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…)

Sue of Austin, Texas recently sent in a Getaway Tip and told us about the girl trip she has planned for the end of June.  She plans to “sail into her 50’s” and will be celebrating her 50th birthday with five of her book club girlfriends.

Here’s what she has planned:

“I will be sailing on the 70 foot True North luxury catamaran from Antigua to Dominica in late June for a ‘fantasy getaway’ girls trip with five book club friends. The weeklong charter is to celebrate 50th birthdays for several in our group. The trip will include sailing, scuba, snorkeling, island exploring, gourmet cuisine and more as our yacht travels from Antigua to Dominica. We’ll also spend time in San Juan before returning to the states. The boat is owned by a former Dell Computer exec & her husband. Our group is an eclectic mix of educators, executives and entrepreneurs.”

Sailing the Caribbean in a luxury yacht sounds like the perfect way to celebrate a birthday milestone.  Stay tuned when Sue returns and shares her trip with us!

If you plan to be in Newport during the summer, reserve your hotel accommodations early.  With all its music festivals, Newport can book up quickly.  For out of the ordinary lodging, stay at Castle Hill Inn – which has spectacular views of Narragansett Bay and its own private beach.  For a luxurious bed & breakfast, stay at the Francis Malbone Inn or the Cliffside Inn. 

For dinner, stop by the Cheeky Monkey Café  on Perry Mill Wharf.  This  whimsical restaurant features creative food that’s perfect for sharing.  Scales & Shells on Lower Thames Street serves (what else) the best seafood in Newport.  For a place with atmosphere, have dinner at the White Horse Tavern, which has been operating as a tavern for over 300 years.

From now until September 4, take advantage of summer rates to getaway to Camelback Inn.  This southwestern resort is located in the Sonoran Desert on 125 acres and includes three pools, scenic hiking trails, two golf courses, six tennis courts, six restaurants and a newly expanded spa with 32 treatment rooms.

The Camelback Inn “Summer Swedish Massage” Package includes:

- Casita-style guest room accommodations

- Two one-hour Swedish massages (a $200 value)

The package is $289 per room, per night. Rooms can accommodate up to 4 people.

Not interested in a massage?  The Camelback Inn also has a limited number of rooms that qualify for its “Leisure Rates”.  Book by June 4 for stays from June 12 – September 4.  Rooms with the leisure rate are $139 per night.  Beginning September 5, room rates increase to $399-$999 per night.

To make a reservation contact the Camelback Inn.

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…)

The Ritz Carlton in Naples, Florida is frequently listed among the top hotels in the world.  The hotel has seven restaurants, the largest spa of all the Ritz hotels, two outdoor pools, 3 miles of beach and overlooks the Gulf of Mexico. From now through September they are offering a Sand and Sun Package which offers a significant discount from their normal rates.  

Rates:

• April–May, 2006: Rates starting at $499 per night
• June–September, 2006: Rates starting at $199 per night

The package features:

• Coastal view accommodations (three-night minimum stay required)
• Complimentary valet parking
• $100 resort credit  (with three-night stay)

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.