Congratulations to Whitney & Charlie!!

I know this isn't travel related, but I wanted to congratulate my best friend Whitney on her marriage to Charlie. I wish them a life time of happiness!

Pictures from home

Here are a few pictures of my favorite beach in San Clemente, CA.

wrightsville beach, NC

A quick getaway to the beaches of North Carolina was the perfect way to escape the heat of the summer. In my mind, very few things top spending the weekend on the water. Watching the surfers, cruising on the intracoastal, sipping cocktails while watching the boats cruise by were just a few of my favorite memories.

The overall highlight of the trip was watching my dog Calipso (a.k.a. Cali) enjoy her first day at the beach. I will never forget the moment she started swimming. It was amazing to watch how instinct took over and she was swimming like a pro. The only problem with taking her swimming is there is not much to her when she is wet...as you can probably see from the pictures.

Santa Barbara - the American Riviera

The American Riviera is a deserving classification for Santa Barbara. Driving Pacific Coast Highway from LAX to Santa Barbara gave me the chance to appreciate the beauty of this portion of the California coastline, with the city of Santa Barbara the treasure at the end of this journey.

The drive took me through Santa Monica, Malibu, Oxnard, Ventura and Carpinteria on our way to Santa Barbara. These California beach communities are the epitome of California casual. Although the property value in these towns are well into the millions of dollars, the shops and restaurants are very tired on the outside; worn down from years sitting in the sun and the salty air of the Pacific. Somehow the state of the buildings adds to the character of the region.

I was lucky enough to have perfect weather once I arrived in Santa Barbara. Lots of sunshine, blue skies and terrific sunsets. Although I was in town for work, I was able to enjoy breakfast on the beach each morning and dinner on the water at night - the perfect way to start and end a day.

Falling Behind

So I have totally slacked on posting during the past few months. I'm going to blame it on the Southern heat. Now with fall in the air, my enthusiasm for blogging is renewed. I'm going to back-post some of my photos from trips I took this summer.

Sweet Home Alabama

One of my all time favorite actresses is Reese Witherspoon and I adore the movie Sweet Home Alabama. When I bought the DVD a few years ago I never imagined I would be living in Alabama; let alone just an hour outside of Tuscaloosa. I must say, that movie did a fantastic job portraying the South - especially the wedding scene. I experienced my first Southern wedding yesterday and it was worthy of the silver stage. The flower girls and ring bearers were just precious. The wedding party was regal and the bride and groom were glowing. The reception was hosted at the Warner Lodge on Lake Tuscaloosa. The view was awe inspiring. I saw one of the most beautiful sunsets I've ever seen. Even though the ceremony and reception were just an hour away, it felt like I was in a different world.

What a week...

During the week of June 4, 2007 I traveled 5,198 miles. In actuality it was probably a few hundred more, but I’ll leave the count at 5,200 miles.

Over the course of 7 days I managed to:
▪ See 8 states (Alabama, Illinois, Washington, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa)

▪ Touchdown in 4 airports (Birmingham, Chicago-Midway, Seattle, Las Vegas)

▪ Fly 3,899 miles

▪ Drive 1,299 miles (from Las Vegas to Omaha)

To most, my journey seemed like an odd selection of destinations. Here is how my itinerary unfolded.

DAY 1 - 4: Flew to Seattle for work. In Seattle, we sponsored the Bombardier & Hub International golf tournament. We spent the rest of the week making sales calls and introducing our magazine to the Pacific Northwest.
DAY 5: Flew from Seattle to Vegas to meet up with my dad. Upon landing we got in the car and began our road trip/car delivery to Omaha, NE. On Friday we drove through Nevada, Utah, and part of Colorado (outside of Vail).
DAY 6: Continued driving through Colorado and all of Nebraska. We arrived in Omaha at 5:30 p.m. Met up with Rob (my brother), who is in Omaha for a summer internship, and delivered his car.
DAY 7: Spent the day exploring Omaha with Rob and Dad. On the way to the airport we crossed the state line into Iowa. I flew home to Birmingham that evening.

Highlights of the Trip
1. Spending time with my brother and dad.
2. Taking a ferry from Seattle to Bainbridge Island.
3. Getting a private tour of the Seattle Air and Space museum by the President of the museum, who is a retired astronaut.
4. Seeing Mt. Rainier at eye-level as I flew down to Nevada.
5. The view of Breckenridge, Colorado.
6. Experiencing the terrain of the Midwest.

Hail in May…

Wednesday, May 30 - A hailstorm blanketed Denver yesterday, closing the airport for several hours. To those who live in Denver, the hail made for a beautiful sight. For those of us attempting to connect via Denver International Airport, the hail was nothing but evil. I missed my connecting flight. Although, I must admit there is a silver lining to this dark cloud that hung over my afternoon, but more on that later.

