Check us out!
Archive for the ‘United States’ Category
Reader Perspective: Hiking Half Dome at Yosemite National Park
Growing up, I had always dreamed of hiking Half Dome in Yosemite National Park. This past July, with my senior year of college drawing near, I decided to make that dream reality and finally make the climb. The journey was difficult but more than rewarding. If you are thinking about giving it a try, here are some tips to make the trip a little easier.
Due to overcrowding on the cables, Yosemite now requires a permit to climb Half Dome Friday through Sunday. Permits are available through the National Park Service website up to four months in advance and sell out quickly. You can still hike without a permit Monday through Thursday. Once you make the decision to go, hit the gym right away.
GoCar: The Cure for the Common Tour
GoCar: The Cure for the Common Tour
Whenever I visit a new city, I like to do some sort of city tour to get acclimated. From free walking tours to organized coach tours, this gives me some sense of direction and a way to see the city highlights. But, being the adventurer that I am, I like to see the city in unique ways too. So, when I discovered that GoCar, GPS-guided tours in little cars you drive around the city, were available, I grabbed my friend Anna and we explored a little gem right in our own backyard of San Francisco.
Photo of the Week: Santa Cruz, California
Today’s image is of Santa Cruz, California, known for surfing, its boardwalk and laid back vibe. DIWYY’s Kristina Wegscheider shot this photo while kayaking in the ocean with Venture Quest Kayaking.
Destination Details: Steamboat Springs, Colorado
Steamboat Springs is coined “Ski Town USA” for a good reason! Not only does Steamboat offer world-class skiing with sought-after champagne powder snow, but the town has produced more Olympians than any other town. Need another reason to visit? There is more fun to be had in the summer, too!
Getting There: Steamboat Springs is located in the north western portion of Colorado, so you have a few methods of transportation to get you there. In the winter, many tourists fly into Denver International Airport (DIA) first, and then catch a small plane up to the Hayden Airport (HDN). From Hayden, it is roughly a 30-40 minute drive to Steamboat (weather dependent!)
More than Disney: Hemingway, Hog’s Breath and Ziplining through Florida
Bumper to bumper traffic, heat waves and the reliable 4 p.m. thunderstorm. It’s what I know best. And for most of the tourists known as “snow birds”, it’s all they will ever know. They come from far and wide for a mouse. They come every summer for a vacation. They’ll leave in a week.
Beyond the theme park world lies a Florida that the 6th, 7th, and 8th generation Floridian knows best. Hidden far away from parks are mangroves in the everglades, the youthful wells of St. Augustine and the lakes that dot the map.
We’re all going on a ROADTRIP!
It’s time to shake things up a bit, find your inner Kerouac, and go a new adventure you’ve always dreamed of. Forget about planes and trains, embrace your automobile and hit the road.
Get your girlfriends. Pick a place. And Go!
Photo of the Week: Monterey, California
DIWYY reader, Divya Kalimuthu shot this photo of the famous ‘Lone Cypress’ near Monterey, California. See more of Divya’s photography on her Flickr account. Want to see your photo featured in Photo of the Week? Email kristina@diwyy.com.
Reader Perspective: Fall In Love with Denver, Colorado
Downtown Denver has a remarkable quaint charm with many ways to travel besides by car. In fact, they have a free public transportation called the Mall Ride that stops at each block. As far as being able to get to the local hot spots or to your massage, walking should be something that a visitor should do. (Ladies: bring some shoes with soul.) There is so much to see, do and hear.
But first, let’s talk about the place to stay. One of the best hotels located in Denver, Colorado that truly has character, elegance, and superior service is Hotel Teatro. From the outside standing on the corner it looks like a charming historic building. When you walk in, there is a modern twist with old world mixed in with Indonesian art. Throughout the hotel you can see exotic works of art on display. I’m not certain if the artwork throughout this boutique hotel is really original or is part of a theme. Either way the romance is there. If you choose the Superior Room as your room of choice, the hotel maids come through every day with turn down service, including chocolate delights. When you walk in you will see the cherry wood and the sandstone floors that really make you feel like you are a big spender.
The high ceilings and the floor opens up the room. The sitting area has a European style couch sets, old black and white photos and the best bed that I have ever slept in. I should of checked the maker of the mattress. The Italian linens were from Frette, which is Egyptian cotton, 200 thread count of ooh la la. The pillows were feathered and oh so plush. The flat screen is jetted out just enough for you to snuggle in bed and enjoy a movie without feeling cramps in your neck or too far to see the picture. The huge walk-in bathroom is all marble. Comes with a crystal glass scale if you choose to know how much you weigh. Walk-in showers are becoming very popular in hotels which I believe is a way to go. The glass shower was super clean and well made. You will literally feel like you are in a rain shower. They carry Aveda products which is okay, but I wish they carried the Bath & Body products Orange Ginger. They give complimentary internet connections as well as wireless. There is plenty of nooks and crannies to sit around the hotel.
