From Whilshire Blvd to the famed Rodeo Drive, you will encounter some great sites and window shopping, all while you try to avoid the flash of the paparazzi. As a reward for your participation, you will get a t-shirt and a cupcake for your efforts at the end of this run.
Do you actually enjoy running while on vacation? If so, the Off Running Tours just might be for you! This unique tour is set in Los Angeles and includes a 4-mile run from the paparazzi. From Whilshire Blvd to the famed Rodeo Drive, you will encounter some great sites and window shopping, all while you try to avoid the flash of the paparazzi. As a reward for your participation, you will get a t-shirt and a cupcake for your efforts at the end of this run.
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Savannah Georgia is a charming place with so much history. We were excited to check it out. We chose to stay at the Ballastone Inn and boy, did we make the right decision! This place is truly lovely. From the moment we entered and were met by the friendly staff through the end of our stay, we felt welcomed. We arrived at 3:30pm in the afternoon and, after a quick up-the-elevator with our bags, we were given a quick briefing of our room by a young lady at the front desk. We chose the most charming little room called the Gazebo room that had its own fireplace, a four poster bed, antique decor, and comfy sheets to match. ( I will give you the info on these sheets at the end of the post. Yes, I bought some online when I got home). After settling in, we were invited down for a high tea. Now, I love high tea so I had been looking forward to it on our way to the Ballastone Inn and it did not disappoint. We were served in the location that what would normally be a tea room in a mansion. Right by the front door, next to the front window, where guest would have normally been greeted. I fell in love with this cute room. The curtains blended so well with the wall coverings you could barely tell the difference between the two on the wall. Charming! As for the tea and accompaniments, you chose your tea from a tea box and then gently poured the hot water from the silver water poured spout. Extra points for quaintness. The sandwich was spot on and they had tiny desserts and chocolate covered strawberries. Everything tasted delicious. Next, they had a wine and appetizers at 6 pm and then a port tasting at 7 pm. Did I mention all of this was included in our room price? Well it was, as was a homemade breakfast in the morning. I think this bed and breakfast could have been a great stay if our theme had just been of good food from Georgia, but this time we had set our theme on the ghost tour and history of Savannah, Georgia. Just to wet your appetite, the breakfast was a dusted cinnamon French toast with warmed maple syrup, cooked-to-order eggs, and sausage. The menu changes daily based on the chef, but maybe if you are lucky you can get this same breakfast. It was a perfect start to our day! Hats off to the chef and the always smiling staff. Next weeks post: The Zombie Tour portion. Not for the easily scared. As promised the name of those amazing microfiber sheets that we just had to buy from is the Comphy Sheets store online. They are just as Comphy on our own bed! Guest post written by Kara B. Wilson
For a unique romantic getaway, travel to Wisconsin. Yes, Wisconsin. Lake Superior’s azure waters, the intriguing Apostle Islands, and Bayfield’s small town appeal are sure to surprise you and your significant other. Nature’s vibrant colors can be enjoyed from every angle regardless of how or when you visit this unique area. Although Bayfield only has about 500 residents, it has a commendable collection of shops and restaurants, which are only steps away from Lake Superior. For a romantic stay, book a room at the highly recommended Old Rittenhouse Inn. It’s an 1890’s Queen Anne Victorian mansion that offers cozy rooms and a gourmet restaurant. While walking downtown, don’t be surprised if you hear locals greeting each other from across the street. Many will recommend stopping in Big Water Coffee Roasters (freshly roasted coffee and tasty pastries), while others will say you must return during one of their seasonal festivals. October 3-5, 2014 will mark Bayfield’s 53rd annual apple festival, which was named the best festival in the state by Wisconsin Trails Magazine. From Bayfield you can visit the 21 Apostle Islands by ferry, cruise or sailboat. To really explore the islands and their alluring sea caves, rent kayaks to admire their vaulted chambers and passageways. The islands can even be seen in the winter with tours of the sparkling ice caves. Madeline Island offers historic tours, which educate visitors about its maritime and Ojibwe history. It also has hiking and cycling trails that wind through emerald vegetation and provide gorgeous views. Forget the typical trip and prepare for this exceptional experience. This spa is simply unbelievable and certainly