It had been many years since I had been to Monterey, California, a favorite destination when I traveled with my family as a child. This trip, however, was strictly a grown up one. After a few days of traveling around with a representative from the tourist board, I had my friend Tracy join me in Carmel-by-the-Sea for what would turn out to be a fun and unusual weekend getaway.

Tracy picked me up at L’Auberge, a beautiful property downtown, and we dropped our things off at the Lamp Lighter Inn, an adorable set of rooms and cottages closer to the beach. We had the Blue Bird Cottage for the next two days. It was cozy and cute, with a loft upstairs that had twin beds and a king bed downstairs near the electric fireplace.

After we got settled, we headed downtown for the Carmel-by-the-Sea Pet Parade. This city is by far the most pet-friendly I had ever seen in my life and the parade was a testament to that (there were also dogs staying at our hotel, water bowls on every corner, restaurants welcoming dogs and plenty of pet shopping downtown). We watched the parade a bit before going down the block at one of the many winery tasting rooms in the city, Wrath Wines.

I enjoyed their rendition of my favorite grape, sauvignon blanc, but was also surprised to find out how much I liked the 2009 Wrath Syrah Doctor’s Vineyard, made from one of my least favorite grapes, syrah. We bid the tasting room goodbye and did a little shopping before hitting the road for lunch at a property that is known all over the world.

Check any list of the most beautiful golf courses in the world and the chances are Pebble Beach is on there. We had a lunch at Stillwater Bar & Grill at the The Lodge at Pebble Beach, which showed off both the Pacific Ocean and this scenic course. While Tracy enjoyed some of the seafood, I had a great burger and fries before we share a scrumptious peanut butter dessert. It was certainly a place I was glad to experience and recommend a trip to for lunch with a view.

After we got the car back from the valet we decided to hit the road to get a glimpse of this part of Monterey. There was no doubt where we were going as 17-Mile Drive is one of the most famous – and most breathtaking – drives in the world. We took our time and made many stops to check out the scenery and take lots of pictures.

We went back to the Lamp Lighter Inn to change our clothes and then headed down to the Cypress Inn. While “Yappy Hour” was taking place in the front lounge, we headed to the back where we could see all the movie posters from owner Doris Day’s films, as well as the drinks and menu items named after her co-stars and fellow actors.

The cocktail menu opens with the Humphrey Bogart quote, “The problem with the world is that everyone is a few drinks behind.” We didn’t let that happen to us and started with a Mary Pickford (Leblon, Bacardi Superior, pineapple juice, maraschino liqueur and grenadine). It was actually created for the actress at the Hotel Nacional de Cuba in the 1920s and I agreed with Mary that it was a great drink. Before we left the bar area for our dinner table we also tried the French 75 (champagne, lemon juice and sugar), made in honor of Harry’s Bar in Paris – a hangout to the stars.

We enjoyed the food at the Cypress Inn as much as the drinks. We started with a roasted vegetable soup. I had the Penne Sicilian with pasta, sausage and onions in a tomato sauce, while Tracy loved the scallops. Other menu choices that caught our eye were the Moroccan Chicken, Lamp Lollipops and Braised Short Ribs. The choice of dessert was an easy one, though, and the crème brulee was wonderful.

We called it a night after dinner and got a good night’s sleep before enjoying breakfast in the Lamp Lighter’s courtyard. We were actually the only ones without dogs with us, but they were all very well behaved and we enjoyed a conversation with visitors from all over the U.S. and Canada. The Lamp Lighter also has an evening wine and cheese hour so it’s a good place to get to know other people (and pets).

Before leaving the area, Tracy and I enjoyed a long walk along Carmel Beach. While the towns in Monterey may have changed a bit over the years, I still felt like I was on a childhood visit when I looked out at the Pacific Ocean.

A Mother Daughter Getaway in Austin Texas

Girls Getaways isn’t just for traveling bachelorette parties anymore. Nor does the phrase only cater to milestone birthdays with gal pals in far away cities. There’s another kind of girls getaway, probably the most important girl in anyone’s life. It was something very new and incredibly special to me – a weekend trip with my mom.