Missing a flight is nothing but a royal PAIN in the caboose. I raced off my first flight with the hopes that I may get lucky and just barely make it. Scanning the TV’s I anxiously sought what gate I needed to sprint towards and then I saw that dreaded word – CLOSED. Immediately a thousand things start rushing through my mind – how am I getting home, where do I get my bag, maybe there’s another flight. Ironically, my one reoccurring thought was about the cute South African who invited my to dinner if I ended up getting stuck in Denver: ahhhhhhh…the silver lining. Being single and traveling definitely has its perks. Unfortunately, the hassle of rebooking my flight and finding a hotel room, coupled with the fact that the Denver airport is quite far from the city, made it impossible to catch up with the South African. But, just the thought of it helped me take the inconveniences in stride.

I am quite surprised this is the first flight I’ve missed. I’ve come close in the past. I will never forget sprinting through the Madrid airport with Josh after spending 3 weeks in France and Monaco for the fall boat shows. Then there were the spur of the moment trips to go see Wes where I’d only have an hour or so to pack, drive to the airport, and catch my flight. So in the scheme of things, I am actually quite lucky. There is nothing I am missing by coming in a day late. I just hope this one experience doesn’t trigger some more bad luck. I have quite a few trips coming up over the next few weeks.

Seaside, Florida

Where the Gulf of Mexico touches the northwestern portion of Florida you will find a charming beach town called Seaside. This oceanfront vacation community is where Southerners seek refuge when they are looking for some good ole’ R & R. As a first time visitor, I found the most welcoming aspect of this town to be the cheerful vibe that radiates through the streets. I felt a sense of peace from the moment I arrived, which may have been rooted in the melodic sounds of the waves or the friendly hello from the stranger who walked by.

The heart of the town is an open-air amphitheater. If you can imagine a baseball diamond you can start to visualize the characteristics that make up the core of this town: beachfront cafes and bars are the grandstands; the infield is lined with boutiques and art galleries; the residential neighborhood begins in the outfield. At home plate you will find a post office that has such character it seems more like a dollhouse than a place to drop off your mail.

There are a variety of opportunities for entertainmen--water sports, cruiser bikes, fine dining, live music and dancing. But it is not the extracurricular activities that add the flavor to Seaside. The architecture and personality of the homes is what gives Seaside its flair. Here in Seaside, brick paved streets are lined with vibrantly painted beach cottages: flamingo pink, sunshine yellow, turquoise blue. Side-by-side these houses stand at attention, saluting the expanse of blue-green water. This town is so picturesque that even Hollywood recognized its special quality and used Seaside as the backdrop for the movie The Truman Show.

After living in two of the most famous oceanfront communities in the nation, San Diego and Miami, I consider myself a beach connoisseur. Seaside, Florida has exceeded my expectations. The unique blend of Southern hospitality with idyllic beaches has created a destination that is a must-see for anyone that is looking for a coastal getaway. I have not even left, and I am already planning my next trip back.

Chicago in April

Chicago has captured my heart. There is something about the aura of this city; it makes me want to visit again and again. It was the end of February when I started planning my latest trip to Chicago. Sure the forecasters report of below freezing temperatures and snow was a bit intimidating, but I figured by mid-April the spring weather would have set in and I would get to explore this magical city by foot: wishful thinking on my part. When I arrived in Chicago the expected high was 34°.

My intent for this trip was a shopping weekend with my mom. We planned on covering every inch of the Magnificent Mile. However, the freezing temperatures and blistering winds led us to readjust our strategy.

Instead of exploring the Windy City’s streets, we found ourselves taking refuge in one of the city’s most well-known, indoor exhibits – the Field Museum. With shopping as the sole intent for our trip to Chicago, I had very little interest in spending a significant amount of time in any place that was not a retail store. I have completely changed my tune after meeting Sue.

Sue is the most complete T. Rex fossil ever discovered. Standing 13’ high, Sue is an intimidating sight. I have read the history books and watched the documentaries that discuss how millions of years ago dinosaurs walked the earth, but I don’t think I appreciated the significance of those statements until I was gazing up at Sue’s enormous skeleton.

While I was standing aside Sue’s exhibit, recollecting every bit of information I’ve ever heard about dinosaurs, the exhibit docent approached me and pointed to a specific bone with a laser pointer. He said this bone, which was no more than a few inches long, is what archaeologist Sue Hendrickson saw protruding from the rocks above her head while on a dig in South Dakota. That one fact, combined with the skeleton standing before me, solidified in my mind for the first time that dinosaurs really did roam the earth.

By no means has this one moment caused me to abandon my shopping weekends, but it has made me realize I will make sure to fit in the touted museum exhibit on my next vacation. After all, there is a reason for all the accolades.

The perfect weekend escape

Now that we are well into spring the craving to escape to a warm, topical destination multiplies each day. Let’s call it the pre-summer conditioning weekend. I want nothing more than to bask in the sunshine will I am served fruity cocktails by a diligent pool-side waiter. Unfortunately, with the weekend limited to 2 days and plane travel becoming more cumbersome a weekend away can lead to more time traveling than time spent at the destination.

For those of you on the East Coast, I have found the solution – Casa de Campo resort in the Dominican Republic. Casa de Campo personifies the tropical destination. Surrounded by turquoise waters and emerald green palm trees, this resort has every amenity you could possible want; golf, spa, polo, equestrian facilities, tennis courts, and a white sand beach. The best part is you can get a non-stop, 2 hour flight out of Miami to La Romana airport, which is located 5 minutes from the resort.