Explore the hotel interior where the meetings rooms are located to see more art and white marble floors. There is a staircase that will lead you to the upper level of one of the restaurants that is run by chef Kevin Taylor. I didn’t really have the best service at their restaurants nor was the food spectacular that I would recommend. Definitely venture out. The Concierge rocks at Teatro! Attending a convention or have reservations for dinner in downtown, don’t worry these guys will take you in the Escalade at your beck and call. The Concierge have all the tips, tricks and they are definitely plugged into what is happening in the city so if you have an itch or a jive they surely will steer you in the right direction. And they would even go as far as making reservations for you on your behalf.
There is so much flavor and taste that you have to go to Earl’s. I know, it doesn’t sound sexy but they serve delicious prime rib and it is a local spot off of 16th where you see Denver come alive. Enjoy a glass of wine from the reserves and just enjoy the atmosphere. Along the way, you will see entertaining characters to musicians playing their hearts out. You will even hear the sidewalks sing! Okay well, if you walk down Curtis Street to 16th, you will hear what I mean. An elephant might trumpet you, a lion may roar or you might get startled by other jungle noises. Will you get spooked?
I had the pleasure of enjoying a Dom Brunch that traditionally only takes place on Sundays at the Brown Palace from 10am to 2pm. They feature all sorts of food that is unbelievable. Steak, oversized seafood, fresh fruit, sushi, every type of egg prepared, custom omelets, pancakes, exquisite desserts, fresh baked breads, to all sorts of sides. Expect to spend about $150.00 for 2. Oh and they also served Dom Perignon Champagne with this lavish buffet. The place is full of rich history and one of the places that I swore that I must see and do where the “Unsinkable” Molly Brown stayed one week after her return from Titanic. The Brown Palace has an Italian Renaissance atrium style design that is definitely built with elegance and prestige. The architect and engineer of the building had a green thumb. The place is built to be fireproof…wood was not included in the building materials. 720 feet beneath the lobby floor the original artesian well provides water for the entire hotel. The plot of land that it sits on is a triangular shape. All of the space in the hotel is used for entertaining. There is a charming coffee shop that is in the corner of the hotel. A great spot if you are waiting for a ride or a friend. There is a small selection of hand-picked books and fresh daily pastries and other baked delights. Find live entertainment in the Ship Tavern that has a vintage pub atmosphere. Your imaginations would lead you to believe that you are in an old world bar that looks like a club of the past where you would find businessmen puffing their cigars. In the lobby, daily they serve from Noon to 4pm a tradition of Afternoon Tea. Just like the Dom Brunch you have to reserve early, because they are so well done. A harpist or pianist plays nearby as hospitable waiters serve you scones, pastries, sandwiches that are prepared daily by the top chefs. If you do Denver, don’t forget to do the Brown Palace.
The 16th Street Mall is an open pavilion-like area where there are outdoor escalators, stairways to get to the boutiques, some popular chains like Express, Victoria Secret, Banana Republic and many others. You can also find other watering holes like Coyote Ugly, a GINARMOUS movie theatre (bigger than the ones in Texas) and a bowling alley.
Corridor 44, a great spot to enjoy champagne with friends for happy hour. This place is completely dedicated to sharing toasts to quotes from those in the past. They create original mixes transforming the champagne to taste luscious. They have an outside patio, swank furniture and chic private rooms.
I have to admit Marlowe’s was one of the local hot spots that is packed for lunch, happy hour and dinner in this historic looking building. Vaulted ceilings with a gorgeous cherry wood bar that has many levels of seating that is completely inviting. Although, they will shut down for private parties. They served the best halibut dish I have ever tasted which went great with the outstanding summer outdoor weather just before a quiet storm. Succulent dessert shooters that simply must be shared with friends. I don’t believe they list them on the menu because they are prepared daily. It’s one of those culinary surprises. But if you can go to this local saloon it will definitely feel like you are attending a never ending party.
Baur’s is a Mediterranean gourmet experience that has old-world charm. It takes me back to think about the elegance of the restaurant from the servers to the tastes of the food. The restaurant has this vertical sign hanging in lights off the front of the entrance that just screams old Hollywood to me. It’s one of those places that gives character to influence your mood for a romantic experience. Oh and the Baur family made their fortune from producing candies.
