Scenic Runway

Vacation Living

You know the feeling you have when you’re staying in a luxury hotel with every amenity you can imagine? A trend in many apartment and condominium communities today is that of recreating the feel of being at a luxury hotel everyday of the week. Some of these amenities may include daily newspapers, continental breakfast, dry cleaning services, fitness gym, tennis court, swimming pool, golf course, recreational room and conference room etc. With so many of us working 24/7, maintaining the feel and environment of being on vacation everyday is truly a welcoming thought.

Colors of Fall

Fall is a magical time of year. The Hudson Valley in upstate New York is an amazing location to view the vibrant colors of fall. The Bannerman Castle on Pollepel Island is a scenic view. Lake Placid in the Adirondack Mountains is beautiful at anytime during the year but it is especially serene in the fall.

Bannerman Castle

Restaurant Cuisine

If you are unable to travel to an international destination but want to experience authentic local cuisine and delicacies from various parts of the world. Why not experience authentic food from countries around the world in your own city or neighborhood. With a little research you may be able to find authentic international cuisine locally. An excellent source for restaurant related information is Zagat.

As frequent travelers we make it a point to try and experience food popular to the area that we are visiting such as elk in Sweden. Experiencing the food of different cultures is a great way to enhance your travel experience. Who knows you may even decide to attempt to re-create the recipe at home.

Willard InterContinental Hotel

I recently had the honor of staying at the historic Willard InterContinental Hotel in Washington D.C. The Willard InterContinental located on Pennsylvania Ave, steps away from the White House, is a hotel filled with luxury and history. The Willard has played host to political leaders, Washington society and welcomed people from all over the world since it opened its doors in 1818. The history gallery by the F Street entrance displays the history of the Willard.

Willard InterContinental Hotel Lobby

Walking into the lobby of the Willard you can’t help but be struck by its elegance. While checking into the hotel and throughout our stay I was extremely impressed with the attention to detail provided by the entire Willard hotel staff. During our check in process, I mentioned to the hotel clerk that as many times as I’ve been to Washington, D.C. that I had never stayed at the Willard. His response to me was that I was in for a “treat”. He was absolutely right.

Our room was located on the same floor as the Martin Luther King Jr. Suite where Dr. King stayed in preparation for his historic August 28, 1963 “I Have A Dream” speech at the Lincoln Memorial. Knowing that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a person I have idolized my entire life, had stayed in a suite a few doors away preparing for his memorable historic speech was truly a humbling experience for me.

Café du Parc Outdoor Setting

The Willard offers a variety of amenities and services for their guests such as spa services at the Red Door Spa, fitness center, concierge services and afternoon tea along with on site restaurants. Since I love all things French I was particularly fond of the French bistro Café du Parc. The outdoor café setting and authentic French food reminded me of my time in France. The Poulet Organic Grillé (Roasted organic chicken served with roasted chicken jus and a side of mashed potatoes) was absolutely delicious.

Washington is filled with history and the Willard InterContinental is part of that history.

Football Helmets

Last evening was the inaugural pre-season football game at the New Meadowlands Stadium (MetLife Stadium) in East Rutherford, New Jersey outside of New York City. The New York Jets vs. The New York Giants played an eventful pre-season game. There were a few glitches in the stadium but all in all attending the inaugural football game at the New Meadowlands Stadium (MetLife Stadium) was a once in a lifetime event. Our Gridiron Club seats and the club lounge with its amenities gave us great views of the field. Former Jets players including Joe Namath were inducted into the Jets Inaugural Ring of Honor during halftime ceremonies.

It was a great evening at the New Meadowlands Stadium (MetLife Stadium)!

Vacation Home?

Deciding whether or not to purchase a vacation home can be a difficult decision. Where in the world should I purchase a vacation home? Will I spend enough time in the destination to justify such a purchase? How do I go about purchasing a home in another country? Should a property management company be hired to oversee and/or rent the property when I am away? These along with so many other questions will need to be addressed when deciding to purchase a vacation home. It is a must to do your homework and have reputable reliable real estate professionals involved throughout the entire process.

My husband and I are currently seeking answers to these and all the other questions related to the purchase of a vacation home. One thing is definite, the view of water will play a major part in our decision making process. Whether it is an ocean, river or lake view it is my desire to wake up in the morning to a view of water. As many people do, I find the sight of water in any form relaxing. While it would be nice to make a good financial investment our personal goal is to find a relaxing piece of paradise somewhere in the world for our family to enjoy now and our children’s children to enjoy in the future.

The Westin Hotel

Travel can take you to new places but travel can also take you home again. Recently my family and I boarded a flight in the early hours of the morning to the Metropolitan Detroit area for a family reunion. As well as celebrating the 40th Anniversary of two very special people, my brother in-law and sister in-law. During our stay in the Detroit Metropolitan area we stayed at The Westin Hotel located in the McNamara Terminal at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport.

Hotel Atrium

Normally when I think of a hotel located within an airport the first thought that comes to mind is whether or not I will hear airplanes taking off and landing at all times during the day and night. But to my surprise that was not the case at the Westin. The second thought that comes to mind when I think of a hotel located within an airport is whether or not it will have a luxurious and relaxing feel. I can honestly say I was truly surprised and impressed that the Westin hotel had both the luxurious and relaxing feel that you would expect from a 4 star hotel located anywhere.

Hotel Pool and Hot Tub Area

The interior rooms with floor to ceiling glass windows overlook the atrium which includes a dining area, a water feature across from bamboo trees along with various lounging areas. The atrium has an open and comfortable feel which is welcoming after a long day of travel. A dip in the hotel pool and hot tub is a great way to start the day. There is also a Westin Workout room available. No trip for me is ever complete until I do a little shopping. After submitting to thorough background checks and screening at the TSA security checkpoint registered overnight guests at The Westin Detroit Metro Airport have access to the nearly 90 shops and restaurants in the McNamara Terminal. After dinner one evening we discovered the Motown Music store within the terminal where I purchased a few Motown souvenirs along with jewelry from other shops within the McNamara Terminal.

The Westin at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport is located conveniently from attractions within the Metropolitan Detroit area. The 40th Anniversary Celebration for my brother-in-law and sister-in-law was held at the Westin. Reconnecting with family members and old friends was the reason for our journey to Michigan. With the professional assistance of the event staff at the Westin hotel my brother-in-law and sister-in-law were able to make the evening a beautiful memorable occasion filled with delicious food, music and most importantly the love and support of family and friends.

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory

A trip is never complete for me until I indulge a little in my passion for candy. I love candy and no matter where I am in the world candy is a must have. Whether I am in Printemps in Paris, Harrods in London, a Candy Bar in New York City or in an open air market in Málaga, Spain where I purchased jellied fruit flavored candy; I make it a point to taste some of the candy from where ever I am in the world. Sometimes the taste is familiar and other times the taste is new and different especially with chocolates. There have been times in which I have traveled within Germany and visited local markets in search of candy. My knowledge of the German language is very limited and needless to say searching for candy there was an adventure but I was successful.

Recently on a long weekend beach get away I re-discovered a Chocolate Factory store. I probably spent a little bit more time eating their delicious treats than I should have but I maintained my normal fitness routine during our getaway, which along with the sun, beach and laid back atmosphere made for a great getaway.