Who would have thought? We’ve finally reached the age where traveling together makes sense and surely isn’t out of necessity. I’m 30, and I promised not to tell her age (hint, it’s right smack-dab in the middle of 50 and 60), and we probably have more in common now than we ever have. As life gets busier and busier, we realize how important it is to take the time to spend with your loved ones.

Ever since moving to Houston almost six years ago, my mother just can’t bring herself to visit me in the city, which she sneeringly refers to as the concrete jungle. In honor of Mother’s Day where we take time to tell these women how much we love them and how incredibly thankful we are for them, I thought of taking her to Austin. She loves music; she loves trying new places and a gal after my own heart she LOVES to be pampered.

It was settled: a long weekend at Lakeway Resort and Spa in Austin. Resting on the shores of scenic Lake Travis, the property has 168 spacious and elegant guest rooms all with breathtaking views of the lake. Right off the bat (or off the plane I should say), it was obvious the music capital of the world (Austin) had met my mother’s approval. After her long day of flying from the East Coast, the 40-minute drive to Lakeway was filled with bright green plush trees. Having been to Austin a hundred times myself, even I was impressed with the drive.

The hotel itself was immaculate. After being greeted by a member of the friendly valet staff (self parking in a covered garage is also available), an easy-as-pie check in with another courteous staff member, we headed to our fourth floor room with a private balcony overlooking the Marina. As a special welcome treat, we ordered red velvet cupcakes from room service and a glass of champagne to kick off our mother-daughter weekend. My mother and I have many things in common; red velvet cupcakes just happens to be one of the many.

For dinner, we took advantage of Josey’s Grill and Bar, the on-site restaurant, which also had outdoor seating and overlooked the sunset views of Lake Travis. Had my dad been in town, it would have been the perfect family Christmas card (note, I’m still bitter I haven’t been included in the family card for years, but for some reason our dog is…).

Josey’s reminded us of the lodge in our old family vacation spot in Seven Springs, PA so of course that just led to tons of reminiscing. As for food, the Gulf Coast Jumbo Crab Cakes (Jalapeño tartar sauce, vinegar/mustard seed slaw, crispy baguette $13) are an absolute must and the Grilled Filet Mignon (8oz, Grilled gulf shrimp, fingerling potatoes, Asparagus, pinot noir glaze $30) was cooked a juicy warm pink just like I like it. It may not be Houston, but it’s still Texas and you can’t ever go wrong with a nice cut of steak. The culinary team makes every effort to use local and sustainable products in all of their meals and it’s a difference you can surely taste!

The weather during our weekend visit was hot and sunny (did I mention it’s still Texas mom?), which meant we got to soak up the sun and relish one of the three outdoor pools. Our favorite of course was the one with the swim-up bar complete with frozen daiquiris and music playing overhead, although the kid’s water slide did catch our attention a time or two. The other plus about the pool: each lounge chair had a flag on the back so you could literally flag down a staff member to order another drink or bite without having to search for them frantically. Finding attentive wait staff at a busy pool should never go unnoticed.

During our visit, we did of course enjoy a few sensational treatments at San Saba Spa, the in-house spa that included 9 relaxing treatment rooms and a much-needed dry sauna. Collectively, we’ve probably visited over 100 spas in our day so you could almost call us professionals, so take our word when we say everything was pretty much perfect. From the check-in, to the women’s locker room and amenities, to the private outdoor spa terrace that (again) overlooked Lake Travis, to the quality of the treatments: there wasn’t a single place we’d rather have been.

If you’re thinking of taking your mother out for a treat this Mother’s Day (or any woman who deserves to be shown just how much you appreciate her, on any given day), check out their current May specials:

Mom and Me: Two Traditional Pedicures while enjoying lunch for two from the spa menu – $165
 
Mother-To-Be: 50-minute Mother-To-Be massage and a traditional pedicure – $184

San Saba Spa is great about running monthly deals (including a number of eco-friendly specials thanks to Earth Day last month), so be sure to call them and see what’s going on: 512.261.7350

Although there was absolutely no reason to leave Lakeway, we did head into Austin one night (about a 25 minute drive) so I could show my mom what all the buzz was about. We walked around Sixth Street, got called sisters multiple times which made us both blush, took pictures and then headed back to our gorgeous accommodations back at the hotel.

