique stores (CT Weekends) that even sell Michael Stars. And look for the Carolina blue cupcakes.
And for outdoor indoor green for practical decorating, you can find a Michael’s Store at Brier Creek.
Brier CreekCommons (near RDU Airport)- outdoors, you can drive around and stop for amazing chocolate and do all your one-stop shopping from specialty home goods, coffee, eateries, stationery gift stores, books, pet goods, wine, and package shipping.
Streets at South Point (Durham) – has small outdoor boutique stores and you can enjoy with your non-shopping partners who just want to sit down. And once in a while, you might even catch a street performance.
North Hills (North Raleigh) -this is the posh outdoor boutique store area that has all the one-of-a-kind boutiques… And get your hair cut at Salon Blu boutique hair salon in case you find yourself needing a haircut in town.
Triangle Town Center (Northeast Raleigh closer to Wake Forest)- this is a gigantic mall… and close by if you need some good fabrics for your projects, there’s a boutique-worthy Mill Outlet Village fabric store with checkers and prints and every pattern you can imagine. 🎨
And now that your head is spinning with ideas, here’s how you can optimize your time by narrowing down which outdoor shopping areas you should visit.
Which best outdoor boutique shopping area should you go to if you need…
A unique wedding gift for someone: Cameron Village
An anniversary gift: The malls, Triangle Town Center (unique mall stores) or Streets at South Point (Macy’s, Victoria’s Secret, jeweler, sports store). Belk and Nordstrom at South Point
A birthday party gift or planning a party: Brier Creek Commons (Target, Party Store, Hallmark)
Home furnishings: Target and Home Goods at Brier Creek Commons and unique furnishing stores in Cameron Village and North Hills
Apple electronics: South Point or Crabtree Valley Mall if you want to stay in Raleigh (…and if you get hungry, you can’t go wrong with The Cheesecake Factory while you’re there).
Back to work fashion: Streets at South Point (Anthropologie, Lilly Pulitzer, Lucky Brand, Loft, Express, Free People, Gap
So now you know which Raleigh direction you’re heading in
And if you would like a nice unique spa stay in a tranquil setting, try The Umstead in Cary (that’s no longer the Contained Area for Relocating Yankees). And if you want a beachy spa experience a few hours away, you can drive to OBX and visit this Duck hotel spa.
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Depending on what cuisine you like, at 2023 Philly Restaurant Week there’s something for you. After Labor Day’s big Made in America Music Festival curated by Jay-Z, or Parx horse races, you can get your fill of good Philly eats.
Center City District 2023 Philly Restaurant Week has lobster pot pie, mac-n-cheese, arancini, and peach desserts on the menu, so there’s something for every taste! 😋 And you like seafood (see-food 👀), you’ll like my best picks…
In 2023, it’s $45/3-course dinner and $20/2-course lunch. Forget cheesesteak hoagies for this one because this is the finest aged cuisine brought to one of the oldest cities in America:
Some fave highlights are seafood and Italian cuisine.
The 40-year old Oyster House (BEST seafood) is offering luxe Lobster Roll (chilled New England Style with fries), four oysters. and chocolate panna cotta as a sample $45 menu… that’s a lotta lob and oy-STAHS that are hard to resist! 🦞
And if you’re allergic, then maybe the 30-year old Alice Pizza restaurant inspired by authentic ❤️ Rome foods, can be your new love. Oozing Burrata cheese, Jumbo shrimp (gotta love the oxymoron! 🍤), Amatriciana famous Roman pasta, and sfogliatelle pastries with vanilla gelato or traditional tiramisu. Seafood and cheese are okay in Philly!
And if you want to get really authentic, you may want to try…
Gran Caffe L’Aquila with cinghiale meatballs, monkfish puttanesca-style, and gelato made by the Italian & World (Gelato) Press Champion, Stefano Biasini, that’s like winning the World Cup of Gelato. 🍨
And if Italian isn’t your food vibe, you’ll also find German, Middle Eastern, Thai, and so much more.
Philly is an easy drive on the east coast.
If you need a stay recommend, this is a boutique hotel with so much inspiring charm from the cute building to the mood room interior mod-design headboards adorned with black and white (trending) striped drapes…. NOT your boring blah-beige or solid-color window treatments. And if you look up in the ceiling, you’ll see different mod features you’d see in HGTV dream makeover homes. And for an eclectic feel of unusual art and mix-n-match patterns, this is a moderate-affordable stay worth checking in and checking out!
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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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When you’re traveling you want to make a memorable experience. So you want to get out of your homey situation into a stylish, temporary one with boutique hotel budget travel that brands your trip. You want to get into your surroundings and stylish room furnishings.
…And you often can get that in $200-$250 per night stay if you’re a little creative or get recommendations. The sweet spot is value and getting high return for the lowest amount.
And if you’re weighing whether to take day trips or a travel and stay, the hotel is going to be the biggest expense next to any airfares. So that’s why I recommend finding the best hotels at the $200ish price point.
For a nice hotel stay, you can split the cost with another person that will get you there… or if you’re on a once-in-a-lifetimesolo trip, or with your partner, then splurging a little can pay off.
The rest of the year, you go vacation-free or take day trips.
In July 2023, 46.2% of American travelers surveyed reported that high travel prices have deterred them from traveling in the past four weeks.
And around a $200 price point, you can find great boutique hotels. Like this one I stayed in for a fun weekend in New York City where hotels don’t come cheap. New York City is the #1 or #2 most expensive U.S. hotel city depending on who you ask. But you will get the modern character, crown molding charm, and even bullseye ◎ molding in the historic buildings and designs.
And these days, inflation is impacting travel prices all around. People are spending less and shorter stays. Most traveling are spending less than $1,000 or $2,000. That could be a weekend trip.
So being choosier is smart. You’re not spending time in your hotel but it’s part of the experience you want to remember.
If you’re on budget to spend $500 a day total for vacation spend, then that’s about 50% of your costs when you factor in taxes and additional fees. You want to have a leftover budget for nice meals and some entertainment that can cost.
Most people forget to add hotel or lodging taxes that are higher than local sales tax (for food and souvenirs).
And you don’t need a $500 per night extravagant hotel when you’re in a city trying to explore, or out all day in outdoor excursions.
When you’re looking for a spa experience, that’s when you want to find the right hotel to match your trip’s purpose. Then the hotel could be the spa destination you capture in memory.
And, boutique hotels don’t usually have spas or restaurants feeding non-staying customers… so with less overhead costs, they can charge less for rooms.
With boutique hotel budget travel you’re dealing with small business owners compared to the big-name franchise ones that get booked up by business travelers… and, so often at boutique hotels, you can get lower and very competitive rates.
It’s like a bottle of wine. At a certain price past $15, you may not see a return in value. And there are many fine bottles under $15 if you know where to look or get a recommendation from someone who has already done the research with similar high tastes and sensibilities.
In hotels, consider fewer nights. And find hotels that will hold your bags on checkout day if you are leaving until evening.
I stayed at this one Paris hotel where they held my bags. That made my week at that hotel extra special.
When you’re traveling alone, hotels are definitely the way to go. The extra service, greeting, and help are nice so you have someone on the ground to talk to. And when you’re on a romantic trip you want to have a cab out front and a local who can give you walking distance restaurant recommendations.
When you enter a lobby with high ceilings and clean floors, you feel like you’re on vacation or luxury, even if you’re traveling within a budget.
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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.