Interested for a quick snack, turkey Panini sandwich or mocha frap with extra whip crème? Then you have to stop in to Hannah’s deli off of 14th and Curtis. It’s a small shop where they have high boy tables and open space. It’s a place where you will not find a crowd. They are truly an affordable deli that makes great food. They will definitely not spare the pickle on the side. Especially, if you want a quick authentic meal.
There is so much to experience in downtown Denver from the fabulous fine dining to the theatre, historic buildings, walking chicken promoters, talking sidewalks, people watching on the Mall Ride, blue bears staring into windows, rushing rapids, the corner book stores, the delis, and just a great place to actually walk to nearby attractions. I believe that Denver is a romantic city and one place that I know that you will feel that you can getaway.
Written by guest writer, Adrienne Hill, who recently ventured to the Mile High City. Visit Adrienne’s website, ISYTES.
Cool Trip Idea: Great Urban Race
In case you need another reason to travel, we wanted to share the amazing concept known as the Great Urban Race (GUR) with our readers. Think of it as a one day Amazing Race where you and a partner run around a city (either your hometown or a new destination) trying to accomplishment tasks and solve clues in a designated amount of time. Sounds like fun? You bet it is! How do we know? DIWYY’s Kristina Wegscheider and her friend, Julie Town, participated in San Francisco’s event last season. Why was it so awesome? How about we show you instead of telling you?
1) The race doesn’t start until midday so you can totally sleep in or recover from the previous night’s parties. Grab a partner and your digital camera, get a matching shirt (or costume!), and get ready for an afternoon of fun!
Kristina and Julie did the event in May 2009 starting from Fort Mason right next to the Golden Gate Bridge. Beautiful (and scorching hot) day in the city.
2) You will receive the list of ten clues at the start of the race. You can either make a run for it or hang back and develop a strategy. Kristina and Julie called friends and family members at computers to help decipher codes as they were running down the street.
Your transportation options are limited to on foot and public transportation. Grab a bus or subway map before your race and familiar yourself with it. And have some small change. The two girls from the suburbs paid $10 for their bus fare because they didn’t have any small change!
3) Some clues will be straightforward like the image above (Clue: Find a dog and take a picture shaking his paw); others will require some thought like the one shown at left. We had to figure out the clue for the TransAmerica building and then hold up a number that represented a riddle about San Francisco. Carrying each other around was completely optional.
And, in some cases, you even get to spray paint things as Julie shows below!
4) You’re running around a city in matching shirts. Most people think you’re crazy. But then they see you have a number on your shirt and, suddenly, homeless people are cheering you on as you charge down Market Street! If you need assistance, you can ask people, use the Internet, or reference guidebooks/maps. Asking people worked beautifully – the San Francisco Police were extremely helpful and random people on BART also provided answers.
Word of advice for public transportation: Make sure your partner is on the train or bus before the door shuts. It is quite easy to lose your partner and then you have a whole other problem!**
**May be based on a true story. Maybe.
5) Eventually, you will finish the race. Run through the arch and proceed to the check-in table where one of the judges will check off your tasks and verify your photos.
Ready to race now? Lucky for you, GUR has several more events coming up before the National Championships in Las Vegas in November. Don’t live near one of the cities? No problem! Grab a plane ticket and explore a city in a maniac frenzy! Think of it this way: you’ll see the sights, meet the locals and have a great time!
Questions about the Great Urban Race? Visit their website or click on the hyperlink to your preferred city below.
Want to email Kristina and get advice from someone who has been there (maybe didn’t place so well but had fun and learned some lessons): kristina@diwyy.com
Remaining 2010 events:
6/5/2010 – Boston
6/12/2010 – Portland
6/26/2010 – Madison
7/17/2010 – Toronto
7/24/2010 – Chicago
7/31/2010 – Seattle
8/7/2010 – Denver
8/14/2010 – San Francisco
8/28/2010 – New York City
9/11/2010 – Minneapolis
9/25/2010 – Philadelphia
10/2/2010 – Dallas-Ft Worth
10/17/2010 – Normal
10/23/2010 – San Diego
Hotel Aficionado: Hotel Valencia Riverwalk San Antonio
For as long as I can remember I’ve been obsessed with hotels. I have memories of playing hotel when I was 8 years old. With a registry tablet containing scribbles of names of hotel guest reservations in front of me, I’d make my friends pretend to check-in to the hotel. I’d say, ” yes, Miss Jones, we have been expecting you,” then mark her name of the list. Next friend comes along to my desk, “Checking in Mr. Clay? Oh, I see your room is not quite ready.” Where I learned this I don’t know, but I could play that game for hours. My little friends didn’t want to.
