Journalist, Author & Syndicated Columnist
The W hotels are always stylish and this one in Seattle is no exception. The design is sleek and not fussy. The rooms are nicely sized, clean and well laid out. I usually don’t care for the bath products at most hotels, but the Bliss foaming face wash and shampoo are fantastic!
I am really lucky. My son has been a great traveler from the get-go, whether we’re flying or taking a looooooooong road trip. My husband and I started taking him on trips with us when he was a baby, and I believe that helped him adapt easily to being on the road. Traveling with children doesn’t have to be an ordeal. Sure, changes of environment can be tough, but bringing the comforts of home with you can make a tremendous difference.
A Krispy Kreme donut and Elvis Presley dancing. If you can think of a better way to wake up in Memphis, do let me know! It felt really special visiting Graceland and staying overnight at the Guest House at Graceland. I’m not ashamed to admit that I was so excited to be there, that I selfied my way through the visit. I don’t need to share those photos publicly though.
When you’re traveling overseas and don’t want to rent a car, being in a central location is key. That’s one reason my husband and I opted for the Regent Singapore, a Four Seasons Hotel. It’s a close walk to all the shopping on Orchard Road (comparable to Beverly Hills) and just a few minutes from the gorgeous Singapore Botanic Gardens (a UNESCO World Heritage Site).
I know that it’s cool to say that you don’t like to visit tourist traps. But I’ll let you in on a little secret: I enjoy tourist traps, which is why when we took my mother on her first trip to Hawaii, we went to Honolulu. And when you’re traveling with a little kid to Seattle, it’s fun to re-visit attractions like the Space Needle through their eyes.
My husband and kiddo had never visited Abraham Lincoln’s home. The last time I was there was for my 8th grade school field trip. So, we took a road trip to Springfield, Ill., and had a lot of fun exploring and finding great places to eat. We could’ve driven back home, but that would’ve made for a loooongggg and not as fun trip.
Our kid likes to travel. He has taken high-speed KTX trains in Seoul, played in New York City’s Central Park and fed dolphins in Paradise Island (Bahamas). All of that was amazing. But it’s wonderful having a first-rate destination with skyscapers, museums and all the dining choices right in our own back yard. We’ll be back, Chicago, because we can’t quit you.
Earlier this year, my husband said we should go somewhere nice this winter. I asked why? He just stared at me. Oh, yeah. It’s our 10-year wedding anniversary.
Every year around my birthday, my family and I like to enjoy a staycation in Chicago. For me, it’s a chance to return to my stomping grounds in the city where I grew up. Before my parents realized their immigrant dream of buying a house in the suburbs, we lived in Chicago. I went to school, learned to parallel park and got my first big newspaper job there. For my husband and son, spending a long weekend in Chicago is an opportunity to visit some of the world’s first rate museums, dine at some amazing restaurants and go for a swim with a view of the city’s gorgeous skyline.
The WaterColor Inn & Resort, named for the small planned town it fronts on the Panhandle’s charming Route 30A (between Destin and Panama City) is one of those hotels that has had a surprisingly good reputation from the start, for no particular reason. The proof is in the fact that everytime you try to book a stay, the rates are astronomical. That is, if you can even get a room. Hassle! Just to make a visit more difficult, you can no longer fly nonstop to the region. Already, you’re wondering: Why not just go to the Caribbean?