Travel about an hour south of San Jose off 101 and you’ll come to the charming town of Carmel-by-the-Sea.  Carmel, for short, was once a bohemian haven for writers, artists, actors and photographers. The strategic location and scenic beauty of the California coastline has transformed this sleepy village into a posh escape for the well-heeled.  Though the sky-high real estate has chased many of the bohemians from the area, Carmel retains the feel of a small European village.
   
For lodging, stay at the La Playa Hotel - located in the village and only two blocks from Carmel Beach.  This vintage Mediterranean style villa was built as a private residence in 1904 and includes five private cottages and a pool.  (more…)

When you’re not yachting in the Caribbean or lying on the beach in San Diego, try one of these sunless-tanners. Aside from the instant results, your tan will make you look slimmer and cover imperfections.

Here is The Style Group’s top ten picks for sunless-tanners:

1. Clarins Sheer Bronze for Legs & Face Self Tanner
2. Clarins Self-Tanning Spray
3. Lancôme’s Flash Bronzer
4. Lancôme’s Magic Bronzing Brush
5. Clinique’s Body Quick Bronze Self Tanner
6. Estee Lauder’s Go Bronze Plus
7. Sisley’s Self-Tanning Gel
8. Bobbi Brown’s Sunless Tanning Gel for Face & Body
9. Phytomer’s Bronze Instant Self-Tanning Spray
10. St. Tropez Self-Tan Remover Packets

[Via The Style Group]

With its lush vegetation, palm trees and up-scale setting, Naples is the jewel of the Florida Gulf Coast.  Check into the luxurious Ritz Carlton – surprisingly affordable June through September – and then head out to the beach, just steps from the hotel.  The white sand beaches are wide, clean, un-crowded and full of colorful shells.  In fact, the Travel Channel chose Naples as their 2005 “Best all-around beach in America”. (more…)

What is Clothes Heaven?  In the words of shop owner Larayne Brannon, it’s   “where good clothes go when they’re passed on.”  You’ll find high quality, high fashion clothes at a fraction of the retail price.   This inviting shop is located on Pasadena’s East Union Street just down the block from Il Fornaio Café.  Clothes Heaven offers suits, casual wear, eveningwear, shoes, and accessories from designers like Chanel, St. John, Prada, Gucci, Armani, Dior, Valentino and Missoni.  Some of the items carried are consigned from studio wardrobes, celebrity closets, fashion designers, models and CEOs.

Clothes Heaven has been featured in Vogue magazine as a “Top Choice in Southern California” and was voted by CitySearch as the #1 women’s clothing store in Los Angeles.  A word of warning, the clothes horse in your group may be so enthralled with this store that you may be there for hours!

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear Pasadena?  Probably the Rose Bowl, right?  Pasadena was the destination for our girls trip last spring and we stayed at the Ritz Carlton Huntington Hotel.  Built in 1907 by Henry Huntington, the Ritz has been a landmark hotel since it opened nearly 100 years ago.  The hotel is located on 23 acres of manicured gardens, has an Olympic-size swimming pool and a full service spa. 

We decided to upgrade our room to the Club Level, and I was glad we did.  As Club Level guests you can drop by the Club Lounge and enjoy five themed food presentations daily – all complimentary.  True to Ritz form, every time we dropped in - whether is was for breakfast, afternoon tea or early evening cocktails and appetizers - the food and drink presentation was perfect.  (more…)

From May to September, there are few places more beautiful than Seattle. This northwest city has a unique combination of natural beauty, sophistication and environmental consciousness.  One of the best places to stay in Seattle is the Inn at the Market, a boutique hotel located in the heart of the city.  The Inn has an ideal downtown location across from world-famous Pike Place Market and is close to the Seattle Art Museum, Pioneer Square and Westlake Center.  Guests that stay at the Inn can enjoy panoramic views of Mt. Rainier and Puget Sound from the rooftop terrace. One of the Inn’s three restaurants is Café Campagne, a cozy bistro which serves among other things, a truly delicious cassoulet.

Explore Pike Place Market and you’ll discover an amazing selection of fresh fish, flowers, fresh produce, art, clothing and other items.  The market area is also a great place to sample fresh fish and several of the cafes have counter-side seating.  A trip to the Market wouldn’t be complete without a stop at the original Starbucks coffee shop, which opened in 1971.

Be sure to get out on the water before you leave.  Argosy offers some fun cruises on weekends that will give you a good sense of the unique waterfront lifestyle that surrounds Seattle and the Eastside. Take one of the Washington State Ferries to Bainbridge Island and spend an afternoon walking and shopping in the charming town of Winslow. 

For something more active, rent a kayak at Agua Verde on Lake Union or a canoe at the University of Washington Waterfront Activities Center.

Just north of downtown San Diego is Balboa Park, home of the world famous San Diego Zoo. Besides the zoo, the park also includes several museums and gardens including the Alcazar, Rose, Japanese and Desert gardens.  You can stroll around, admire the gardens and visit the San Diego Museum of Art.

One of the most exclusive areas around San Diego, La Jolla is the place to go for upscale shopping.  Stroll down Prospect Street for antiques, art galleries, jewelers, boutiques and specialty stores that will keep you happily shopping for hours. Stop into Bo Danica for hand-blown glassware, dinnerware and other home accessories. For a break, have lunch on the roof-top terrace at George’s on the Cove.  Our lunch on the terrace was excellent and the panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean were spectacular. 

Point Loma is well worth a visit and the site of the Cabrillo National Monument and an ecological preserve.  Learn about Cabrillo, an early Spanish explorer, and enjoy stunning views of downtown San Diego.  Take a nature walk along Bayside Trail to see indigenous plants or visit the tide pools where starfish, anemones and sea cucumbers live.

With its mild, sunny climate and waterfront location, San Diego is a great place to explore.  In the downtown area, Gaslamp Quarter is good starting point.  Begin at 5th & Island Avenue at the William Heath Davis House, home of the Gaslamp Historical Foundation.  The foundation offers information about the historic Victorian, Italianate and Rennaissance buildings located in the quarter. On Saturday mornings they also offer a guided walking tour.  Horton Plaza is located at the north end of the Gaslamp Quarter.  Over 170 stores and restaurants including Nordstrom and Macy’s are situated on 7 floors along 6 city blocks.

The plaza’s Broadway Circle is the place to buy half-price, day of the performance tickets to an evening show. During our weekend we saw “Forever Plaid” at the Lyceum Theatre, which we all enjoyed. 

A fun way to see San Diego is from the water. Go to the Broadway Pier in the downtown area and catch a 10 minute pedestrian ferry across San Diego Bay to the Coronado Ferry landing.  The ferry, which leaves every hour, allows you to see the city from the water and is a nice alternative to driving. On landing, stroll down Orange Avenue, the island’s main street, and browse through some of the shops. La Provencale has some beautiful tablecloths and pillows imported from the South of France.

If you’re not staying at the Hotel Del Coronado, be sure to see this legendary hotel’s lobby, shops and grounds. With its expansive ocean views, the hotel is a great spot for a snack or lunch before heading back to the ferry landing.