At the end of the trip my mother and I came to the same conclusion: if life were a game of monopoly, we’d both be fighting for some prime real estate right at Lakeway Resort and Spa. If you do make it to Lakeway for Mother’s Day, be sure to check out their savory brunch menu.

LAKEWAY RESORT and SPA | 101 Lakeway Drive, Austin, TX 78734 | 512.261.6600 | lakewayresortandspa.com

Jayme Lamm is a freelance writer and marketing consultant based in Houston focusing on travel writing and is in a full-court press writing her hugely opinionated sport’s column, The Blonde Side.

Spas and Desserts at Vintage Hotels

Colleen, the concierge for Vintage Resorts in Niagara on the Lake, described it as a “peanut butter chocolate tower of delight.” She was telling me in loving, mouth-watering detail about a dessert she had at the Tiara restaurant located at the Queen’s Landing, one of Vintages’ three hotels in Niagara (Queens Landing, Pillar and Post, and Prince of Wales). I decided two things immediately, I was getting my butt over to the restaurant and I was going to experience this dessert. After all, it had the two components required for a top dessert, peanut butter and chocolate, and preferably lots of both.

But it was not to be! Colleen went to book the reservation and discovered that the restaurant was closed for an event. What event could have been more important than me up close and personal with the chocolate tower of delight I ask? My stomach and I were very disappointed.

I think Colleen could sense the disappointment oozing out of me and she suggested a back up plan. The restaurant at the Vintage Resort’s Pillar and Post Hotel was also a wonderful choice, she said. Since my sister and I were booked for a spa day at the Pillar, she thought we could end the day there with a meal. Did it also have the tower of delight dessert? I asked. “No,” Colleen answered slowly… “But let me see what I can do.” I nodded, but was a little confused. Was she going to build me a tower of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups?

I shook my head to clear out the yummy image of towering multitudes of PB cups and went off to experience the Pillar and Post Spa with my sister. Dessert was soon forgotten.

Pillar and Post’s 100 Fountain Spa, was voted the #1 spa (Spas of America 2011) in Canada and it’s easy to see why. After a multi million-dollar renovation in 2006 the spa radiates with luxurious tranquility. The spa is an enormous 13,000 square feet, and with 12 treatment rooms, a spacious salon with 6 self-massage pedicure chairs and 6 manicure stations, it’s ideal for bridal parties or girlfriend getaways.

Tucked away on the lower level of the hotel, the spa feels completely removed from the daily bustle of a busy hotel. It feels polished yet rustic. Serene and all natural. I could feel the tension start to seep out of my muscles as soon as I checked in and headed to the relaxation lounge with a glass of Niagara wine in my hand.

My sister and I were each scheduled for a 50-minute Swedish massage and when my treatment was over, I felt as if I could sleep for a week. We met later for manicures and pedicures and, of course, more wine. After all we were in wine country!

We ended our spa day with a visit to the outdoor hot springs surrounded by a beautiful little garden and cascading waterfall. This is the star attraction of the spa, and a definite must for anyone visiting 100 Fountain.

The 12-person mineral infused pool, located next to the spa’s lounge, rests at the bottom of a pretty stone grotto, and the experience of relaxing in this little oasis with the requisite glass (plastic of course) of wine was sublime. We were both content to drift away the remainder of the afternoon at the hot springs and pool until it was time to dress for our dinner at the hotel’s Cannery restaurant.

The Cannery restaurant at Pillar and Post is an elegant but cozy restaurant and the house specialty is steak, very good steaks. I made an exception in my no red meat diet and ordered the bacon wrapped beef tenderloin, my sister ordered the house signature dish, the Cajun Striploin…. My, oh my, we were in carnivore bliss.

We finished our dinner and our waiter approached our table with a little smile on his face. “I hope you have room for dessert,” he said, “because there’s a little something special waiting for you in the kitchen.”

