Here’s a quick recap of recent articles:

• Back in the Day Bakery (Savannah, GA)
• Savannah, Georgia
• Best Walking Shoes?
• Biltmore Estate – Part II (Asheville, N.C.)
• Biltmore Estate (Asheville, N.C.)
• A Festival of Colors (Skagit Valley, near Seattle)
• Cocktails anyone?
• Royal Palms Resort and Spa (Scottsdale, AZ)
• Scottsdale, Arizona
• Spa at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess (Scottsdale, AZ)
• Girls’ Getaway: Inn on Biltmore Estate (Asheville, N.C.)
• Lake Austin Spa Resort (Austin, Texas)
• Butchart Gardens (near Victoria, B.C.)
• Victoria, British Columbia
• The Ultimate Pajama Party (Empress Hotel, Victoria, B.C.)

One of the most spectacular floral displays in the country occurs in Skagit Valley in April.  Located 60 miles north of Seattle, Skagit Valley is the home of the Roozengaarde family business, which is the world’s largest grower of tulips, daffodils and irises.  William Roozen, founder of Roozengaade, migrated to Skagit Valley from Holland where his family has grown tulips for centuries. Every year over 1,200 acres of bulbs are planted which reach their peak bloom in April.  (more…)

If you’re looking for a place to relax with warm weather, consider Scottsdale for your next destination.  Scottsdale is home to some excellent resorts including the Biltmore, Phoenician, Fairmont Princess, Royal Palms and Camelback Inn. These resorts have full service spas and spectacular pools - the pools at the Phoenician and the Biltmore are my current favorites. The best time to visit this area is October – May when the weather is at its best.     

There is no shortage of restaurants to choose from in Scottsdale. We had wine and tapas at Tapino’s where the bite-sized portions were perfectly presented and very tasty. My favorites were the pancetta wrapped gorgonzola stuffed dates and the beef tips with jicama slaw.  For a special dinner or Sunday brunch try T. Cook’s at the Royal Palms Hotel.

For those who love shopping, you’ll find all the top retailers in the Scottsdale Fashion Square. To experience some local flavor, try exploring Old Town Scottsdale by foot. Stop by Bischoff’s to see some “ranch chic” or view local art at the many art galleries scattered along the streets. Take a break at the Salty Senorita, a popular place to sit outside with a margarita, soak up some sun and people watch.

A quick hop from Seattle via the Victoria Clipper, there are few places more picturesque than Victoria.  Surrounded by water on the southernmost tip of Vancouver Island in Canada, Victoria has distinctive architecture and exceptional gardens.  The most popular time to visit Victoria is mid-June through mid-September when flowers seem to be everywhere. 

For accommodations, there are several nice hotels to choose from with harbor views. One of the major landmarks in the heart of Victoria is the Empress Hotel, a magnificent turn of the century hotel built in 1908.  If you’re staying at the Empress Hotel, you may want to upgrade to the Gold floor which has a lounge where you can stop by for goodies during breakfast and  appetizers in the evenings. Outside of Victoria, there are some wonderful places to stay like the Sooke Harbour House, the Aerie Resort and the Brentwood Bay Lodge and Spa. (more…)

With its cobblestone streets, horse-drawn carriages and hundreds of well-preserved historic homes, Charleston is a wonderful setting for a get together.  In the February 2006 issue of Southern Living magazine, Charleston was selected as the Reader’s Choice Award for Favorite City. 

One of the best ways to experience Charleston is with a walking tour.  (more…)

If you haven’t already, try a destination spa and just enjoy being pampered. Here’s Travel + Leisure’s list of the “World’s Best Spas of 2005”:

1. Miraval, Life in Balance, Catalina, Arizona
2. Mii Amo, Enchantment Resort, Sedona, Arizona
3. Green Valley Spa, George, Utah
4. Hilton Head Health Institute, South Carolina
5. Rancho La Puerta, Tecate, Mexico
6. Canyon Ranch, Tucson, Arizona
7. Golden Door, Escondido, California
8. Terme di Saturnia, Grosseto, Italy
9. Canyon Ranch in the Berkshires, Lenox, Massachusetts
10. Lake Austin Spa Resort, Austin, Texas 

We chose Lake Austin Spa a few years ago. Between spa treatments, we lay by the pool, took classes in water coloring, cooking, pilates, yoga, and tai chi, watched movies and had some excellent meals. Definitely a splurge, but worth it. 

If you want to make great food the theme of your next girls getaway, then Napa Valley is the place to go. Located about 2 hours north of San Francisco, Napa can be reached by flying into the San Francisco or Oakland airports and then taking a scenic drive north over the Golden Gate bridge through Marin County and into the wine country.

Great food needs great wine. The Napa/Sonoma area has hundreds of wineries and if you don’t already have a list, here are some suggested wine trails. Besides touring the wineries, there are other things to explore, like the 150 year old Sonoma Plaza, which gives you a taste of Old California. The plaza is fun to walk around and has some nice shops, restaurants and a movie theater. Another place worth exploring in Napa is COPIA, which is a truly unique culinary museum with surrounding gardens. 

Just north of Napa is the Culinary Institute of America located in an old winery in St. Helena. At the Culinary Institute you can take week-long cooking courses, or just stop by for a one hour cooking demonstration by one of their chefs.  Napa Valley has some excellent restaurants - the French Laundry, Mustards Grill and Terra are a few (reservations fill up fast).  Part of what makes the Napa Valley special is its beautiful rural setting.  We loved seeing the bright yellow mustard fields in bloom (February and March), the rolling vineyards and the miniature donkeys.

We just love Santa Fe.  With its Pueblo-Spanish architecture and walkable downtown, it’s a fantastic place for the girls.  It’s only 80 minutes from the Albuquerque airport, but by the time you get there you’ll feel like you’re in another world.  Visit Santa Fe between Thanksgiving and Christmas and you’ll see some beautiful luminaries displayed around town. Or spend an evening gathered around a kiva fireplace. During the summer you’ll see courtyards overflowing with flowers.

Santa Fe is filled with one of a kind hotels and B&Bs.  One of our favorites is the Inn on the Alameda, a luxury hotel within walking distance of the Plaza and Canyon Road.  Don’t miss the breakfast buffet.  And when you come back from a hard day of exploring, sample the wine and cheese reception each afternoon while you decide what your evening plans will be.

On Saturday morning, visit the Santa Fe Farmer’s Market. Voted by USA Today as one of the top ten farmer’s markets in America, it’s filled with fruits and vegetables from local farmers. Spend the afternoon exploring the shops and landmarks around the Plaza. 

On Sunday walk along Canyon Road and browse through some of Santa Fe’s art galleries. You’ll see an amazing assortment of art including contemporary, Southwestern and Native American.