Getting ready for a trip to New York and not liking what I see with the weather. Just thinking what else would be better? The Caribbean sounds good. Anyone got any suggestions for things to do there?
The San Jose Sharks are coming in out of the gates this season with the greatest start in NHL history. The team also went 31 games at home without losing in regulation. A Sharks game is always a great experience, with so many attractions in downtown San Jose planning a day trip around a Sharks game is easy. There are also a ton of restaurants in the downtown area so a good meal and a hockey game are right in the South Bay Area of Northern California!
Recently, I had some friends on their way to Northern California from the east coast. The flight they were on had a six hour layover in LA, so they decided to extend it and stay a night in southern California. Having lived in LA for several years, I was the person they called when it came to ask what to do and where to stay. Of course since the trip was a last minute decision they didn’t exactly have a lot to spend and LA can get pretty expensive if you don’t know what you’re doing.
One day, cheap, but still have the glitz and glam of LA (after all, I talked about it all the time). One of the great destination hotels of Los Angeles is the Standard. With locations in downtown LA and on the Sunset Strip, the Standard is known for it’s upscale rooms and killer pools. A little known fact is that the downtown location is considerably less expensive at about $100 a night compared to $250 a night on the strip. The downtown Standard’s rooftop pool has also been seen in movies and TV shows like Entourage and The Hills.
So they were set for the night, opting for the downtown hotel and dinner at the roof top lounge. They still had a full day ahead of them after check out before their flight brought them up north. Once again I fell back on a great fail-safe for a day trip in LA.
The Getty, located in the Santa Monica mountains this museum is always a perfect day trip with the perfect price tag… free! Parking is $8 and there is a tram that takes you from the parking lot up the hill to the museum. The cafe and restaurant serve up great food and one of the best views in LA. The architecture and history behind the museum are just as amazing as the works of art inside.
So, when in LA for just 24 hours don’t get discouraged. There are great things to do on a last minute budget. Just remember to leave plenty of drive time.
I am drowning here, between grad school, two jobs, and my currently-neglected son. I can’t afford to take off for a weekend for a spa stay, but I sure can dream about it. I found a few beautiful spots I can visit in my mind when the need arises. Which is often.
Drift Spa
Located in Las Vegas
Spa Luce
Located in Los Angeles
I-Spa
Located in San Francisco
So, if you’re like me an need a physical, mental, and emotional break, consider visiting the above mentioned spas. Even if it’s just in your mind.
When I lived in
What city says ‘
If you live in the Ft Lauderdale area, not only do you get fireworks, you also get a DJ, games, and live music! Take a look at the fun schedule for the day:
How cute is Anaheim’s day-long July Fourth celebration? They are having a pancake breakfast, a dog show, food, game booths, a parade, and their “Firecracker” 5K/10K Run / 2K Walk and Health Fair—all before the fireworks at 9pm!
It’s not too late to submit your band for AMPLIFY, a conference and music festival in Las Vegas. I am on several music mailing lists, and I just happened to get this in my IN box recently. I’d actually never heard of it, but checked it out and thought it looks so cool I’d post it in my blog.
The event will take place August 5-8 in downtown Las Vegas, and is a 4-day event that features conferences, musical performances, and more. The conference aspect of the event gives bands the opportunity to perform, network, and compete for a spot in the Best of Show finale. Registration for bands ends June 15, so if you or anyone you know is interested, act fast. The winner of Best of Show gets the chance to open for a headlining act, so it could be a great opportunity.
Regardless of whether you win or not, it sounds like a great way to spend a weekend in Vegas. Be sure to check out the website and good luck if you decide to compete!
My youngest step-daughter and her husband just came home from an Alaskan cruise, and the pictures they took are just gorgeous! I remember my grandmother going to visit Alaska, but that was probably 15 years ago and the details escape me. So hearing my kids talk about the fun they had and the sights they saw is quite fun!
The two of them live in Seattle, so at least they didn’t have to fly across the entire US before the cruise. They saw glaciers, went whale watching, and did all of the typical tourist stuff. However, one city they visited intrigued me–not only did it look interesting, but I’d never heard of it before.
Ketchikan is known as the Salmon Capital of the World and they rely on fishing and tourism for their economy. The kids took pictures of a bald eagle, apparently they were everywhere during their visit. They were pretty excited about that. And check out the Misty Fjords–stunning!
But I’m going to come clean and admit that what caught my attention in the pictures of Ketchikan is the fact that the buildings are on stilts. Very cool! Once I began looking into the town, I realized what an interesting history it has. I have really enjoyed learning about the Native culture, the fishing industry, the former red light district, and the movement into what Ketchikan is today–a lovely little town thriving with art, culture, and rich history.
I’m not much of a cruise person, but I would love to visit Ketchikan one day. I may have to rethink my stance on cruises.
If any of you have ever watched
Ever since the opening credits of the first show, I’ve been in love with the lodge that embodies the feel of
Years later, once information became just a mouse click away, I got the notion to search for this dream lodge. And shazaam! There is was, near beautiful Seattle, WA! Still as gorgeous as I remembered it being on the show!
The Salish Lodge in Snoqualmie is located directly on the Falls, and among many upscale amenities, offers a menu of 16 pillows to choose from at bedtime each night. How cool is that?
The Lodge is also a spa, offers three dining experiences, a list of award-winning wines, a cheese program, and a multitude of “culinary adventures” throughout the year. And of course, with Seattle nearby, there are plenty of options for activities outside of the resort. But I don’t think I’d ever want to leave!
I need to start saving up now. Maybe I’ll surprise my hubby one day with an anniversary getaway to this dream destination!
I am taking a study break to wander around online a bit and check out what is planned all over the
Shuddup. I’m gearing up for finals. And finals = booze.
In other parts of the country, people with more of a life than me are planning ginormous parties to celebrate their love for Mother Earth and promote ways to save her. Most notable is the Green Apple Festival, which actually took place yesterday, but serves as an example of what can be done to help raise eco-awareness. Venues across the country united for
Now, their web site says that they expect 500,000 people total, but I’ll be curious to see the final numbers. I think they can draw more than half a mill between the eight different venues. But what do I know? The artist who performed that I’m most excited about is Doug E. Fresh, so clearly I’m not completely normal.
I’ma hafta kick it old school style at work the next time I go in…Lottie Dottie, We like to party, We don’t cause trouble, We don’t bother nobody, We’re just some men whose on the mic, And when we rock it on the mic, We rock the mic RIGHT!
Anyway. Please take a cue from those involved with the Green Apple Festival and do what you can to celebrate this wonderful planet on which we live. And then determine what you can do to keep her alive, healthy, and happy!
How cool is this, and why don’t we have these things in Ohio????
I keed. About the Ohio part.
Land Shark is an amphibious bus/boat, or Terra-Hydra, in Santa Barbara, CA, that my son would love! It takes passengers on a 90-minute land and sea adventure through the streets of Santa Barbara and then into the water along its coastline. Just imagine that thrilling moment when you are on a bus full of people, heading toward the ocean, knowing you aren’t going to stop!
I’ve been doing some research on Santa Barbara and it has ended up as one of my favorite CA. I’m not sure that a trip to CA is in my family’s budget right now, but here is a listing of family-friendly lodging if you feel the urge to visit–and you should!