Colleen, bless her heart had arranged to have Tiara’s Pastry Chef Carol Learn’s Chocolate Peanut Butter Tower made for us, and with a flourish, out it came to our table. We felt so special and I was thrilled. I realized this is what separates a good hotel from a great hotel. The willingness and the ability to allow staff to go the extra step, to make the effort to make guests happy and maybe even thrill them with the unexpected.

We were full but it didn’t matter, we ate every bite. It was truly a peanut butter chocolate tower of delight and deliciousness. What a perfect ending to a perfect girls trip to Niagara On The Lake. Thanks to Colleen and the Pillar and Post Hotel.

As a woman traveling around the world there are some things that I search for that never cross “the man’s mind.” A great art museum, women-owned clothing boutiques, outdoor cafes and unusual desserts are always on my bucket list.

For example, if you find yourself traveling through the city of Nashville, Tennessee look forward to more than just honky-tonk bars and cowboy boots. This major country music city has more to it then, well country music. Nashville has a thriving cultural arts community, eclectic boutique and eco-friendly shopping, and a selection of restaurants that rival any on either coast. A little southern history rounds out a trip to Nashville that makes for a great weekend getaway with your girlfriends or just the family.

Visit the Visual Arts

First Center for the Visual Arts, 919 Broadway
A 24,000-square foot visual art exhibition center successfully launched in the former U.S. Post Office building and has an ever-changing schedule of exhibitions from local, regional, national and international sources.
Kids 18 and under are always free.

Downtown Art Galleries including TAG Art Gallery, The Arts Company, Estel Gallery, Rymer gallery, the eclectic Arcade and expanding 5th Street art district.

Cheekwood Botanical Garden & Museum of Art, 1200 Forrest Park Drive (37205)
The private estate of the Cheek family (Maxwell House coffee fame), Cheekwood is now home to 55 acres of botanical gardens, a sculpture trail, museum of art and more.

The Carl Van Vechten Gallery, 1000 175h Ave. N., includes works by Pablo Picasso, Paul Cezanne, Auguste-Pierre Renoir, Henri deToulouse-Lautrec, Georgia O’Keeffe, Charles Demuth, Marsden Hartley, and Arthur Dove.

The Parthenon, Centennial Park
The world’s only full-sized reproduction of the Greek Parthenon that houses Athena, the tallest indoor structure in the Western world.

Belle Meade Plantation, 5025 Harding Road
Once a renowned thoroughbred horse farm, Belle Meade Plantation was one of Nashville’s largest and wealthiest private estates encompassing 5400 acres. The guided tour of the Mansion, with an abundance of original furnishings, encompasses both the first and second floor of the Antebellum home.

The Hermitage, 4580 Rachel’s Lane, Hermitage
Home of President Andrew Jackson, this National Historic Landmark features the Hermitage mansion, tombs of Andrew and Rachel Jackson and Rachel’s garden as well as special exhibits.

Schermerhorn Symphony Center, One Symphony Place
Neoclassical revivalist concert hall that opened September 2006, it is Music City’s newest musical gem and one of the only major concert halls in North America to utilize natural light. Perfect for the classical music enthusiasts.

Enjoy the Culinary Arts

Nashville Farmer’s Market, 900 Rosa Parks Blvd.
An indoor and outdoor public market, featuring locally grown produce, ethnic food, restaurants, specialty items and live music ranging from bluegrass to jazz and country it is sure to have something for everyone’s tastebuds.

Capitol Grill, 231 Sixth Ave N
With a distinguished take on Southern dishes, Chef Tyler Brown of Capitol Grille uses vegetables from the period garden he created at the Farm at Glen Leven. The heritage breed beef that grazes there has created one of the best examples of sustainable Southern Cuisine in the state of Tennessee.

SloCo , 290512th Ave.
Located in the 12 South neighborhood of Nashville, this sandwich shop serves local and sustainable sandwiches at affordable prices and they also list how far your food has traveled, so it really is local. They only use organic, ’real’ food bought from farmers growing without the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, antibiotics and genetic modification.