worth writing about as a unique journey to take. The Hakone Kowakien Yunessun Spa in Japan is a mecca of the most interesting types of treatments and rituals. They have a Sake bath in which there is a constant dripping of real Japanese Sake from a cask overhead. The claim is that sake is good for your skin. Hum... and maybe good for your spirits as well. Sake is not their only beverage spa specialty, they also have a green tea spa with a huge tea pot pouring green tea into the hot tube that they say contains "Catechin, a powerful anti-oxidant fighting tumors as well as enhancing the immune system. Also, good for the skin" , a genuine wine filled spa, and one made with real coffee to help with fatigue. Yes, I am serious, and this is only a few of their unique treatments. They also have an outdoor slide spa. You really need to check out their website to get the complete feel of what they offer. If you have ever been to New York, you know that the list of must-see sites is endless. You can spend a week there and still not see it all. When you conjure up your image of what things to do when considering a trip to New York, most people think they have to see the majestic Statue of Liberty, the awe-inspiring shows on Broadway and, of course, the famous Rockefeller Square. New York, however, has so much more to offer for those in search of all things odd and unique. If you have already been to New York and have hit all the must-see sites, you can go on your own adventure to locate all things odd. We have come up with a list of things that are off the beaten path and have an odd little twist to them. Personally, I like the idea of seeing things that most people do not know about. So, here is our list of things you might want to try when you are in the Big Apple! Try a unique scavenger hunt with accomplish the show! They claim it is actually part theater and part tour. This tour allows you to see New York on a pre-arranged mission. Check out the underbelly of the city by finding the hidden subway station under city hall. Try to locate the Whispering Gallery at Grand Central station; it is at an unmarked archway in front of the oyster bar. They say it is a great place to whisper a proposal. Just be careful that it is your significant other that you end up proposing to, the sound travels in a unique path in there. Berlin wall remnants are at Paley Park. Many people think this is just a mural at the park and often go there without a clue, but it is actually 5 sections of the Berlin wall. Take a magical mystery tour with hip host to check out all things "The Beatles". Visit the Staten Island boat graveyard. An official dumping ground for disused and decommissioned ships. They say it is a photographer's dream location, so this would make an awesome photo date trip. Check out the City Reliquary Museum, a not-for-profit museum with all things New York. This quaint little shop is worth the stop. If you want to get a bit of a scare, visit the Merchants House Museum. This museum is a 19th-century town-home that is said to be haunted. Do you know of any "odd" places or things to do in New York? We would love to hear about them! Photo courtesy of Tanya Trader. Thank you Tanya for letting us post your amazing picture! Nashville is in the thick of all things music. From corner bars with live music, to the Grand Ole Opry. Taking a journey to Nashville, you will with have a true, musically-inspired theme trip. Getting to the downtown area of Nashville is about a 15 min cab drive away from the local airport and walking around is common in this area. There is the strip on which you can wander from bar to bar to experience the local ambiance. Some have said that it is a bit "run down", but I disagree. To me it has a true feel of a downtown energy with lots of character. Many of the places are family friendly with local bands as well as some established local legends. If it is an adult-only trip, Robert's Western World, has been described as a fun but typical Nashville "dive" with great music and the some of the cheapest drinks in town. Check out the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Ryman's Auditorium where you can take in a show, and the Grand Ole Opry house. Make sure you preview what the upcoming talent is and secure your tickets in advance. Since Nashville has a high population of very talented college kids trying it make it big in the entertainment industry you might just get one of your only free concerts from a big name future talent! Foodies will delight in a culinary-inspired vacation and tours. Many big cities have walking culinary tours and even some out-of-the-way locations have caught on to this amazing opportunity to experience both the flavors and the feel of a city. Start with a food tour on vacation and you will know where to go the rest of your vacation! *In Scottsdale, Arizona with the Arizona Food Tours company we sampled a walking tour in Old Town Scottsdale that wowed us with amazing food, wine, and