Fast forward 20 years, and I’m even more obsessed with hotels. I love comparing hotels online to see the different amenities hotels have to offer (Hilton charges $9 per day for wi-fi, Best Western’s wi-fi is free.). Hotel service and beds can make or break my experience at a hotel. Coffee makers in the room are a must. Complimentary late check-out is a bonus. I could go on and on about my neurotic hotel requirements.
I’ve stayed at countless hostels, hotels and bed and breakfasts including working at a hotel in the Caribbean and working on private luxury yachts which are basically floating hotels. I know what hotel service should be and definitely what it should not be. When I check in, I don’t want to hear the front desk person talking to the other hotel desk person about how they couldn’t wait to get off work and how they didn’t want to be there which is what happened to me last month at the Galveston Hilton. Excuse me, unless I asked I did not just pay $400 dollars to hear about your plans for the weekend.
I can and will go on about horrible hotel stays in future posts. But today I want to talk about an amazing experience I had at the Hotel Valencia Riverwalk in San Antonio.
Recently, I went with a friend for a weekend in San Antonio. I compared hotels online for hours (remember, that’s the fun part for me). My requirements were:
- Boutique-like hotel. No chain hotels
- Overlooking the Riverwalk. Not across the street from the Riverwalk or in the vicinity of the Riverwalk
- Big fluffy white bed
- Fitness room and pool
I finally narrowed my choices down in the end between Hotel Valencia and Omni La Mansión del Rio. In the end, I chose Hotel Valencia because I remember going to the bar at the Hotel Valencia in San Jose with Kristina (oddly enough) and having loved the atmosphere. Despite the fact that fitness room and pool was a requirement, they actually didn’t have a pool. I assumed they would. Silly me.
I got an awesome package deal which included dinner for two at their restaurant, Citrus, complimentary valet parking, and turn down service all for less than my horrible, horrible experience at the Galveston Hilton where I basically got nothing (more on that in another post).
When we arrived it was super busy and valet looked swamped. Surprisingly, we didn’t have to wait for long as an extremely friendly valet guy came to help us out. The foyer of the hotel was stunning. The room has a centered fireplace with the overhead lights turned down very low. I’ve never seen such a dark hotel. While at first it took some getting used to, I realized that the low lighting was actually very calming and soothing.
Check in was a breeze. I didn’t have to wait long for the front desk clerk to give me my room key and direct me to our room. She was so extremely courteous I felt like she already knew me.
Photos courtesy Hotel Valencia
Our room didn’t overlook the Riverwalk like some other high rise hotels I’ve stayed in San Antonio like the Holiday Inn (which I enjoyed, by the way) but rather looked over other parts of downtown San Antonio. I didn’t mind and knew this when I booked the room. The room had a lot of natural light filtering in and other than the dark furniture wasn’t lit like the rest of the dark hotel. The bed was beauteous. It’s all I could ask for. It was fluffy and white and huge. You could get lost in for days.
We quickly stashed our belongings in the room and found our way down to the Riverwalk. The hotel had direct access to the Riverwalk on a small, quiet corner of the river. Just a short walk down the river we found the restaurants, bars, entertainment, shopping and other hotels including La Mansión which looked gorgeous. I always love the Riverwalk because I feel like I’ve been transported out of Texas and into another country entirely. It’s such a gem. Too bad it’s in San Antonio and not Houston but I digress.
Since we already had dinner reservations at Citrus back at the hotel, we opted to have some margaritas at a little bar overlooking the river. After one, OK two, drinks we headed back to the hotel to change and go to dinner.
Citrus
It was around 8 pm and the restaurant only had one other full table. Our waiter was extremely professional and courteous. “Would sir and ma’am like more wine?” “Does ma’am need more time deciding?”
Our meal was three course and to die for. I had crab cake, toasted pumpkin seed, avocado, mesclan salad for my first, 22oz bone in ribeye, creamed potatoes, hericot vert, barbecue glace as my second and cinnamon apple cobbler for dessert. I could have died and gone to heaven. With the package deal the dinner came out to be less than a dinner at Chili’s but one hundred times better. Service was so amazing I felt like royalty.
There’s this amazing courtyard in the middle of the hotel that is absolutely breathtaking. Once I saw it when searching for hotels, I remembered a very similar courtyard that Kristina took me to in San Jose. I finally deduced that they were hotels from the same hotel group both named Hotel Valencia. While I was there I really wanted to show my friend the courtyard, but it was reserved all day for weddings. What a beautiful place to have a wedding!
Hotel Valencia Courtyard set up for wedding
Overall, my stay at Hotel Valencia was one of the best hotel experiences I’ve ever had. As an extremely picky hotel guest I was more than pleased. The only thing that would make the hotel better would be a pool even though I’d probably not even use it. I like just knowing it’s there.
Written by Jerri Stephenson, DIWYY co-founder.