1808 Grille Restaurant, 1808 West End Ave.
Local farm-freshness is the order of the day, and their ingredients include prime meat and sustainable seafood entrees enhanced with chutneys, aiolis and vinaigrettes to create a delectable array of flavors and textures

Las Paletas Gourmet Popsicles, 2907 12th Avenue S Street
Whatever you do, make sure that one stop is a visit to Las Paletas Gourmet Popsicles. Who would have thought hot chocolate with peppers or pineapple chili would go so good together? Only in a popsicle, and not just for dessert.
So popular no website even. Go figure!

Go Shopping

The Green Wagon: East Nashville, 1100 Forest Ave.
All the products hold up a rigorous set of standards based on all natural ingredients, sustainable production practices, being produced in the United States, and being produced as locally as possible.

MODA, 2511 12th Street South
A quaint shop to indulge yourself, Moda stands for modern, original, distinctive apparel and does not disappoint. A pleasure to graze over their jewelry, pretty candles and seasonal dresses.

Imogene + Willie, 2601 12th Avenue
If you really want to bring home a token of Nashville, forgo the country cowboy boots and purchase yourself a pair of custom made blue jeans that fit like a glove. It is where the stars of country music shop too. A very cool shop indeed.

BookManBookWoman, 1713 21st Street
Ok, I know that you are reading this on-line, but every once in a while, help the little guy out and go visit a used bookstore. Just gliding down the tiny aisle of stacked books will be a trip down memory lane. A book from my childhood, a college novel, and my favorite chic lit. Pick something up. You will not regret it.

Grace Anne Belangia took her first plane ride at six months old to Bogota, Columbia and her feet have not touched the ground since. She spent her childhood and college summers crisscrossing the world; by train, plane, ship and automobile. After graduate school in communications, she settled down but her sense of adventure and travel never waned from her career or motherhood. Every weekend, vacation and holiday break was an excuse to travel and explore. Three passports later, her family and kids in tow have been to France, Greece, Germany, Turkey, Italy, Spain, Monaco, Mexico, Canada, Caribbean, England, Netherlands, Scotland, Japan, Belgium, and most states in the continental USA. She has 20 years experience in the public relations, event planning and journalism field. 5 years ago she forgo a full time corporate career and combined her love of travel and writing. She chronicles her latest travel adventures writing for magazines, travel websites, and private clients. Try and keep up with her at www.goGABgo.com.

We stepped out of the car, stretching and ready to experience Memphis in all its glory and then we all gasped aloud at the humid heat that slapped us in the face like a wet washcloth. We had chosen Memphis on a whim for our Girlfriend Getaway since it was fairly close to our home base of Lexington, Kentucky and my sister-in-law was dying to visit Graceland, home of the famous Elvis Presley.

What we had not done was research just how hot Memphis could be in the summer, assuming it would be similar to Kentucky. It was pretty warm but we quickly adjusted and set our sights on settling into our lovely room in the River Inn at Harbor Town.

Overlooking the lazy Mississippi River and with a quiet air of sophistication, the River Inn at Harbor Town is the perfect place to stay on a girlfriends getaway. Close to town, but just far enough away from the wonderful craziness of Beale Street, the River Inn not only has marvelously luxurious rooms, but they also include a full, hot, and quite delicious breakfast at Paulette’s Restaurant in your room rate. It was a refreshing change to order breakfast every morning instead of choosing from the ubiquitous buffet you normally get in a hotel.

With 28 guest rooms and suites with the most comfortable 4-poster beds I have ever slept in, bedecked with Frette linens, puffy duvets and six luxurious pillows, you will be tempted to never leave your room. The hotel kindly provided us with a rollaway bed since there were three of us and we still had plenty of room to move around.

Decorated with a beautiful Southern and European décor, 32” flat-screen televisions and including amenities like a glass of Champagne or wine on arrival, Port Wine and chocolate truffles at Turn-Down (which are delicious, by the way), luxury bathroom amenities, a daily national newspaper, free high-speed wireless Internet access, local phone calls, and use of the Fitness Room, you will not want for anything at the River Inn.

The River Inn knows women love to ‘R&B’ (relax and beautify) when they travel and they’ve added a Ladies Travelers Amenities page to their website, showcasing local spas and female friendly activities.

One of the nicest places in the hotel is the library-style seating on each floor, furnished with comfortable chairs and a large selection of books, in case you forgot to bring your own. We kept meaning to take advantage of this comfy area but were way too busy learning all about Memphis.