With no exaggeration I have been to dozens of airports over the past few years and La Romana is by far the nicest one I’ve ever flown in and out of. There is no hassle at customs and it takes just minutes to get your bag. You can be checked in and relaxing by one of Casa de Campo’s luxurious pools within an hour of landing.

An even greater incentive to try this magnificent resort is the special rate they are offering for Executive Traveler readers.

Côte d'Azur = great shopping!

Traveling for business is never as much fun as you think it will be. Usually your days are filled with meetings and little time is left to actually enjoy the place you are at. If you did have any free time it was usually only an hour here or there, but trust me I learned to take full advantage of the time I did get.

After traveling back and forth to Monaco for work for the past 3 years, I was able to map out some of the best shopping I have ever experienced.

For those who love to shop, I highly recommend a trip to the Côte d'Azur, otherwise known as the South of France. Stretching from Toulon to the Italian border, this spectacular coastline is filled with an array of high end designer shops and chic boutiques. This mixture of couture and retail fashion is what makes this region so unique.

Monaco - The second-smallest independent state in the world, the Principality of Monaco boasts more millionaires per capita than any other country. This exhibit of wealth brings forth some of the best designer shopping in the world - Valentino, Prada, Escada, and Gucci can all be found within blocks of each other. For those of us who have yet to reach the millionaire status, the window shopping is fabulous!

Cannes – Most widely known as home to the prestigious film festival, Cannes is a picturesque town centered on a bay. Cannes offers all the designer stores one would imagine in a city known for such elegance, but it also offers some wonderful possibilities for those of us on a budget. Located a few blocks back from the famous Boulevard de la Croisette, Rue d'Antibes runs the length of Cannes and is the place to head if your are interested in finding some boutiques that possess the European flair. My favorite is Carol. No matter what season I am there, I can always find about a dozen outfits I would love to buy, but alas there is that whole pesky budget thing. Needless to say I limit myself to 1 or 2 key pieces. Expect to pay $60 - $150 for a blouse.

St. Tropez – A modern medieval town, St. Tropez is the vacation destination of choice for celebrities and the immensely rich. The giant reputation of this little village leads one to expect grandeur at every turn, but you will be pleasantly surprised to see this town has maintained is classic roots. Shopping here is an all day affair because the stores are located within the original village, so every teeny alley has the potential to lead to another street. It is down these alleys you will find famous and unknown designers located next door to each other. There is no rhyme or reason where the stores are positioned; you just have to anticipate a day of wander-shopping. And when it’s time for a break, head back to Quai Jean Jaurès for a cocktail and canapé. Here you can sit back, relax and enjoy the view of the megayachts docked in the harbor.

Favorite place I've traveled to...

I have been fortunate enough to travel to many wonderful places around the world. The islands of Hawaii, Washington D.C., South Korea, Monaco, Cannes, St. Tropez, and Tuscany are definitely amongst my favorites. If I had to pick my most favorite destination I would have to say Hope Town in the Abacos (Bahamas).

On Hope Town you get the glorious white sand beaches and turquoise waters, without the hustle & bustle of tourism. There are just a few hotels and restaurants on this gem of an island. Majority of the island is occupied by vacation homes. In Hope Town you can really "get-away". In this fast-paced world that consumes us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week sometimes it is nice just to head to a place where there is open space and you are not fighting for a lounge chair by the pool. And there is the stars at night...looking up and seeing every inch of the sky filled with twinkling, glimmers of light puts life as we know it into perspective.

If you ever make it down to the Abacos, I highly recommend staying at Hope Town Harbour Lodge. By no means is it a flashy resort, but the rooms are clean and comfortable, the staff is

top-notch, and the beach in front of the hotel is perfect (pictured above).

First day of Spring

For a Southern California girl who has spent the past 3 years in South Florida, living in Birmingham has given me my first taste of Spring. It is wonderful! Palm trees have nothing on the flowering trees here in the South.

Some people question my track record in terms of where I have lived vs. where I have ended up. Let's just say I had the opportunity to take on my dream job and I would have moved anywhere for this opportunity. What is this dream job you may ask? Well I am the Marketing Director for a travel magazine that targets the affluent executive. I love marketing. It's a field that unites creativity with traditional business practices. And the fact that I get to apply this to the travel industry makes this an awesome experience!

Right now I am getting ready to head to the Stanford Financial U.S. Open Championship for polo in Palm Beach, Florida. There is a mystique that goes along with attending a polo tournament in Palm Beach. Although it is about 30 minutes South of Palm Beach, my favorite place to stay when I go to South Florida is the Boca Raton Resort. The classic elegance of this hotel transports me to a different era; a time where people took the time to relish in the finer things.

New to the travel business

After traveling around the world for the past few years and the fact that I am officially in the travel business the time has come for me to start a blog. Well, I must admit this is my second attempt to become a blogger. My enthusiasm for my first blog lasted about a month. So this time around I've promised myself to keep this going at least for 6 months...here's hoping.