a friendly tour guide. My favorite stops were Cowboy Ciao and 5th and Wine. *In Miami, Florida with Miami Food Tours, our walking tour included Cuban and Peruvian food, that we not only had never tried before, but found we loved. Have you ever tried Cuban coffee? My favorite was called a Cortadito and I forever wish we had a place close to our home. They also included an architecture tour. *In Oahu, Hawaii with Hawaii Food Tours, we had our first walk/drive tour where we walked to some of the locations and were driven to others. This tour set our trip for our future meals while we were on the Island. The highlight was a stop at Leonard's for Malasadas, also known as the Portuguese donut. *Madrid, Spain Madrid Food Tours was another walking tour with plenty of drinks included. We stopped at the Jamon Imberico shop (also known as specialty ham) and generally just strolled with our new found friends. Many of the tours include alcoholic drinks for the adults. Try to find a tour that highlights the local culture and area. On most of these tours, the guests usually start out timid and become fast friends by the end, especially if alcohol is involved. Don’t be afraid to try these in your home town just assuming that you have already tried the food in your area. Often the tour guide will know the best dishes offered at a restaurant and can offer historical tips you never knew about your area. Pretend you are on an out-of-state vacation to make the most of your adventure. My culinary cousin in California also suggest trying the Avital Tour in San Francisco so I bet that is where you will find me when I visit her! Trying to think up a plan for a friend's get-a-way or birthday celebration? Most big cities have bar-hop tours that are geared to the young adults, but there are a few that are for all ages. Check the tours in the city you will be visiting and look at the bars on their list. Most are pretty inexpensive for what you get and offer one drink coupon per stop. The majority are walking tours where multiple bars are close by, and if you do it early in your vacation trip, you know where to go the rest of the vacation on your nights out. This is the type of tour where everyone is quiet in the beginning and fast friends by the end. If you are traveling in a group with married and single people this is the perfect night activity since there are usually both married and singles on the tour to mix with. This way the singles will find like minded new "friends" and not feel like the odd man/woman out. Cannot find what you are looking for? How about make your own. You can always make a theme around your favorite beverages in search of the "perfect drink". Make a plan and theme it around that beverage. Like Tequila? Consider a margarita crawl and sample the tequilas on your adventure. The important thing to remember on this type of themed vacation idea is to stay in the thick of things and don't get stuck in one place too long. Place a time frame on each location and do your best to get everyone to stick with the plan. Make sure your hotel is close by to the bar and restaurant areas so your taxi time is limited or you can walk. To stay in the theme of your vacation, pack fun emergency hang over kits with caffeine, hot sauce, Tylenol, Mylanta, and other hang over helpers. Collect shot glasses along the way. For the singles groups, pack a pair of “beer goggles” for fun. Many breweries and bottling plants have tours so make sure you put one on your list. Check out these tour companies: Pub Crawl Rome Real London Bus Pub Crawl New York Considering an thrilling outdoor adventure but have no experience with rafting? Luckily for you, there are many reputable companies that host rafting trips from 1 to 14 days. Choose from tours rafting through Vegas, Arizona, and Utah. Most rafting companies suggests tours for your group based on age, experience, duration and location you wish to go. The best part about the rafting experience with a reputable tour company is that they have it all handled. From the experienced private guides, to the chefs that cook, knowledge of the surrounding areas, and providing transportation in and out of the rivers. Many rafting outfitters will just provide you with a packing list along with where to meet, and then they do all the rest. Their crews will pitch the tents, prepare the food, and in some cases depending on the style of tour, offer you a cold beer. These tours can be basic and bare boned style rafting to an elite tour including being flown in by helicopter and catered to from start to finish. Some tours are motor-driven and others are powered only by your oars. In the same day you can shoot the rapids as well as just float along enjoying the scenery. Spend your days sleeping under the stars and waking up to the brisk outdoor fresh air. Always double check the tour company you wish to travel with for their safety records and have fun! |
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