Finding Our Blues Groove

When you are ready to tour Memphis, you absolutely have to take the Mojo Tour with Backbeat Tours. It was when we climbed on the bus and saw the guy with a guitar perched on a stool at the front of the bus that we knew that was going to be a truly unique tour. And it was. Unique, funny, interesting – all this and more, thanks to our great tour guide, Memphis Jones.

If you take a Mojo Tour with Backbeat Tours you should try to get him as your tour guide. He was seriously great. We drove all over Memphis visiting different historic locations and the whole time he had the bus either laughing, listening to his songs or singing along. I have taken a lot of tours in a lot of places and this was one of the best I have ever taken. Before the tour even started, he handed out tambourines and shakers so the crowd could get involved in the music and you would have though we were a bus full of kindergarten students instead of adults the way we got into those instruments.

We learned all about the colorful musical history of Memphis in an easygoing way that made learning fun. Backbeat Tours offers a variety of musical tours -which seemed appropriate for Memphis – and are very conveniently located on Beale Street, which you have to visit to enjoy the shops, restaurant and music. The ticket office for Beackbeat Tours is right on the main street at the Blues City Cafe – you can’t miss it.

Best Barbeque in Memphis!

After your fabulous tour, get off the bus at Beale Street and walk right into the Blues City Cafe. They have a fabulous menu of choices, including a very spicy and delicious Gulf Coast Cajun-style shrimp appetizer that might very well take the top of your head of with its spiciness. So be prepared. Just make sure you order barbecue at the Blues City Cafe because it is their specialty.

I have never had barbecued ribs with meat so tender it was actually slipping off the bones until I ate here. Then, just about the time we thought we might be able to get up and waddle out of the place, they encouraged us to order the Apple Dumpling with ice cream, which is their specialty dessert. Honestly. Could you pass this up? Baked apple wrapped in pastry seared with butter in an iron skillet. Drizzled with cinnamon sauce and served with vanilla ice cream.

After lunch, spend some time just wandering around Beale Street. There’s lots of places to buy souvenirs, get a cold drink and just enjoy the live music drifting out of every restaurant.

Graceland and Elvis

Our second day in Memphis was spent marveling over the fabulous Graceland. You don’t need to schedule a tour to Graceland, it’s very easy to go on your own. Plan several hours though, as there is a lot to see. You can tour Elvis Presley’s private jet, see the car museum and peruse the many gift shops but the real treat is the house itself.

I had the preconceived idea that it would be a huge mansion, but it’s really not that large and, as you walk through, it becomes obvious that this was actually a home. The furnishings are dated and some are pretty amusing but when you consider that it was decorated years ago, the shag carpeting and crazy color choices begin to make sense. The family graves are in a lovely, quiet area with a burbling fountain. It’s amazing that thousands of people tour Graceland each year from all over the world. There were fresh flowers, small stuffed animals and notes on the graves – a testament to the fact that Elvis and his music are still well-loved.

After Graceland, we headed to the Peabody Hotel and their famous ducks. Get there early because there are plenty of other people who want to see the ducks and it may be difficult to get a good seat. It’s a lot of fun when the official duck conductor – in full uniform – steps out of the elevator and herds the ducks into the fountain. He will also give you a little history about the ducks and how they have their own private penthouse in the hotel.

We should have scheduled just one more day because we would have liked to visit Mud Island, take a Steamboat Cruise, do more shopping and work in a spa visit. We’ll just have to schedule another trip to the River City – preferably when it’s not quite so hot!

Jan Ross is a freelance travel writer who has been traveling the world since way back before she can even remember. Her dad was in the Marine Corps so she is used to packing up at a moment’s notice! She loves writing hotel and restaurant reviews since it means she gets to stay in fabulous places and eat wonderful food. She especially loves writing spa reviews because that means she gets phenomenally pampered and, seriously, who does not like that? She has visited lots of places but still gets a thrill of excitement when she boards a plane, steps into a new hotel room, or sees a new location for the first time. And she hopes that thrill never, ever goes away.

For more information on Jan, visit her website at WanderlustWonder.com.